Reverse cantilever assembly for input devices
OwnerPeter W. Johnsoninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A computer pointing device, such as a mouse or trackball, includes a reverse cantilever button assembly to match strength-related variations in user hand size. In one embodiment a button assembly is built with two cantilever beams, the fulcrums for each beam being at opposite ends of the button assembly. The stiffness of the two beams can be selected to obtain an increasing, decreasing, or constant force profile necessary to activate the associated electronic switch as one moves along the external surface of the button assembly from the palm end toward the fingertip end. An increasing force profile provides lower actuating force for operators with smaller hands, while providing greater tactile feedback for operators with larger hands.
Claims20
A button assembly comprising:
- a first cantilevered beam (30) having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to be attached to an electronic input device through a first fulcrum (28) at the first end;
- a second cantilevered beam (36) having
- an exposed button portion (37), the second cantilevered beam being attached to the first cantilevered beam through
- a second fulcrum (32).
A computer pointing input device comprising:
- a housing;
- a palm portion of the housing configured to receive a user's hand;
- a distal portion of the housing extending generally away from the palm portion;
- and
- a switch button having a palm end and a distal end, the switch button being configured to actuate an electronic switch within the computer pointing input device upon application of sufficient force to the switch button by the user, the switch button being movably coupled to the housing so as to move about a fulcrum, the fulcrum being nearer to the distal end than to the palm end of the switch button.
A computer pointing input device comprising:
- a housing;
- a palm portion of the housing configured to receive a user's hand;
- a spring beam flexibly coupled to the housing through
- a first fulcrum;
- a switch button having a palm end and a finger end, the switch button being flexibly coupled to the spring beam through
- a second fulcrum, the second fulcrum being nearer to the finger end of the switch button than to the palm end of the switch button;
- a plunger coupled to the switch button and extending toward
- an electronic switch, the plunger being configured to actuate the electronic switch upon application of a sufficient force to the switch button by the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.