Computer stylus and computer adapted to be used therewith
View Patent ↗A stylus for a computer and a computer adapted to be used with the stylus. The computer comprises a housing ( 3 ) that carries a screen ( 4 ) and control means ( 6 ) adapted to be manipulated by a user to generate movements of a mobile object on the screen in at least one direction. The control means comprises a fixed part ( 10 ) and a mobile part ( 7 ) fastened to the housing and cooperating with each other, the fixed part being electrically connected to the housing. The mobile part comprises movement transducer means ( 9 a– 9 d ) which are adapted, in response to movement of the mobile part, to transmit to the fixed part information in the form of electrical signals relating to movement of the mobile object. One end of the stylus comprises fixing means adapted to cooperate with complementary fixing means ( 13 ) fastened to the mobile part to fasten the stylus to the movement control means to form a control that may be manipulated by the user.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a computer ( 2 ) including a housing ( 3 ) that carries a screen ( 4 ) and control means ( 6 ; 6 ′) adapted to be manipulated by a user to generate movements of a mobile object on the screen in at least one direction, said control means comprising a fixed part ( 10 ; 10 ′) and a mobile part ( 7 ; 7 ′) fastened to the housing and cooperating with each other, said fixed part being electrically connected to the housing and said mobile part comprising movement transducer means ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c , 9 d , 9 ′ a , 9 ′ b , 9 ′ c , 9 ′ d ) which are adapted, in response to movement of the mobile part, to transmit to the fixed part information in the form of electrical signals relating to movement of said mobile object; and
a stylus ( 1 ; 1 ′; 1 ″) having an end ( 1 a′ 1 ′ a ; 1 ″ a ) that comprises fixing means ( 1 b , 1 ′ b , 1 ″ b ) adapted to cooperate with complementary fixing means ( 13 ; 13 ′; 13 .sub. 1 ; 17 , 18 , 19 ; 17 ′, 18 ′, 19 ′) fastened to said mobile part to fasten the stylus to said mobile part to form a control that may be manipulated by the user.
2. A stylus according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing means comprise a pin ( 1 b ; 1 ′ b ) attached to the end of the device.
3. A stylus according to claim 2 , wherein said pin is fixed.
4. A stylus according to claim 2 , wherein said pin is retractable.
5. A stylus according to claim 1 , wherein the fixing means comprise a notch ( 1 ″ b ) formed in the end of the device.
6. A computer comprising:
a housing ( 3 ) including a screen ( 4 ); and
control means ( 6 ; 6 ′) adapted to be manipulated by a user to generate movements of a mobile object on the screen in at least one direction, said control means comprising a fixed part ( 10 ; 10 ′) and a mobile part ( 7 ; 7 ′) fastened to the housing and cooperating with each other, said fixed part being electrically connected to the housing and said mobile part comprising movement transducer means ( 9 a , 9 b , 9 c , 9 d , 9 ′ a , 9 ′ b , 9 ′ c , 9 ′ d ) which are adapted, in response to movement of the mobile part, to transmit to the fixed part information in the form of electrical signals relating to movement of said mobile object,
wherein said mobile part ( 7 ; 7 ″) comprises fixing means complementary to fixing means ( 1 b , 1 ′ b , 1 ″ b ) disposed at the end ( 1 a ; 1 ′ a ; 1 ″ a ) of a stylus ( 1 ; 1 ′; 1 ″) adapted to be moved over the screen ( 4 ) to fasten the stylus to said mobile part to form a control that may be manipulated by the user.
7. A computer according to claim 6 , wherein the complementary fixing means comprise a notch ( 13 ′ 13 ′; 13 .sub. 1 ; 13 ′.sub. 1 ) opening into a cavity ( 12 ; 12 ′) in the mobile part ( 7 ; 7 ′) and adapted to receive the end ( 1 a ; 1 ′ a ) of the stylus ( 1 ; 1 ′).
8. A computer according to claim 6 , wherein the complementary fixing means comprise a fastening member ( 19 ; 19 ′) for fastening the stylus ( 1 ″) into and releasing it from a cavity ( 12 ; 12 ′) in the mobile part ( 7 ; 7 ′) adapted to receive the end ( 1 ″ a ) of the stylus ( 1 ″), said fastening member being disposed in a housing that is defined firstly by a recess ( 17 ; 17 ′) in the mobile part ( 7 ; 7 ′) that opens into said cavity ( 12 ; 12 ′) and secondly by a cavity ( 18 ; 18 ′) in the housing ( 3 ), said cavity ( 18 ; 18 ′) having a first portion ( 18 a ; 18 ′ a ) that opens into the recess ( 17 ; 17 ′) and a second portion ( 18 b ; 18 ′ b ) that opens to the outside of the housing ( 3 ).
9. A computer according to claim 6 , wherein the control means comprise a multidirectional cross ( 6 ).
10. A computer according to claim 6 , wherein the control means comprise an anchor member ( 6 ′).
11. A computer according to claim 7 , wherein the control means comprise a multidirectional cross ( 6 ).
12. A computer according to claim 8 , wherein the control means comprise a multidirectional cross ( 6 ).
13. A computer according to claim 7 , wherein the control means comprise an anchor member ( 6 ′).
14. A computer according to claim 8 , wherein the control means comprise an anchor member ( 6 ′).
15. A computer according to claim 6 , wherein said movement transducer means responds to pivoting motion of the stylus which is manipulated by the user as a joys tick while being fastened to said mobile part.
16. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said movement transducer means responds to pivoting motion of the stylus which is manipulated by the user as a joys tick while being fastened to said mobile part.