Digitizer cursor/mouse with unitary switch actuators

• US 5,270,692 A
• Filed: 04/16/1992
• Issued: 12/14/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CalComp, Inc. (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: CalComp, Inc. (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Rockwell, Lynn H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery
• Application Number:
  US07/869,839
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/709, 340/710, 178/18, 178/19, 74/471, 33/1 M, 200/293
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

This is a low-cost cursor for a digitizing tablet which provides the user with the feel of a mouse. There is a case bottom piece for sliding on the surface of the digitizing tablet and a pair of microswitches. A printed circuit board fits in the case bottom piece with the pair of switches mounted behind one another thereon. A transparent front-piece is disposed over the printed circuit board with slots therethrough through which the switches are disposed. The front-piece has a front portion extending outward from a front end and parallel to the bottom surface and has an annular armature formed thereon with a concentric pair of cross-hairs and a sensing coil of wire wound around the armature. A connecting cable of wires is connected to the sensing coil of wire and the switches. There is also a case top piece attached over the case bottom piece to form a hollow case which is tapered from back to front to give the case the feel of a mouse. The case top piece has a pair of longitudinal side pieces with a torsion mounting strip extending transversely between them. The torsion mounting strip comprising a rectangular torsion bar having a vertical member extending upward therefrom with a switch actuator arm formed at the top and generally in the contour of the top surface of the top piece. The switch actuator arm has a pair of actuator fingers extending downward therefrom on opposite sides of the vertical member in alignment with and in close proximity to actuator buttons of the switches.

Claims

1. A cursor for use with a digitizing tablet which is simple and inexpensive to build and which provides the user with the feel of a mouse input device comprising:

a) a case bottom piece having a flat bottom surface for sliding on the surface of the digitizing tablet, an inner surface of said bottom piece having retaining clips formed therein, said case bottom piece having a bore therethrough adjacent a back end thereof;

b) a pair of switches each switch including a short stroke actuating button;

c) a printed circuit board sized to fit and disposed on said inner surface of said case bottom piece between said retaining clips, said printed circuit board having said pair of switches mounted thereon with said actuating buttons thereof pointed vertically upward with respect to said inner surface and with one of said switches disposed longitudinally behind the other;

d) a transparent front-piece disposed over said printed circuit board and held in place by engagement with said retaining clips, said front-piece having slots therethrough through which said switches are disposed, said front-piece further having a front portion extending outward from a front end of said case bottom piece and parallel to said bottom surface, said front end having an annular armature formed thereon and having a pair of cross-hairs formed concentrically within said armature;

e) a sensing coil of wire wound around said armature;

f) a connecting cable of wires passing through said bore and electrically connected to said sensing coil of wire and said switches; and

,

g) a case top piece disposed over and releasably attached to said case bottom piece to form a hollow case in combination with said case bottom piece, said case top piece being tapered from a back end thereof towards a front end thereof to give said hollow case the feel of a mouse input device, said case top piece having a pair of longitudinal side pieces with a mounting strip extending transversely between them, said mounting strip comprising a vertical member extending upward towards said case top piece, said vertical member having a switch actuator arm formed at a top end thereof generally in the contour of a top surface of said top piece whereby said vertical member and said switch actuator arm in combination are generally T-shaped in cross-section, said switch actuator arm having two ends and a pair of actuator fingers associated with respective ones of said two ends extending downward therefrom on opposite sides of said vertical member so as to be in alignment with and in close proximity to a top surface of respective ones of said actuator buttons of the said switches, whereby when said actuator arm is depressed on one of said two ends it rotates against a biasing force of said switch actuator arm and said vertical member an amount sufficient for the said actuator finger under said one of said two ends to depress said actuator button of the said switch thereunder an amount which activates that said switch and when pressure on said switch actuator arm is released said switch actuator arm returns to its original position thereby opening the associated said switch from said biasing force.

2. The cursor of claim 1 and additionally comprising:

a) at least two pairs of said switches, said printed circuit board having each of said pair of switches mounted thereon side-by-side with respect to the other of said pair of switches with said actuating buttons thereof pointed vertically upward with respect to said inner surface and with one of said switches disposed longitudinally behind the other; and

,

b) a longitudinal rib extending downward from an inner surface of said case top piece and disposed between said longitudinal side pieces, a first said mounting strip extending transversely between one of said side pieces and said rib and a second said mounting strip extending transversely between the other of said side pieces and said rib, each of said first and second mounting strips comprising a said vertical member extending upward with a said switch actuator arm formed at a top end thereof generally in the contour of a top surface of said top piece, each said switch actuator arm having a pair of actuator fingers extending downward therefrom on opposite sides of said vertical member so as to be in alignment with and in close proximity to a top surface of respective ones of said actuator buttons of a one of said pair of said switches disposed thereunder.

