U.S. patent application number 09/729753 was filed with the patent office on 2001-07-19 for controller with convexed surface analog pressure sensor.
Invention is credited to Armstrong, Brad A..
Application Number | 20010008848 09/729753 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25478082 |
Filed Date | 2001-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010008848 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Armstrong, Brad A. |
July 19, 2001 |
Controller with convexed surface analog pressure sensor
Abstract
A game controller of the type held in two hands simultaneously
for controlling electronic games, including a housing, a plurality
of depressible surfaces at least in-part exposed on the housing
with the depressible surfaces in operational association with
electricity manipulating devices contained within the housing and
controlled by depression of the depressible surfaces for
manipulating electrical outputs at least useful for controlling
electronic games. At least one of the electricity manipulating
devices is a pressure-sensitive variable-conductance sensor for
creating an analog electrical output proportional to varying
physical pressure applied to at least one depressible surface.
Disclosed are controllers and methods of manufacture of controllers
having at least one pressure-sensitive analog sensor of deformable
material with an apex surface which variably flattens-out under
variable pressure against at least one conductive trace surface to
increase surface contact and vary conductivity.
Inventors: |
Armstrong, Brad A.; (City
Carson City, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Brad A. Amstrong
P.O. Box 1419
Paradise
CA
95967
US
|
Family ID: |
25478082 |
Appl. No.: |
09/729753 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09729753 |
Nov 30, 2000 |
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09510572 |
Feb 22, 2000 |
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09510572 |
Feb 22, 2000 |
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08942450 |
Oct 1, 1997 |
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6102802 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/37 ;
463/36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/218 20140902;
H01H 2215/004 20130101; A63F 2300/1056 20130101; H01H 2201/036
20130101; H01H 2229/047 20130101; G06F 3/04847 20130101; H01H
2237/002 20130101; A63F 2300/6045 20130101; H01H 2215/006 20130101;
H01H 13/702 20130101; G06F 3/0338 20130101; H01H 2229/046 20130101;
G06F 3/0485 20130101; H01H 13/785 20130101; A63F 13/42 20140902;
H01H 13/70 20130101; A63F 13/06 20130101; H01H 2231/008 20130101;
G06F 2200/1612 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/37 ;
463/36 |
International
Class: |
A63F 013/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An improved controller linked to an image generation machine
linked to a display, said controller of the type used by two hands
simultaneously for controlling electronic imagery shown by the
display, said controller including a housing, a plurality of
depressible surfaces at least in-part exposed on said housing with
the depressible surfaces acting on electricity manipulating devices
contained within said housing and controlled by depression of said
depressible surfaces for manipulating electrical outputs at least
useful for controlling electronic imagery shown by the display;
wherein the improvements comprise; at least one of said electricity
manipulating devices is a pressure--sensitive variable-conductance
sensor having means for providing an analog electrical output
proportional to varying physical pressure applied to at least one
depressible surface of the plurality of depressible surfaces; said
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance sensor comprising a
resilient dome shaped member over an electrically conductive pill
of deformable material having a convexed surface adjacent at least
one electrically conductive trace, the depressible surface of the
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance sensor is positioned
relative to the deformable material so that when the associated
depressible surface is depressed with increasing input pressure,
the convexed surface of the deformable material is pressed against
said at least one electrically conductive trace with increasing
pressure, the convexed surface of the deformable material deforming
to contact additional surface of said at least one electrically
conductive trace.
2. An improved controller in accordance with claim 1 wherein the
electrically conductive pill of deformable material is
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material.
3. An improved controller in accordance with claim 2 wherein the
controller has only a single said housing, said housing having a
left-hand area and right-hand area; the hand areas positioned
oppositely disposed from one another; and said display is a
television.
4. An improved controller in accordance with claim 3 wherein said
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance sensor is positioned in
said right-hand area of said housing, said sensor for being
activated by at least one of a human user's right hand digits.
5. An improved controller in accordance with claim 2 further
including a four-way rocker having four depressible surfaces of the
plurality of depressible surfaces for control functions which are
at least partly spatial in nature, such as aiming functions
associated with steering a simulated car, airplane and controlling
directional movement of a character.
6. An image generation machine linked to a display and a controller
linked to said image generation machine, said controller structured
to be used by a human to manipulate imagery on said display, said
controller comprising: housing means for supporting a plurality of
depressible buttons exposed on said housing means and depressible
by digits of a human user's hands to operate electricity
manipulating devices contained within said housing means and
operated for manipulating electrical outputs of said electricity
manipulating devices by depression of said depressible buttons; at
least one of said electricity manipulating devices including means
for creating an analog electrical output proportional to varying
physical pressure applied to at least one depressible button of the
plurality of depressible buttons, said means for creating an analog
electrical output including an electrically conductive pill of
deformable material having a surface apex positioned to contact at
least one electrical conductor trace, wherein when the button
associated with the deformable material is depressed with
increasing pressure, the surface apex of the deformable material is
increasingly pressed against said at least one electrical conductor
trace and the deformable material increasingly deforms to contact
additional surface area said at least one electrical conductor
trace.
