Controller with analog pressure sensor (s)

• US 20030083131A1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brad A. Armstrong
• Original Assignee: Brad A. Armstrong
• Inventors: Armstrong, Brad A.
• Application Number:
  US10/329,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20030083131A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

A hand held controller controlling electronic game imagery shown on a display connected to an image generation machine such as a game console. The controller including a housing held in two hands simultaneously, the housing having a left-hand area and a right-side area. A plurality of depressible surfaces at least in-part exposed on the housing with the depressible surfaces in operational association with electricity manipulating devices contained within the housing and controlled by depression of the depressible surfaces for manipulating electrical outputs. The outputs are at least in-part useful for controlling the game and game imagery. At least one of the depressible surfaces is located in the right-hand area and the associated electricity manipulating device is a pressure-sensitive variable output sensor for creating an analog electrical output proportional to varying physical pressure applied to the depressible surface. The analog electrical output is interpreted and utilized in controlling the action intensity of electronic game character imagery. One of the depressible surfaces is associated with an On/Off electrical device for providing and On and Off signal arrangement. In the left-hand area is a rocker pad operable by the user'"'"'s left thumb.

Claims

1. Apparatus for game playing, comprising:

a game console connected to

a television, said television showing game imagery;

a game controller communicating with said game console for providing a human user control of said game imagery;

said game controller shaped to be held simultaneously by two hands of the human user, said game controller including a right-hand area and a left-hand area, said right-hand area being an area for holding by the user'"'"'s right hand, said left-hand area being an area for holding by the user'"'"'s left hand;

circuitry is located at least in part within said game controller;

said circuitry includes at least

an application specific integrated circuit;

a first electrical device is electrically connected to said circuitry and located at least in part within said game controller, said first electrical device providing an On/Off signal when depressed by a finger of the user;

a rocker pad for manipulation by the user, said rocker pad positioned to be depressible by the user'"'"'s left hand thumb while the user'"'"'s left hand is holding said left-hand area of said game controller, said rocker pad associated with a plurality of electrical devices which are pressure-sensitive analog sensors connected to said circuitry;

a finger depressible individual button positioned to be depressible by the user'"'"'s right hand thumb while the user'"'"'s right hand is holding said right-hand area of said game controller, said individual button structured to activate

a pressure-sensitive variable output sensor creating electrical signals representing varying pressure applied to said individual button by the user, said electrical signals useful for varying control of said game imagery, said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor comprising;

a resilient dome cap under said individual button;

a first conductive material is deformable and carried by said dome cap, said first conductive material shaped with an apex;

a second conductive material is electrically connected to said circuitry, said first conductive material is positioned to be pressed against said second conductive material by way of pressure applied to said individual button, increasing pressure applied to said individual button creating increasing surface area contact within said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor, the increasing surface area contact is provided by flattening of said apex, whereby the increasing surface area contact enables increasing electrical conductivity within said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor.

2. Apparatus for game playing, comprising:

an image generation machine connected to

a display for showing imagery;

a game controller for providing a human user control of said image generation machine and imagery shown by said display;

said game controller formed to be held simultaneously by two hands of the human user, said game controller including a right-hand area and a left-hand area, said right-hand area being an area for holding by the user'"'"'s right hand, said left-hand area being an area for holding by the user'"'"'s left hand;

circuitry located at least in part within said game controller;

said circuitry including at least

an application specific integrated circuit;

a first electrical device electrically connected to said circuitry and located at least in part within said game controller, said first electrical device provides an On/Off signal when depressed by a finger of the user;

a rocker pad for manipulation by the user, said rocker pad positioned to be depressible by the user'"'"'s left hand thumb while the user'"'"'s left hand is holding said left-hand area of said game controller, said rocker pad associated with a plurality of electrical devices connected to said circuitry;

a pressure-sensitive variable output sensor operated by a finger depressible individual button positioned to be depressible by the user'"'"'s right hand thumb while the user'"'"'s right hand is holding said right-hand area of said game controller, said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor for creating an analog electrical signal representing varying pressure applied to said individual button by the user, said analog electrical signal useful for variable control of the imagery, said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor comprising;

a resilient dome cap under said individual button;

a deformable surface with apex under said resilient dome cap;

a first conductive material is at least a portion of said circuitry;

a second conductive material, said second conductive material positioned to be pressed against said first conductive material by way of pressure applied to said individual button, increasing pressure applied to said individual button creating increasing surface area contact within said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor, the increasing surface area contact is provided by flattening of said apex, whereby the increasing surface area contact enables increasing electrical conductivity within said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor.

