Z-axis sensing pointing stick with base as strain concentrator

• US 5,966,117 A
• Filed: 11/25/1996
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Inventors: Grube, Mark N., Poole, David L., Seffernick, Lewis L., VandenBoom, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Application Number:
  US08/756,202
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/169, 345/160, 345/161, 345/157, 345/145, 341/22, 341/34, 400/485, 74/471 XY
• US Class Current: 345/161
• 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: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

A pointing stick for controlling the positioning, movement and operation of a cursor on the display screen. Strain gages 30 are mounted on the sides of the stick 12 and are made of pressure sensitive strips 32, for electrically changing the resistance of the material in response to the amount of strain applied thereto. A conductive contact bridge 34 for electrically connecting the two strips 32, and conductive contact pads 36 for making electrical contact to electronic circuitry (not shown) are also mounted on the sides of the stick 12. The stick 12 extends through a hole 38 in the base 4 in a Z-axis oriented direction 39, and is held in place by an adhesive bond epoxy 40. Cable 18 is positioned within cavity 16 and adhesively bonded to the cavity wall via adhesive 42. Cable 18 has electrical traces 44 and input/output (I/O) pads 46 mounted thereon. Contact pads 36 are bonded to I/O pads 46 by any suitable bond material 50.

Claims

1. A device for controlling the movement of an object on a display screen, comprising:

a) a shaft having a longitudinal length oriented along a first axis;

b) a base having the shaft mounted thereinto; and

c) a sensor, mounted circumferentialy around the shaft oriented along the first axis, and extending into the base, for conditioning an output signal indicative of a force exerted on the shaft.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a cavity formed in the base and located around the shaft; and

the sensor extending into the cavity.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising:

an input trace positioned in the cavity and abutting to the sensor, for coupling the sensor to a voltage source; and

an output trace positioned in the cavity and coupling to the sensor, for outputting signals indicative of the direction that the shaft is being forced.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising:

a flexible cable for supporting the input and output traces and mounted on the base.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising:

a bonding material located between opposing surfaces of the shaft and the base for securely bonding the shaft to the base.

6. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein the sensor has a plurality of strain sensitive resistors mounted on the shaft and electrically connected in a bridge configuration such that the force exerted along the first axis causes an overall resistance of the bridge to be lowered.

7. The keyboard according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the sensor extends into the base.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

an input trace positioned on the base and abutting to the sensor, for coupling the sensor to a voltage source; and

an output trace positioned on the base and coupled to the sensor, for outputting signals indicative of the direction that the shaft is being forced.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising:

a flexible cable for supporting the input and output traces that is mounted on the base.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising:

a cavity formed in the base and located around the shaft sufficient to house the flexible cable for protection thereof.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the cavity is mounted on the bottom of the base.

12. A keyboard for entering data in an information system, comprising:

a) at least two keys located on the keyboard;

b) a shaft, located in proximity of and extending up toward a top surface of the two keys, having a longitudinal length oriented along a first axis extending toward the top surface;

c) a base having a top and bottom side, and the shaft mounted therethrough; and

d) a sensor, mounted circumferentialy around the shaft oriented along the first axis and extending into the base, for conditioning an output signal indicative of a force exerted on the shaft.

13. The keyboard of claim 12, further comprising:

a cavity mounted in the base and located around the shaft.

14. The keyboard of claim 13, further comprising:

an input trace positioned in the cavity and abutting to the sensor, for coupling the sensor to a voltage source; and

an output trace positioned in the cavity and coupling to the sensor, for outputting signals indicative of the direction that the shaft is being forced.

15. The keyboard of claim 14, further comprising:

a flexible cable for supporting the input and output traces is mounted on the base.

16. The keyboard of claim 15, further comprising:

a bonding material located between opposing surfaces of the shaft and the base for securely bonding the shaft to the base.

17. The keyboard according to claim 12, wherein the sensor has a plurality of strain sensitive resistors mounted on the shaft and electrically connected in a bridge configuration such that the force exerted along the first axis causes an overall resistance of the bridge to be lowered.

18. The keyboard according to claim 12, wherein a portion of the sensor extends into the base.

19. The keyboard of claim 18, further comprising:

an input trace positioned on the base and abutting to the sensor, for coupling the sensor to a voltage source; and

an output trace positioned on the base and coupled to the sensor, for outputting signals indicative of the direction that the shaft is being forced.

20. The keyboard of claim 19, further comprising:

a flexible cable for supporting the input and output traces that is mounted on the base.

