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Pointing device with solid-state roller

  • US 8,194,039 B2
  • Filed: 01/24/2007
  • Issued: 06/05/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A pointing device comprising:

  • a housing for supporting a user'"'"'s hand;

    a pointing sensor, mounted in said housing, for providing a pointing signal;

    a contour on said housing for receiving a finger of said user, said contour having curvature in two directions; and

    a solid-state scrolling touch sensor in said contour for detecting movement of said finger along said contour;

    wherein said touch sensor includes at least two electrodes, and further comprising;

    a circuit for detecting a contact with an electrode of the at least two electrodes, including a first, capacitive element;

    a second element connected to said capacitive element;

    a comparison circuit, having an input node connected to said capacitive and second elements, for comparing a voltage at said input node to a threshold voltage;

    a clamp-high circuit, connected to said node, for clamping said node high in response to a clamp-high control signal;

    a clamp-low circuit, connected to said input node, for clamping said node low in response to a clamp-low control signal;

    a controller, connected to an output of said comparison circuit, to said clamp-high circuit and to said clamp low circuit, for providing said clamp-high and clamp-low control signals and generating an output signal in response to measuring an amount of time between transitions of said output of said comparison circuit.

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