Abstract: An improved printed circuit board contacts that are used to implement switch contacts of keypads and keyboards combining gold and silver plating over copper conductors. In the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the printed circuit board 14 and the switch contact 20, where the switch contact material is electrolysis immersion silver layer 26 plated onto copper layer 22 and an electrolysis immersion gold layer 28 plated over that. An alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 of a printed circuit board 14 with a switch contact 20, wherein a layer of nickel 24 is plated over the copper layer 22, then the silver layer 26 is plated onto the nickel 24, then the gold layer 28 is the topmost layer. Here the nickel layer is used to prevent copper migration into the other layers.

Abstract: A keypad of six keys connected to a circuit that includes a microprocessor and interface driver connected to cable which plugs directly into a computer mouse port. The keypad has four arrow keys, which allow for cursor control in eight directions, and two other keys, which provide the left and right mouse button functions. The keypad is made of molded silicone rubber, is waterproof, and has translucent key legends which allow for back-lighting, that is provided by six LED's that are controlled by the microprocessor allowing the light intensity to be adjusted by the user.

Abstract: The mouse emulation keyboard relates to improved methods, devices and system for electronic digital computer keyboards which has bifurcated plug compatible cable for mouse port and keyboard port. The arrow keys on the keyboard transparently emulate the functions of a pointing device such as a mouse. The keyboard is waterproof with silicone rubber cover without loss of tactile feedback and operability. The keyboard can be used for normal keyboard functions. Upon depressing a mouse mode key the arrows keys emulate the functions of a pointing device such as a mouse. Control, Windows and Alternate keys are made dual function to emulate left, middle and right mouse button functions.

Abstract: A fiber optic control device having a joystick lever in a housing which mounts the joystick lever for universal pivotal movement on the housing from an upright axis thereof. A pair of mirrors are movably mounted on the housing, driving connections between the joystick lever and the mirrors for actuating the latter in response to movement of the joystick. An electronic compensation reference circuit to compensate for variations in incident and reflected light due to temperature, aging, wear and tear, dirt grease etc is provided for each axis of the double axis joystick of this invention.

Abstract: A fiber optic control device has a joy stick and fixed thereon a unique pivot ball to enable the stick to have a universal pivotal movement. The pivot ball has relatively large surface portions of poor light-reflecting properties, and other surface portions which have good light-reflecting properties. This assemblage is carried by a base structure which provides a socket for the pivot ball, and cooperable movement-limiting means are on the pivot ball and socket, that enable such universal pivotal movement of the joy stick and ball to be had while still preventing rotative movement of the stick and ball about the longitudinal axis thereof. A unique fiber-optic light transmission means including a source of light which is adapted to direct a light beam against portions of said ball surface is provided, such means providing output light signals which are a function of the virtual position of said ball as effected by movements of said joy stick.

Abstract: A fiber optic control device comprises a joystick having fixed thereon a pivot ball to enable the stick to have universal pivotal movement. The control has a base provided with a socket in which said pivot ball is held captive while permitting the joystick to have said universal movement. The invention provides a pair of swivel members, and pivotally mountings for said swivel members on the base for movement about non-coincidental axes. Slide driving connections are provided between said joystick and swivel members, for causing reversible movements of the members in response to universal movements of the joystick. Mirrors are carried by the swivel members, and a fiber optic light transmission device is provided, which is cooperable with said mirrors and which includes a source of light that is adapted to direct a light beam against the mirrors, thereby to provide output light signals which are a function of the virtual position of said joy stick at any time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber optic control device having a joy stick, a housing which mounts the joy stick for universal pivotal movement on the housing from an upright axis thereof, a pair of mirrors which are movably mounted on the housing, driving connections between the joy stick and the mirrors, for actuating the latter in response to movement of the joy stick, a cooperable movement-limiting device on said joy stick and housing, enabling said universal pivotal movement of the joy stick to be had while preventing its rotative movement about the longitudinal axis thereof, and fiber-optic light transmission devices that are cooperable with the mirror and that can include sources of light which are adapted to direct light beams against portions of the mirrors, for providing output light signals in optical cables, which are a function of the virtual position of the joy stick.

Abstract: An electronic controller having a joystick member, the controller utilizing one or more electrical output circuits characterized by parameters which vary in accordance with the displacement of the joystick member from a "neutral" position in X-axis and Y-axis directions, to control positions on opposite sides of the "neutral" position. The joystick member has a light-reflecting area which traverses a predetermined field of travel as the member is moved between its various positions. A light emitter-sensor circuit including a light source and a light sensor is disposed in the field of travel of the light-reflecting-area of the joystick member. The emitter-sensor circuit generates an electrical signal from a reflected beam of light which is emitted from the light source and is reflected from the reflecting area of the joystick member and onto the light sensor, only when the joystick member is at, or very close to its "neutral" position.

