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:
Dec. 26, 1995
Filed:
Aug. 29, 1994
Yasuhiro Komatsu, Osaka, JP;
Hosiden Corporation, Yao, JP;
Abstract
The coordinate input device of the present invention can output a coordinate signal by using a change in a variation amount of an electrostatic capacity. Therefore, mechanical portions of the coordinate input device are reduced in number so that an increase in the life period and an improvement in reliability of the device are easily realized, while not wastefully consuming power, except during a period when the coordinate signal is outputted. The coordinate input device of the present invention outputs the coordinate signal on the basis of a variation amount of an electrostatic capacity which is defined by the position of a dielectric unit between electrode faces and an electrode face confronting these electrode faces. The dielectric unit moves in accordance with the movement of an operation knob. A program mode changeover switch is operated in accordance with the movement of a movable unit which can reciprocate together with the operation knob. When a finger(s) is (are) removed from the operation knob, the operation knob and the movable unit are returned to a home position and a reference position by home-position return springs 8 and a reference-position return spring.