Input device

• US 8,890,814 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Worthington Sharpe Limited
• Original Assignee: Worthington Sharpe Limited
• Inventors: Worthington, Samuel, Sharpe, David
• Primary Examiner(s): OSORIO, RICARDO
• Application Number:
  US13/521,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/161, 345/163, 345/167
• US Class Current: 345/163
• 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: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

An input device enabling a computer user to provide a range of inputs. The device comprises a body made up of a lower portion and an upper portion; an output interface; and a plurality of movement detectors arranged with the body to detect movements of the input device and based thereon to generate input signals for a computer or other device coupled to the output interface. The movement detectors are arranged to detect rotation about first and second axes defined by rotational movement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion, and movement of a actuatable element carried on one of the lower portion and the upper portion and actuatable independently of the other of the lower portion and the upper portion. The input device further comprises translational movement detectors, enabling a user to further provide three translational inputs.

Claims

1. An input device, comprising:

a body made up of a lower portion and an upper portion;

an output interface; and

a plurality of movement detectors arranged with the body to detect movements of the input device and based thereon to generate input signals for a device coupleable to the output interface,

wherein the movement detectors are arranged to detect rotation about a first axis and a second axis, the first and second axes defined by rotational movement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion, and further arranged to detect movement of an actuatable element carried on one of the lower portion and the upper portion and moveable independently of the other of the lower portion and the upper portion,

wherein the plurality of movement detectors further comprises a movement detector arranged to detect movement of the lower portion across a surface, and

wherein the input device further comprises biasing means which are arranged to bias the upper and lower portions toward a rest position, wherein the biasing means comprises a biasing arrangement which acts against pre-load stops and active-load stops such that the pre-load stops apply a degree of bias when no external force is applied to the input device so that a definite movement centre can be felt.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the actuatable element is associated with a movement detector arranged to detect movement of the actuatable element relative to the one of the lower portion and the upper portion of the body and based thereon to generate input signals for a device coupleable to the output interface, wherein the actuatable element is accessible from at least two sides of the body.

3. The input device of claim 1, wherein the actuatable element is accessible for actuation at opposite sides of the body.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the actuatable element is accessible for actuation between upper and lower portions of the body.

5. The input device of claim 1, wherein the actuatable element is a rotatable element.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein the movement detectors are arranged to detect movement of the actuatable element relative to a third axis being a rotational axis of the actuatable element.

7. The input device of claim 1, wherein the movement detectors are arranged to detect rotation of the actuatable element about two or more axes, corresponding to rotation about a point.

8. The input device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of movement detectors comprises at least one of:

a movement detector arranged to detect movement of the lower portion across a surface on which the lower portion is arranged in use to rest, a translational movement detector arranged to detect movement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion;

a translational movement detector arranged to detect movement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion in a vertical direction; and

a translational movement detector arranged to detect movement of the upper portion relative to the lower portion in direction perpendicular to the surface, on which the lower portion is arranged in use to rest.

9. The input device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of movement detectors comprises movement detectors arranged to detect translational movements in one, two, or three perpendicular directions.

10. The input device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the first axis, the second axis, and a third axis are arranged mutually perpendicular to each other.

11. The input device of claim 1, wherein the actuatable element is mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis.

12. The input device of claim 1, wherein the movement detectors are arranged to detect rotation about a first axis aligned axially along the length of the body, and wherein the movement detectors are arranged to detect rotation about a second axis aligned substantially transverse to length of the body.

13. The input device of claim 1, wherein the actuatable element is operatively coupled to the upper portion.

14. The input device of claim 1, wherein the actuatable element is accessible for actuation through openings on two sides of the body, preferably two opposite sides of the body and the openings are defined in the upper portion.

15. The input device of claim 1, wherein actuation of the actuatable element in a first rotational direction at a first opening produces a corresponding movement of the rotatable element in the same rotational sense at a second opening.

16. The input device of claim 1, comprising grip portions to facilitate manipulation of the actuatable element by a user, wherein the grip portions present at least in part a surface which is angled generally upwards and against which a gentle inward grip enables a downward force to be easily applied.

17. The input device of claim 1, wherein the biasing means comprise at least one of:

a translational biasing element arranged to bias the upper portion away from the lower portion in the rest position;

a first rotational biasing element arranged to bias the upper and lower portions relative to the first axis and toward a rest position; and

a second rotational biasing element arranged to bias the upper and lower portions relative to the second axis and toward a rest position.

18. The input device of claim 1, wherein the rest position is a central position relative to a range of detection angles for the rotational position the upper portion relative to the lower portion about the first and/or second axes.

19. The input device of claim 1, wherein the biasing means comprises bias springs, for at least one of pitch, roll and yaw, or translation of the upper portion relative to the lower portion, fitted to the lower portion with the legs pressing against limit stops such that when the upper portion presses against one of the legs moving it further, the spring is already under compression, and a definite movement centre can be felt.

20. The input device of claim 1, wherein rotation of a pitch member in a clockwise direction about a pitch axis causes an active-load stop of the pitch member to act against the bias of a spring by engaging the spring leg, and moving to further compress the spring causes the spring to be supported at its other spring leg against pre-load and active-load stops.

21. The input device of claim 20, wherein rotation of the pitch member in an anti-clockwise direction about the pitch axis causes the active-load stop to act against the bias of the spring by engaging a spring leg and moving to further compress the spring causes the spring to be supported at its other spring leg against the pre-load and active-load stops.

22. The input device of claim 21, wherein the biasing force provided by the biasing means in relation to the range of rotation of the upper portion about the first and second axes is selected to be greater than the force required to actuate the any one of the at least one button when a button actuation force is applied at the user'"'"'s normal hand position when operating the buttons.