Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-13
2001-07-17
Hjerpe, Richard (Department: 2774)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S164000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262714
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pointing device, and more particularly, to a pointing device with a detachable roller ball module.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pointing devices are indispensable PC peripherals. A common prior art pointing device comprises a roller ball, two light gratings, and two sensors within its housing. The light gratings sense rotations of the roller ball in two different directions and the sensors sense rotations of the two light gratings to generate two-dimensional pointing signals. Since the pointing device already can be easily controlled and operated, most of the current focus is on improving its internal structure and modifying the shape of its housing.
Please refer to FIG.
1
.
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of an internal structure of a prior art pointing device
10
. The pointing device
10
comprises a housing
12
, and a roller ball module
14
integrally installed in the housing for installing a roller ball (not shown). Because the housing
12
and the roller ball module
14
are integrally built, the roller ball module
14
can not be detached for regular cleaning and maintenance. Moreover, each time a new pointing device is developed, a new mold has to be developed for making the new pointing device. Since a roller ball module has a very complex structure, resigning and making a new mold for the new roller ball module is very costly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a pointing device with a detachable roller ball module to solve the above mentioned problem.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a pointing device comprising:
a housing;
a roller ball module having:
a mounting frame detachably installed in the housing;
a roller ball rotatably fixed in the mounting frame; and
two light gratings rotatably installed in the mounting frame for contacting the roller ball to detect rotations of the roller ball in two different directions; and
a circuit board installed in the housing having two optic sensors for sensing rotations of the two light gratings and generating corresponding two-dimensional pointing signals;
wherein the roller ball module can be attached to or detached from the housing directly by hand.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the roller ball module can be detached from the housing for regular cleaning and maintenance, and that a mold for making the roller ball module can be reused for making a new roller ball module when a new pointing device is developed.
This and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5345253 (1994-09-01), Chang
patent: 5448023 (1995-09-01), Tooi
patent: 5828364 (1998-10-01), Siddiqui
Eisen Alexander
Hjerpe Richard
Hsu Winston
Primax Electroniocs Lts.
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