Patent · US Expired

Pointing device with differing actuation forces for primary and secondary buttons

US5898424A · kind A · utility

45Cited by
10References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 1996
Grant dateApr 27, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 30, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2203/0333
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A pointing device for a computer, having switching mechanisms with perceptively differing actuation forces, is disclosed. In one embodiment, the pointing device comprises a housing, a sensor, a first switching mechanism and a second switching mechanism. The sensor is disposed within the housing and translates movement into an electrical signal. The first switching mechanism is also disposed within the housing and has a first predetermined actuation force. The second switching mechanism is also disposed within the housing and has a second predetermined actuation force. The second predetermined actuation force is perceptively different than the first predetermined actuation force.

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