Multi-speed multi-direction analog pointing device
First Claim
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1. A multi-speed multi-direction analog pointing device comprising:
- a plus shaped upper contact having a central axis and having a number of ribs which radiate out from said central axis, and further wherein said upper contact has a bottom surface, and further wherein said bottom surface is electrically conductive;
a substrate having an upper surface arranged below said upper contact and having a plurality of electrical contact points on said upper surface situated below said bottom surface of said plus shaped upper contact and aligned with said ribs; and
displacement means for tilting and downwardly moving said plus shaped upper contact wherein said displacement means has an undeflected position and may be variably deflected when an external force is applied whereby electrical contact is made between said bottom surface of said plus shaped upper contact and at least one of said electrical contact points at a position corresponding to the direction and intensity of said external force.
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Abstract
A low-cost pad pointing device with improved performance, reliability and durability, that can be used as a cursor pointing device for computers, remote controls, web TV, TV guide browsers, video games, consumer electronics, industrial controllers, medical, automotive and other applications. A protruding plus shaped segment can be deflected to positions on an electrical medium that results in the generation of a speed and direction signal to be interpreted by low cost available circuitry including microcontrollers.
295 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A multi-speed multi-direction analog pointing device comprising:
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a plus shaped upper contact having a central axis and having a number of ribs which radiate out from said central axis, and further wherein said upper contact has a bottom surface, and further wherein said bottom surface is electrically conductive; a substrate having an upper surface arranged below said upper contact and having a plurality of electrical contact points on said upper surface situated below said bottom surface of said plus shaped upper contact and aligned with said ribs; and displacement means for tilting and downwardly moving said plus shaped upper contact wherein said displacement means has an undeflected position and may be variably deflected when an external force is applied whereby electrical contact is made between said bottom surface of said plus shaped upper contact and at least one of said electrical contact points at a position corresponding to the direction and intensity of said external force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A multi-speed multi-direction analog pointing device comprising:
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a plus shaped upper member having a central axis and having a number of ribs which radiate out from said central axis; a two layered membrane switch having a plurality of electrical contact points on a first layer which face a corresponding plurality of electrical contact points on a second layer, wherein said plurality of electrical contact points on said first layer and said corresponding plurality of electrical contact points on said second layer are situated below said bottom surface of said plus shaped upper member; and
further wherein said two layered membrane switch has an undeformed position in which said plurality of electrical contact points on said first layer is separated from said corresponding plurality of electrical contact points on said second layer; anddisplacement means for tilting and downwardly moving said plus shaped upper member wherein said displacement means has an undeflected position and may be variably deflected when an external force is applied whereby contact is made between said bottom surface of said plus shaped upper member and said two layered membrane switch, deforming said two layer membrane switch and causing at least one of said electrical contact points on said first layer to make contact with said corresponding electrical contact point on said second layer at a location corresponding to the direction and intensity of said external force. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A multi-speed multi-direction analog pointing device comprising:
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a plus shaped upper contact having a central axis and having a number of ribs which radiate out from said central axis, and further wherein said upper contact has a bottom surface, and further wherein said bottom surface is electrically conductive; a substrate having an upper surface arranged below said upper contact and having a first plurality of electrical contact points and a second plurality of electrical contact points, wherein said first plurality of electrical contact points and said second plurality of electrical contact points are located on said upper surface, situated below said bottom surface of said plus shaped upper contact and aligned with said ribs; and displacement means for tilting and downwardly moving said plus shaped upper contact wherein said displacement means has an undeflected position and may be variably deflected when an external force is applied whereby electrical contact is made between said bottom surface of said plus shaped upper contact and at least one of said first electrical contact points and at least one of said second electrical contact points simultaneously at a position corresponding to the direction and intensity of said external force. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification