US5565890A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cursor control device
Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC
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Filing: 1995-04-25
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Granted: 1996-10-15
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Expires: 2015-04-25
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is related to a cursor control device which includes a ball housing for accommodating therein a ball, a grid wheel device driven by the ball for intermittently passing therethrough a light to control a movement of a cursor, a wheel shaft device engaged with the grid wheel device and driven by the ball for transmitting the grid wheel, and an urging device engaged with the wheel shaft device for urging the wheel shaft device against the ball to assure that the grid wheel device can rotate synchronously with the ball. The present invention utilizes the urging device to exert a force on the wheel shaft device so that the transmission roller device can be urged against the ball to facilitate the close contact between the transmission roller device and the ball rather than be passively contacted by the ball.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Wu
- 👤 Amy Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 19:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/0304; G06F3/0312; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03543
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A cursor control device, comprising: a ball housing for accommodating therein a ball; a grid wheel device driven by said ball for intermittently passing therethrough a light to control a movement of a cursor; a wheel shaft device engaged with said grid wheel device and driven by said ball; and an urging device including a recess, a connection device mounted in said recess, and a spring mounted between an interior wall of said recess and said connection device for facilitating said wheel shaft device to be in close contact with said ball, wherein said urging device is engaged with said wheel shaft device for urging said wheel shaft device against said ball to assure that said grid wheel device can rotate synchronously with said ball.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
A cursor control device, comprising: a ball housing for accommodating therein a ball; a grid wheel device driven by said ball for intermittently passing therethrough a light to control a movement of a cursor; a wheel shaft device engaged with said grid wheel device and driven by said ball; and an urging device including a recess, a connection device mounted in said recess, and a spring mounted between an interior wall of said recess and said connection device for facilitating said wheel shaft device to be in close contact with said ball, wherein said urging device is engaged with said wheel shaft device for urging said wheel shaft device against said ball to assure that said grid wheel device can rotate synchronously with said ball.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A cursor control device according to claim 1 further comprising a Z-direction positioning device engaged with said ball housing for rotatably confining said ball in said ball housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cursor control device according to claim 2 wherein said Z-direction positioning device includes a positioning recess and a positioning roller accommodated in said recess.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cursor control device according to claim 1 wherein said grid wheel device includes an X-direction grid wheel and a Y-direction grid wheel for controlling said movement of said cursor respectively in X-direction and Y-direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cursor control device according to claim 4 wherein said wheel shaft device includes an X-direction wheel shaft and a Y-direction wheel shaft respectively for said X-direction and Y-direction grid wheels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
A cursor control device according to claim 5 wherein said wheel shaft device further includes a transmission roller device comprising an X-direction transmission roller and a Y-direction transmission roller respectively sleeved around said X-direction and Y-direction wheel shafts, wherein said X-direction transmission roller and said Y-direction transmission roller are driven by said ball and transmit rotation of said X-direction and Y-direction wheel shafts for enabling rotation of said X-direction and Y-direction grid wheels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cursor control device according to claim 6 wherein said X-direction transmission roller and said Y-direction transmission roller are respectively coaxially connected to said X-direction and Y-direction wheel shafts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cursor control device according to claim 7 wherein said urging device further comprises an X-direction urging device and a Y-direction urging device for urging said X-direction and Y-direction wheel shafts, respectively, against said ball.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A cursor control device according to claim 8 wherein each of said X-direction and Y-direction urging devices includes a connection hole in each of said connection devices of said X-direction and said Y-direction urging devices connecting thereto a corresponding one of said wheel shafts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cursor control device according to claim 9 wherein said ball housing, said recess of each of said X-direction and Y-direction urging devices and said Z-direction positioning device are integrally formed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cursor control device according to claim 9 further comprising an X-direction and a Y-direction light-shielding plates respectively mounted alongside said X-direction and Y-direction grid wheels.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A cursor control device according to claim 11 wherein each of said X-direction and a Y-direction light-shielding plates, said ball housing, said recess of each of said X-direction and Y-direction urging devices and said Z-direction positioning device are integrally formed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cursor control device according to claim 11 wherein each of said X-direction and Y-direction light-shielding plates has a hole for inserting thereinto a corresponding one of said X-direction and Y-direction wheel shafts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cursor control device according to claim 1 wherein said cursor control device is a mouse.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cursor control device according to claim 1 wherein said cursor control device is a track ball.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5298916A
Cited
US5457479A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-10-15 | 2000-04-15 | 2000-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-10-15 | 2004-04-15 | 2004-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-10-15 | 2008-04-15 | 2008-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |