Pointing device
US5379054A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 25, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jan 3, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 25, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/20201
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
When keyboard 1 is set on the upper side, ball 10 is inserted between stopper 8 and the coordinate converting unit 4. As a result, the coordinate converting unit 4 is fixed by ball 10. When the user moves the pointing device on the flat surface, the ball 6 then moves according to the user's operation. Furthermore, when the user pushes keyboard 1, detecting switch 7 is pressed by protrusion 3, and then detecting switch 7 is switched to the ON state. On the other hand, when the pointing device is set upside down by the user, ball 10 moves to the opposite side via gravitation. The ball 10 is inserted between stopper 8 and keyboard 1 and, as a result, keyboard 1 is fixed by ball 10. When the user spins ball 6, the ball moves in all directions in accordance with the user's operation. Furthermore, when the user pushes coordinate converting unit 4, detecting switch 7 is pressed by protrusion 3, and then detecting switch 7 is switched to the ON state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.