Abstract: A computer keyboard assembly has flexible membrane that is located adjacent a housing. The flexible membrane has circuit lines and an integral pointing stick cable. The circuit lines extend onto the pointing stick cable from the flexible membrane. Keys are electrically connected to the circuit lines. A backing plate structurally supports the flexible membrane. The membrane is located between the backing plate and the housing. A pointing module is attached to the backing plate. The pointing module is electrically connected to the pointing stick cable such that electrical signals from the pointing module are conducted to the circuit lines on the pointing stick cable. The pointing stick cable wraps around a side of the backing plate.

Abstract: A pointing stick for controlling cursor movement on a display screen of a computer system that is mountable to a surface of a printed circuit board. The pointing stick has a base member and a shaft having mounted in the base member. Several sensors are mounted around the shaft for sensing the amount of strain in the shaft that is created in response to an applied force on the shaft. The sensors generate an electrical signal in response to the applied force. A pair of spaced electrical leads are located on opposing sides of the base member and extend partially through the base member. Each of the electrical leads has several inner terminal ends that are electrically connected to the sensors. Several outer terminal ends extend outwardly of the base member and are shaped for mounting on the surface of a circuit board. An electronic component is attached to the shaft or the leads and is electrically connected to the inner terminal ends.

Abstract: A pointing device for controlling the positioning, movement and operation of a cursor on a display screen. Specifically, there is a pointing stick that both directs a cursor and acts as the activation button for selecting items on the display screen by tapping on the pointing stick instead of clicking on a mouse button. Additionally, there is a pointing stick that is both ESD (electrostatic discharge) and seffernick force insensitive.

Abstract: An integrated, surface-mount pointing device for controlling the movement of an object on a display screen, comprises a base member; a shaft mounted in the base member; a sensor mounted on the shaft for sensing the amount of strain in the shaft in response to an applied force on the shaft; and a pair of spaced electrical leads extending at least partially through the base member. Each electrical lead has an inner terminal end electrically connected to the sensor and an outer terminal end extending outwardly of the base member. The outer terminal ends of the pair of leads are shaped for mounting on the surface of a circuit board. The circuit board may contain electrical traces and electronic circuitry for processing signals from the sensor. More than one sensor with additional electrical leads may be provided.

Abstract: A ball grid array resistor network has a substrate that has top and bottom surfaces. Resistors are disposed on the top surface. Conductors are disposed on the top surface, and each conductor is electrically connected to an end of each resistor. Vias extend through the substrate and are electrically connected to the conductors. Solder spheres are disposed on the bottom surface, and are electrically connected to the vias. A cover coat is disposed over the conductors and resistors. In an alternative embodiment, the vias are eliminated and the resistor network is formed on the bottom surface of the substrate. The resistor network provides a high density of resistors per unit area.

Abstract: A pointing stick for controlling the positioning, movement and operation of a cursor on the display screen. Specifically, there is a pointing stick that both directs a cursor and acts as the activation button for selecting items on the display screen by tapping on the pointing stick instead of clicking on a mouse button. Uniquely, the device is made of a shaft (12) having a longitudinal length oriented along a first axis (39) and having a top surface that is perpendicular to the first axis, there is a vertical force sensor (59, or 71), mounted on the top surface of the shaft, for sensing a vertical oriented force applied to the shaft along the first axis. Cap (24), has a cavity (81) with a top surface (79) therein, where the top surface of the shaft is positioned within the cavity and spaced from and juxtaposed to the top surface of the cavity. In one embodiment the vertical sensor includes first and second electrically conductive pads that are electrically isolated from each other.

Abstract: A resistor network has a substrate with top and side surfaces. Resistors are located on the side surfaces. Several side conductors are located on the side surface and are electrically connected to the resistors. Several top conductors are located on the top surface and are electrically connected to the side conductors. Each top conductor has a cavity. A solder sphere is partially located in the cavity and is electrically and mechanically connected to the top conductor by reflowed solder paste. A cover coat covers the side conductors and the resistors. The resistor network provides a high density of resistors per unit area.

Abstract: A test system for performing a test of strain gauge resistors used on a pointing stick. The test system has a mechanical load applicator that holds the resistor and applies a mechanical force to the resistor. An electrical contactor makes and breaks an electrical connection with the resistor. An electrical tester is connected to the electrical contactor to measure electrical parameters of the resistor with and without the mechanical force. A calculator is connected to the tester and calculates several resistor parameters. The resistor parameters are indicative of the operation of the pointing stick.

Abstract: A pointing device for controlling the positioning, movement and operation of a cursor on a display screen. Specifically, there is an actuator with a shaft having first and second ends. The actuator also has an interposer with the first end of the shaft attached and several strain sensitive resistor are mounted on the shaft to generate an electrical signal representative of a magnitude and direction of force applied to the shaft by a user. A circuit trace is disposed on the interposer and electrically connected to the resistor. A substrate has several circuit lines electrically connected to the circuit trace. A base is mounted above the interposer and has an aperture through which the shaft passes. A cover is mounted over the base to hold the base to the substrate. The cover is held to the substrate by a mounting tab.

Abstract: A pointing stick for controlling the positioning, movement and operation of a cursor on the display screen. Strain gages 30 are mounted on the sides of the stick 12 and are made of pressure sensitive strips 32, for electrically changing the resistance of the material in response to the amount of strain applied thereto. A conductive contact bridge 34 for electrically connecting the two strips 32, and conductive contact pads 36 for making electrical contact to electronic circuitry (not shown) are also mounted on the sides of the stick 12. The stick 12 extends through a hole 38 in the base 4 in a Z-axis oriented direction 39, and is held in place by an adhesive bond epoxy 40. Cable 18 is positioned within cavity 16 and adhesively bonded to the cavity wall via adhesive 42. Cable 18 has electrical traces 44 and input/output (I/O) pads 46 mounted thereon. Contact pads 36 are bonded to I/O pads 46 by any suitable bond material 50.