The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 11, 1993
Filed:
Sep. 04, 1991
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A pen-type input device for computers includes a ball rotatably supported by an end of a pen-like elongate handle and rotatable in response to the movement of the pen-type input device for causing one or both of first and second rotating detection members to rotate about their own axes extending perpendicular to one another, and a pattern on each respective rotating detecting member having a series of alternating light-reflecting portions and light-absorbing portions for receiving light projected from a light-emitting device and for reflecting light back to a light-sensitive device which in turn sends an electric detection signal to a detecting circuit of a circuit board. The direction of rotation and the amount of movement of each respective rotating member is detected by the detecting circuit and the detected data are sent to a computer whereby a curve corresponding to the movement of the ball is created on a display surface of the computer.