An apparatus for positioning a pointing device relative to a computer is either free-standing relative to the computer or releasably attached to the computer by a clamp. Buttons for moving the clamp jaw of the clamp from a home position to an extended position for attaching the attachment housing to the computer itself are ergonomically positioned. A hinge and clutch spring are disposed between the apparatus and the pointing device for unlimited pivotable positioning of the pointing device withi...

A computer pointing device is disclosed for controlling the positioning, movement and operation of a cursor on the display screen of a computer. A manually manipulatable member in the form of a stubby button-like joystick is permanently and ergonomically located within the area defined by the rows of computer keyboard keys and is immediately adjacent the last key in one row of keys, so that the computer operator can move or apply a force to the member to position the cursor in a manner which is ...

An optical beam switch is disclosed for sequentially pointing a laser beam to a plurality of terrestrial target locations at predetermined depression angles and at angular positions relative to a reference direction. The switch includes a CW laser whose collimated output beam is directed into a rotating retroreflector. The moving beam reflected therefrom describes a continuous circular path across the upper surface of a beam deflection device. The beam deflection device comprises a plurality of ...

A pointing stick, which is used to control the position of a cursor on a computer monitor, has its axial longitudinal position relative to its fixed cover adjusted so that a flat bottom surface of a pad on the bottom of the pointing stick does not exert a force on a flat sensing surface, which produces electrical signals in accordance with where the flat bottom surface of the pad engages it when the pointing stick is moved and the force with which it is engaged, unless a user moves the pointing ...

A cordless peripheral pointing apparatus selects a position for transmission to a processing system. The apparatus comprises a hand-held pointer including a transmitter continually transmitting a through-the-air signal. A fixed base unit is positioned in proximity to the pointer and includes a receiver receiving the through-the-air transmitted signal, a processor for processing the received signal to determine position of the pointer relative to the fixed receiver in response to the received sig...

A pointing device capable of generating a fixed control signal regardless of operated directions and preventing the generation of a control signal owing to malfunctions, and an electronic apparatus capable of moving a controlled object on a display screen in any direction at a velocity corresponding to an operated amount of an operating section. An original point is defined as a point where a slid distance of a slide key is 0. The maximum slid distance and the minimum slid distance are defined a...

The present invention provides for an improved computer pointing device such as a trackball or mouse, for example. The improved computer pointing device allows a user to set a communications protocol for use with a particular computer system by using a user-friendly configuration program designed for operation on a different platform and by using a different communications protocol. Additionally, the computer pointing device includes an LED encoder illumination control system to provide varying ...

A pointing device for use in moving a cursor displayed on a display, includes a pressure sensing sheet including first through fourth pressure detection elements and a base member mounted on the pressure sensing sheet. The base member is provided with first through fourth protrusions formed on its under surface opposite to the pressure sensing sheet in facing relation to the first through fourth pressure detection elements, respectively. The base member is provided with an operation shaft formed...

An antenna pointing mechanism for a highly directional antenna which avoids the aforenoted problems. The mechanism including the antenna are rendered substantially immune to bending and play-induced movements resulting from vibration or the like, making it highly useful for land based vehicles, ships, and particularly for aircraft. It also provides the ability to point the antenna over elevational angles exceeding 180.degree., making it particularly useful for communication with satellites from ...

A pivotable trackball-type computer command pointing device for entering commands into a computer has a housing and a ball retained within the housing for generating electrical signals translatable into commands for the computer. A coupling assembly removably attaches to the computer, preferably the keyboard. A knuckle joint assembly pivotally connects the housing to the coupling assembly and includes a pivot blade pivotally received in an elongated recess of a hinge pocket plate to define an ax...