Pointing device

• US 7,595,712 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Kazuo, Nakamura, Shuji, Nishino, Takeshi, Kiryu, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rojas; Bernard
• Application Number:
  US10/986,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 335205-207, 200/151, 200/302.1, 200/302.3, 200/5.A, 200/6.R, 200/512, 200/4, 345/156, 345/157, 345/160, 345/161, 345/163
• US Class Current: 335/207
• 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 an operating section shiftably supported on a base section, a magnet carried on the base section or the operating section, and a magneto-electro transducer carried on the other close to the magnet. A first part securely holding one of the magnet and the magneto-electro transducer and shiftably supported on the base section in a horizontal direction relative to the base section, and a second part connected to and elastically biasing the first part towards a home position in a horizontal shifting range when the first part is horizontally shifted along the base section. The second part integrated with a major portion surrounding a circumference of the first part that has a first connecting portion connected to the first part and a second connecting portion connected to the base section, and exerting an even elastic biasing force irrespective of a shifting direction of the first part.

Claims

1. A pointing device, comprising:

a base section;

an operating section shiftably supported on said base section;

a single magnet carried on said operating section; and

a magneto-electro transducer carried on said base section near said magnet;

wherein said operating section includes a holding part securely holding said magnet and shiftably supported on said base section, an elastic part having a first connecting portion inserted into said holding part and a second connection portion opposite to said first connecting portion and connected to said base section, said elastic part 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, and a key top attached to said holding part independently from said elastic part;

wherein an operating surface is formed on said key top, for said shifting operation of said operating section;

wherein said elastic part is provided integrally with a major portion exposed outside of a cover member housing said magnet, said major portion exerting an even elastic biasing force irrespective of a shifting direction of said holding part and said major portion surrounding substantially an entire circumference of a fixing portion of said holding part, said fixing portion fixedly holding said magnet about a center axis of said holding part, and

wherein said elastic part is provided integrally with said first connecting portion inserted into said holding part at one end of said major portion adjacent to said key top and said second connecting portion connected to said base section at another end of said major portion.

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.

3. A pointing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said holding part includes an extension penetrating outward through said connecting portion of said elastic part, said key top being attached to said extension.

4. 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.

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

an operating section shiftably supported on said base section, the operating section having a first part securely holding a single magnet; and

an elastic part connected integrally with a portion exposed outside a cover member housing said magnet and said portion elastically biases the first part regardless of a shifting direction of the first part on the base section,

where said portion of the elastic part surrounds substantially an entire circumference of a fixing portion of said first part,

said elastic part is provided integrally with a first connecting portion inserted into said first part at one end of a major portion of the elastic part adjacent to a key top attached to the first part independent of said elastic part and said fixing portion fixedly holds said magnet about a center axis of said first part, and

a second connecting portion is provided opposite to said first connecting portion and connected to said base section at another end of the major portion.

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

an operating section shiftably supported on the base section, the operating section having a first part securely holding a single magnet;

an elastic part of the operating section connected integrally with a portion exposed outside of a cover member housing said magnet and said portion elastically biasing the first part regardless of a shifting direction of the first part on the base section; and

a key panel including a plurality of key tops, where said key panel is formed integrally with the elastic part, said portion of the elastic part substantially surrounds an entire circumference of a fixing portion of said first part, said elastic part is provided with a first connecting portion inserted into the first part at one end adjacent to said key panel and said fixing portion fixedly holds said magnet about a center axis of said first part, and

a second connecting portion provided opposite to said first connecting portion and connected to said base section at another end of the major portion.

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

a holding part shiftably supported on said base section and securely holding a single magnet;

an elastic part having a major portion surrounding a fixing portion of the holding part and a first connecting portion inserted into the holding part, the holding part having an extension protruding through a portion of the elastic part and said fixing portion fixedly holding said magnet about a center axis of said holding part; and

an operating surface having a key top formed separate from said elastic part,

where the extension of the holding part is inserted into a recess formed on the key top and the major portion of the elastic part exerts an even elastic biasing force irrespective of a shifting direction of said holding part, and

a second connecting portion provided opposite to said first connecting portion and connected to said base section at another end of the major portion.