21. The keyboard of claim 20, further comprising:

a cavity mounted in the base and located around the shaft sufficient to house the flexible cable for protection thereof.

22. The keyboard of claim 21, wherein the cavity is mounted on the bottom of the base.

32. The computer system of claim 21, further comprising:

a cavity mounted in the base and located around the shaft sufficient to house the flexible cable for protection thereof.

33. The computer system of claim 32, wherein the cavity is mounted on the bottom of the base.

23. A computer system, including a keyboard, and a monitor, comprising:

a) a monitor, having a cursor thereon for directing computer system work;

b) at least two keys located on the keyboard that is coupled to send data input to the monitor;

c) a shaft, located near and extending up toward a top surface of the two keys, having a longitudinal length oriented along a first axis extending toward the top surface;

d) a base having a top and bottom side, and the shaft mounted therethrough; and

e) a sensor, mounted circumferentially around the shaft, oriented along the first axis and extending into the base, for conditioning an output signal indicative of a force exerted on the shaft for controlling the cursor on the monitor.

24. The computer system of claim 23, further comprising:

a cavity mounted in the base and located around the shaft; and

the sensor extending into the cavity.

25. The computer system of claim 24, further comprising:

an input trace positioned in the cavity and abutting to the sensor, for coupling the sensor to a voltage source; and

an output trace positioned in the cavity and coupling to the sensor, for outputting signals indicative of the direction that the shaft is being forced.

26. The computer system of claim 25, further comprising:

a flexible cable for supporting the input and output traces is mounted on the base.

27. The computer system of claim 26, further comprising:

a bonding material located between opposing surfaces of the shaft and the base for securely bonding the shaft to the base.

28. The keyboard according to claim 23, wherein the sensor has a plurality of strain sensitive resistors mounted on the shaft and electrically connected in a bridge configuration such that the force exerted along the first axis causes an overall resistance of the bridge to be lowered.

29. The keyboard according to claim 23 wherein a portion of the sensor extends into the base.

30. The computer system of claim 29, further comprising:

an input trace positioned on the base and abutting to the sensor, for coupling the sensor to a voltage source; and

an output trace positioned on the base and coupled to the sensor, for outputting signals indicative of the direction that the shaft is being forced.

31. The computer system of claim 30, further comprising:

a flexible cable for supporting the input and output traces that is mounted on the base.

34. A keyboard for entering data in an information system, comprising:

a) a homerow of keys located on the keyboard for locating fingers of a user during typing; and

b) a cursor control device, mounted on the keyboard, for allowing a user to both select an item on a display device and control the movement of a cursor on the display device by using a single finger of the user while the remaining fingers reside inactive on the homerow, the device including;

b1) resistor means, electrically connected in a bridge such that the bridge has a first resistance value when the item is in an inactive state and has a second resistance value when the item is in an active state;

a) a shaft, located between and extending up toward a top surface of the two keys, having a longitudinal length oriented along a first axis extending toward the top surface, the resistor means circumferentialy mounted to the shaft; and

resistor means extending into the base.

35. The keyboard of claim 34, further comprising:

an input trace positioned on the base and abutting to the sensor, for coupling the sensor to a voltage source; and

an output trace positioned on the base and coupled to the sensor, for outputting signals indicative of the direction that the shaft is being forced.

36. The keyboard of claim 35, further comprising:

a flexible cable for supporting the input and output traces that is mounted on the base.

37. The keyboard of claim 36, further comprising:

a cavity mounted in the base aid located around the shaft sufficient to house the flexible cable for protection thereof.

38. The keyboard of claim 37, wherein the cavity is mounted on the bottom of the base.

39. The keyboard of claim 34, further comprising:

a cavity mounted in the base and located around the shaft.

40. The keyboard of claim 39, further comprising:

an input trace positioned in the cavity and abutting to the sensor, for coupling the sensor to a voltage source; and

an output trace positioned in the cavity and coupling to the sensor, for outputting signals indicative of the direction that the shaft is being forced.

41. The keyboard of claim 40, further comprising:

a flexible cable for supporting the input and output traces is mounted on the base.

42. The keyboard of claim 41, further comprising:

a bonding material located between opposing surfaces of the shaft and the base for securely bonding the shaft to the base.

43. The keyboard according to claim 34, wherein the second resistance value is less than the first resistance value.

44. The keyboard according to claim 34, wherein a portion of the resistor means extends into the base.

45. The keyboard of claim 44, wherein the cursor control device further allows the user to both select the item and drag the item around on the display device.