David L Poole

US Patent:

6359613, Mar 19, 2002

Filed:

Oct 7, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/168022

Inventors:

David L. Poole - Portland IN

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345161, 345168, 345169, 345160, 345156, 463 38

Abstract:

A device for generating conditioned electrical signals in response to forces applied to the device. The device includes a shaft attached to a substrate. Several strain sensitive resistors are mounted on the substrate around the shaft for generating an electrical signal representative of a magnitude and direction of force applied to the shaft by a user. Several apertures are in the substrate, each aperture is located between a pair of strain sensitive resistors. The apertures concentrate the stress on the resistors. A signal conditioning device is mounted to the substrate and is electrically connected to the resistors for conditioning the electrical signal. The signal conditioning device receives the electrical signal in an analog form and provides a conditioned signal as an output in a digital form. The device is mounted to a keyboard base. An alternative embodiment is shown using a cavity instead of apertures in the substrate.

US Patent:

6445382, Sep 3, 2002

Filed:

Mar 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/528324

Inventors:

David L. Poole - Portland IN
Robert M. Vandenboom - Markle IN

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

G06F 116

US Classification:

345168, 345160, 345161, 345169, 361680, 400472

Abstract:

A computer keyboard assembly has flexible membrane that is located adjacent a housing. The flexible membrane has circuit lines and an integral pointing stick cable. The circuit lines extend onto the pointing stick cable from the flexible membrane. Keys are electrically connected to the circuit lines. A backing plate structurally supports the flexible membrane. The membrane is located between the backing plate and the housing. A pointing module is attached to the backing plate. The pointing module is electrically connected to the pointing stick cable such that electrical signals from the pointing module are conducted to the circuit lines on the pointing stick cable. The pointing stick cable wraps around a side of the backing plate.

US Patent:

6577225, Jun 10, 2003

Filed:

Apr 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/135637

Inventors:

David L. Poole - Portland IN

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

H01C 101

US Classification:

338320, 338203, 338322, 338325, 338260

Abstract:

An array resistor network that has a high density of resistors per unit area. The array resistor network includes a ceramic substrate having a top and bottom surface. Apertures extend through the substrate between the top and bottom surfaces. Recesses are located on opposite edges of the substrate. Resistors are located on the top surface. Each resistor is located between a recess and an apertures. Inner conductors are connected to one end of the resistors. The Inner conductors are located on the top surface and extend through the aperture onto the bottom surface. Outer conductors are connected to another end of the resistors. The outer conductors are located on the top surface and extend along the recess onto the second surface.

US Patent:

6753850, Jun 22, 2004

Filed:

Jul 24, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/912090

Inventors:

David L. Poole - Portland IN

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345161, 345156, 345157, 345160

Abstract:

A cursor control device is taught that provides a compact and easily manufactured design. A shaft or actuator surface attaches around the periphery of a substrate. The substrate carries at least one strain sensitive resistor that provides an electrical signal indicative of the stress placed on the actuator. The substrate is attached to a supporting structure at a point in general proximity to the center of the substrate.

US Patent:

6946733, Sep 20, 2005

Filed:

Aug 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/640073

Inventors:

David Poole - Portland IN, US
Terry R. Bloom - Middlebury IN, US
Richard Cooper - Bluffton IN, US

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

H01L023/48

US Classification:

257737, 257528, 257774

Abstract:

A ball grid array package that can be readily tested before or after mounting to a printed circuit board. The ball grid array includes a substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface. Several conductive pads are located on the top surface. Several passive circuit elements are located on the top surface between the conductive pads. An insulative coating is placed on top of the passive circuit elements and the substrate. The insulative coating has openings over the conductive pads. The openings are adapted to be accessible by an electrical probe. Conductive vias extend through the substrate between the top and bottom surfaces. The vias electrically connect with the conductive pad on the top surface. Several conductive balls are located on the bottom surface. Each conductive ball is electrically connected to one of the vias.

US Patent:

20020075234, Jun 20, 2002

Filed:

Oct 2, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/969462

Inventors:

David Poole - Portland IN, US

International Classification:

G09G005/08

US Classification:

345/161000

Abstract:

A device for generating conditioned electrical signals in response to forces applied to the device. The device includes a shaft attached to a substrate. Several strain sensitive resistors are mounted on the substrate around the shaft for generating an electrical signal representative of a magnitude and direction of force applied to the shaft by a user. Several apertures are in the substrate, each aperture is located between a pair of strain sensitive resistors. The apertures concentrate the stress on the resistors. A signal conditioning device is mounted to the substrate and is electrically connected to the resistors for conditioning the electrical signal. The signal conditioning device receives the electrical signal in an analog form and provides a conditioned signal as an output in a digital form. The device is mounted to a keyboard base. An alternative embodiment is shown using a cavity instead of apertures in the substrate.

US Patent:

62397869, May 29, 2001

Filed:

Nov 30, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/201207

Inventors:

Stephen W. Burry - Berne IN
Nelson T. Clark - Berne IN
Ronald J. Dedert - Geneva IN
Mark Grube - Rockford OH
Timothy L. Hartigan - Bluffton IN
David L. Poole - Portland IN
Dennis Raesner - Berne IN
Lewis L. Seffernick - Decatur IN
Ronald Stuckey - Monroe IN
Eric B. Taylor - Decatur IN
Robert M. VandenBoom - Markle IN

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

G09G 508

US Classification:

345161

Abstract:

A pointing stick for controlling the positioning, movement and operation of a cursor on the display screen. Specifically, there is a pointing stick that both directs a cursor and acts as the activation button for selecting items on the display screen by tapping on the pointing stick instead of clicking on a mouse button. Uniquely, the device is made of a shaft (12) having a longitudinal length oriented along a first axis (39) and having a top surface that is perpendicular to the first axis, there is a vertical force sensor (59, or 71), mounted on the top surface of the shaft, for sensing a vertical oriented force applied to the shaft along the first axis. Cap (24), has a cavity (81) with a top surface (79) therein, where the top surface of the shaft is positioned within the cavity and spaced from and juxtaposed to the top surface of the cavity. In one embodiment the vertical sensor includes first and second electrically conductive pads that are electrically isolated from each other. The vertical sensor also has a flexible conductive layer positioned next to the top surface of the cavity of the cap.

US Patent:

62255762, May 1, 2001

Filed:

Apr 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/295038

Inventors:

David L. Poole - Portland IN
Lewis L. Seffernick - Decatur IN
David L. Kordecki - Briarwood CT

Assignee:

CTS Corporation - Elkhart IN

International Classification:

G01G 314
G01G 308

US Classification:

177211

Abstract:

A weighing device designed to accurately measure an object's weight that is easier and more cost effective to produce. In particular, the device consists of a strain gage load cell having a pair of substrates mounted in parallel. The first and second substrates each contain a pair of resistors which are embedded in the surface of the substrate pair, forming a Wheatstone Bridge configuration. The substrates may be formed of ceramic.