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Computer input device and keyboard

  • US 5,757,363 A
  • Filed: 06/28/1996
  • Issued: 05/26/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An input device for transmitting a displacement data representing the quantity and direction of the movement of a cursor to a computer, comprising:

  • a pressure sensitive pad having a conductive layer and a resistor layer disposed at a predetermined vertical interval from said conductive layer, at least an upper one of said conductive layers and said resistor layer being formed from an underside of a flexible sheet, such that when an upper face of said flexible sheet is depressed, said conductive layer is brought in contact with said resistor layer at a corresponding depressed position;

    a contact detection means for detecting a contact between said conductive layer and said resistor layer;

    a voltage application means for alternately applying a voltage alternately in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction on a surface of said resistor layer when contact between said conductive layer and said resistor layer is detected by said contact detection means;

    a position computation means for detecting a voltage of said resistor layer synchronously when the voltage is applied by said voltage application means and for sequentially computing the depressed position on said flexible sheet, based on the voltage value detected when the voltage is applied in said horizontal direction and the voltage value detected when the voltage is applied in said vertical direction;

    a memory means for storing a computation result of said position computation means;

    a data preparation means for preparing displacement data representing a quantity and direction of movement of said depressed position for a predetermined unit time, based on a plurality of computation results stored in said memory means;

    an output means for transmitting the displacement data prepared by said data preparation means to said computer;

    an initialization means for stopping operation of said voltage application means and canceling content stored in said memory means when the contact detection means detects disconnection of said conductive layer from said resistor layer;

    a contact time measurement means for measuring a time during which said conductive layer and said resistor layer are in contact with each other, based on the detection result of said contact detection means; and

    a definition signal output means for determining whether the time measured by said contact time measurement means is within a predetermined time and for indicating a definition of a cursor position to said computer when said time is within said predetermined time.

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