Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-07
2002-06-04
Lao, Lun-Yi (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C345S157000, C074S4710XY, C341S034000, C463S038000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06400355
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pointing stick device, and more particularly, to a pointing stick device with increased sensitivity in the vertical direction.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pointing devices, such as keyboards, mice, joysticks and remote control devices, are widely used computer peripherals for controlling the movement, position and function of a cursor on a computer screen. The prior art pointing device can only control the two-dimensional movement of the cursor. This means that, after moving the cursor to the desired position, another button must be clicked to execute the desired function. Moreover, as 3-D pictures and 3-D animations become more widespread, a pointing device that can generate three-dimensional, rather than two-dimensional, signals will prove more convenient for users when controlling movements in a 3-D space.
Please refer to FIG.
1
.
FIG. 1
is a cross-sectional diagram of a prior art pointing stick device
10
. The prior art pointing stick device
10
comprises a column-shaped stick
12
for controlling the two-dimensional movements of a cursor (not shown) on a computer screen. The stick
12
has an upper portion
13
and a lower portion
15
. The pointing stick device
10
further comprises a base plate
20
having an aperture
21
for fixing the stick
12
, a plurality of strain gauges
14
vertically installed on the lower portion
15
of the stick
12
, and a binding compound
22
filling the space between the lower portion
15
of the stick
12
and the aperture
21
of the base plate
20
. The strain gauges
14
sense pressure and generate corresponding sensing signals. The binding compound
22
fixes the lower portion
15
of the stick
12
vertically into the aperture
21
of the base plate
20
.
Please refer to FIG.
2
.
FIG. 2
is a cross-sectional diagram of another prior art pointing stick device
30
. The main difference between the pointing stick device
30
and the pointing stick device
10
is that the pointing device
30
has a cover ring
26
installed on the periphery of the binding compound
22
. When the stick is bent by a horizontal force, the cover ring
26
will help generate the reaction forces that squeeze the plurality of strain gauges
14
installed on the stick
12
, and thereby cause the strain gauges
14
to generate the corresponding signals.
Please refer to FIG.
3
and FIG.
4
.
FIG. 3
is a cross-sectional diagram of the pointing stick device
10
or
30
shown in
FIG. 1
or
FIG. 2
with a horizontal force acting on the stick
12
. The central line shown in
FIG. 3
represents the bending direction of the stick
12
with the horizontal force. The bending of the stick
12
caused by the horizontal force will make the strain gauge
14
generate bending strain signals S
x1
, S
y1
.
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional diagram of the pointing stick device
10
or
30
shown in
FIG. 1
or
FIG. 2
with a vertical force acting on the stick
12
. The central line shown in
FIG. 4
represents the direction of compression of the stick
12
with the vertical force. The compression of the stick
12
caused by the vertical force will make the strain gauge
14
generate compressive strain signals S
z1
) When a force is applied to the pointing stick device
10
,
30
, the base plate
20
and the binding compound
22
will squeeze the strain gauges which then generate the strain signals S
x1
, S
y1
, and S
z1.
However, the upper and lower portions
13
,
15
of the stick
12
of the prior art pointing stick devices
10
,
30
are of a vertical, columnar shape, as is the corresponding aperture
21
of the base plate
20
. Thus, when a force is applied to the pointing stick device
10
,
30
, the strain signals S
z1
in the Z direction are too insignificant to use. Although, in the pointing stick device
30
, there is the cover ring
26
installed on the lower portion
15
of the stick
12
, it still cannot intensify the strain signals S
z1
in the Z direction. Furthermore, adding the cover ring
26
on the prior art pointing stick device
30
requires additional materials, gluing and working hours, raising production costs. Accordingly, how to design a pointing stick device with increased sensitivity in the X, Y (horizontal) and Z (vertical) directions becomes the goal for a designer to strive for.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a pointing stick device with increased sensitivity in the vertical direction to solve the above mentioned problems.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a pointing stick device for use with a computer. The pointing stick device comprises:
a base plate having an aperture;
a stick having an upper portion, and a lower portion with a tapering section;
at least one strain gauge installed on the lower portion for sensing pressure and generating corresponding sensing signals; and
a binding compound filling the space between a periphery of the lower portion of the stick and the aperture of the base plate and covering the strain gauge, for fixing the lower portion of the stick vertically in the aperture of the base plate;
wherein when the stick is vertically depressed, the strain gauge installed on the periphery of the lower portion of the stick can sense vertical downward pressure from reaction forces transmitted through the binding compound and generate the corresponding sensing signals.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the pointing stick device can increase the strain gauge sensitivity, especially in the vertical direction.
These and other objectives and advantages 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 that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5043709 (1991-08-01), Kim
patent: 5140313 (1992-08-01), Wen
patent: 5894301 (1999-04-01), Seffernick
patent: 5949354 (1999-09-01), Chang
patent: 5966117 (1999-10-01), Seffernick et al.
patent: 6002388 (1999-12-01), Seffernick et al.
patent: 6184865 (2001-02-01), Zimmerman et al.
Darfon Electronics Corp.
Hsu Winston
Lao Lun-Yi
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