Computer keyboard having top molded housing with rigid pointing stick integral and normal to front surface of housing as one unit part to be used with strain sensors in navigational control
US6040823A · kind A · utility
133Cited by
13References
15Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2221/012
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer keyboard has a pointing stick integrally molded into and projecting from a surface of a plastic housing. Keyboard keys extend through holes in the same plastic housing. Strain-sensitive resistors are formed in a small location onto a circuit substrate. The same circuit substrate that carries the strain-sensitive resistors also carries conductive pads for the key switches. The strain-sensitive resistor location is bonded to the housing adjacent the pointing stick, but on an opposite surface of the housing from the pointing stick protrusion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.