Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-23
2001-01-23
Picard, Leo P. (Department: 2835)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C361S689000, C361S689000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06177924
ABSTRACT:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all rights accruing thereto under 35 U.S.C. §119 through my patent application entitled Contrivance for Mounting a Pointing Device in an Electronic System earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on the 24th day of Dec. 1997 and there duly assigned Ser. No. 1997/73686.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a device for mounting a cursor movement control device in an electronic system such as computer and, more specifically, to a device for mounting a touch pad device in a portable computer.
2. Background Art
Various electromechanical devices are known in the art for effecting the movement of a cursor on a display device using control signals. For example, so-called “joy-sticks” are frequently used with computing equipment to move a cursor, or another image, that is displayed on the face of the display device. A typical joy-stick operates by producing control signals by means of electrical potentiometers linked to the movable actuating rod where the magnitude of the signal determines the rate of motion and the polarity of the signal determines the direction of cursor movement. Another well known device is the so-called “track ball”. The track ball has a spherical member is mounted in a socket that allows the spherical member to rotate about any axis. By rotating the track ball control signals are generated that direct the motion of a cursor, or another image, along the face of a display device. Similar to the track ball is the so-called “mouse” that has a spherical member covered by a palm-sized housing. By pushing the palm-sized housing along a supporting surface the spherical member is rotated and signals are sent to the computer that control the motion of a cursor, or another image, along the face of a display device.
More recently developed than the above devices is the “touch pad”. The touch pad allows a user to manipulate the position of a cursor, or another image, along the face of a display device by sliding a finger over the surface of the touch-pad. The touch pad can be made using a printed circuit board that has a pattern of conductors formed in a grid, using a predetermined spacing, that may is juxtaposed with a flexible plastic insulating layer having a pattern of metallization on the under surface. By depressing the flexible layer against the underlying printed circuit grid, signals are produced that are directly related to the particular point on the pad that is being touched.
A touch pad may be designed with several buttons that function similarly to the right and left buttons of a mouse. In the process of mounting a touch pad onto the housing of a portable computer, the touch pad plate is placed against the plastic housing and covered by a plastic mounting case. To protect the touch pad from electromagnetic interference it is necessary to plate the plastic case prior to using the plastic case to support the touch pad plate. The plating process, however, generates contaminants and can adversely affect the workers in the manufacturing facility where the touch pad device is produced. In addition, the use of the plastic mounting case, in addition to the plated metal, increases the weight of the portable computer and causes the thickness of the touch pad unit to be increased, thus restricting the design flexibility of the portable computer.
As such, I believe that it may be possible to improve on the contemporary art by providing a touch pad mounting device that does not require a plating process, that eliminates the use of a plastic case to support the touch pad device, that reduces the thickness of the touch pad unit, that increases the safety of workers in facilities that assemble the touch pads, and that reduces the weight of electrical systems that use the touch pad mounting device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved touch pad mounting device.
It is another object to provide a touch pad mounting device that does not require a plating process, thus increasing the safety of workers in facilities that produce touch pad devices.
It is still another object to provide a touch pad mounting device that eliminates the use of a plastic case to support the touch pad device.
It is yet another object to provide a touch pad mounting device that reduces the thickness of the touch pad unit.
It is still yet another object to provide a touch pad mounting device that reduces the weight of electrical systems that use the touch pad mounting device.
To achieve these and other objects a device for mounting a touch pad in an electronic system may be constructed using an opening formed in the housing to expose the touch pad that is attached to the inner surface of the housing. A plurality of lugs are formed on the inside of the housing around the opening to engage the touch pad supporting case that secures the touch pad to the housing. The touch pad supporting case is made of a metallic material and is free from any plastics. This allows the touch pad unit to be thinner and lighter and avoids the need for performing a plating process on a plastic touch pad supporting case. This removes a safety hazard at manufacturing plants by avoiding exposing workers to the contaminants generated by the plating process.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, a device for mounting a touch pad with a selective button set, or a plurality of buttons, to input a selection signal in an electronic system such as notebook computer having a system unit mounted in a housing may be constructed using a second opening formed in the housing to expose selective button set along with the touch pad structure described above. Plugs are formed on the inside of the housing near the selective button set mounting opening, and slots are formed in one end region of the selective button set. The selective button set is directly mounted in the second opening by means of the plugs fixedly being inserted into the slots of the selective button set. Preferably, the selective button set includes a first and a second selective button, and the selective button set mounting opening, or second opening, includes a first and a second opening part for respectively receiving the first and second selective buttons. In addition, a button stopper is further provided between the first and second opening parts to limit the downward movement of the first and second selective buttons.
The metal plate to fixedly mount the touch pad serves to shield electromagnetic interferences. It may be preferably made of a thin stainless steel plate with a thickness less than one millimeter to strengthen the device as well as reduce the weight and thickness of the housing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4831359 (1989-05-01), Newell
patent: 4988982 (1991-01-01), Rayner et al.
patent: 5339213 (1994-08-01), O'Callaghan
patent: 5793355 (1998-08-01), Youens
patent: 5914703 (1999-06-01), Herng-Chuen
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Chang Yean-Hsi
Picard Leo P.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
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