U.S. patents available from 1976 to present.
U.S. patent applications available from 2005 to present.

3D controller with vibration

Patent 6906700 Issued on June 14, 2005. Estimated Expiration Date: Icon_subject November 16, 2020. 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 References

2430284

3296882

3611068

3693425

3710050

3771037

3806471

3921445

Switching apparatus
Patent #: 3952173
Issued on: 04/20/1976
Inventor: Tsuji ,   et al.

Switching apparatus
Patent #: 3988556
Issued on: 10/26/1976
Inventor: Hyodo

More ...

Inventor

Assignee

Application

No. 09715532 filed on 11/16/2000

US Classes:

345/161, Joystick 345/156, DISPLAY PERIPHERAL INTERFACE INPUT DEVICE 341/187, Having counter or register 338/2, STRAIN GAUGE TYPE 73/862.044, Using a resistance strain gage 200/61.43, Sensitive edge type closure 318/580, Vehicular guidance systems with single axis control 73/862, DYNAMOMETERS 200/511, Compressible elastomer 200/295, With flexible mounting means 200/556, Housing and actuator form detent 360/90, Tape record 219/720, With display or alarm 200/5A, With independent operators 341/20, BODILY ACTUATED CODE GENERATOR 340/321, Portable self-contained (e.g., movie usher's signalling flashlight) 338/69, Musical instrument playing key actuated 200/6A, Universally pivoted handle 345/159, Having variable cursor speed 338/114, Deformable 341/34, Pressure sensitive actuation 414/2, Motion of hand, finger, or arm member multiplied or reduced in its transmission to article manipulator means 73/862.043, Three dimensional (e.g., x, y, z axes) 463/2, In a game including a simulated projectile (e.g., bullet, missile, ball, puck, etc.) 368/29, Electro-optical 99/280, Automatic control 701/4, Altitude or attitude control or indication 463/38, Pivotally-translatable handle (e.g., joystick, etc.) 219/121.72, Methods 338/99, Surfaces pressed together (e.g., compressible type) 200/5R, Multiple switch 345/166, Optical detector 74/471XY, Control moves in two planes 200/513, Specific dome shape 84/687, Force or velocity responsive 361/725, With retractable or readily detachable chassis 345/157, Cursor mark position control device 341/11, Incremental 345/160, Cursor key 248/124.1, Vertically and horizontally 463/37, Hand manipulated (e.g., keyboard, mouse, touch panel, etc.) 318/568.11, Multifunction manipulator (i.e., Robot) 219/708, Weight 307/119, Mechanical force 200/512, Membrane type 336/132, Plural relatively movable core parts 463/23, Skill level adjustment (e.g., speed change, complexity, etc.) 386/69, Track searching 360/40, In specific code or form 345/167, Trackball 700/17, Operator interface (e.g., display with control) 341/176, Transmitter for remote control signal 434/253, Skiing 345/158, Including orientation sensors (e.g., infrared, ultrasonic, remotely controlled) 463/36, Player-actuated control structure (e.g., brain-wave or body signal, bar-code wand, foot pedal, etc.) 338/92, Resistance element adjustably short-circuited 439/359, Retaining means comprising helically threaded member 324/207.13, Having particular sensor means 219/492, Comprising timing or cycling means 463/29, Access or authorization (e.g., game selection, security, etc.) 318/685, "Step-by-step" motors in closed-loop servos 323/320, Phase controlled switching using electronic tube or a three or more terminal semiconductive device 235/455, Light level control 273/148B, All video game accessories 345/174, Including impedance detection 345/168, Including keyboard 345/172, Having programmable function key 318/561, Adaptive or optimizing systems including "bang-bang" servos D14/218, Remote control 277/641, Groove structure on the seal or part 345/163, Mouse 73/726, Strain gauge 310/339, Voltage, spark or current generator 399/342, Lamination 340/870.31, Inductive transmitter 358/296, Recording apparatus 73/1.15, Load cell (e.g., strain gauge or piezoelectric sensor) 368/281, Wrist worn 368/10, COMBINED WITH DISPARATE DEVICE D14/410, Flared at one end 200/345, Cap/stem and stem/housing details 379/457, MISCELLANEOUS 463/40, With communication link (e.g., television broadcast, etc.) 200/521, Including tactile feedback mechanism 324/601, Calibration 368/69, With manually actuated display 341/22, Including keyboard or keypad 340/7.52, Storing or retrieving message (e.g., received message database handling) 345/3.2, Frame, field or scan rate conversion 600/595, Body movement (e.g., head or hand tremor, motility of limb, etc.) 324/207.17, Separate pick-up 200/516, Including auxiliary dome/disc type spring 455/556.2, Personal digitial assistant 361/686, Input/output device support 340/825, SELECTIVE 717/113, Visual D14/162, Combined (e.g., with radio, turntable, etc.) 463/30, Perceptible output or display (e.g., tactile, etc.) 338/68, MECHANICALLY VARIABLE (E.G., RHEOSTAT) 700/85, Positional (e.g., joystick) 273/402, Target is aperture dimensioned to allow projectile to pass entirely therethrough 345/685, Alphanumeric 715/531, Text 396/71, HAVING LENS CONVERTER OR EXTENSION TUBE 73/862.05, Applied to guidance means 84/634, Accompaniment 345/173, Touch panel 462/2, CONTINUOUS FORM STRIP - BOOK TYPE 345/169, Portable (i.e., handheld, calculator, remote controller) 702/41, Force or torque measurement 178/18.01, Position coordinate determination for writing (e.g., writing digitizer pad, stylus, or circuitry) 707/104.1, Application of database or data structure (e.g., distributed, multimedia, image) 338/47, Force-actuated 361/681, Including display support 368/83, Solid body light emitter (e.g., LED) 709/229, Network resources access controlling 709/248, MULTICOMPUTER SYNCHRONIZING 709/227, COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER SESSION/CONNECTION ESTABLISHING 434/317, Visual information in book form 455/412.2, Having message notification 463/6, In a race game 429/100, Support or holder per se 345/629, Merge or overlay 370/538, Plural input channels of different rates to a single common rate output channel 715/516, Matching application process to displayed data type 219/681, Convection heating 382/189, With a display 73/862.68, By measuring electrical properties 455/566, Having display 358/1.16, Memory 340/7.6, Vibratory (i.e., tactual) alarm 463/53, Coindence detection or indication means (e.g., aim detector, "hit" -indicator, etc.) 200/339, Rocker 463/32, Three-dimensional characterization 715/503, Spreadsheet 368/37, Movable ring or disk 463/3, Paddle-type game (e.g., pinball, tennis, baseball, golf, hockey, etc.) 701/201, Determination of travel data based on the start point and destination point 360/88, RECORD TRANSPORT WITH HEAD STATIONARY DURING TRANSDUCING 375/240, BANDWIDTH REDUCTION OR EXPANSION 386/46, PROCESSING OF TELEVISION SIGNAL FOR DYNAMIC RECORDING OR REPRODUCING 379/93.19 Having pressure or position sensitive surface (e.g., touch-screen, light pen)