3. Apparatus for game playing, comprising:

a display for showing imagery;

an image generation machine connected to be capable of at least in part controlling imagery shown by said display;

a game controller in communication with said image generation machine for at least in part allowing a human user control of said image generation machine and imagery shown by said display;

said game controller comprising;

a housing to be held simultaneously by two hands of the human user during use, said housing including a right-hand area and a left-hand area, said right-hand area being an area for holding by the user'"'"'s right hand, said left-hand area being an area for holding by the user'"'"'s left hand;

a first electrical device at least in part within said housing comprises structure for providing an On/Off signal differentiated by depression from a finger of the user;

a rocker located in said left-hand area of said housing and manipulable by the user, said rocker associated with at least four electrical devices;

a pressure-sensitive variable output sensor operated by a finger depressible individual button positioned in said right-hand area of said housing, said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor for creating an analog electrical signal representing varying pressure applied to said individual button, said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor further comprising;

a resilient dome cap under said individual button;

a conductive deformable convexed surface carried by said resilient dome cap;

conductive material of a circuit;

said conductive deformable convexed surface positioned to be pressed against said conductive material of the circuit through pressure applied to said individual button and transferred into said resilient dome cap, the pressing against for creating increased surface area contact for defining additional current paths, the increased surface area contact in part provided by some deforming in said conductive deformable convexed surface.

4. A game controller comprising:

a housing to be held simultaneously by two hands of a human user during use, said housing including a right-hand area and a left-hand area, said right-hand area being an area for holding by the user'"'"'s right hand, said left-hand area being an area for holding by the user'"'"'s left hand;

a first electrical device at least in part within said housing comprises structure for providing an On/Off signal defined by depression and non-depression by a finger of the user;

a rocker located in said left-hand area of said housing, said rocker associated with at least four electrical devices;

a pressure-sensitive variable output sensor operated by a finger depressible individual button positioned in said right-hand area of said housing, said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor for creating an analog electrical signal representing varying pressure applied to said individual button, said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor further comprising;

a resilient dome cap under said individual button;

a conductive deformable surface with apex carried by said resilient dome cap;

a circuit;

said circuit including conductive material;

said conductive deformable surface positioned to be pressed against said conductive material of said circuit through pressure applied to said individual button, the pressing against for creating increased surface area contact for defining additional electrical current paths in said circuit to alter conductivity of said circuit, the increased surface area contact in part provided by some flattening in said apex.

5. A game controller comprising:

said game controller formed to be held simultaneously by two hands of the human user, said game controller including a right-hand area and a left-hand area, said right-hand area being an area for holding by a user'"'"'s right hand, said left-hand area being an area for holding by the user'"'"'s left hand;

circuitry located at least in part within said game controller;

said circuitry including at least

an application specific integrated circuit;

a first electrical device electrically connected to said circuitry and located at least in part within said game controller, said first electrical device provides an On signal when activated by a finger of the user;

a rocker pad for manipulation by the user, said rocker pad positioned to be depressible by the user'"'"'s left hand thumb while the user'"'"'s left hand is holding said left-hand area of said game controller, said rocker pad associated with a plurality of electrical devices connected to said circuitry;

a pressure-sensitive variable output sensor operated by a finger depressible individual button positioned to be depressible by the user'"'"'s right hand thumb while the user'"'"'s right hand is holding said right-hand area of said game controller, said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor for creating an analog electrical signal representing varying pressure applied to said individual button by the user, said analog electrical signal useful in variable control of game imagery, said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor comprising;

a resilient dome cap under said individual button;

a deformable surface moveable with said resilient dome cap;

a first conductive material is at least a portion of said circuitry;

a second conductive material, said second conductive material positioned to be pressed against said first conductive material by way of pressure applied to said individual button, increasing pressure applied to said individual button creating increasing surface area contact within said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor, the increasing surface area contact is provided by flattening of said deformable surface, whereby the increasing surface area contact enables increasing electrical conductivity within said pressure-sensitive variable output sensor.