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:
Nov. 06, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 07, 1998
Allan E. Schrum, Cameron Park, CA (US);
Michael D. Rogers, El Dorado Hills, CA (US);
Varatouch Technology Incorporated, Sacramento, CA (US);
Abstract
A pointing device comprises a stick coupled to a resilient return member which is supported on a substrate along an outer edge to move relative to an upper substrate surface of the substrate. The upper substrate surface has conductive lines and resistive coatings formed thereon or embedded therein. The return member has a conductive surface which is biased with a voltage and is normally spaced from the upper substrate surface. When an user applies an external force to the stick to move the return member toward the substrate, the conductive surface makes electrical contact with the substrate surface and generates a digital signal. The conductive surface is convex to provide rolling contact with the substrate surface to change the contact location. The conductive surface is deformable to allow the area of contact to increase with an increased external force for a change in resistance. The digital signal provides information regarding the speed and direction of movement of the contact between the conductive surface and substrate surface. When the user releases the external force, the resilient return member moves back to its neutral position to separate the conductive surface from the substrate surface.