US5078019A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trackball device
Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-04-25
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Granted: 1992-01-07
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Expires: 2010-04-25
Abstract
Abstract A trackball device comprising a housing having a circular opening formed in a top wall thereof, a ball received in the housing and partially projecting through the circular opening, a pair of rotatable members arranged orthogonally to each other and rotatable in accordance with rotation of the ball, detectors capable of detecting the amounts of rotation of the respective rotatable members, and elastic members arranged in the vicinity of the edge of the circular opening and capable of suppressing vibration of the ball.
Inventors
- 👤 Tsuyoshi Aoki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:57
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03549; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20012; Y10T74/20201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A trackball device comprising: a housing having a circular opening formed in a top wall thereof; a ball received in said housing and partially projecting through said circular opening; a pair of rotatable members arranged orthogonally to each other and rotatable in accordance with rotation of said ball, said rotatable members being in contact with the lower peripheral surface of said ball; detectors capable of detecting the amounts of rotation of the respective rotatable members; and elastic means arranged in the vicinity of the edge of said circular opening and capable of suppressing vibration of said ball, said elastic means including spring means, each spring means having a projection disposed to make point contact on the upper peripheral surface of said ball thereby urging said ball towards said rotatable members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A trackball device comprising: a housing having a circular opening formed in a top wall thereof; a ball received in said housing and partially projecting through said circular opening; a pair of rotatable members arranged orthogonally to each other and rotatable in accordance with rotation of said ball, said rotatable members being in contact with the lower peripheral surface of said ball; detectors capable of detecting the amounts of rotation of the respective rotatable members; and elastic means arranged in the vicinity of the edge of said circular opening and capable of suppressing vibration of said ball, said elastic means including spring means, each spring means having a projection disposed to make point contact on the upper peripheral surface of said ball thereby urging said ball towards said rotatable members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
143 words
A trackball device comprising: a housing having a main part and a detachable cover which is provided with a circular opening formed therein; a ball received in said housing and partially projecting through said circular opening; a pair of rotatable members arranged orthogonally to each other and rotatable in accordance with rotation of said ball, said rotatable members being in contact with the lower peripheral surface of said ball; detectors capable of detecting the amounts of rotation of the respective rotatable members; and elastic means supported by said cover at a position in the vicinity of the edge of said circular opening and capable of suppressing vibration of said ball, said elastic means including spring means, each spring means having a projection disposed to make point contact on the upper peripheral surface of said ball thereby urging said ball towards said rotatable members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
143 words
A trackball device comprising: a housing having a main part and a detachable cover which is provided with a circular opening formed therein; a ball received in said housing and partially projecting through said circular opening; a pair of rotatable members arranged orthogonally to each other and rotatable in accordance with rotation of said ball, said rotatable members being in contact with the lower peripheral surface of said ball; detectors capable of detecting the amounts of rotation of the respective rotatable members; and elastic means supported by said cover at a position in the vicinity of the edge of said circular opening and capable of suppressing vibration of said ball, said elastic means including spring means, each spring means having a projection disposed to make point contact on the upper peripheral surface of said ball thereby urging said ball towards said rotatable members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A trackball device according to claim 1 wherein said elastic means includes at least one elastic member arranged to make a resilient contact with an upper portion of said ball.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A trackball device according to claim 1 wherein said elastic means includes a plurality of elastic members arranged at a predetermined angular interval so as to contact with the peripheral surface of said ball.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A trackball device according to claim 2 wherein said elastic means includes at least one leaf spring, one end of said leaf spring secured to said cover and the other end of said leaf spring contacting a small ball.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A trackball device according to claim 2 wherein said elastic means includes at least one elastic member arranged to make a resilient contact with an upper portion of said ball.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A trackball device according to claim 2 wherein said elastic means includes a plurality of elastic members arranged at a predetermined angular interval so as to contact with the peripheral surface of said ball.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
A trackball device comprising: a housing having a circular opening formed in a top wall thereof; a ball received in said housing and partially projecting through said circular opening; a pair of rotatable members arranged orthogonally to each other and rotatable in accordance with the rotation of said ball, the weight of said ball being supported by said rotatable members; detectors capable of detecting the amounts of rotation of the respective rotatable members; and elastic means arranged in the vicinity of the edge of said circular opening and capable of suppressing vibration of said ball, said elastic means including spring means, each spring means having a projection disposed to make point contact on the upper peripheral surface of said ball thereby urging said ball towards said rotatable members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
A trackball device comprising: a housing having a circular opening formed in a top wall thereof; a ball received in said housing and partially projecting through said circular opening; a pair of rotatable members arranged orthogonally to each other and rotatable in accordance with the rotation of said ball, the weight of said ball being supported by said rotatable members; detectors capable of detecting the amounts of rotation of the respective rotatable members; and elastic means arranged in the vicinity of the edge of said circular opening and capable of suppressing vibration of said ball, said elastic means including spring means, each spring means having a projection disposed to make point contact on the upper peripheral surface of said ball thereby urging said ball towards said rotatable members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
141 words
A trackball device comprising: a housing having a main part and a detachable cover which is provided with a circular opening formed therein; a ball received in said housing and partially projecting through said circular opening; a pair of rotatable members arranged orthogonally to each other and rotatable in accordance with the rotation of said ball, the weight of said ball being supported by said rotatable members; detectors capable of detecting the amounts of rotation of the respective rotatable members; and elastic means supported by said cover at a position in the vicinity of the edge of said circular opening and capable of suppressing vibration of said ball, said elastic means including spring means, each spring means having a projection disposed to make point contact on the upper peripheral surface of said ball thereby urging said ball towards said rotatable members.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
141 words
A trackball device comprising: a housing having a main part and a detachable cover which is provided with a circular opening formed therein; a ball received in said housing and partially projecting through said circular opening; a pair of rotatable members arranged orthogonally to each other and rotatable in accordance with the rotation of said ball, the weight of said ball being supported by said rotatable members; detectors capable of detecting the amounts of rotation of the respective rotatable members; and elastic means supported by said cover at a position in the vicinity of the edge of said circular opening and capable of suppressing vibration of said ball, said elastic means including spring means, each spring means having a projection disposed to make point contact on the upper peripheral surface of said ball thereby urging said ball towards said rotatable members.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A trackball device of claim 1 wherein both rotatable members are in contact with the lower peripheral surface of said ball.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A trackball device of claim 2 wherein both rotatable members are in contact with the lower peripheral surface of said ball.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-06 | 1995-07-08 | 1996-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-06 | 1999-07-08 | 2000-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-06 | 2003-07-08 | 2004-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |