Compact pointing control stick circuit board assembly having electrical vias

摘要

A hand-held pointer control and input device has a case configured to be gripped by a right or left hand, with a curved back surface which fits against a palm of a hand gripping the device, a saddle-shaped surface configured to support and position a thumb of the gripping hand for operation of a cursor control device which protrudes from the top surface, and a curved button mounting surface positioned generally opposite the curved back surface and with at least one control button incorporated therein. The device enables control of a display cursor and input of control commands which correspond to a position of a cursor with a single hand and without contacting the device with a reference surface. A modular pointing stick and circuit board assembly is also provided. The modular pointing stick and circuit board assembly includes a first mounting surface having a pointing stick assembly and electrical tracks mounted thereon and a second mounting surface disposed generally opposite the first mounting surface and having circuitry for translating output signals from the pointing stick assembly and electrical tracks mounted thereon. At least one electrical via or other connection device provides circuit communication between the first and second mounting surfaces to thereby provide "space-saving" modular pointing stick and circuit board assembly.