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:
Mar. 29, 2005
Filed:
Feb. 01, 2001
Thomas Henry Tichy, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Steven L. Steinbrunner, Coldwater, OH (US);
Eric B. Taylor, Decatur, IN (US);
Thomas Henry Tichy, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Steven L. Steinbrunner, Coldwater, OH (US);
Eric B. Taylor, Decatur, IN (US);
CTS Corporation, Elkhart, IN (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for filtering or suppressing a tactile feedback to a user of a computer cursor control device such as a pointing stick is provided. A pzt material is first mounted to a semi-rigid material such as by bonding the pzt material to a metal substrate. When an ac signal is applied to this assembly it vibrates. By coupling this mechanical vibration to the pointing stick, the user can sense the feedback. This can be used, for example, to provide a tactile feedback when the user depresses the pointing stick to cause a 'mouse click.' In order to prevent unwanted cursor movement on the display, a suppression circuit is provided that filters out the spurious signals or completely deactivates cursor movement during activation of the tactile feedback.