Pointing stick with top mounted z-axis sensor

• US 6,239,786 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Inventors: Taylor, Eric B., Hartigan, Timothy L., Dedert, Ronald J., Grube, Mark, Seffernick, Lewis L., VandenBoom, Robert M., Raesner, Dennis, Clark, Nelson T., Burry, Stephen W., Stuckey, Ronald, Poole, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZAMANI, ALI A
• Application Number:
  US09/201,207
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 345/161, 345/156, 345/160, 345/168, 341/22, 341/23
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• 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

Abstract

A pointing stick for controlling the positioning, movement and operation of a cursor on the display screen. Specifically, there is a pointing stick that both directs a cursor and acts as the activation button for selecting items on the display screen by tapping on the pointing stick instead of clicking on a mouse button. Uniquely, the device is made of a shaft (12) having a longitudinal length oriented along a first axis (39) and having a top surface that is perpendicular to the first axis, there is a vertical force sensor (59, or 71), mounted on the top surface of the shaft, for sensing a vertical oriented force applied to the shaft along the first axis. Cap (24), has a cavity (81) with a top surface (79) therein, where the top surface of the shaft is positioned within the cavity and spaced from and juxtaposed to the top surface of the cavity. In one embodiment the vertical sensor includes first and second electrically conductive pads that are electrically isolated from each other. The vertical sensor also has a flexible conductive layer positioned next to the top surface of the cavity of the cap. Additionally, the vertical sensor has an electrically insulative spacer (78) shaped to position the first and second pads away from the flexible conductive layer. In a second embodiment, the vertical sensor comprises a pressure sensitive layer (60) located on the top surface of the shaft. Additionally, the alternative vertical sensor has a strain concentrator, shaped and positioned to concentrate a z-axis oriented force applied to the cap to effect the electrical conductivity of the pressure sensitive layer.

Claims

1. A device for controlling movement of an object that is electrically responsive to the device, comprising:

a) a shaft having a longitudinal length oriented along a first axis and having a top surface that is generally perpendicular to the first axis;

b) a flexible cap disposed over the top surface, the cap having a conductive layer attached to the cap between the cap and the top surface;

c) a base having an end of the shaft fixedly mounted thereon;

d) a horizontal sensor, mounted on the shaft, for sensing a generally horizontal oriented force that is applied to the shaft in a direction that is oriented generally perpendicular to the first axis; and

e) a vertical sensor, mounted on the top surface of the shaft, for sensing a generally vertical oriented force that is applied to the shaft generally in a direction that is oriented along the first axis, the vertical sensor including;

e1) a first and second electrically conductive pads that are electrically isolated from each other such that a sufficient vertical force applied to the cap will cause the conductive layer to deform and contact both the first and second pads to make electrical contact therebetween; and

e2) an electrically insulative spacer that is shaped to position the first and second pads away from the conductive layer.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the spacer has a raised portion positioned between the first and second pads.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal sensor is a pressure sensitive strip, located on at least two sides of the shaft, having a first end that extends to a first point that is above the top surface of the base and a second end that extends to a second point that is located below the top surface of the base.

4. A device for controlling movement of an object that is electrically responsive to the device, comprising:

a) a shaft having a longitudinal length oriented along a first axis and having side surfaces and a top surface that is generally perpendicular to the first axis;

b) a flexible cap disposed over the second surface;

c) a base having an end of the shaft fixedly mounted thereon;

d) a horizontal sensor, mounted on at least one of the side surfaces, for sensing a generally horizontal oriented force that is applied to the shaft in a direction that is oriented generally perpendicular to the first axis; and

e) a vertical sensor, mounted on the top surface of the shaft, for sensing a generally vertical oriented force that is applied to the shaft generally in a direction that is oriented along the first axis, the vertical sensor including;

e1) a pressure sensitive layer located on the top surface of the shaft such that a sufficient vertical force applied to the cap will cause the pressure sensitive layer to deform and cause a change in electrical conductivity of the pressure sensitive layer;

f) a strain concentrator attached to the cap and located between the cap and the pressure sensitive layer, the strain concentrator shaped and positioned to concentrate the vertical oriented force applied to the cap.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the strain concentrator is a rounded cone having an apex positioned on the pressure sensitive layer.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the horizontal sensor is a pressure sensitive strip, located on at least two sides of the shaft, having a first end that extends to a first point that is above the top surface of the base and a second end that extends to a second point that is located below the top surface of the base.

7. A joystick, comprising:

a) an elongated shaft having a plurality of side surfaces and a top surface that is generally perpendicular to the side surfaces;

b) a flexible cap disposed over the top surface, the cap having a conductive layer attached to the cap between the cap and the top surface;

c) a base having an end of the shaft fixedly mounted thereon;

d) a horizontal sensor, mounted on at least one of the side surfaces, for sensing a generally horizontal oriented force that is applied to the shaft; and

e) a vertical sensor, mounted on the top surface of the shaft, for sensing a generally vertical oriented force that is applied to the shaft, the vertical sensor including;

e1) a first and second electrically conductive pads that are electrically isolated from each other such that a sufficient vertical force applied to the cap will cause the conductive layer to deform and contact the first and second pads to make electrical contact therebetween; and

e2) an electrically insulative spacer that is shaped to position the first and second pads away from the conductive layer.