Pointing Device Pressing Force Restriction for Accuracy

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pointing devices experience pointing errors due to changes in the contact region and shape between the spherical part of the conductive elastic body and the circular electrode, especially when the operation part is tilted, leading to inaccuracies in determining the pointing location on an X-Y plane.

Innovation Solution

A pointing device design that includes a conductive location pointing driving body with a spherical part and a slide member to restrict the pressing force, maintaining a constant contact region regardless of the operation direction, using a ring-shaped third electrode and a fourth electrode for calibration, to accurately determine the pointing location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the operation part is tilted during operation, then the contact region between the spherical part and the circular electrode changes, but this leads to pointing errors and reduced measurement precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation direction flexibilityVSAvoidpointing location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing force restriction member is positioned at a specific location outside the location pointing driving body to restrict pressing force only in the vertical direction, while allowing free movement in the horizontal plane. This localized constraint maintains the spherical part's contact characteristics without restricting operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing force restriction member changes the pressing force parameter applied to the location pointing driving body, maintaining it within a specific range to prevent excessive deformation of the spherical part while allowing operational movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the spherical part is allowed to deform freely, then the contact region changes with operation direction, but this causes the shape to become non-circular and reduces pointing accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement freedomVSAvoidcontact region circularity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing force restriction member provides localized vertical force restriction at specific positions, allowing the spherical part to maintain its circular contact region while enabling horizontal movement freedom for operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing force restriction member is pre-positioned to restrict vertical pressing force before operation begins, preventing excessive deformation of the spherical part during subsequent operations while allowing free horizontal movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If no pressing force restriction is applied, then the spherical part can move freely in all directions, but excessive pressing force deforms the spherical part and reduces measurement precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement freedomVSAvoidpointing location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing force restriction member is positioned at a specific location outside the location pointing driving body to restrict pressing force only in the vertical direction, while allowing free movement in the horizontal plane. This localized constraint maintains the spherical part's contact characteristics without restricting operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The pressing force restriction member changes the pressing force parameter applied to the location pointing driving body, maintaining it within a specific range to prevent excessive deformation of the spherical part while allowing operational movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively reduces pointing errors by maintaining a consistent contact region and shape, preventing excessive deformation of the spherical part, thus improving the accuracy of pointing location detection.

Implementation Method 1

a spherical part that protrudes downwardly above a third electrode... a third electrode for measuring an electrical potential... to accurately determine the pointing location

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS8665246B2Pointing device for improved accuracy

Publication Date: 2014.03.04 SHIN ETSU POLYMER CO LTD

AI summary

A pointing device includes a first ground potential electrode; a second electrode for applying a voltage; a third electrode for measuring an electrical potential; a printed circuit board on which the first through the third electrodes are provided; a location pointing driving body that is provided on the printed circuit board and that is configured with a conductive part and that contacts the first and second electrodes, and a spherical part; a slide member that is located to cover a top part of the location pointing driving body and that is configured to drive the location pointing driving body by being slidable within a plane parallel to the printed circuit board; and a pressing force restriction member that is configured to restrict pressing force from the spherical part to the printed circuit board by receiving force from the slide member in the pressing direction.