Trigger operated electronic device

• US 5,670,988 A
• Filed: 09/05/1995
• Issued: 09/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SMK-Link Electronic Corp. (SMK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Interlink Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Tickle, James Dexter
• Primary Examiner(s): SARAS, STEVEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/523,716
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/159, 345/160, 345/161, 345/163, 345/169, 463/36-39, 463/47, 463/46, 200/6 A, D14/218, 348/734, 273/148 R
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2009/0257 Multisided remote control, comprising control or display elements on at least two sides, e.g. front and back surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0214 Hand-held casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0235 specially adapted for remote control, e.g. of audio or video apparatus

Abstract

A device particularly for use with a computer comprises a housing for location at least partly between two fingers of a user'"'"'s hand and an electronic circuit mounted on a board within the housing. The circuit includes a switch responsive to pressure selectively to open and close an electronic circuit, and conductive elements arranged on the board mounting the electronic circuit. A first control element is mounted with the housing and responsive to finger pressure such that pressure applied to the first control element causes the element to operate the switch. The first control element is movable with respect to a hinge such that finger action acts to cause the control element to swivel as a trigger about the hinge and thereby interact with the switch. The second control element includes a flexible material mounted such that pressure applied to the flexible material in different directions and positions acts to change the electrical relationship between the conductive elements on the board and thereby vary an output signal from the electronic circuit. The rear portion of the housing includes a receptacle for receiving removable battery power supply for powering the electronic circuit. There is an infra-red output signal transmitted to a receiver for operating the computer. The first control element is located substantially below the second control element, and the first control element being in a bottom face of the housing.

Claims

1. A portable, trigger operated pointing device for use with an electronically responsive system, comprising:

a housing for location at least partly between first and second fingers of a user'"'"'s hand, the housing having an elongate profile defining a longitudinal axis and having a forward end, a rear end, opposed sides, a top face, and a bottom face, the bottom face including a contoured step positioned medially of the forward and rear ends and transversely of the opposed sides, the contoured step having a first face for generally providing a rest location for the first finger of the user'"'"'s hand;

an electronic circuit mounted on a board contained within the housing, the circuit including on opposite sides of the board a switch responsive to pressure selectively to open and close an electronic circuit and a transducer responsive element;

a first control element mounted with the housing at the first face of the contoured step and operatively connected to the switch to respond to pressure applied by the first finger of the user'"'"'s hand to operate the switch;

a second control element mounted with the housing at the top face and responsive to force applied by the second finger of the user'"'"'s hand such that force applied to the second element in a selected direction acts to cause a change in a condition of the transducer responsive element and thereby cause the electronic circuit to provide a corresponding output signal; and

an output signal emitter responsive to the output signal provided by the electronic circuit and positioned to transmit from the forward end a transmitted output signal propagating in a direction generally along the longitudinal axis.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first control element is located in a position to act as a trigger movable under pressure at least partly towards the rear end, such movement acting to operate the switch for the electronic circuit, and the switch being a mechanical element for the circuit.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, further including a hinge about which the first control element is movable, the hinge being located in a position nearer to the forward end of the housing, and the first control element being adapted for engagement with the first finger such that its movement against the first control element causes the first control element to swivel about the hinge and thereby interact with the switch.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the board includes conductive elements and the second control element includes a flexible material mounted such that force applied to the flexible material in different directions and positions acts on the transducer to change an electrical relationship between the conductive elements and thereby vary the output signal provided by the electronic circuit.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first port for housing the first control element and a second port for housing the second control element.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first control element and the second control element are located in a position nearer to the forward end of the housing, and wherein the first and second fingers are, respectively, the index finger and the thumb of the user'"'"'s hand.

7. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has a rear portion that includes a receptacle for receiving removable battery means for powering the electronic circuit.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rear portion of the housing is adapted for location generally in a palm of the user'"'"'s hand, and the first finger is the index finger of the user'"'"'s hand and the second finger is the thumb of the user'"'"'s hand.

9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the contoured step has a rear face for generally providing a rest position for a forefinger of the user'"'"'s hand.

10. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the rear portion of the housing includes a belly portion depending downwardly from the housing for receiving at least portion of a power supply, the belly portion being positioned for resting in at least portion of a palm of the hand.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output signal emitter transmits the output signal in a form suitable for reception by a receiver for operating a computer.

12. A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the output signal emitter includes an infra-red light generator and a mounting structure for mounting the infra-red light generator near the forward end of the housing.

13. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second finger is the thumb of a user'"'"'s hand, the device further including a third control element located in a spaced location from the second control element and positioned on the top face of the housing for selective operation by the thumb of the user'"'"'s hand, the third control element being movable inwardly and outwardly relative to the top face of the housing and including a second switch for the electronic circuit, the second switch being operable under interaction with the third control element to generate switching signals to the electronic circuit.

14. A device as claimed in claim 1, further including multiple control elements located on the housing, the multiple control elements being responsive to externally applied pressure to operate switch elements corresponding to each respective control element thereby to control the operation of the electronic circuit.

15. A device as claimed in claim 12, further including a screen located at the forward end of the housing and covering the infra-red light generator.

16. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top face is of a generally elliptical shape having a narrow end at the forward end of the housing, wherein the first control element is located nearer to the narrow end of the elliptical shape, and wherein the first control element is located substantially below the second control element in the bottom face of the housing.

17. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first control element mounted at the first face of the contoured step included in the bottom face of the housing is located substantially below the second control element mounted at the top face of the housing.

18. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transducer responsive element is of a type that responds to a lateral force applied by the second finger.

19. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opposite sides of the board comprise bottom and top sides positioned nearer to the respective bottom and top faces of the housing, the switch being included on the bottom side of the board and the transducer responsive element being included on the top side of the board.