X-Y direction input device

• US 5,293,158 A
• Filed: 05/05/1992
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Soma, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberley, Alvin E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARVEY, MINSUN OH
• Application Number:
  US07/878,673
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 340/706, 340/709, 250/237 G, 200/6 A
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane

Abstract

The present invention relates to an X-Y direction input device which shifts a cursor on a screen in any direction, and particularly to an X-Y direction input device capable of not only decreasing its thickness to realize a compact size but increasing its resolution or realizing superior operability. An X-Y direction input device comprises a casing for forming an outer body and an operating body accommodated in the casing to be mutually shiftable so that a cursor displayed on a display apparatus can be shifted in any direction in response to a shifting motion of this operating body. This input device comprises a base plate on which an X-direction pattern and a Y-direction pattern are respectively provided, a first holder which is provided to be shiftable in a Y-direction, a second holder which is provided to be shiftable in an X-direction, a plurality of cover plates covering an opening formed on the casing and provided to be shiftable independently with each other. And the operating body includes an engaging portion engaging with the first and second holders and a projection exposing through an opening formed on the casing. Furthermore, the first holder is guided at its both end portions and its intermediate portion in the Y-direction and the second holder is guided at its both end portions and its intermediate portion in the X-direction, thereby smoothing the movement of the operating body.

Claims

1. A cursor control device for controlling the position of a cursor on a display, said cursor control device comprising:

a lower plate;

a base plate fixedly connected to said lower plate, said base plate defining a first opening having a plurality of edges, said base plate having a lower surface facing said lower plate;

an upper plate fixedly connected to said lower plate such that said base plate is disposed between said lower plate and said upper plate, said upper plate defining a second opening;

a first elongated holding member slidably disposed between said base plate and said lower plate, said first holding member extending in a first direction and being slidable in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, said first holding member including a first detector element for generating a signal representing a motion of said first holding member;

a second elongated holding member slidably disposed between said base plate and said lower plate, said second holding member extending in said second direction and being slidable in said first direction, said second holding member including a second detector element for generating a signal representing a motion of said second holding member;

an engaging member slidably connected to both of said first and second holding members, said engaging member including a portion extending through said first and second openings; and

a plurality of independently slidable cover plates disposed between said base plate and said upper plate, said plurality of cover plates cooperating to cover said first opening in said base plate, thereby preventing dust from passing through said first opening to said first and second holding members.

2. A cursor control device in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

an X-direction pattern formed on said lower surface of said base plate adjacent a first one of said plurality of edges; and

a Y-direction pattern formed on said lower surface of said base plate adjacent a second one of said plurality of edges;

wherein said first detector element is disposed to slide adjacent said X-direction pattern and said second detector element is disposed to slide adjacent said Y-direction pattern.

3. A cursor control device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said portion of said engaging member includes a square cross section having a width, and wherein said plurality of cover plates comprises:

a first cover plate disposed adjacent base plate, said first cover plate being movable together with said engaging member;

a second cover plate disposed between said base plate and said upper plate, said second cover plate including an opening having a first elongated window extending in the first direction, said first elongated window having a width slightly greater than said width of said engaging member; and

a third cover plate disposed between said second cover plate and said upper plate, the opening of said third cover plate being a second elongated window extending in the second direction said second elongated window having a width slightly greater than said width of said engaging member.

4. A cursor control device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said portion of said engaging member includes a square cross section having a width, and wherein said plurality of cover plates comprises:

a first cover plate disposed between said base plate and said upper plate, said opening of said first cover plate being longer in the first direction than in the second direction;

a second cover plate disposed between the first cover plate and the upper plate, said opening of said second cover plate being longer in the second direction than in the first direction;

a third cover plate disposed between said second cover plate and said upper plate, the opening of said third cover plate being a first elongated window extending in the first direction, said first elongated window having a width equal to said width of said engaging member; and

a fourth cover plate disposed between said third cover plate and said upper plate, the opening of said fourth cover plate being a second elongated window extending in the second direction, said second elongated window having a width equal to said width of said engaging member.