Freestanding multidirectional electrical control device
First Claim
1. A multidirectional control device for generating electrical control signals for a spatially controlled electrical apparatus, comprising:
- a handle member having a nominal vertical axis defining a handle position such that the control device is not actuated;
a first gravity switch having a first switch axis positioned in said handle at an angle from the vertical axis such that tilting the handle member in a first direction away from said vertical axis and toward said first switch axis actuates said first switch;
a second gravity switch having a second switch axis positioned in said handle at an angle from the vertical axis such that tilting the handle member in a second direction away from said vertical axis and toward said second switch axis actuates said second switch;
a third gravity switch having a third switch axis positioned in said handle at an angle from the vertical axis such that tilting the handle oppositely of said first direction actuates said third switch; and
a fourth gravity switch having a fourth switch axis positioned in said handle at an angle from the vertical axis such that tilting the handle oppositely of said second direction actuates said fourth switch;
said switches each including an electrode electrically connected to a separate output signal line to said controlled apparatus and mutually-independent switch closure means operable for actuating each switch independently of the other;
said first and second switches having their axes extending at an angle to one another such that their output signal lines provide separate directional control signals to the controlled apparatus which correspond to X and Y variables in an X-Y plane and simultaneously provide both of said separate control signals when the handle is tilted in a direction angularly intermediate said first and second directions; and
said third and fourth switches having their axes positioned at an angle to one another such that their output signal lines provide separate directional control signals to the controlled apparatus which correspond to negative X and Y variables in said X-Y plane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A freestanding multidirectional control device for use in controlling video display images in electronic game machines comprises a handle member connected by a multiconductor cable to electric circuitry in the game machine. The handle member contains two pairs of gravity switches electrically connected to separate output signal conductors in the cable. The pairs of switches are mutually normal along the vertical axis of the handle member. The switches in each pair are oppositely inclined from vertical so that tilting the handle member one way produces an output signal on one of the conductors and tilting it in the opposite direction produces such a signal on a different conductor. The pairs of switches can be either single-ended, two-position tilt switches or double-ended, three-position tilt switches. At least one of the liquid contact switches may contain at least one electrode comprising a length of electrically resistive material to form a variable resistance electrical conduction path.
57 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A multidirectional control device for generating electrical control signals for a spatially controlled electrical apparatus, comprising:
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a handle member having a nominal vertical axis defining a handle position such that the control device is not actuated; a first gravity switch having a first switch axis positioned in said handle at an angle from the vertical axis such that tilting the handle member in a first direction away from said vertical axis and toward said first switch axis actuates said first switch; a second gravity switch having a second switch axis positioned in said handle at an angle from the vertical axis such that tilting the handle member in a second direction away from said vertical axis and toward said second switch axis actuates said second switch; a third gravity switch having a third switch axis positioned in said handle at an angle from the vertical axis such that tilting the handle oppositely of said first direction actuates said third switch; and a fourth gravity switch having a fourth switch axis positioned in said handle at an angle from the vertical axis such that tilting the handle oppositely of said second direction actuates said fourth switch; said switches each including an electrode electrically connected to a separate output signal line to said controlled apparatus and mutually-independent switch closure means operable for actuating each switch independently of the other; said first and second switches having their axes extending at an angle to one another such that their output signal lines provide separate directional control signals to the controlled apparatus which correspond to X and Y variables in an X-Y plane and simultaneously provide both of said separate control signals when the handle is tilted in a direction angularly intermediate said first and second directions; and said third and fourth switches having their axes positioned at an angle to one another such that their output signal lines provide separate directional control signals to the controlled apparatus which correspond to negative X and Y variables in said X-Y plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification