Patent · US Expired

Omnidirectional input device

US5172101A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
17References
1Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 31, 1990
Grant dateDec 15, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 31, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0338
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An omnidirectional input device comprising a circuit board and switches arranged in a directional pattern, each switch having an open and closed position. Each switch further having conductive switch components mounted in directional pattern on a surface of the circuit board and a conductive actuator operably connectable to the switch components to place the switch in either the open or closed position. The omnidirectional input device also includes a plurality of output signal lines coupled to the circuit board and a decoding matrix connected between the conductive switch components and the output signal lines. The decoding matrix determines which of the switches is in the closed position and couples the conductive switch components of a switch in the closed position to one or more of the output signal lines.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.