US5657012A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Finger operable control device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-06-21
•
Granted: 1997-08-12
•
Expires: 2010-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A finger operable control device that includes a sensor having five conductive plates. The conductive plates are coupled to a detector circuit arranged to sense capacity imbalance due to the presence of a finger or an earthed object on or by one or more of the conductive plates. The device is utilized as a mouse or joystick.
Inventors
- 👤 David Adams Gilmour Tait
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03547; G06F3/038; G06F3/0383; H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/96; H03K17/962; H03K17/9622
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
A finger operable control device comprising a sensor having a central electrically conductive plate, a first pair of electrically conductive plates on a first axis and spaced from opposite edges of the central plate to form a first pair of capacitors therewith having substantially equal capacitance, a second pair of electrically conductive plates on a second axis different from the first axis and spaced from opposite edges of the central plate to form a second pair of capacitors therewith having substantially equal capacitance, characterised in that opposite members of each pair of plates are driven by antiphase outputs of a quadrature-phase generator and the central plate is connected to a detector capable of sensing the magnitude and/or phase of the signal therefrom caused by capacitive imbalance induced by presence of either a finger or a finger-operable earthed object placed on or near the conductive plates when the finger or object is displaced laterally from the intersection of the two axes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
A finger operable control device comprising a sensor having a central electrically conductive plate, a first pair of electrically conductive plates on a first axis and spaced from opposite edges of the central plate to form a first pair of capacitors therewith having substantially equal capacitance, a second pair of electrically conductive plates on a second axis different from the first axis and spaced from opposite edges of the central plate to form a second pair of capacitors therewith having substantially equal capacitance, characterised in that opposite members of each pair of plates are driven by antiphase outputs of a quadrature-phase generator and the central plate is connected to a detector capable of sensing the magnitude and/or phase of the signal therefrom caused by capacitive imbalance induced by presence of either a finger or a finger-operable earthed object placed on or near the conductive plates when the finger or object is displaced laterally from the intersection of the two axes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the generator includes an oscillator operative at a frequency of twice the frequency of the quadrature phase signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the detector is preceded by an amplifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein a dead-zone is provided by appropriately biassing the amplifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein a dead-zone is provided by connecting the output of the amplifier to a comparator, the second input of the comparator being connected to a reference signal to provide the dead-zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the detector circuit comprises at least one phase sensitive detector having reference input coupled to an output of the first quadrature phase generator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the output of the phase sensitive detector is coupled to an input of a second quadrature phase generator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 7 wherein a clock pulsing means is coupled between said phase sensitive detector and said second generator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said phase sensitive detector produces at its output a signal indicating displacement of the finger or object relative to at least the first axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as claimed in claim 4 or 5 wherein the amplifier is biassed to a level lower than the threshold of the phase sensitive detectors, and wherein a ramp is applied to the amplifier bias whereby the dead-zone is at least partially eliminated.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein a random noise signal is applied to the amplifier whereby the dead-zone is at least partially eliminated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an electrical lead extends from the central plate between a plate of the first pair and a plate of the second pair, and a dummy lead extends between the other plates of the first and second pairs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
A device claimed in claim 1 comprising at least two said sensors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A mouse emulator comprising a finger operable device as claimed in claim 1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
A joystick emulator comprising a finger operable device as claimed in claim 1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB159034A
Cited
GB1110611A
Cited
US4016490A
Cited
US4168464A
Cited
US4264903A
Cited
US4305007A
Cited
US4755634A
Cited
EP0250931A2
Cited
GB2205164A
Cited
US4873400A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-08-11 | 2001-02-10 | 2001-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-08-11 | 2005-02-10 | 2005-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-08-11 | 2009-02-10 | 2009-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |