X-Y direction input device

• US 4,806,917 A
• Filed: 06/13/1988
• Issued: 02/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Hosogoe, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Caldwell, Sr., John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OBERLEY, ALVIN E
• Application Number:
  US07/206,915
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 340/710, 340/709, 340/706, 178/18, 178/19, 178/20, 74/471 XY, 74/198, 200/6 A, 273/148 B, 33/1 M
• US Class Current: 345/164
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

An X-Y direction input device used, for example, in a graphic display apparatus includes some members enclosed in a casing and requiring electrical connection to each other. The casing is divided into upper and lower cases one of which has some chamber defining walls or ribs and the other has associated projections or pins, so as to accept the members previously connected physically, electrically to each other in the respective chambers and suppressingly support them in the chambers by the projections or pins.

Claims

1. In an X-Y direction input device comprising a rotary ball, a first follower roller contacting the rotary ball for axial rotation therewith to indicate a first input direction, a second follower roller contacting the rotary ball for axial rotation therewith disposed in an axial direction perpendicular to that of the first follower roller to indicate a second input direction, a first rotary-type electrical member axially connected to the first follower roller for detecting the axial rotation thereof, a second rotary-type electrical member axially connected to the second follower roller for detecting the axial rotation thereof, a switch board having push switches thereon provided for controlling certain functions of the input device, and switch actuating members for actuating the push switches, and a casing for holding the rotary ball, first and second follower rollers, first and second rotary-type electrical members, and switch board in respective defined positions therein,

the improvement comprising:

each said rotary-type electrical member including a code plate having pattern areas which is secured to the corresponding follower roller for rotation, sliders contactable with said pattern areas of said code plate, and a holder supporting respective ends of said sliders having electrical junctions thereof at one end remote from said code plate, wherein said first and second rotary-type electrical members are positioned such that said one ends of their respective holders extend toward each other;

a flexible printed circuit board having a first side which is electrically and mechanically connected to said electrical junctions on said one end of said holder of said first rotary-type electrical member, a second side which is electrically and mechanically connected to said electrical junctions on said one end of said holder of said second rotary-type electrical member, and a third side which is electrically and mechanically connected to said switch board, wherein said first and second follower rollers, first and second rotary-type electrical members, and switch board are conjoined in a single assemblage with said flexible printed circuit board such that they are positioned relative to each other in a unitary structure in the same positions as their respective defined positions in the casing;

said casing having a plurality of position defining means for receiving said single assemblage as a unit and holding each of said conjoined first and second follower rollers, first and second rotary-type electrical members, and switch board in their respective defined positions.

2. An X-Y direction input device of claim 1 wherein said casing comprises upper and lower cases one of which has a plurality of position defining recesses constituting said positive defining means and the other has a plurality of projections or pins, so that bearings of said first and second follower rollers and holders forming outer shells of said first and second rotary electrical members are individually accepted in corresponding chambers defined by said position defining recesses and are also suppressingly supported by said projections or pins.

3. An X-Y direction input device of claim 1 further comprising a frictional force applying means which includes a compression roller rotatably contacting said ball, a roller support member rotatably supporting both ends of an axle of said compression roller, a fixture member rotatably supporting said roller support member at one end thereof remote from said axle, and a spring biasing said roller support member at the other end thereof remote from said one end toward said ball.