Self-Centering Tactile Thumb Joystick For Use On A Touch Screen

• US 20130249830A1
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joytact Pte Ltd
• Original Assignee: Joytact Pte Ltd
• Inventors: Quek, Joo Hai
• Granted Patent: US 9,170,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/04 Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick

Abstract

The present invention provides a self-centering, tactile thumb joystick (100, 100a-100k, 100m-100p) for use to control a virtual directional pad displayed on a touch screen of an electronic gadget. The thumb joystick (100, 100a 100k, 100m-100p) is removeably mounted on the touch screen so that movement of a puck (140, 140a, 140d, 400) via a stem (141) and a button (110) operates the virtual directional pad to control a software running in the electronic gadget. A resilient member, in the form of an annular spring (150) or garter spring (150a), biasing inwardly against a wall element (126, 126a) formed around an opening (121) of a hollow housing (120) of the thumb joystick (100, 100a-100k,100m-100p) centres the puck (140) when a user releases activating the button (110).

Claims

1. A thumb joystick for use on or over a touch screen of an electronic device, said thumb joystick comprising:

a hollow housing having an upper opening and a wall element disposed around said upper opening;

a puck being disposed below said upper opening so that a stem extends through said upper opening for connection with a button disposed above said hollow housing;

a resilient member disposed in an extended state and inwardly biasing against both said wall element and puck to centre said puck with respect to said upper opening;

a film covering a bottom face of said hollow housing and enclosing said puck and resilient member within said hollow housing; and

a tacky layer disposed on said film so that said thumb joystick is removeably mountable on said touch screen, such that when said puck is positioned above a virtual directional pad displayed on said touch screen, said virtual directional pad is operable by a user moving said puck via said stem and button.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said resilient member is an annular spring or a garter spring.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said puck, stem and button are formed from an electrically conductive or electrostatically dissipative (ESD) material.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said hollow housing is made from a polymer, glass or ceramic, which is non-ESD.

5. A device according to claims 2-4, wherein said annular spring comprises a metal strip which thickness is bent to form undulating loops, and said resulting undulating strip is formed into an endless annular spring of substantially one or more layers.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said tacky layer is disposed on an exterior face of said film by coating or laminating.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said tacky layer comprises a silicone or polyurethane adhesive layer;

a plasticized polyvinyl chloride layer;

a layer with micro open-pores (micro suction cups);

or a static vinyl layer.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said tacky layer is substantially about 50 micron to about 500 micron in thickness, so that said thumb joystick is repetitively mountable on and removeable from said touch screen.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said film is made from polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyester, with a thickness of substantially about 50 micron to about 150 micron.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein a total thickness of said tacky layer and film is substantially about 100 micron to about 650 micron.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein said hollow housing and film are attached to each other by an adhesive.

12. A device according to 9, wherein, when said film is a polymer, it further comprises a glide layer mounted on an inner face of said polymer film by an adhesive.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said glide layer comprises a polymer or glass.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein, when said glide layer is a polymer, an inside surface of said polymer glide layer on which said puck is operable to slide is deposited with a hard coating.

15. A device according to claim 11, wherein a size of said film is slightly smaller than an outline of said hollow housing, so that said adhesive forms a meniscus around said film and hollow housing, thereby minimising delamination of said tacky layer, film or glide layer.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said film is disposed within a stepped face formed around a rim at a bottom of said hollow housing to further minimise delamination of said tacky layer, film or glide layer.

17. A device according to claim 12, further comprises a sticker disposed between said film and glide layer.

18. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a non-abrasive disc disposed on a sliding face of said puck, with said non-abrasive disc being electrostatically dissipative (ESD).

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein said non-abrasive disc is made from an electrostatically dissipative (ESD) teflon or ESD ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) plastic.

20. A device according to claim 18, wherein a total thickness of said tacky layer, film, glide layer, sticker and non-abrasive disc is substantially 900 micron or less.

21. A device according to claim 1, wherein said puck has a stepped peripheral edge to form a flange on which said resilient member is supported.

22. A device according to claim 1, wherein inside surfaces of said hollow housing are deposited with a hard coating to minimise wear and tear of surfaces in contact with said resilient member.

23. A device according to claim 1, wherein said stem and button are connected by a conductive adhesive or an electrostatically dissipative sponge to provide an electrostatic path for a touch sensing system of said touch screen to be operable when a user'"'"'s thumb or finger touches said button.

24. A device according to claim 1, wherein said button has an upper surface that is knurled.

25. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a washer, sponge or a resilient disc disposed in a gap between said button and hollow housing.

26. A device according to claim 1, wherein a peripheral, side edge of said hollow housing has a grooved, tapered or rimmed surface to allow a positive grip by a user'"'"'s thumb and finger.

27. A device according to claim 2, wherein said puck is thick so that when assembled with said garter spring, a top surface of said thick puck is above the centre line of said garter spring.

28. A device according to claim 27, wherein a peripheral edge of the thick puck in contact with said garter spring is curved, V-grooved or straight.

29. A device according to claim 2, wherein said puck is made up of a thin puck and a component puck disposed in contiguous contact with said thin puck when said device is assembled with said garter spring.

30. A device according to claim 29, wherein the peripheral edge of said component puck is curved, V-grooved or straight.

31. A device according to claim 2, wherein said wall element is formed as an insert.

32. A device according to claim 2, wherein said wall element is formed as an insert so that when it is located in said hollow housing, a bottom surface of said wall element is above a plane through the centre of said garter spring.

33. A device according to claim 2, wherein said wall element is formed as an insert so that when it is located in said hollow housing, a bottom surface of said wall element is below a plane through the centre line of said garter spring.

34. A device according to claim 31, wherein said wall element insert is made of a material different from that of said hollow housing.

35. A device according to claim 31, wherein a peripheral edge of said wall element insert in contact with said garter spring is curved, V-grooved or straight.

36. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a holder for safe keeping of the thumb joystick when it is not in use.

37. A device according to claim 36, wherein said holder is a magnetic holder, a holder having a suction layer containing micro open-pores (micro suction cups), a twist-and-turn holder or a flip case.