Patent ID: 7402764
Filing Date: 2008-07-22
Classification: G06F,H01H

Abstract:
1. A pointing device comprising: a keytop; a circuit board spaced from the keytop; a dome-shaped flexible device disposed between the keytop and the circuit board, the dome-shaped flexible device having an apex and a shape; a position sensitive detector positioned in relationship to the dome-shaped flexible device such that the apex of the dome has a contact area with the position sensitive detector at a contact position, that when the keytop is deflected, the contact position between the apex of the dome and the position sensitive detector is caused to shift while maintaining the shape of the dome-shaped flexible device and maintaining the contact area within a predetermined size, and that when the keytop is depressed toward the circuit board, the shape of the dome-shaped flexible device is caused to change and the contact area is caused to increase beyond the predetermined size.