4. The cursor of claim 2 and additionally comprising:

a) at least two pairs of said switches, said printed circuit board having each of said pair of switches mounted thereon side-by-side with respect to the other of said pair of switches with said actuating buttons thereof pointed vertically upward with respect to said inner surface and with one of said switches disposed longitudinally behind the other; and

,

b) a longitudinal rib extending downward from an inner surface of said case top piece and disposed between said longitudinal side pieces, a first said mounting strip extending transversely between one of said side pieces and said rib and a second said mounting strip extending transversely between the other of said side pieces and said rib, each of said first and second mounting strips comprising a said vertical member extending upward with a said switch actuator arm formed at a top end thereof generally in the contour of a top surface of said top piece, each said switch actuator arm having a pair of actuator fingers extending downward therefrom on opposite sides of said vertical member so as to be in alignment with and in close proximity to a top surface of respective ones of said actuator buttons of a one of said pair of said switches disposed thereunder.

3. A cursor for use with a digitizing tablet which is simple and inexpensive to build and which provides the user with the feel of a mouse input device comprising:

a) a case bottom piece having a flat bottom surface for sliding on the surface of the digitizing tablet, an inner surface of said bottom piece having retaining clips formed therein, said case bottom piece having a bore therethrough adjacent a back end thereof;

b) first and second switches wherein said first switch includes a first short stroke actuating button and said second switch includes a second short stroke actuating button;

c) a printed circuit board sized to fit and disposed on said inner surface of said case bottom piece between said retaining clips, said printed circuit board having said first and second switches mounted thereon with said first and second actuating buttons thereof pointed vertically upward with respect to said inner surface and with said second switch disposed longitudinally behind said first switch;

d) a transparent front-piece disposed over said printed circuit board and held in place by engagement with said retaining clips, said front-piece having slots therethrough through which said first and second switches are disposed, said front-piece further having a front portion extending outward from a front end of said case bottom piece and parallel to said bottom surface, said front end having an annular armature formed thereon and having a pair of cross-hairs formed concentrically within said armature;

e) a sensing coil of wire wound around said armature;

f) a connecting cable of wires passing through said bore and electrically connected to said sensing coil of wire and said first and second switches; and

,

g) a case top piece disposed over and releasably attached to said case bottom piece to form a hollow case in combination with said case bottom piece, said case top piece being tapered from a back end thereof towards a front end thereof to give said hollow case the feel of a mouse input device, said case top piece having a pair of longitudinal side pieces with a mounting strip extending traversely between them, said mounting strip comprising a vertical member extending upwards towards said case top piece, said vertical member having a switch actuator arm formed at a top end thereof generally in the contour of a top surface of said top piece whereby said vertical member and said switch aducator arm in combination are generally T-shaped in cross-section, said switch actuator arm having first and second ends and first and second actuator fingers associated with said first and second ends, respectively, and extending downward therefrom on opposite sides of said vertical member so as to be in alignment with and in close proximity to a top surface of said first and second actuator buttons of said first and second switches, respectively, whereby when said actuator arm is depressed on said first end it rotates against a biasing force of said switch actuator arm and said vertical member an amount sufficient for said first actuator finger under said first end to depress said first actuator button of the said first switch thereunder an amount which activates that said first switch and when pressure on said switch actuator arm is released said switch actuator arm returns to its original position thereby opening said first switch from said biasing force, and whereby when said actuator arm is depressed on said second end it rotates against a biasing force of said switch actuator arm and said vertical member an amount sufficient for said second actuator finger under said second end to depress said second actuator button of the said second switch thereunder an amount which activates that said second switch and when pressure on said switch actuator arm is released said switch actuator arm returns to its original position thereby opening said second switch from said biasing force.

5. A cursor for use with a digitizing tablet which is simple and inexpensive to build and which provides the user with the feel of a mouse input device comprising:

a) a case bottom piece having a flat bottom surface for sliding on the surface of the digitizing tablet, an inner surface of said bottom piece having retaining clips formed therein, said case bottom piece having a bore therethrough adjacent a back end thereof;

b) first and second switches wherein said first switch includes a first short stroke actuating button and said second switch includes a second short stroke actuating button;

c) a printed circuit board sized to fit and disposed on said inner surface of said case bottom piece between said retaining clips, said printed circuit board having said first and second switches mounted thereon with said first and second actuating buttons thereof pointed vertically upward with respect to said inner surface and with said second switch disposed longitudinally behind said first switch;

d) a sensing coil carried by said case bottom piece;

e) a connecting cable of wires passing through said bore and electrically connected to said sensing coil of wire and said first and second switches; and

