Computer pointing device

• US 5,949,354 A
• Filed: 01/12/1998
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qisda Corporation
• Original Assignee: Acer America Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Hsu Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/005,556
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 341/33, 341/20, 24/471 XY, 200/6 A, 345/101
• US Class Current: 341/33
• 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: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

The present invention provides a computer pointing device which uses capacitors installed in various directions to generate pointing signals. The pointing device comprises a circuit board, a cap, and a detecting unit. The circuit board comprises a center point, a first conducting plate installed in a first direction and a second conducting plate installed in a second direction. The cap is movably installed above the center point of the circuit board. The bottom side of the cap has a top conducting plate which forms first and second capacitors with the first and second conducting plates separately. The detecting unit is electrically connected to the top, first and second conducting plates to detect the capacitance of the first and second capacitors and generate corresponding pointing signals to reflect the position of the cap in the first and second directions.

Claims

1. A pointing device comprising:

a circuit board having a center point and a first conducting plate installed next to the center point in a first direction;

a cap movably installed above the center point of the circuit board, the cap comprising a bottom side having a top conducting plate installed under it wherein the top conducting plate and the first conducting plate form a first capacitor; and

a detecting unit electrically connected to the top conducting plate and the first conducting plate for detecting the capacitance of the first capacitor and generating corresponding pointing signals;

wherein when the cap is tilted, the distance between the top conducting plate and the first conducting plate will be changed which will also change the capacitance of the first capacitor, and the detecting unit will generate the pointing signals according to the detected capacitance.

2. The pointing device of claim 1 wherein the cap comprises a downward protruding stub on its bottom side which is stuck to the center point wherein the cap can be tilted toward various directions with the stub stuck to the center point.

3. The pointing device of claim 1 wherein the cap further comprises a circular plate and an upward protruding handle installed at the center of the circular plate for tilting the cap toward various directions.

4. The pointing device of claim 1 wherein the circuit board further comprises a bottom conducting plate installed over the center point which forms a connecting capacitor with the top conducting plate and the connecting capacitor is in series with the first capacitor wherein the detecting unit is electrically connected with the bottom conducting plate and the first conducting plate for detecting the capacitance of the serially connected first capacitor and connecting capacitor.

5. The pointing device of claim 1 wherein the circuit board further comprises a second conducting plate installed next to the center point in a second direction wherein the second conducting plate and the top conducting plate form a second capacitor, and wherein the detecting unit is electrically connected to the second conducting plate to detect the capacitance of the second capacitor and the detected capacitance of the first and second capacitors are converted into the pointing signals by the detecting unit to reflect the position of the cap in the first and second direction.

6. The pointing device of claim 5 wherein the second direction is perpendicular with the first direction.

7. The pointing device of claim 5 wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

8. The pointing device of claim 1 wherein the detecting unit detects the capacitance of the first capacitor within a predetermined time period.

9. A pointing device comprising:

a circuit board having a center point, a first conducting plate installed next to the center point in a first direction, a second conducting plate installed next to the center point in a second direction, and a bottom conducting plate installed over the center point;

a cap movably installed above the center point of the circuit board, the cap comprising a bottom side having a top conducting plate installed under it, the top conducting plate being positioned above the first conducting plate, the second conducting plate, and the bottom conducting plate wherein a first capacitor is formed between the top conducting plate and the first conducting plate, a second capacitor is formed between the top conducting plate and the second capacitor, and a connecting capacitor is formed between the top conducting plate and the bottom conducting plate, the first and second capacitors being in series with the connecting capacitor separately, the serially connected first capacitor and connecting capacitor defining a first serial capacitor, the serially connected second capacitor and connecting capacitor defining a second serial capacitor; and

a detecting unit electrically connected to the first conducting plate, second conducting plate and bottom conducting plate for detecting the capacitance of the first and second serial capacitors and generating corresponding pointing signals;

wherein when the cap is tilted, the distances between the top conducting plate and the first and second conducting plates will be changed which will also change the capacitance of the first and second serial capacitors, and the detecting unit will generate the pointing signals according to the detected capacitance of the first and second serial capacitors to reflect the position of the cap in the first and second directions.

10. The pointing device of claim 9 wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

11. The pointing device of claim 9 wherein the second direction is perpendicular with the first direction.

12. The pointing device of claim 11 wherein the circuit board further comprises a third conducting plate installed next to the center point and opposite to the first direction, a fourth conducting plate installed next to the center point and opposite to the second direction, the third and fourth conducting plates forming third and forth serial capacitors with the top and bottom conducting plates respectively, and wherein the detecting unit is separately connected with the third and fourth conducting plates to detect the capacitance of the third and fourth serial capacitors and generate the pointing signals according to the detected capacitance of the first, second, third and forth serial capacitors to reflect the position of the cap in the four directions.