Multi-plane sheet connected sensors

• US 6,310,606 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brad A. Armstrong
• Original Assignee: Brad A. Armstrong
• Inventors: Armstrong, Brad A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIER, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US09/721,090
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/161, 345/167, 345/168, 345/173, 345/184, 341/27, 463/30, 463/37, 463/38, 434/454, 244/223, 318/568.11, 318/568.25
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04755 Magnetic sensor, e.g. hall generator, pick-up coil
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce
• 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 9/04737 with six degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 : with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 : Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 : Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/006 : Only mechanical function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/008 : Video game
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2237/002 : Bell crank
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/00 : Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/002 : having an operating member rectilinearly slidable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 : Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement

Abstract

A sheet material connecting sensors in multiple-axes image controllers having at least two-axes input members and also including finger depressible buttons. In some embodiments at least some of the sensors are pressure-sensitive variable sensors for variable output representative of the level of applied pressure. In some embodiments the variable sensors include resilient dome caps structured to provide passive tactile feedback to a human hand. Other preferred embodiments additionally include an active tactile feedback for providing vibration to be felt by a hand operating the controller.

Claims

1. A physical-to-electrical converter;

comprising;

a manual input member with associated sensors, said input member moveable on at least two axes; and

a plurality of finger depressible buttons with associated sensors; and

at least one sheet connecting to the sensors of said input member, and said at least one sheet connecting to the sensors of said finger depressible buttons;

said at least one sheet comprising at least

a flexible membrane sheet,

said flexible membrane sheet having a first portion thereof residing in a first plane, said flexible membrane sheet bent and having a second portion thereof residing in a second plane;

an electric motor with shaft and offset weight are within a handle of said converter for providing active tactile feedback; and

at least one of the finger depressible buttons is associated with a sensor which is a pressure-sensitive variable sensor for providing a proportional signal, whereby depression of said at least one of the finger depressible buttons provides a proportional signal representing the level of depressive pressure applied.

2. An image controller comprising:

an input member with associated sensors, said input member moveable on at least two axes; and

a plurality of finger depressible buttons with associated sensors; and

at least one sheet connecting to the sensors of said input member, and said at least one sheet connecting to the sensors of said finger depressible buttons;

said at least one sheet comprising at least

a flexible membrane sheet,

said flexible membrane sheet having a first portion thereof residing in a first plane, said flexible membrane sheet having a second portion thereof residing in a second plane.

3. An image controller according to claim 2 in which

at least one of said sensors reside on said first plane, and

at least one of said sensors reside on said second plane.

4. An image controller according to claim 3 in which said image controller is connected to an image generation device.

5. An image controller according to claim 4 in which said image generation device includes a television based electronic game.

6. An image controller according to claim 3 in which at least one of the finger depressible buttons is structured with a resilient dome cap;

said resilient dome cap is structured to provide a tactile feedback to a human hand.

7. An image controller according to claim 6 in which a plunger is positioned above said dome cap, said plunger comprising a non-conductive rigid plastic material;

and an electric motor with shaft and offset weight are within a handle of said controller for providing active tactile feedback.

8. An image controller according to claim 2 in which said at least one of the finger depressible buttons is associated with a pressure-sensitive variable sensor for providing a proportional signal, whereby depression of said at least one of the finger depressible buttons provides a proportional signal representing the level of depressive pressure applied.

9. An image controller according to claim 2 in which said at least one sheet comprises said flexible membrane sheet connected to

a second sheet.

10. An image controller according to claim 9 in which said second sheet is a circuit board.

11. An image controller according to claim 9 in which said second sheet is a rigid membrane support structure.

12. An image controller according to claim 10 in which said at least one sheet comprises said flexible membrane sheet further supported by a third sheet, said third sheet is a rigid membrane support structure.

13. An image controller according to claim 12 in which said at least one of the finger depressible buttons is associated with a pressure-sensitive variable sensor for providing a proportional signal, whereby depression of said at least one of the finger depressible buttons provides a proportional signal representing the level of depressive pressure applied.

14. An image controller comprising:

an input member with associated sensors for manual manipulation, said input member moveable on at least two axes; and

a plurality of finger depressible buttons with associated sensors; and

at least one flexible sheet connecting to the sensors of said input member, and said at least one flexible sheet connecting to the sensors of said finger depressible buttons;

said at least one flexible sheet having a first portion thereof residing in a first plane, said at least one flexible sheet having a second portion thereof residing in a second plane; and

active tactile feedback means for providing vibration to be felt by a hand operating said controller.

15. An image controller according to claim 14 in which at least one of the finger depressible buttons is structured with a resilient dome cap.

16. An image controller according to claim 15 in which said image controller is connected to an image generation device.

17. An image controller according to claim 16 in which said image generation device includes a television based electronic game.

18. An image controller according to claim 17 wherein said active tactile feedback means comprises an electric motor with shaft and offset weight positioned within a handle portion of said controller.

19. An image controller according to claim 18 in which a plunger is positioned above said dome cap, said plunger comprising a non-conductive rigid plastic material.

20. An image controller according to claim 14 in which said at least one of the finger depressible buttons is associated with a pressure-sensitive variable sensor for providing a proportional signal, whereby depression of said at least one of the finger depressible buttons provides a proportional signal representing the level of depressive pressure applied;

and

said active tactile feedback means comprises an electric motor with shaft and offset weight within a handle portion of said controller.

21. An image controller according to claim 14 in which said at least one flexible sheet is connected to

a second sheet.

22. An image controller according to claim 21 in which said second sheet is a circuit board.

23. An image controller according to claim 21 in which said second sheet is a rigid support structure for said flexible membrane sheet.

24. An image controller according to claim 23 in which said at least one of the finger depressible buttons is associated with a pressure-sensitive variable sensor for providing a proportional signal, whereby depression of said at least one of the finger depressible buttons provides a proportional signal representing the level of depressive pressure applied;

and

said active tactile feedback means comprises an electric motor with shaft and offset weight within a handle portion of said controller.