Compact cursor controller structure for use with laptop, notebook and hand-held computers and keyboards
First Claim
1. A compact cursor controller comprising:
- a housing having an opening through the top thereof;
a controller structure substantially disposed within said housing and having a puck that includes a puck protrusion extending through said opening and a first brush within said housing coupled to said puck and a second brush within said housing coupled to said puck;
a printed circuit board disposed within said housing and coupled to said first brush and said second brush and configured to generate a first sensor signal in response to movement of said first brush on a first conductive strip and to generate a second sensor signal in response to movement of said second brush on a second conductive strip oriented perpendicular to said first conductive strip; and
a processor coupled to said first conductive strip and said second conductive strip and configured to receive said first sensor signal and said second sensor signal to determine a position of said puck;
wherein said first conductive strip includes a first sub-strip having a plurality of fingers laid on said printed circuit board and configured to contact said first brush and to generate a first binary sub-signal in response to movement of said first brush on said first sub-strip, and a second sub-strip having a plurality of fingers laid on said printed circuit board staggered in position with said first sub-strip fingers and configured to contact said first brush and to generate a second binary sub-signal in response to movement of said first brush on said second sub-strip wherein said first binary sub-signal and said second binary sub-signal create at least four possible position codes;
wherein said second conductive strip includes a third sub-strip having a plurality of fingers laid on said printed circuit board and configured to contact said second brush and to generate a third binary sub-signal in response to movement of said second brush on said third sub-strip, and a fourth sub-strip having a plurality of fingers laid on said printed circuit board staggered in position with said third sub-strip fingers and configured to contact said second brush and to generate a fourth binary sub-signal in response to movement of said second brush on said fourth sub-strip wherein said third binary sub-signal and said fourth binary sub-signal create at least four possible position codes; and
wherein said processor is configured to receive said first binary sub-signal and said second binary sub-signal and to determine a direction of movement of said first brush on said first conductive strip, and to receive said third binary sub-signal and said fourth binary sub-signal and to determine a direction of movement of said second brush on said second conductive strip.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compact cursor controller includes a housing having an opening through the top thereof. A controller structure is substantially disposed within the housing and has a puck extending through the opening and a first brush within the housing and a second brush within the housing. A printed circuit board is disposed within the housing and coupled to the first brush and the second brush and configured to generate a first sensor signal in response to movement of the first brush on a first conductive strip and to generate a second sensor signal in response movement of the second brush on a second conductive strip oriented perpendicular to the first conductive strip. A processor is coupled to the first conductive strip and the second conductive strip and configured to receive the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal to determine a position of the puck. The processor then sends a puck position signal to a computer. Advantages of the invention include compact size and a high degree of accurate cursor control. Moreover, the invention provides good ergonomics that reduces fatigue.
38 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A compact cursor controller comprising:
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a housing having an opening through the top thereof; a controller structure substantially disposed within said housing and having a puck that includes a puck protrusion extending through said opening and a first brush within said housing coupled to said puck and a second brush within said housing coupled to said puck; a printed circuit board disposed within said housing and coupled to said first brush and said second brush and configured to generate a first sensor signal in response to movement of said first brush on a first conductive strip and to generate a second sensor signal in response to movement of said second brush on a second conductive strip oriented perpendicular to said first conductive strip; and a processor coupled to said first conductive strip and said second conductive strip and configured to receive said first sensor signal and said second sensor signal to determine a position of said puck; wherein said first conductive strip includes a first sub-strip having a plurality of fingers laid on said printed circuit board and configured to contact said first brush and to generate a first binary sub-signal in response to movement of said first brush on said first sub-strip, and a second sub-strip having a plurality of fingers laid on said printed circuit board staggered in position with said first sub-strip fingers and configured to contact said first brush and to generate a second binary sub-signal in response to movement of said first brush on said second sub-strip wherein said first binary sub-signal and said second binary sub-signal create at least four possible position codes; wherein said second conductive strip includes a third sub-strip having a plurality of fingers laid on said printed circuit board and configured to contact said second brush and to generate a third binary sub-signal in response to movement of said second brush on said third sub-strip, and a fourth sub-strip having a plurality of fingers laid on said printed circuit board staggered in position with said third sub-strip fingers and configured to contact said second brush and to generate a fourth binary sub-signal in response to movement of said second brush on said fourth sub-strip wherein said third binary sub-signal and said fourth binary sub-signal create at least four possible position codes; and wherein said processor is configured to receive said first binary sub-signal and said second binary sub-signal and to determine a direction of movement of said first brush on said first conductive strip, and to receive said third binary sub-signal and said fourth binary sub-signal and to determine a direction of movement of said second brush on said second conductive strip. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A compact cursor controller comprising:
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a housing having an opening through the top thereof; a controller structure substantially disposed within said housing and having a puck that includes a puck protrusion extending through said opening and a first brush within said housing coupled to said puck and a second brush within said housing coupled to said puck; a printed circuit board disposed within said housing and coupled to said first brush and said second brush and configured to generate a first sensor signal in response to movement of said first brush on a first conductive strip and to generate a second sensor signal in response to movement of said second brush on a second conductive strip oriented perpendicular to said first conductive strip; and a processor coupled to said first conductive strip and said second conductive strip and configured to receive said first sensor signal and said second sensor signal to determine a position of said puck; wherein said first brush is disposed in a first holder and said second brush is disposed in a second holder wherein said first brush and said second brush are disposed to maintain a predetermined thickness with wear; wherein said first holder includes an upward protrusion configured to travel through a first opening in a first plate and to mate with a first recess in a second plate and said second holder includes an upward protrusion configured to travel through a second opening in said first plate and to mate with a second recess in said second plate; and wherein said puck protrusion is configured to mate with a recess on opposite side of said first recess and said second recess of said second plate. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification