Two-axis ball-based cursor control apparatus with magnetic force induced tactile feedback
US6760008B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 29, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 18, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/03549
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A two-axis ball-based cursor control apparatus with tactile feedback is provided, which includes a housing, a spherical ball contained partially within the housing, a plurality of magnetic elements fixed within the spherical ball, and a plurality of magnetic elements fixed within the housing. When the spherical ball is at rest, an attractive magnetic force between some or all of the first magnetic elements and some or all of the second magnetic elements resists motion of the ball. When a sufficient rotational force is applied to the ball, the ball rotates about one or both axes until the applied force no longer exceeds the magnetic force, at which point the magnetic force causes the ball to stop at a new position, providing the user with tactile feedback to indicate that the ball position has changed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.