Cursor control device

• US 6,654,003 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boldy, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US09/998,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20020084983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/159, 345/160, 345/161, 345/163, 345/164, 345/165, 345/166, 345/167, 345/701, 345/702, 744/71.XY, 744/71.R, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A cursor control device, such as a trackball, controls the movement of a cursor on a computer display. An electromagnetically generated braking effect is applied to the trackball, which effect varies with the speed of the cursor to allow precise control of the cursor.

Claims

1. A cursor control device for controlling the movement of a cursor on a computer display, said cursor control device comprising:

a tracking element; and

a braking device operable to apply a braking force on said tracking element, said braking force being dependent on the speed of said cursor, and

wherein the braking device further comprises a cylinder carrying a coil and being provided with a first iron core carrying a pin to be inserted into a respective opening provided in a second iron core arranged at an inner bottom portion of a pot-like element, whereby said pin is fixedly connected with a plate arranged at an outer bottom portion of said pot-like element through a bore coaxial to said opening, said second iron core being adapted to slidably move along said pin, and wherein said pot-like element is provided with a ring arranged at a top portion thereof.

2. The cursor control device of claim 1, wherein said tracking element is spherical.

3. The cursor control device of claim 2, wherein said tracking element comprises an iron shell.

4. The cursor control device of claim 1 wherein said tracking element forms part of a mouse, a trackball, or a joystick.

5. The cursor control device of claim 1 wherein said braking force is generated by an electromagnetic device.

6. The cursor control device of claim 5, wherein said electromagnetic device generates a magnetic field that can be periodically switched on and off.

7. The cursor control device of claim 5, wherein said electromagnetic device generates a continuously variable magnetic field.

8. The cursor control device of claim 1, wherein said ring is made of a material selected from the group comprising felt, fleece, rubber, cork or mixtures thereof.

9. The cursor control device of claim 1, wherein said pot-like element is movable between a non-activated and an activated state.

10. The cursor control device of claim 1, wherein the length of said pin is dimensioned such that a distance between a lower surface of said first iron core and an upper surface of said plate is greater than the thickness of said second iron core.

11. The cursor control device of claim 1, comprising one or more cylinders disposed adjacent to said tracking element, each cylinder having a coil mounted therein, whereby an upper end of said cylinder carries a braking surface for engaging with said tracking element, and wherein a lower end of said cylinder has the form of a round plate serving as a stopper, said coil being inserted into a magnetic ring, and a spring being arranged between said ring and said plate.

12. The cursor control device of claim 11, wherein said magnetic ring is secured to a housing and said coil rests on a bottom of said housing.

13. The cursor control device of claim 1, further comprising a light sensor.

14. The cursor control device of claim 13 wherein said light sensor is an IR light barrier.