Abstract

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 stick. This adjustment is accomplished during assembly through four equally spaced angularly groups of teeth on the pointing stick cooperating with four equally angularly spaced detents on a fixed support cover for the pointing stick. The teeth of each group are of varying length in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pointing stick from a minimum at one end to a maximum at the other so that a tooth of the same length of each group engages one of the detents at the same time. This varying length of each tooth of a group enables the pointing stick to be moved axially by rotation until an assembler determines by the absence of the electrical signals that no force is exerted on the force sensor by the pointing stick when the pointing stick is at rest.

Other References

• International Publication Number WO 92/09996, International Publication Date Jun. 11, 1992, by J. D. Rutledge et al, entitled "Analog Input Device Located In The Primary Typing Area Of A Keyboard