SOIC-Type Package Houses Miniature Pointing Device

Designed specifically for use in portable products, such as Internet appliances, small handheld products, video games, and palm-top and sub-notebook computers, the Series 109 strain gage pointing devices are believed to be the first such devices housed in a surface-mount, SOIC type package.When combined with an electronic interface, the pointers are said to provide precise control of cursors with a linear, repeatable, three-dimensional output—output linearity is rated at 1%.
Series 109 devices are compatible with SMT assembly processes—they can withstand 220°C reflow temperatures for 15 seconds—and are electrically comparable to other members of the company's SurfStik family of pointing devices. They have a rugged, metal-reinforced plastic body, a square ceramic three axis pointing stick that helps deliver a life span of greater than 8M cycles for the pointers, and solder-plated gull-wing leads. And price is less than $2 each in volume production quantities.