Cursor controller

• US 6,522,320 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2000
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shin Jiuh Corp.
• Original Assignee: Shin Jiuh Corp.
• Inventors: Chou, Chin-Wen
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spencer, William C.
• Application Number:
  US09/537,558
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/159, 345/160, 345/161, 345/173, 345/174, 345/175, 345/176, 345/177, 345/178, 345/179, 338/99, 178/18.01, 178/18.05
• US Class Current: 345/157
• 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 cursor controller used to control displacement direction and speed of a cursor by changing equivalent capacitance comprises a conductive layer, two electrode layers and a press body. The electrode layers are attached to each face of the conductive layer respectively, wherein a plurality of electrode lines is formed on each electrode layer; one end of each electrode line is coupled with a resistor, and a vector zone is formed on each electrode layer at a section without connected resistor to cross each other perpendicularly in different orientations. An insulation portion is printed on a peripheral area of the electrode lines and on the resistors. The conductive layer and the electrode layers are glued together to form a thin-film printed circuit board. When the press body is pressed against the electrode layer the conductive layer will contact the electrode layers to effect a matrix output signal.

Claims

1. A cursor controller used for controlling displacement direction and speed of a cursor by changing equivalent resistance, the cursor controller comprising:

a conductive layer;

two electrode layers attached on two faces of said conductive layer respectively, wherein a plurality of electrode lines are formed on each electrode layer;

one end of each electrode line is connected with a resistor, and a section without any resistor connected thereto forms a vector zone on each electrode layer, wherein the two vector zones are aligned in different orientations;

an insulation portion is formed at circumference of said electrode lines or on the resistors;

the electrode lines on said electrode layers being contacted with said conductive layer to effect a matrix output signal for controlling the displacement direction and speed of the cursor when an external article is applied to press against one of said electrode layers; and

wherein said external article is a press body with a convex face having a positioning portion.

2. The cursor controller according to claim 1, wherein said conductive layer is made of a conductive material of soft silicon gel.

3. The cursor controller according to claim 1, wherein said press body may be positioned with its circumferential structure.

4. The cursor controller according to claim 1, wherein said insulation portion is composed of two pieces of thin-film body disposed respectively in between said electrode layers and said conductive layer, and a plurality of channels is formed on each said thin-film body.

5. The cursor controller according to claim 4, wherein said thin-film body is made of a soft plastic material.

6. The cursor controller according to claim 1, wherein said electrode layers are made of a resilient soft plastic material.

7. The cursor controller according to claim 1, wherein those two electrode layers are assumed as a X-axis and a Y-axis respectively.

8. The cursor controller according to claim 7, wherein said X-axis may be further divided into two vectors, namely, +X-axis and −

X-axis.

9. The cursor controller according to claim 7, wherein said Y-axis may be further divided into two vectors, namely, +Y-axis and −

Y-axis.

10. The cursor controller according to claim 1, wherein a positioning hole is perforated in said conductive layer and said electrode layers to form a positioning section respectively.

11. The cursor controller according to claim 1, wherein polar coordinates or other curves may be adopted to said electrode layers for improving linear characteristics.

12. The cursor controller according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of electrode lines on said electrode layer is formed in loops, and a resistor is printed on a optimum position of the loops while a plurality of radial electrode lines is formed on said electrode layer;

and, a resistor is printed at rim or center of said radial electrode lines.

13. The cursor controller according to claim 1, wherein the two vector zones are aligned perpendicular to one another.