Directional control device
Patent 4927987 Issued on May 22, 1990. Estimated Expiration Date: 
February 24, 2009. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
February 24, 2009. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesKeyboards Hand-held interactive terminal Electronic calculator with switches in solid V- and U-shaped groups Movable element control arrangement Captive digit input device Patent #: 4584443 InventorApplicationNo. 315522 filed on 02/24/1989US Classes:200/5R, Multiple switch200/52R, SPECIAL APPLICATION345/156, DISPLAY PERIPHERAL INTERFACE INPUT DEVICE345/168Including keyboardExaminersPrimary: Scott, J. R.Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassH01H 009/00AbstractA hand-held control device for use in controlling directional characteristics in apparatus, such as the direction of movement of video display images in electronic game machines, includes a body having an opening and four depressible switches regularly spaced about the opening. The opening is sized to receive the finger of a user inserted endwise therein, and the switches are disposed adjacent the sides of the opening so that each of the switches can be actuated with the side of the user's finger when the user's finger is received by and moved toward a corresponding side of the opening. When the device is in use, each switch is responsible for initiating a directional control signal corresponding to an X or Y coordinate direction in an X-Y plane. Fifth and sixth switches are mounted in the body for actuation by the thumb and index finger of the hand which holds the device and are responsible for control signals, such as "fire" or "jump" signals, which are independent of the directional control signals.Other References
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