Abstract: An electronic mouse simulator for a computer having a dedicated mouse port connector receptacle, the simulator having a multi-conductor cable and connector adapted to plug directly into the dedicated mouse port connector receptacle. The simulator includes a touchscreen device and a converter having an EPROM and program firmware therefor. The touchscreen device is preferably positioned in front of or displaced laterally, above, below, or to the side of the screen of the display monitor used with the computer. The converter accepts signals from the touchscreen device and transforms them into a mouse-compatible format or mouse-compatible protocol that can be used to directly communicate through the dedicated mouse port of the computer. No modification of the computer is required; nor is special software needed, since the signals transferred at the mouse port duplicate those which would normally be transferred with a conventional mouse.

Abstract: An accessory device for mounting manually operable equipment in a stacking type rack of the kind having vertically-spaced-apart front uprights. The device includes a shelf on which the equipment is supported, and extendable and retractable rail-type mounting devices secured to opposite sides of the shelf. Each rail-type mounting device is adapted for securement to one of the rack uprights to enable the shelf to be pulled forward from or pushed rearward into the rack. Clamping structures are carried by and supported by the shelf, for holding the manually operable equipment in a substantially fixed position with respect to the shelf. A hinged front panel on the shelf can swing between an upright position wherein it functions as a standard rack panel concealing the equipment, and a rearwardly-folded down position when the shelf is forwardly extended, wherein it provides actress to the equipment, and also constitutes a hand rest for the user of the equipment.

Abstract: An electronic mouse simulator for a computer having a dedicated mouse port connector receptacle, the simulator having a multi-conductor cable and connector adapted to plug directly into the dedicated mouse port connector receptacle. The simulator includes a touchscreen device and a converter having an EPROM and program firmware therefor. The converter accepts signals from the touchscreen device and transforms them into a mouse-compatible format or mouse-compatible protocol that can be used to directly communicate through the dedicated mouse port of the computer. No modification of the computer is required; nor is special software needed, since the signals transferred at the mouse port duplicate those which would normally be transferred with a conventional mouse. In one embodiment, there is enabled an absolute mode of cursor control via the touchscreen device, with the sole electrical connection between the computer and the interface being via the computer's dedicated mouse port connector receptacle.

Abstract: A computer keyboard control accessory in the form of an enclosure having a bottom entrance opening through which a computer keyboard can be introduced, a top access opening through which the keys of the keyboard extend so as to be operable by the user in the conventional manner, and a joystick fixedly mounted in the top panel of the enclosure and having a position convenient to the right hand of the user. The enclosure has a configuration similar to that of the keyboard, and the arrangement is such that the latter can be clamped between the undersurface of the enclosure's top panel and the enclosure's removable bottom plate.

Abstract: A Hall-effect control apparatus incorporating an actuator member having a magnetic core, and which is pivotally mounted on a base for movement in X-axis and Y-axis directions. An electrically energized coil excited with a. c. voltage produces a fluctuating magnetic field in the vicinity of the core. Four Hall-effect sensors are mounted on the base, and are arranged to sense changes in the a. c. field as the core member moves. The output of the Hall-effect sensors is both d. c. and a. c.; an electrical circuit connected therewith processes these voltages so as to cancel out any d. c. components thereof. The output of the electrical circuit in turn provides two voltages which are indicative of the X-axis and the Y-axis positions of the actuator member. The device is immune to interruption arising from d. c. fields, such as that of the earth; also significant immunity against error due to temperature fluctuations is realizeable, as is immunity to error arising from aging of the various components.

Abstract: An electromechanical control for use with a joystick lever which swivels along x and y axes simultaneously. The control has a light source and two light sensitive phototransistors. The light source emits a beam which is split into two parts. A light control sector is pivoted on the base, and mechanically linked to the lever. The sector is disposed in the paths of the two parts of the split beam, and has two arcuate translucent portions, each translucent portion being on its own radius and the portions having a common center. One part of the beam passes through one translucent portion and the other part of the beam passes through the second. The phototransistors are disposed on that side of the translucent portions opposite the location of the light source. The one translucent portion has a graduated opacity along its length, such that the light arriving at one phototransistor varies as the sector pivots by movement of the lever.