Computer joystick with a removable joystick handle

• US 5,995,034 A
• Filed: 11/19/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Liu, Shu-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Application Number:
  US08/974,071
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 345/161, 345/156, 345/157, 345/163, 345/167, 345/169, 463/38, D14/117.5
• US Class Current: 341/161
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/0474 characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
• 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: G05G 9/053 the controlling member comprising a ball graph-reading using a tracing ball or mouse G06F3/033

Abstract

The present invention discloses a computer joystick having a removable joystick handle so that users can select a favorite joystick handle when using the computer joystick. The computer joystick comprises a chassis, a joystick mechanism having two shafts and a control handle rotatably installed in the opening of the chassis for interacting with the two shafts, two sensors installed in the chassis for detecting rotations of the two shafts separately and generating corresponding rotation signals, a joystick handle having a locking means installed on its bottom end for removably mounting the joystick handle to the top end of the control handle, and a control circuit wired to the two sensors for receiving rotation signals generated by the two sensors. The joystick handle further comprises at least one control button and an electrical wire having a first end connected to the button and a second end connected with an electric plug. And the control circuit further comprises a socket for removably connecting the plug of the joystick handle so that control signals generated by the button can be received by the control circuit.

Claims

1. A computer joystick comprising:

a chassis having an opening on its top;

a joystick mechanism having two shafts perpendicular to each other and rotatably installed in the chassis, and a control handle rotatably installed in the opening of the chassis for interacting with the two shafts so that movements of the control handle can be converted into corresponding rotations of the two shafts;

two sensors installed in the chassis for detecting rotations of the two shafts separately and generating corresponding rotation signals;

a joystick handle having a locking means installed on its bottom end for removably mounting the joystick handle to a top end of the control handle so that the joystick handle coupled with the control handle can be used to drive the two shafts of the joystick mechanism, the locking means of the joystick handle comprising a specifically shaped recess for matching and removably mounting the top end of the control handle, the joystick handle further comprising at least one control button, an electrical wire having a first end connected to the button and a second end connected with an electric plug, and an elastic detention means installed inside the recess, and the control handle comprising a corresponding receiving means at its top end for receiving the detention means wherein the elastic detention means of the joystick handle is engaged with the receiving means of the control handle to reliably hold the joystick handle on top of the control handle when the joystick handle is mounted to the control handle; and

a control circuit wired to the two sensors for receiving rotation signals generated by the two sensors, the control circuit further comprising a socket for removably connecting the plug of the joystick handle so that control signals generated by the button can be received by the control circuit.

2. The joystick of claim 1 wherein the socket of the control circuit is installed on the chassis for connecting the plug of the joystick handle.