A pointing device including a base section, an operating section shiftably supported on the base section, a magnet carried on one of the base section and the operating section, and a magneto-electro transducer carried on the other of the base section and the operating section at a location close to the magnet. The operating section includes a first part securely holding one of the magnet and the magneto-electro transducer and supported on the base section shiftably in a desired horizontal direction relative to the base section, and a second part connected to the first part and elastically biasing the first part toward a home position in a horizontal shifting range during a period when the first part is horizontally shifted along the base section. The second part of the operating section is provided integrally with a major portion substantially surrounding an entire circumference of the first part, a first connecting portion connected to the first part at one end of the major portion and a second connecting portion connected to the base section at another end of the major portion; the major portion exerting an even elastic biasing force irrespective of a shifting direction of the first part on the base section.
A pointing device includes a single control element to provide a user with absolute coordinate information and to enable user control of a computer cursor and emulation of mouse clicks. User movement of the single control element in an (x-y) plane preferably moves an optically reflective surface relative to an optical sensor system stationary within the device housing, such movement precluding rotation relative to the (x-y) plane. Mouse clicking may be emulated by moving the single control element up or down and/or by tilting relative to the (x-y) plane. Alternatively mouse clicking may be emulated by user activation of left and right sensor type switches or sensors. The device may be used by handicapped persons who can control cursor movement and mouse clicking using the single control element.
A multistage switch includes a switch push button. A magnet is disposed in a recess of the inner wall surface of the switch push button. The multistage switch further includes a magnetic sensor, and the magnetic sensor includes a substrate. Two magnetoelectric transducers are mounted on a surface of the substrate, and are disposed so as to face the magnet.
A pointing device including an operating section shiftably supported on a base section, a magnet carried on the base section or the operating section, and a magneto-electro transducer carried on the other close to the magnet. A first part securely holding one of the magnet and the magneto-electro transducer and shiftably supported on the base section in a horizontal direction relative to the base section, and a second part connected to and elastically biasing the first part towards a home position in a horizontal shifting range when the first part is horizontally shifted along the base section. The second part integrated with a major portion surrounding a circumference of the first part that has a first connecting portion connected to the first part and a second connecting portion connected to the base section, and exerting an even elastic biasing force irrespective of a shifting direction of the first part.
A pointing device including a base section, an operating section shiftably supported on the base section, a magnet carried on one of the base section and the operating section, and a magneto-electro transducer carried on the other of the base section and the operating section at a location close to the magnet. The operating section includes a first part securely holding one of the magnet and the magneto-electro transducer and supported on the base section shiftably in a desired horizontal direction relative to the base section, and a second part connected to the first part and elastically biasing the first part toward a home position in a horizontal shifting range during a period when the first part is horizontally shifted along the base section. The second part of the operating section is provided integrally with a major portion substantially surrounding an entire circumference of the first part, a first connecting portion connected to the first part at one end of the major portion and a second connecting portion connected to the base section at another end of the major portion; the major portion exerting an even elastic biasing force irrespective of a shifting direction of the first part on the base section.
A pointing device including a base section, an operating section shiftably supported on the base section, a magnet carried on one of the base section and the operating section, and a magneto-electro transducer carried on the other of the base section and the operating section at a location close to the magnet. The operating section includes a first part securely holding one of the magnet and the magneto-electro transducer and supported on the base section shiftably in a desired horizontal direction relative to the base section, and a second part connected to the first part and elastically biasing the first part toward a home position in a horizontal shifting range during a period when the first part is horizontally shifted along the base section. The second part of the operating section is provided integrally with a major portion substantially surrounding an entire circumference of the first part, a first connecting portion connected to the first part at one end of the major portion and a second connecting portion connected to the base section at another end of the major portion; the major portion exerting an even elastic biasing force irrespective of a shifting direction of the first part on the base section.
