Claims
- 1. An electrical device, comprising:
a) signal means for receiving applied forces and generating signals representative of the applied forces; and b) protection means, having at least a portion of the signal means mounted therein, for protecting the signal means from both ESD and seffernick forces.
- 2. The electrical device of claim 1, wherein the signal means comprises:
a) a shaft having a longitudinal length oriented along a first axis; b) a base having the shaft mounted therein; and c) a sensor, mounted on the shaft, for conditioning an output signal indicative of a force exerted along the first axis.
- 3. The electrical device of claim 2, further comprising:
an input trace positioned under the base and abutting to the sensor, for coupling the sensor to a voltage source; and an output trace positioned under the base and coupled to the sensor, for outputing signals indicative of the direction that the shaft is being forced.
- 4. The electrical device of claim 3, further comprising:
a flexible cable for supporting the input and output traces that are mounted under the base.
- 5. The electrical device of claim 2, wherein the protection means comprises:
a) a cover; and b) a bracket, coupled to the cover to secure the shaft, base, and electrical trace between the bracket and cover.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is related to copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/756,202, entitled Z-axis sensing pointing stick with base as strain concentrator, filed Nov. 25, 1996, and copending U.S. application Ser. No. 08/717,517, entitled Collar Mounted Pointing Stick, filed Sep. 23, 1996. Both applications being assigned to the current assignee of this application and are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.