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Magnetic thumbstick user interface devices

  • US 10,203,717 B2
  • Filed: 10/12/2011
  • Issued: 02/12/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2010
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A magnetic thumbstick user interface device (UID), comprising:

  • a manual actuator assembly comprising a magnet, a manual actuator element, and a movement control element including a substantially spherical section having a cavity to receive the magnet;

    a base assembly comprising;

    a base element having a pivot pad and a contoured surface on which the substantially spherical section is movable during user interaction with the manual actuator element;

    a multi-axis magnetic sensor to sense magnetic field components in three orthogonal axes (X, Y and Z); and

    a processing element to generate, based on the sensed magnetic field components, output signals corresponding to a position or movement of the manual actuator element, relative to a compact point in space, in the three orthogonal axes; and

    a restorative element coupled to the base assembly and the manual actuator assembly for restoring the manual actuator element to a released-state position.

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