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Multidimensional mouse for use with computers

  • US 5,657,051 A
  • Filed: 06/11/1996
  • Issued: 08/12/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A multidimensional mouse for use with computers, comprising:

  • a Z-axis key 20 which is pivotally connected to the mouse by a pivot and defines two ends spaced from each other by the pivot;

    two depression bars each of which is respectively connected to a corresponding one of the two ends of the Z-axis key;

    two depression keys each of which is respectively connected to a corresponding one of the two depression bars;

    each of the two depression keys comprising a depression portion which is connected to a corresponding one of the two depression bars, an elastic body which defines a hole substantially through a geometrical center thereof, and a conductor which is connected to the depression portion and enclosed in the hole of the elastic body;

    a printed circuit board including two contacts each of which is respectively located in alignment with a corresponding one of the two ends of the Z-axis key, a corresponding one of the two bars, and a corresponding one of the two depression keys;

    whereby when one of the two ends of the Z-axis key is manually depressed, the corresponding depression bar, the corresponding depression portion, and the corresponding conductor are simultaneously moved in the depressed direction, while the corresponding elastic body is deformed allowing the corresponding conductor to pass through the hole defined therein to be in electrical contact with the corresponding contact of the printed circuit board;

    whereby the corresponding conductor is kept in electrical contact with the corresponding contact of the printed circuit board when the end of the Z-axis key is kept depressed;

    whereby the deformed elastic body has a tension to recover the Z-axis key back to a non-depressed position after the depression on the Z-axis key is released; and

    whereby a displacement of a cursor along a Z-axis on a computer screen is based on a time period during which the end of the Z-axis key is kept depressed.

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