Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-26
2001-07-03
Hjerpe, Richard (Department: 2675)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S164000, C341S020000, C341S022000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256013
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to computer pointing devices and, more particularly, to ball-type pointing devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In many of today's computers, commands are entered into the computer by using a mouse pointing device. Typically, the mouse includes a housing partially enclosing a rotatable ball and one or more depressable buttons. As the mouse is moved along a surface, oftentimes a table top, transducers within the mouse sense the ball's rotation and generate signals output to the computer. The signals control a corresponding movement of a cursor, or pointer, on a visual display of the computer. Depending upon the location of the cursor on the visual display, a variety of commands can be entered into the computer by depressing the buttons and actuating switches positioned within the housing. Examples of such commands include launching an application program, pulling down a menu, opening a document, selecting a portion of a document for editing, and creating terminal or other points in a graphic pattern on the visual display.
Today's commercially available mice are assembled from a relatively large number of pieces. Generally, the greater the number of parts in a mouse the more expensive it is to produce. This is because both the number of manufacturing and assembly steps increase with the increasing number of parts. For example, most of today's mice have an upper housing, or case top, assembled from at least two pieces, with the buttons being formed from a separate piece that must be attached to the rest of the case top. While one-piece case top mice are currently available on the market, they require additional pieces within the housing to accommodate the one-piece case top design, and so there is no overall parts reduction. Also, the currently available one-piece piece case top mice have an unsatisfactory limitation on button movement. Currently available mice have the upper and lower parts of the housing fastened together by two or more screws. Currently available mice have switches assembled from a number of separate pieces. Currently available mice have a multi-piece means of biasing the ball against transducers.
Overall, it is desirable to design a mouse pointing device that can be manufactured from as few pieces and in as few manufacturing and assembly steps as possible, without sacrificing the requisite operating characteristics and durability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the principles of the present invention, a computer input device includes a housing formed from a case bottom and a case top. The case top is of unitary construction and includes a main body and a first button movable between rest and actuation positions for user actuation of a first switch. A first spring arm, extending from the main body to approximately a middle portion of the first button, biases the first button into the rest position. A first guide track protruding from the case bottom receives a first restraining arm extending from the first button and restricts the lateral, torsional and upward movement of the first restraining arm and the first button attached thereto. Preferably, the case top of the input device of the present invention includes a second button movable between rest and actuation positions, a second spring arm extending from the main body to the second button and biasing the second button into the rest position, and a second restraining arm extending from the second button and received by a second guide track protruding from the case bottom. The case top further includes securing arms which engage securing hooks projecting from the case bottom, allowing the case top to be releasably fastened to the case bottom with a single selectively removable fastener.
The computer input device of the present invention further includes a switch package consisting of a switch case of unitary construction and a switch spring of unitary construction. The switch spring is positioned within a recess of the switch case, and the switch package is mounted on a printed circuit board positioned within the housing of the input device. The case top includes first and second actuating members respectively projecting from the first and second buttons and. Upon user actuation of the first and second buttons, the first and second actuating members respectively contact and flex the switch spring to make first and second electrical connections between the switch spring and first and second contacts on the circuit board. The switch case engages the case bottom of the housing, securing the switch package to the case bottom and helping to secure the printed circuit board within the housing.
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Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Hjerpe Richard
Microsoft Corporation
Zamani Ali
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