Opto-electrical joystick switch having a resilient, rigidly mounted central shaft
Patent 4994669 Issued on February 19, 1991. Estimated Expiration Date: 
July 29, 2010. 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.
July 29, 2010. 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 ReferencesOptical dual function joystick Joystick control unit using multiple substrates Patent #: 4879556 InventorApplicationNo. 543859 filed on 07/29/1990US Classes:250/229, Light valve (e.g., iris diaphragm)250/221, Controlled by article, person, or animal273/148BAll video game accessoriesExaminersPrimary: Nelms, David C.Assistant: Shami, Khaled Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassG01D 005/34AbstractAn opto-electrical joystick switch having a hollow cylindrical (20) housing with a collared top (26) and a separated bottom (28). A resilient joystick shaft (36) is rigidly mounted onto the housing bottom and penetrates through an opening at the top of the collar. A pair of printed circuit boards (46) and (50) are juxtapositioned within the housing, each having at least four light emitting diodes (48) and opposed light sensing photodiodes (52) in communication with each other through a light beam. A light blocking commutator disc (54) is disposed upon the shaft between the boards such that when the shaft is manually forced in a given direction, the light is interrupted from the diodes. An external or optional internal power source energizes the diodes and provides a basis for an electronic circuit that processes a signal created by the blocked diodes when the 8-position switch is displaced from its neutral position. | |
