Pointing device

• US 7,489,296 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Kazuo, Kiryu, Koichi, Nakamura, Shuji, Nishino, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Schuberg; Darren
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas; Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US10/986,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 310/15, 345/160, 345/161, 345/168, 345/169, 345156-157, 345/163, 335205-207, 744/71, 463/37, 463/38, D14402-417, 200/5.R
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04744 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04755 Magnetic sensor, e.g. hall generator, pick-up coil
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• 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 device including a base section, an operating section shiftably supported on the base section, a magnet carried on one of the base section and the operating section, and a magneto-electro transducer carried on the other of the base section and the operating section at a location close to the magnet. The operating section includes a first part securely holding one of the magnet and the magneto-electro transducer and supported on the base section shiftably in a desired horizontal direction relative to the base section, and a second part connected to the first part and elastically biasing the first part toward a home position in a horizontal shifting range during a period when the first part is horizontally shifted along the base section. The second part of the operating section is provided integrally with a major portion substantially surrounding an entire circumference of the first part, a first connecting portion connected to the first part at one end of the major portion and a second connecting portion connected to the base section at another end of the major portion; the major portion exerting an even elastic biasing force irrespective of a shifting direction of the first part on the base section.

Claims

1. A pointing device, comprising:

a base section;

an operating section shiftably supported on said base section;

a magnet carried on said operating section;

said operating section including a holding part securely holding said magnet and shiftably supported on said base section, and an elastic part connected to said holding part and exerting an elastic force for returning said holding part to a home position in a shifting range, while accompanying a shifting operation of said holding part on said base section;

a magneto-electro transducer carried on said base section at a location close to said magnet; and

a shifting limiting element in contact with said elastic part and defining said shifting range of said holding pad on said base, a center axis of the shifting limiting element constituting a center axis of the pointing device and defining said home position of the holding part, and

wherein said elastic part of said operating section is provided integrally with a major portion surrounding substantially an entire outer circumference of said holding part, and said elastic pad has a first connecting portion connected to said holding part at one end of said major portion and said major portion exerts an even elastic biasing force irrespective of a shifting direction of said holding part on said base section.

2. A pointing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holding part and said elastic part of said operating section are formed separately from and assembled to each other, said elastic pad is provided with a second connecting portion connected to said base section at another end of said major portion and formed integrally with said major portion and said first connecting portion extending to be laid over said holding pad.

3. A portable information apparatus comprising:

a pointing device as set forth in claim 1; and

a key panel including a plurality of key tops, said key panel being formed integrally with said elastic part of said operating section of said pointing device.

4. A pointing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pointing device is installed in a portable information apparatus comprising a key panel including a plurality of key tops and said elastic part of said operating section is formed integrally with said key panel.

5. A pointing device, comprising:

an operating section horizontally moveable with respect to a base section, said operating section having a holding part shiftably supported on said base section and a basin-shaped elastic part surrounding an entire outer circumference of the holding part and generating an elastic force;

a support member provided to the base section, said support member having a wall defining a range for shifting the holding part and a peripheral portion of the elastic part in contact with and surrounding said wall; and

wherein said elastic part exerts an even biasing force regardless of a horizontal shifting direction of the holding part resulting from a shifting operation of a user and a center axis of said wall constitutes a center axis of the pointing device and defines a home position of the holding part.

6. A pointing device having a base section, comprising:

an operating section shiftably supported on the base section, said operating section having a holding part securely holding a magnet and an elastic part which is elastically deformed in a direction opposite to a shifting direction and returns a shifting range of said holding part; and

a shifting defining element in contact with a lower portion of said elastic part and defining the shifting range of said holding section, where said elastic part surrounds an entire outer circumference of the holding part and a center axis of the shifting defining element constitutes a center axis of the pointing device and defines a home position of the holding part.