Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system – Orientation or position
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-17
2002-11-19
Bui, Bryan (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system
Orientation or position
C702S094000, C702S095000, C310S364000, C310S370000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06484119
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Filed of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input device for use in a computer or the like which employs deflection detecting elements and can be surface-mounted.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In a conventional input device using deflection detecting elements, as shown in
FIG. 13
, an operation member
51
of synthetic resin having flexibility is provided with a prism-shaped operation portion
51
a
, three planar base portions
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
extending radially from the lower portion of the operation portion
51
a
at a 90° angle to each other, and a joining portion
51
e
for joining three planar base portions
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
in the lower portion of the operation portion
51
a
. The operation member
51
is provided such that all the lower faces of the base portions
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
come into contact with and are mounted on a frame
50
of the keyboard for use in a computer and, in this state, the front end portions of the base portions
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
are pressed against the frame
50
.
In the operation member
51
, the operation portion
51
a
is tilted in the X
1
or X
2
direction, and in the Y
1
or Y
2
direction, so that the base portions
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
are deflected, respectively. The deflection amount is large or small according to an amount of the operation portion
51
a
tilted.
One face of a belt-like flexible substrate
52
made of polyester material is provided with two deflection detecting elements
53
,
54
consisting of a resistor and lead lines
55
,
56
connected to the deflection detecting elements
53
,
54
and formed by printing a conductive ink containing silver.
A part of the flexible substrate
52
has, adhered directly thereto by means of a bonding agent, the side not formed with the deflection detecting elements
53
,
54
on the top face of the base portions
51
b
,
51
c
disposed at a 90° angle to each other. The deflection detecting element
53
on one hand is mounted on the base portion
51
b
, and the deflection detecting element
54
on the other hand is mounted on the base portion
51
c.
In such an input device, the lead portions
55
,
56
formed on the belt-like flexible substrate
52
are connected by soldering to the print board of the keyboard (not shown). In the operation of the input device, when the operation portion
51
a
of the operation member
51
is tilted in the X
1
direction, the top face of the base portion
51
b
is deflected in the extending direction, so that the deflection detecting element
53
disposed on the base portion
51
b
is extended to increase the resistance value. In addition, when the operation portion
51
a
is tilted in the X
2
direction, the top face of the base portion
51
b
is deflected in the-shrinking direction, so that the deflection detecting element
53
disposed on the base portion
51
b
is shrunk to decrease the resistance value.
When the operation portion
51
a
is tilted in the Y
1
, direction, the resistance value of the deflection detecting element
54
is increased according to the principle as described, and when the operation portion
51
a
is tilted in the Y
2
direction, the resistance value of the deflection detecting element
54
is decreased.
Fluctuations of the abovementioned resistance values are detected as fluctuations of the voltage values, and the fluctuations of the voltage values are read by the computer. Then, the computer controls the cursor so that the movement of the operation portion
51
a
in the X
1
or X
2
direction, and in the Y
1
or Y
2
direction may be a movement of the cursor in the upward or downward direction, and in the leftward or rightward direction.
Since the conventional input device uses the flexible substrate
52
, the device is expensive and requires adhesion of the flexible substrate
52
onto the operation member
51
, mounting of the operation member
51
on the frame
50
, and soldering of the leads
55
,
56
to the print board. Thus, the number of assembling processes is increased, whereby the device has poor productivity and requires high cost.
Since the flexible substrate
52
is belt-shaped and larger than the outside shape of the base portions
51
b
,
51
c
and
51
d
, a large space is needed for mounting the flexible substrate
52
on the print board. Thus, the input device becomes large.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an input device which is small, has good productivity, is inexpensive, and can be surface-mounted.
As a first solving means to solve the foregoing problems, an input device having deflection detecting elements has an operation member having a planar substrate portion and an operation portion provided in the substantially center of the substrate portion, a plurality of deflection detecting elements provided on the lower face of the substrate portion, and a plurality of terminal portions consisting of a plurality of electrode portions connected electrically to the deflection detecting elements on the lower face of the substrate portion, and a plurality of terminals in contact with the electrode portions, wherein the plurality of terminals allow the input device to be surface-mounted on land portions of a print board.
As a second solving means, four of the deflection detecting elements are disposed at a 90° angle to each other with respect to the operation portion as its center.
As a third solving means, the portion with the terminal surface-mounted thereon protrudes downwardly from the lower face of the substrate portion, the terminal holding the lower face of the substrate portion so as to be spaced from the print board.
As a fourth solving means, the terminal portion is formed between the adjacent deflection detecting elements.
As a fifth solving means, a beam portion is formed in the substrate portion by providing a hole in the position surrounded by the adjacent deflection detecting elements and the terminal portion, the beam portion being provided with the deflection detecting element.
As a sixth solving means, the terminal is held onto the substrate portion so that a part of the terminal is embedded therein.
As a seventh solving means, the input device further has a flexible substrate provided at one face side with the deflection element and the electrode portion, the flexible substrate having the other face side adhered onto the lower face of the operation member.
As an eighth solving means, the flexible substrate is made smaller than the outside shape of the operation member.
As a ninth solving means, the terminal is a U-shaped clip, the clip gripping the operation member and the flexible substrate, and the clip having its lower piece portion arranged on the print board.
As a tenth solving means, the lower piece portion of the clip is provided with a hole in the position in which the electrode portion and the land portion are opposite to each other.
As an eleventh solving means, the lower piece portion of the clip is provided with a convex portion in the position in which the electrode portion and the land portion are opposite to each other.
As a twelfth solving means, the top portion of the convex portion comes into contact with the electrode portion.
As a thirteenth solving means, the operation member has linear portions formed by cutting off the parts thereof in the positions opposite to each other with respect to the center of the operation portion in the outer circumference portion positioned between the deflection detecting elements, the clip being arranged in the position of the linear portion.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4086815 (1978-05-01), Asano et al.
patent: 5281888 (1994-01-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 5430344 (1995-07-01), Takeuchi et al.
patent: 5548999 (1996-08-01), Kakizaki et al.
patent: 5754167 (1998-05-01), Narusawa et al.
patent: 5867808 (1999-02-01), Selker et al.
Kaneo Kazuo
Maeda Ryoichi
Ogawa Toshio
Okumura Hirofumi
Tochihara Katsuhiko
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Beyer Weaver & Thomas
Bui Bryan
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