Self-centering tactile thumb joystick for use on a touch screen

• US 9,170,658 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joytact Pte Ltd
• Original Assignee: Joytact Pte Ltd
• Inventors: Quek, Joo Hai
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jansen, II, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US13/806,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20130249830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,238 Days
• Field of Search: 200/179, 200/8.R, 200/6.A, 200/4, 200/5.R, 200/17.R, 200/18, 345156-169, 345/173, 463/38, 700/85, 348/211.7, 361/679.1, 361/679.18, 744/71
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• 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 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/04 Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick

Abstract

The present invention provides a self-centering, tactile thumb joystick for use to control a virtual directional pad displayed on a touch screen of an electronic gadget. The thumb joystick is removeably mounted on the touch screen so that movement of a puck via a stem and a button operates the virtual directional pad to control a software running in the electronic gadget. A resilient member, in the form of an annular spring or garter spring, biasing inwardly against a wall element formed around an opening of a hollow housing of the thumb joystick centers the puck when a user releases activating the button.

Claims

1. A removable thumb joystick for mounting on a capacitive touch screen of an electronic device, said removable thumb joystick comprising:

a hollow housing having an upper opening, a wall element disposed around said upper opening and a lower rim that opens into an interior space of said hollow housing;

a puck having a stem and a button, with said puck being disposed below said upper opening so that said stem extends through said upper opening for connection with said button, with said button being disposed above said hollow housing;

an endless annular spring is disposed in an extended state and inwardly biasing against both said wall element and puck to centre said puck with respect to said upper opening, wherein said endless annular spring comprises a metal strip which thickness is bent to form undulating boss;

a film disposed over said lower rim of said hollow housing and enclosing said puck and resilient member within said hollow housing; and

a tacky layer disposed on an exterior face of said film, with said film providing an enlarged area for adhesion onto the capacitive touch screen such that said removable thumb joystick is removeably mounted thereon, so that when said removable thumb joystick is positioned above a virtual directional pad displayed on said capacitive touch screen, said virtual directional pad is operated by capacitance change at the capacitive touch screen of the electronic device as a user moves said puck via said stem and button.

2. The removable thumb joystick according to claim 1, wherein said puck, stem and button are formed from an electrically conductive or electrostatically dissipative (ESD) material whilst said hollow housing is made from a non-ESD material, which includes a polymer, glass or ceramic.

3. The removable thumb joystick according to claim 1, wherein the resulting undulating strip is bent to form the endless annular spring of one or more layers.

4. The removable thumb joystick according to claim 1, wherein said tacky layer is substantially 50 micron to 500 micron in thickness.

5. The removable thumb joystick according to claim 1, wherein said film is made from polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyester, with a thickness range of substantially 50 micron to 150 micron.

6. The removable thumb joystick according to claim 1, wherein a total thickness range of said tacky layer and film is substantially 100 micron to 650 micron.

7. The removable thumb joystick according to claim 1, wherein said hollow housing and film are attached to each other by an adhesive.

8. The removable thumb joystick according to claim 1, wherein said puck has a stepped peripheral edge to form a flange on which said endless annular spring is supported.

9. The removable thumb joystick according to claim 1, wherein said hollow housing has a grooved, reverse tapered or rimmed peripheral side edge to allow positive grip by a user'"'"'s thumb and finger.