Method and apparatus for generating directional and force vector in an input device
First Claim
1. An input device comprising:
- a pad having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a plurality of switches positioned to be actuated from pressure applied to the upper surface of the pad with each switch representing a particular direction, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the pad;
a sensor to detect which of the switches are actuated; and
a translator to calculate magnitude and direction of force input based on the actuated switches.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A thumbpad input device that enables a user to generate direction and speed by manipulating a round elastic pad. The underside of the pad is lined with a set of uniformly spaced contacts positioned in a circular pattern. Each contact is paired with a corresponding switch that is coupled to a circuit board. When a user presses down on the pad, one or more contacts close their respective switches. The pad contacts and switches are designed so that the number of closed switches varies with the magnitude of the force applied to the pad. The thumbpad input device has a micro controller that monitors the switches. It determines the most clockwise closed switch and the most counter-clockwise closed switch. Presumptively, these two closed switches define the two endpoints of an arc of all closed switches. These endpoints are then forwarded to a host processor. The host processor processes these endpoints to calculate the direction and speed of the symbol which correspond with the user'"'"'s manipulation of the rubber pad.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An input device comprising:
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a pad having an upper surface and a lower surface; a plurality of switches positioned to be actuated from pressure applied to the upper surface of the pad with each switch representing a particular direction, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the pad; a sensor to detect which of the switches are actuated; and a translator to calculate magnitude and direction of force input based on the actuated switches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An input device comprising:
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a housing; a pad received within the housing, the pad having an upper surface and a lower surface; a board member received within the housing; a plurality of switches secured to the board member, the switches facing the lower surface of the pad, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the upper surface of the pad; a sensor to detect which of the switches are actuated; and a translator to calculate magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An input device comprising:
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a housing; a pad received within the housing, the pad having an upper surface and a lower surface, the pad including a plurality of actuating members spaced relatively uniformly with each other and affixed to the lower surface of the pad; a board member received within the housing; a plurality of switches secured to the board member with each switch facing its corresponding actuating member and representing a particular direction, the switches being actuated by the corresponding actuating members when pressure is applied to the upper surface of the pad, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the upper surface of the pad; a sensor to detect which of the switches are actuated; a translator to calculate magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A display control system comprising:
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an input device comprising a pad having an upper surface and a lower surface; a plurality of switches positioned to be actuated from pressure applied to the upper surface of the pad with each switch representing a particular direction, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the pad; and a sensor to detect which of the switches are actuated; a translator to calculate magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated; a display device; a host controller connected to the display device for displaying symbols on the display device, the host controller including a processing means for moving a selected symbol on the display device with magnitude and direction of force input calculated by the translator. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of generating magnitude and direction of force input by an input device, the input device comprising a pad, a plurality of switches actuated by pressure applied to the pad with each switch representing a particular direction, a sensor, and a processor, the method comprising the steps of:
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scanning the switches by the sensor for actuation of the switches, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the pad; and calculating by the processor magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method of moving a symbol on a display device of a display control system, the display control system comprising a display device, a host controller connected to the display device, a processor, an input device having a pad, a plurality of switches actuated by pressure applied to the pad with each switch representing a particular direction, and a sensor, the method comprising the steps of:
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scanning the switches by the sensor for actuation of the switches, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the pad; calculating by the processor magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated; and moving by the host controller a selected symbol on the display device with magnitude and direction of force input calculated by the processor. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification