Curved disc joystick pointing device

• US 5,675,309 A
• Filed: 06/29/1995
• Issued: 10/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Forest Assets II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Varatouch Technology Inc. (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: DeVolpi, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EASTHOM, KARL D
• Application Number:
  US08/496,433
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 338/68, 338/69, 338/73, 338/93, 338/152, 338/128, 338/118, 338/196, 338/166, 338/167, 338/92, 338/96, 338/97, 340/407.2, 364/190, 200/516, 200/292, 200/6 A, 74/471 XY, 273/148 R, 273/148 B
• US Class Current: 338/68
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04725 with coil spring
• 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: H01H 2225/008 Two different sites for one circuit, e.g. for safety
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/01 Different switch sites under one actuator in same plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/078 Variable resistance by variable contact area or point
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

A low-cost joy stick or pad with improved performance, reliability and durability which can be used as a cursor pointing device for computers, remote controls, video games, consumer electronics, industrial controllers, automotive and other applications. A conductive spring or sheath connects to a conductive curved rubber transducer which can be deflected to make contact with conductors on a printed circuit board, providing electrical outputs to a microprocessor or other device.

Claims

1. A joystick pointing device comprising:

a substrate formed with a hole defined by a fixed pivoting area wherein a surface of said substrate is coated with electrically conductive material;

an electrically conductive force disc that makes electrical contact on said substrate at various positions; and

a pivoting mechanism having a flexible pivoting portion extending through said hole of said substrate wherein said force disc is attached to said pivoting mechanism above said pivoting area and further wherein said pivoting mechanism has an undeflected position and is movable to a deflected position by flexibly pivoting about said pivoting area wherein said pivoting mechanism causes said force disc to change electrical contact position with said electrically conductive material on said surface of said substrate to cause a corresponding change in signal output when said electrically conductive disc changes electrical contact position.

2. The joystick pointing device according to claim 1 wherein said pivoting mechanism is electrically conductive.

3. The joystick pointing device according to claim 2 wherein a voltage is applied to said pivoting mechanism.

4. The joystick pointing device according to claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive material on a surface of said substrate includes electrically conductive material within said pivoting area formed as a plurality of angularly displaced conductive portions such that when said pivoting mechanism is deflected it engages at least one of said plurality of angularly displaced portions.

5. The joystick pointing device according to claim 1 wherein said pivoting mechanism is a spring.

6. The joystick pointing device according to claim 5 further comprising;

an electrical conducting sheath which fits around said spring.

7. The joystick pointing device according to claim 5 further comprising:

a housing which supports said substrate and one end of said spring.

8. The joystick pointing device according to claim 5 wherein said force disc is mounted on said spring which is movable to selectively engage selected ones of said plurality of electrical conductive paths when said spring is deflected.

9. The joystick pointing device according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of electrical conductive paths are formed as arcuately shaped segments about said pivoting area.

10. The joystick pointing device according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of electrical conductive paths are formed of straight segments.

11. The joystick pointing device according to claim 10 wherein said resistive material includes:

a plurality of radially extending resistors formed on said substrate about said pivoting point wherein each of said resistors are electrically connected to different groups of said straight segments.

12. The joystick pointing device according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of electrical conductive paths are formed of straight segments.

13. The joystick pointing device according to claim 8 wherein the upper surface of said force disc is substantially planar.

14. The joystick pointing device according to claim 1 wherein said force disc is formed of a flexible material.

15. The joystick pointing device comprising:

a substrate formed with a hole defined by a fixed pivoting area wherein a surface of said substrate is coated with electrically conductive material;

an electrically conductive force disc that makes electrical contact on said substrate at various positions;

a pivoting mechanism which is a spring having an electrical conducting sheath which fits around said spring; and

said pivoting mechanism extending through said pivot hole of said substrate wherein said force disc is attached to said pivoting mechanism above said proofing area and further wherein said pivoting mechanism has an undeflected positon and is movable to a deflected position by flexibly pivoting about said pivoting area and still further wherein said pivoting mechanism causes said force disc to change electrical contact position with said electrically conductive material on said surface of said substrate to cause a corresponding change in signal output when said electrically conductive force disc changes electrical position wherein said electrically conductive material comprises a plurality of angularly displaced electrical conductive paths formed on a planar surface of said substrate about said pivoting area and a resistive material formed on said planar surface about said pivoting area wherein portions of said resistive material are electrically connected to said conductive paths.

16. A joystick pointing device comprising:

a substrate formed with a hole defined by a fixed pivoting area wherein a surface of said substrate is coated with electrically conductive material;

an electrically conductive force disc that makes electrical contact on said substrate at various positions; and

a pivoting mechanism comprising a spring extending through said hole of said substrate wherein said force disc is attached to said pivoting mechanism above said pivoting area and further wherein said pivoting mechanism has an undeflected position and is movable to a deflected position by flexibly pivoting about said pivoting area wherein said pivoting mechanism causes said force disc to change electrical contact position with said electrically conductive material on said surface of said substrate to cause a corresponding change in signal output when said force disc changes electrical contact position and still further wherein a plurality of electrical conductive paths are formed on a planar surface of said substrate about said pivoting area, and said force disc is mounted on a said spring which is movable to selectively engage selected ones of a said plurality of electrical conductive paths when said spring is deflected, said plurality of electrical conductive paths are formed as arcuately shaped segments about said pivoting point and are formed on a planar surface of said substrate about said pivoting area wherein said electrically said conductive material comprises a second plurality of angularly displaced electrical conductive paths formed on a planar surface of said substrate about said pivoting area and a resistive material formed on said planar surface about said pivoting area wherein portions of said resistive material are electrically connected to said second plurality of conductive paths.

17. A joystick pointing device comprising:

a substrate formed with a hole defined by a fixed pivoting area wherein a surface of said substrate is coated with electrically conductive material;

an electrically conductive force disc that makes electrical contact on said substrate at various positions; and

a pivoting mechanism comprising a spring extending through said hole of said substrate wherein said force disc is attached to said pivoting mechanism above said pivoting area and further wherein said pivoting mechanism has an undeflected position and is movable to a deflected position by flexibly pivoting about said pivoting area wherein said pivoting mechanism causes said force disc to change electrical contact position with said electrically conductive material on said surface of said substrate to cause a corresponding change in signal output when said force disc changes electrical contact position and still further wherein a plurality of electrical conductive paths are formed on a planar surface of said substrate about said pivoting area, and said force disc is mounted on said spring which is movable to selectively engage selected ones of said plurality of electrical conductive paths when said spring is deflected, said plurality of electrical conductive paths are formed of straight segments and having a plurality of radially extending resistors formed on said substrate about said pivotng area wherein each of said resistors are electrically connected to different groups of said straight segments.

18. A joystick pointing device comprising:

a substrate formed with a fixed hole defined by a pivoting area wherein a surface of said substrate is coated with electrically conductive material;

an electrically conductive force disc that makes electrical contact on said substrate at various positions; and

a pivoting mechanism comprising a spring extending through said hole of said substrate wherein said force disc is attached to said pivoting mechanism above said pivoting area and further wherein said pivoting mechanism has an undeflected position and is movable to a deflected position by flexibly pivoting about said pivoting area wherein said pivoting mechanism causes said force disc to change electrical contact position with said electrically conductive material on said surface of said substrate to cause a corresponding change in signal output when said force disc changes electrical contact position and still further wherein a plurality of electrical conductive paths are formed on a planar surface of said substrate about said pivoting area, and said force disc is mounted on a said spring which is movable to selectively engage selected ones of said plurality of electrical conductive paths when said spring is deflected wherein said plurality of electrical conductive paths are formed of straight segments wherein said electrically conductive material comprises a plurality of angularly displaced electrical conductive paths formed on a planar surface of said substrate about said pivoting area and resistive material formed on said planar surface about said pivoting area wherein portions of said resistive material are electrically connected to said conductive paths.