,

f) a case top piece disposed over and releasably attached to said case bottom piece to form a hollow case in combination with said case bottom piece, said case top piece being tapered from a back end thereof towards a front end thereof to give said hollow case the feel of a mouse input device, said case top piece having a pair of longitudinal side pieces with a mounting strip extending traversely between them, said mounting strip comprising a vertical member extending upward towards said case top piece, said vertical member having a switch actuator arm formed at a top end thereof generally in the contour of a top surface of said top piece whereby said vertical member and said switch actuator arm in combination are generally T-shaped in cross-section, said switch actuator arm having first and second ends and first and second actuator fingers associated with said first and second ends, respectively, and extending downward therefrom on opposite sides of said vertical member so as to be in alignment with and in close proximity to a top surface of said first and second actuator buttons of said first and second switches, respectively, whereby when said actuator arm is depressed on said first end it rotates against a baising force of said switch actuator arm and said vertical member an amount sufficient for said first actuator finger under said first end to depress said first actuator button of the said first switch thereunder an amount which activates that said first switch and when pressure on said switch actuator arm is released said switch actuator arm returns to its original position thereby opening said first switch from said biasing force, and whereby when said actuator arm is depressed on said second end it rotates against a biasing force of said switch actuator arm and said vertical member an amount sufficient for said second actuator finger under said second end to depress said second actuator button of the said second switch thereunder an amount which activates that said second switch and when pressure on said switch actuator arm is released said switch actuator arm returns to its original position thereby opening said second switch from said biasing force.

6. The cursor of claim 5 and additionally comprising:

a) at least two pairs of said switches, said printed circuit board having each of said pair of switches mounted thereon side-by-side with respect to the other of said pair of switches with said actuating buttons thereof pointed vertically upward with respect to said inner surface and with one of said switches disposed longitudinally behind the other; and

,

b) a longitudinal rib extending downward from an inner surface of said case top piece and disposed between said longitudinal side pieces, a first said mounting strip extending traversely between one of said side pieces and said rib and a second said mounting strip extending transversely between the other of said side pieces and said rib, each of said first and second mounting strips comprising a said vertical member extending upward with a said switch actuator arm formed at a top end thereof generally in the contour of a top surface of said top piece, each said switch actuator arm having a pair of actuator fingers extending downward therefrom on opposite sides of said vertical member so as to be in alignment with and in close proximity to a top surface of respective ones of said actuator buttons of a one of said pair of said switches disposed thereunder.

7. A case for a position/movement indicating input device for use with a computer which is simple and inexpensive to build and which includes integral bi-directional self-biased switch activating arms comprising:

a) a case bottom piece having a flat bottom surface for sliding on a surface to indicate position/movement;

b) first and second switches wherein said first switch includes a first short stroke actuating button and said second switch includes a second short stroke actuating button;

c) a printed circuit board sized to fit and disposed on said inner surface of said case bottom piece between said retaining clips, said printed circuit board having said first and second switches mounted thereon with said first and second actuating buttons thereof pointed vertically upward with respect to said inner surface and with said second switch disposed longitudinally behind said first switch;

d) sensing means carried by said bottom portion for developing a signal reflecting movement of said bottom surface over a surface;

e) connecting means carried by said bottom portion for connecting a computer to said sensing means and said first and second switches; and

,

f) a case top piece disposed over and releasably attached to said case bottom piece to form a hollow case in combination with said case bottom piece, said case top piece being tapered from a back end thereof towards a front end thereof to give said hollow case the feel of a mouse input device, said case top piece having a pair of longitudinal side pieces with a mounting strip extending traversely between them, said mounting strip comprising a vertical member extending upward towards said case top piece, said vertical member having a switch actuator arm formed at a top end thereof generally in the contour of a top surface of said top piece whereby said vertical member and said switch actuator arm in combination are generally T-shaped in cross-section, said switch actuator arm having first and second ends and first and second actuator fingers associated with said first and second ends, respectively, and extending downward therefrom on opposite sides of said vertical member so as to be in alignment with and in close proximity to a top surface of said first and second actuator buttons of said first and second switches, respectively, whereby when said actuator arm is depressed on said first end it rotates against a biasing force of said switch actuator arm and said vertical member an amount sufficient for said first actuator finger under said first end to depress said first actuator button of the said first switch thereunder an amount which activates that said first switch and when pressure on said switch actuator arm is released said switch actuator arm returns to its original position thereby opening said first switch from said biasing force, and whereby when said actuator arm is depressed on said second end it rotates against a biasing force of said switch actuator arm and said vertical member an amount sufficient for said second actuator finger under said second end to depress said second actuator button of the said second switch thereunder an amount which activates that said second switch and when pressure on said switch actuator arm is released said switch actuator arm returns to its original position thereby opening said second switch from said biasing force.

8. The case of claim 7 and additionally comprising:

a) at least two pairs of said switches, said printed circuit board having each of said pair of switches mounted thereon side-by-side with respect to the other of said pair of switches with said actuating buttons thereof pointed vertically upward with respect to said inner surface and with one of said switches disposed longitudinally behind the other; and

,

b) a longitudinal rib extending downward from an inner surface of said case top piece and disposed between said longitudinal side pieces, a first said mounting strip extending transversely between one of said side pieces and said rib and a second said mounting strip extending transversely between the other of said side pieces and said rib, each of said first and second mounting strips comprising a said vertical member extending upward with a said switch actuator arm formed at a top end thereof generally in the contour of a top surface of said top piece, each said switch actuator arm having a pair of actuator fingers extending downward therefrom on opposite sides of said vertical member so as to be in alignment with and in close proximity to a top surface of respective ones of said actuator buttons of one of said pair of said switches disposed thereunder.