Depressable computer touch input device for activating an additional control signal

• US 7,834,858 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: KYE Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: KYE Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Li-Wen, Zhang, Hui-Zhen
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US11/580,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20080036733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-175, 345/179
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0354 with detection of 2D relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A trace-detecting computer input device such as a touch input device, optical tracing module, or optical tracing plate includes a trace-detecting module and a microswitch. The trace-detecting module has a neutral position and a depressed position. A first control signal is generated when an object moves across the top of the trace-detecting module. When the trace-detecting module is in the depressed position, the microswitch is activated to generate a second control signal which is in addition to the trace-detecting first control signal.

Claims

1. A computer input device comprising:

a body including a cavity;

a trace-detecting module slidably positioned in said cavity such that trace-detecting module is movable relative to the body from a neutral position to a depressed position against a bias provided by a resilient element that is connected to the trace-detecting module, the trace-detecting module including a light pervious element, a light source, and a light sensor that are fixed within said trace-detecting module and movable with the trace-detecting element relative to the body and a microswitch;

wherein the trace-detecting module generates a first control signal upon detecting movement of a user'"'"'s finger across the light pervious element,

wherein the trace-detecting module is arranged to be moved by the user'"'"'s finger from said neutral position to said depressed position, the light pervious element, light source, and light sensor all being depressed with the trace-detecting module, the microswitch generating a second control signal when the trace-detecting module is moved to said depressed position.

2. The trace-detecting input device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trace-detecting input device is a touch input device.

3. A computer input device, comprising:

a body including a cavity;

a microswitch; and

a trace-detecting module movably mounted in said cavity, a top of the trace-detecting module having a light-pervious element, which is positioned opposite to a light source and a light sensor that are fixed in said trace-detecting module and movable with the trace-detecting module relative to the body and the microswitch;

wherein the trace-detecting module has a neutral position and a depressed position to which the trace-detecting module, together with the light-pervious element, light source, and light sensor, is moved by a user'"'"'s finger;

wherein the trace-detecting module generates a first control signal while the user'"'"'s finger is moving across a top of the trace-detecting module; and

wherein the microswitch generates a second control signal while the trace-detecting module is at the depressed position.

4. A computer input device with a depressible trace-detecting module, comprising:

a body including a cavity;

a microswitch; and

a trace-detecting module movably mounted in said cavity, a top of the trace-detecting module having a light-pervious element, which is positioned opposite to a light source and a light sensor that are fixed in said trace-detecting module and movable with the trace-detecting module relative to the body and the microswitch;

a resilient element for biasing the trace-detecting module to a neutral position;

wherein the trace-detecting module has a depressed position in addition to the neutral position, said trace-detecting module being moved, together with the light pervious element, light source, and light sensor, by a user'"'"'s finger from the neutral position to the depressed position;

wherein the trace-detecting module generates a first control signal while the user'"'"'s finger is moving across a top of the trace-detecting module; and

wherein the microswitch generates a second control signal while the trace-detecting module is at the depressed position; and

the resilient element restores the trace-detecting module to the neutral position.