Optical analog rocker

• US 5,640,177 A
• Filed: 03/15/1995
• Issued: 06/17/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anko Electronic Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Anko Electronic Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hsu, Fan-yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stoll, Kara Farnandez
• Application Number:
  US08/404,613
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 345/158, 345/161, 345/166, 250/221, 250/222.1, 250/231.1, 250/231.16, 250/231.17, 250/231.18, 250/231.13, 250/231.14, 74/471 XY, 273/148 B, 463/38, 463/36, 180/333, 180/907, 338/85, 338/163, 338/165, 338/166
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04748 Position sensor for rotary movement, e.g. potentiometer
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

An optical analog rocker in which mechanical movements of a manipulated control rod of the rocker are converted into electronic signals by means of an infrared emitter and an infrared receiver. The infrared receiver shifts relative to the infrared emitter when the control rod is swayed in different directions and thereby, changes the distance between it and the infrared emitter. The changing distance causes the infrared receiver to generate light-sensitive signals of different high or low linear voltage and current. The signals are received by a game interface card and are correctly sent to a computer. With these arrangements, the disadvantages associated with a worn variable resistance contact included in a rocker, such as poor contact condition and unstable signal output can be avoided.

Claims

1. An optical analog rocker comprising:

an infrared receiver;

an infrared emitter;

an external control rod;

a stationary base plate; and

a rotational disk, wherein said infrared emitter is fixed to said stationary base plate and said infrared receiver is fixed to said rotational disk, said rotational disk connected to said external control rod and rotating when said external control rod is swayed in different directions causing said infrared receiver fixed thereon to shift relative to said infrared emitter, thereby changing a distance between said infrared receiver and said infrared emitter, said changing a distance between said infrared receiver and said infrared emitter causing said infrared receiver to emit light-sensitive signals of different high or low linear voltages and currents, and said signals being received by a game interface card to be sent to a computer.

2. An optical analog rocker as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two conductive plates fixedly disposed on said stationary base plate and two conductive leaf spring members disposed between said rotational disk and said stationary base plate and connected with two connectors of said infrared receiver, and said leaf spring members each being provided at a free end with a hook portion to electrically contact said conductive plates.