Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-05
2002-03-12
Saras, Steven (Department: 2675)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S163000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06356257
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input device using strain gages, which is suitable for use in a computer or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional input device using strain gages, as shown in
FIG. 21
, a control member
51
, which is made of a flexible synthetic resin of polyphenylene ether, comprises a prismatic control portion
51
a
, three platelike base portions
51
b
,
51
c
, and
51
d
radially extending from the bottom of the control portion
51
a
at right angles to one another, and a linking portion
51
e
for linking the three base portions
51
b
,
51
c
, and
51
d
at the bottom of the control portion
51
a
. This control member
51
is mounted by an appropriate means on a frame
50
of a keyboard used in a computer.
When the control portion
51
a
of the control member
51
is tilted down in the X
1
-, X
2
-, Y
1
-, and Y
2
-directions, the base portions
51
b
,
51
c
, and
51
d
are correspondingly bent. The amount of bending changes according to the amount of tilting of the control portion
51
a.
Such a control member
51
is produced by molding. A mold is prepared which includes a space portion that conforms to the shape of the control member
51
, and an inlet C that is formed at a position corresponding to the end of the base portion
51
c
(see FIG.
21
), and a liquid synthetic resin is injected from the inlet C into the space portion.
A flexible substrate
52
made of polyester has, on one side thereof, two strain gages
53
and
54
formed of resistors, and lead wires
55
and
56
printed in a conductive ink of sliver so as to be connected to the strain gages
53
and
54
.
The opposite side of the flexible substrate
52
from the side where the strain gages
53
and
54
are formed is partly and directly bonded by an adhesive onto the upper surfaces of the base portions
51
b
and
51
c
that are arranged at right angles, so that one of the strain gages
53
is positioned on the base portion
51
b
, and the other strain gage
54
is positioned on the base portion
51
c.
During operation of such an input device, when the control portion
51
a
of the control member
51
is tilted down in the X
1
-direction, the upper side of the base portion
51
b
is bent to stretch, and the strain gage
53
thereon is also stretched, thereby increasing the resistance. When the control portion
51
a
is tilted down in the X
2
-direction, the upper side of the base portion
51
b
is bent to be compressed, and the strain gage
53
thereon is also compressed, thereby decreasing the resistance.
In contrast, when the control portion
51
a
is tilted down in the Y
1
-direction, the resistance of the strain gage
54
increases on the same principle as above. When the control portion
51
a
is tilted down in the Y
2
-direction, the resistance of the strain gage
54
decreases.
FIG. 22
is a circuit diagram of a voltage detecting circuit in the conventional input device. The strain gages
53
and
54
are connected at one end, and are further connected to the ground G. The other ends of the strain gages
53
and
54
are connected to a terminal Tx and a terminal Ty, respectively, from which the voltage divided by a resistive potential divider in the circuit is output. The above-described change in resistance is detected as a change in voltage, and the computer reads the voltage change and controls a cursor so that the cursor moves vertically or horizontally in response to the movement of the control portion
51
a
in the X
1
- and X
2
-directions, or in the Y
1
- and Y
2
-directions.
As described above, the control member
51
of the conventional input device is produced by molding in which a liquid synthetic resin is injected from the inlet C of the mold at a position corresponding to the end of the base portion
51
c
. Therefore, the liquid synthetic resin does not flow smoothly during molding. In particular, it is impossible to give the same thickness to the base portions
51
b
,
51
c
, and
51
d
, which lowers accuracy.
Furthermore, since the control member
51
is made of a synthetic resin of polyphenylene ether, the creep property of the base portion
51
b
is undesirable, and accurate bending is impossible. In addition, the control member
51
has a low heat resistance, and therefore, is not suitable for use in high-temperature environments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an input device in which a plurality of strain gages have identical characteristics, in particular, when glass fiber is used.
In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device including a control member having a control portion, a plurality of beam portions connected at one end to the control portion so as to extend perpendicularly to the axis of the control portion, and a flat base portion connected to the other end of the beam portions; and a strain gage disposed on the beam portions, wherein the control member is formed by molding with the top end of the control portion used as an inlet.
Preferably, the control member is made of a synthetic resin containing glass fiber.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an input device including a control member having a control portion, and a plurality of base portions connected at one end to the control portion so as to extend perpendicularly to the axis of the control portion; and a strain gage disposed on the base portions, wherein the control member is formed by molding with the top end of the control portion used as an inlet.
Preferably, the control member is made of a synthetic resin containing glass fiber.
Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4892900 (1990-01-01), Sasaki et al.
patent: 5228348 (1993-07-01), Fridgiere
patent: 5473347 (1995-12-01), Collas et al.
patent: 5489900 (1996-02-01), Cali et al.
patent: 5521596 (1996-05-01), Selkar et al.
patent: 5754167 (1998-05-01), Narusawa et al.
patent: 2584201 (1997-02-01), None
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Kumar Srilakshmi
Saras Steven
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