Examiners

Primary: Nguyen, Chau

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International Class

G09G005/08

Abstract

A hand operated controller or converter structured for allowing hand inputs to be converted or translated into electrical outputs, the controller structured with a plate or platform moveable relative to a base or housing about two mutually perpendicular axes generally parallel to the platform to effect a plurality of sensors for defining output signal(s) based on movement of the platform. The sensors each have an electrically active activator spatially separated from an electric contact surface. A tactile feedback motor with shaft and offset weight is mounted as a component of the controller for providing vibration to be felt by a hand operating the controller. In some embodiments the sensors are pressure sensitive variable output sensors.

Other References

  • IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 21, No. 9, Feb. 1, 1979, pp. 3845-3846, Anonymous author, Title: “Keyboard Device For Upper And Lower Case Keying Without Shifting”. The Present Applicant could not locate a copy of this IBM disclosure but lists the data because it was cited as an “X” reference in a European Patent Office Search report on a related invention filed for by another Applicant.
  • Jim Boyce et al, Inside Window 3.11, New Riders Publishing, Platinum Edition, p. 87-89.
  • Mouse Ball-Actuating Device with Force and Tactile Feedback, IBM DisclosureBulletin, vl 32, No. 9B, Feb. 1990, pp. 230-235, Footnote 2—Special Interest.
  • Research Disclosures, vol. 283, Nov. 1987 (USA) “Joystick with Tactile Feedback”.
  • Development of a General Purpose Hand Controller for Advanced Teleoperation KV Siva Harwell Laboratory, UK. Jul. 1988, Footnote 12—Special Interest.
  • The “CyberMan” 3D Controller by Logitech Inc. of Fremont California US in 1993, a two page advertisement flyer is provided herewith, as are detailed drawings, Footnote 9—Special Interest.
  • Kambic “Keyboard Switch with Stroke and Feedback Enhancement Using Vertically Conducting Elastomer In a Laterally Conducting Mode”, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 20, No. 5, Oct. 1977, pp. 1833-1834, Footnote 22—Special Interest.
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  • Search results titled Questel-Orbit QWEB dated Dec. 1999, pp. 1-24 having short descriptions/abstracts thereon are submitted herewith by Applicant for study.
  • Namco, 1994, a hand held controller for video games having a button to drive a gear and rotate a rotary potentiometer which creates an analog signal change based on positional change; to be considered prior art to some of Applicant's claims.
  • Flightstck Pro by CH Products, San Marcos, Califonia USA, a joystick which uses a gimbal and rotary potentiometers, the joystick is prior art sold in stores.
  • Known prior art are rotary operated potentiometers which have an Off position usually in the far counterclockwise direction of rotation and an audible “click” is provided when rotated in or out of the Off position. Such potentiometers are variable output electrical devices controlled by rotation .
  • IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin pp230-235 Feb. 1990 Mouse Ball-Actuating Device With Force And Tactile Feedback.
  • Research Disclosure Nov. 1987 28373 Joystick with Tactile Feedback.
  • S.F. Kambic, IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 20 No. 5 Oct. 1977 Questel-Orbit QWEB pp. 1-24 (submitted herewith).
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