Abstract: A device particularly for use with a computer comprises a housing for location at least partly between two fingers of a user's hand and an electronic circuit mounted on a board within the housing. The circuit includes a switch responsive to pressure selectively to open and close an electronic circuit, and conductive elements arranged on the board mounting the electronic circuit. A first control element is mounted with the housing and responsive to finger pressure such that pressure applied to the first control element causes the element to operate the switch. The first control element is movable with respect to a hinge such that finger action acts to cause the control element to swivel as a trigger about the hinge and thereby interact with the switch.

Abstract: An input device for an electronic system includes a force sensor having conductive interdigitated traces on a bottom substrate and a flexible substrate spaced apart from the bottom substrate. The flexible substrate has a resistive layer deposited on a bottom side facing the interdigitated traces. A snap dome is positioned over a portion of the force sensor flexible substrate. A flexible keymat membrane is positioned over the force sensor and the snap dome. The keymat membrane bottom surface faces the force sensor flexible substrate. The keymat membrane bottom surface has a protruding region surrounding the snap dome and spaced above the force sensor flexible substrate. A center keycap on the keymat membrane top surface is positioned over the snap dome. A surrounding keycap on the keymat membrane encloses the center keycap and is positioned over the keymat membrane protruding region.

Abstract: A computer input device that has the click function incorporated into a pointing device, rather than as a separate switch. The pointing device implements the operations of pointing, clicking and dragging based solely upon an evaluation of the pressure applied thereto. An array of sensors is monitored. The cursor direction is determined by the difference or ratio of applied force between the arrayed sensors. Cursor velocity is determined by the magnitude of the applied force. When a click is desired, the pointing device is pressed downward. The transient nature of the top or its nearly vertical force nature causes the output of the pointing device to readly distinguish between pointing and clicking operations.

Abstract: A pointing device may be directly soldered to a printed circuit board. In one embodiment, a bottom substrate defines a sensing region with a plurality of interdigitated conductive trace regions. Each trace region includes interdigitated common and sense traces. At least one via passes through the bottom substrate for each trace. Each via supports a conductive path from one trace to at least one lead element. Each lead element is solderable to a printed circuit board. A flexible substrate is constructed from a heat resistant polymer. The flexible substrate has a resistive layer deposited on a bottom side. A raised pedestal is formed on the bottom substrate top face around at least a portion of the sensing region. The pedestal separates the interdigitated conductive traces from the flexible substrate resistive layer. A button on a keypad membrane may be used to depress the flexible substrate onto the trace region.

Abstract: A thermally stable, mass-producible pointing device (10) producing an analog signal proportional to an applied force comprises actuator (20), including an arm (22) and a force transfer member (26), a connector (44), and a sensor (50). The connector maintains the force transfer member in contact with the sensor yet allows the force transfer member to change dimensions with ambient temperature without inducing stresses detectable by the sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the connector comprises an elastomeric adhesive and the sensor comprises a force-sensing resistor. The force transfer member is prevented from coming out of the assembly either by a retainer (12) comprising a shell or a potting compound retaining the force transfer member but permitting thermal expansion or contraction of the force transfer member. The force transfer member typically has a rounded or bevelled bottom surface (28) so the actuator rocks under an applied force.

Abstract: A thermally stable, mass-producible pointing device (10) producing an analog signal proportional to an applied force comprises actuator (20), including an arm (22) and a force transfer member (26), a connector (44), and a sensor (50). The connector maintains the force transfer member in contact with the sensor yet allows the force transfer member to change dimensions with ambient temperature without inducing stresses detectable by the sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the connector comprises an elastomeric adhesive and the sensor comprises a force-sensing resistor. The force transfer member is prevented from coming out of the assembly either by a retainer (12) comprising a shell or a potting compound retaining the force transfer member but permitting thermal expansion or contraction of the force transfer member. The force transfer member typically has a rounded or bevelled bottom surface (28) so the actuator rocks under an applied force.