Variable sensor with tactile feedback
DC CAFCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. A variable sensor, said variable sensor comprising:
- a rigid support board, said board at least in part supporting a sheet, said sheet positioned between said board and a depressible resilient dome cap, said dome cap structured to provide, upon depression of said dome cap, a snap-through threshold tactile feedback to a human user.
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Abstract
Structures and methods for using an analog sensor in combination with a user discernable snap-through threshold feedback, the feedback may be created by a dome-cap element of the sensor. The threshold feedback, sensed by a human user'"'"'s finger, indicates activation and deactivation of the analog sensor. Tactile analog sensor(s) are structurally combined with: a second kind of tactile feedback referred to as active tactile feedback, flexible sheet sensor elements, pivotal analog buttons, and game imagery controls.
304 Citations
66 Claims
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1. A variable sensor, said variable sensor comprising:
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a rigid support board, said board at least in part supporting a sheet, said sheet positioned between said board and a depressible resilient dome cap, said dome cap structured to provide, upon depression of said dome cap, a snap-through threshold tactile feedback to a human user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
said variable sensor is combined with means for variably controlling imagery according to variable depressive force applied by the human user. -
3. A variable sensor according to claim 2 wherein said dome cap has a deformable surface having an apex located to contact said sheet.
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4. A variable sensor according to claim 3 wherein said sheet supports electrically conductive material.
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5. A variable sensor according to claim 4 wherein said conductive material is located to contact said circuit traces.
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6. A variable sensor according to claim 5 wherein said circuit traces are interdigitated.
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7. A variable sensor according to claim 5 wherein said imagery is an electronic game displayed by a television.
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8. A variable sensor according to claim 2 wherein said variable sensor is positioned at least in part within a hand operated device, said device includes a first pivotally mounted button, said first pivotally mounted button positioned to be operated by a first human finger of the human user.
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9. A variable sensor according to claim 8 wherein said device includes a second pivotally mounted button, said second pivotally mounted button positioned to be operated by a second human finger of the human user.
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10. A variable sensor according to claim 9 wherein said device includes means for providing active tactile feedback.
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11. A variable sensor according to claim 10 wherein said first pivotally mounted button is variably depressible to at least in part variably control said imagery.
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12. A variable sensor according to claim 11 wherein said second pivotally mounted button is variably depressible to at least in part variably control said imagery, said imagery displayed by a television.
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13. A variable sensor according to claim 12 wherein said variable sensor outputs signals representing On/off data and proportional data.
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14. A variable sensor according to claim 2 wherein said variable sensor is positioned at least in part within a hand operated device, said hand operated device includes a right-hand area and a left-hand area, said variable sensor is located in said right-hand area, said imagery is an electronic game displayed by a television.
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15. A variable sensor according to claim 14 wherein said variable sensor is activated by depression of a thumb depressible button, said thumb depressible button located in said right-hand area and positioned to be depressed by a right hand thumb of the user.
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16. A variable sensor according to claim 15 wherein said variable sensor outputs signals representing On/off data and proportional data.
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17. A variable sensor according to claim 16 wherein said hand operated device includes a second variable sensor located in said right-hand area.
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18. A variable sensor according to claim 17 wherein said hand operated device includes a third variable sensor and a fourth variable sensor, the second, third and fourth sensors associated with second, third and fourth independent buttons, the buttons located in said right-hand area positioned to be depressed by a right-hand thumb of the user.
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19. A variable sensor according to claim 1 wherein electrically conductive material is carried by said dome cap, and
said variable sensor is combined with means for variably controlling imagery according to variable depressive force applied by a human finger of the human user. -
20. A variable sensor according to claim 19 wherein said conductive material has a deformable substantially convexed surface having an apex.
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21. A variable sensor according to claim 20 wherein said variable sensor is structured in combination with means for providing active tactile feedback.
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22. A variable sensor according to claim 1 wherein said sheet is an electrically non-conductive sheet supporting electrically conductive material, and
said variable sensor is combined with means for variably controlling imagery according to variable depressive force applied by a human finger of the human user. -
23. A variable sensor according to claim 22 wherein said conductive material contacts circuit traces.
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24. A variable sensor according to claim 23 wherein said circuit trace s comprise a first circuit trace and a second circuit trace, said conductive material contacting between said first circuit trace an d said second circuit trace.
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25. A variable sensor according to claim 24 wherein a four way rocker is located in said left-hand area of said housing.
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26. A variable sensor according to claim 25 wherein said imagery is an electronic game displayed by a television.
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27. A variable sensor according to claim 24 wherein said variable sensor is structured in combination with means for providing active tactile feedback.
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28. A variable sensor according to claim 27 wherein said variable sensor outputs signals representing On/off data and proportional data.
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29. A variable sensor according to claim 27 wherein said variable sensor is positioned at least in part within a hand-held housing, and said means for providing active tactile feedback is also at least in part within said housing.
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30. A variable sensor according to claim 29 wherein said imagery is an electronic game displayed by a television.
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31. A variable sensor according to claim 30 wherein a second variable sensor is positioned within said right-hand area of said housing, said second variable sensor actuated by variable depression of a second single individual button.
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32. A variable sensor according to claim 31 wherein a four way rocker is located in said left-hand area of said housing.
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33. A variable sensor according to claim 32 wherein a third variable sensor is positioned within said right-hand area of said housing, said third variable sensor actuated by variable depression of a third single individual button, and a fourth variable sensor is positioned within said right-hand area of said housing, said fourth variable sensor actuated by variable depression of a fourth single individual button.
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34. A variable sensor operated by depression of a single button, said single button depressed by a finger of a user, said variable sensor combined with means for controlling game imagery, said variable sensor comprising:
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sensor means for creating a proportional output, said proportional output representing varying depression applied by the finger of the user, said proportional output at least in part for controlling the game imagery, feedback means at least for providing a snap-through threshold tactile feedback to the user. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A variable sensor combined with means for variably controlling electronic imagery according to variable depressive force applied to said variable sensor by only a single human finger, said variable sensor comprising:
a depressible resilient dome cap, said dome cap structured to provide, upon depression of said dome cap, a snap-through threshold tactile feedback to the human finger. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A method of using a variable pressure analog sensor, depressed by a human thumb, to control variable movement of imagery in an electronic game, said method including the steps:
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a) decreasing pressure on said analog sensor, followed by b) receiving a soft snap tactile feedback, followed by c) increasing pressure on said analog sensor, said increasing pressure-applied according to said imagery and substantially because of said receiving a soft snap tactile feedback. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method of using a variable sensor depressed by a human finger to variably control movement in an electronic game, said method including the steps:
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a) depressing said variable sensor with varying pressure;
b) receiving a user discernable a snap-through threshold tactile feedback. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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64. A method of variably controlling electronic imagery by using a variable sensor, said method including the steps:
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a) pressing, with a human finger, a button associated with the variable sensor;
b) receiving, through said finger, a snap-through threshold tactile feedback. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66)
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Specification