Cursor control

A graphic input device for controlling the movement of a cursor upon a visual display, characterized by including,

• variable resistance pressure transducer means including four sets of switches, each controlling cursor movement in one of four orthogonal directions and comprising,
• first electrode means, including a resistive elastomeric pad, for selecting the direction of movement of the cursor, and
• second electrode means, including a spherical contact, spaced from said first electrode means,
• one of said first or second electrode means being mounted for movement upon a cantilever spring arm,
• force transmitting means, associated with and overlying each of said switches and comprising four finger actuable keys arranged in a diamond pattern with the free ends of said underlying cantilever spring arms meeting at the center of the diamond, for actuating said transducer means by moving said cantilever spring arms so as to vary the electrical resistance across said first and second electrode means in an inverse relationship to the applied pressure, and
• circuit means connecting said variable resistance pressure transducer means to said visual display for moving the cursor in a selected direction at a slow speed when a high resistance condition is present and at a higher speed in the selected direction as said resistance condition is lowered.