7. A combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said housing
means is structured as a single housing.
8. A combination in accordance with claim 7 wherein said deformable
material comprises a rubbery binder and active material defining a
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material.
9. A combination in accordance with claim 8 wherein said active
material includes carbon.
10. A controller comprising a housing to be grasped and held
simultaneously by two hands of a human user with thumbs of the
grasping hands remaining free of grasping responsibilities; said
housing including a right-hand area and a left-hand area, said
right-hand area being an area for grasping by the user's right
hand, said left-hand area being an area for grasping by the user's
left hand; a plurality of depressible individual buttons each at
least in-part exposed on said housing in at least said right-hand
area, said plurality of depressible individual buttons positioned
on said housing to be within reach of the user's right-hand thumb
with the user's hand grasping said housing in said at least said
right-hand area; a plurality of electricity manipulating devices
each operatively associated with a depressible individual button of
said plurality of depressible individual buttons; each of said
electricity manipulating devices contained at least in-part within
said housing and capable of electrical output manipulation upon
physically applied depressive pressure of its associated
depressible individual button of said plurality of depressible
individual buttons; at least one of said electricity manipulating
devices including means for creating an analog electrical output
proportional to varying applied physical pressure, said means for
creating an analog electrical output including an electrically
conductive pill; said electrically conductive pill comprising
deformable material and having a shape providing an apex positioned
to contact a surface of at least one conductive trace, said
electrically conductive pill sufficiently deformable to at least
somewhat flatten-out under physical pressure and contact additional
surface of said at least one conductive trace, means for outputting
to an image generation machine a signal at least representational
of said analog electrical output.
11. A controller in accordance with claim 10 wherein said
deformable material is a pressure-sensitive variable-conductance
material comprising an elastic binder and active material.
12. A controller in accordance with claim 10 wherein said left-hand
area includes a four-way rocker.
13. An improved method of manufacturing a hand held type controller
manufactured by way of assembling into a housing circuitry formed
to be at least in-part a component of electricity manipulating
devices and installing single digit depressible buttons in-part
exposed on said housing and positioned to be depressed onto said
electricity manipulating devices, wherein the improvement
comprises; installing into said controller at least one
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance sensor having an
electrically conductive deformable member with an apex adjacent at
least one conductive trace for creating an analog electrical output
in proportion to pressure applied to at least one of said
depressible buttons; installing into said controller means for
outputting to an image generation machine a signal at least
representational of said analog electrical output.
14. An improved method of manufacturing a hand held type controller
in accordance with claim 13 further including installing into said
controller said at least one pressure-sensitive
variable-conductance sensor of a type including carbon.
15. An improved method of manufacturing a pressure-sensitive
variable electrical conductivity sensor useful in a hand operated
controller, wherein the improvement includes: providing an
electrically conductive deformable member having an apex,
positioning said apex adjacent at least one conductive element
surface, providing a depressible surface depressible with
increasing pressure by a digit of a human hand, the depressible
surface provided in a position to depress said deformable member to
depress said apex into increasing surface contact with said at
least one conductive element surface with increasing pressure by a
human digit, wherein increasing electrical conductivity is achieved
with said increasing surface contact.
16. An improved method of manufacturing a pressure-sensitive
variable electrical conductivity sensor according to claim 15
further including providing said electrically conductive deformable
member comprising pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material,
whereby the electrical conductivity of said deformable member
varies under pressure.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Rule 1.53(b) continuation application
of pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/510,572 filed Feb. 22, 2000
to which the benefit(s) under 35 U.S.C. 120 of the earlier filing
date is claimed. Application Ser. No. 09/510,572 is a continuation
of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/942/450 filed Oct. 1, 1997, now
U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,802.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to controllers of the type
used and held by two hands simultaneously to control visual imagery
shown on a visual display. More specifically, the present invention
pertains to a two hand held controller with analog pressure
sensor(s) for controlling video game machines and imagery thereof,
and other electronically generated imagery. Methods of use and
manufacturing are also disclosed.
[0004] 2. Description of the related Prior Art
[0005] There are many prior art game controllers for use in
controlling imagery. A typical prior art game controller is shown
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,207,426 issued May 4, 1993 to Y. Inoue et al and
assigned to Nintendo Co. Ltd. The Nintendo controller is a typical
example of a game controller having multiple inputs capable of
manipulating multiple-axes, such as with the included cross-shaped
rocker key pad, and numerous buttons and depressible surfaces. The
Nintendo controller includes a housing sized to be grasped and held
simultaneously by two hands of a human user with thumbs of the
grasping hands remaining free of grasping responsibilities; the
housing including a right-hand area and a left-hand area, the
right-hand area being an area for grasping by the user's right
hand, the left-hand area being an area for grasping by the user's
left hand; a plurality of depressible surfaces (e.g.,, buttons and
cross-shaped key pad) each at least in-part supported by the
housing and each at least in-part exposed on the housing in at
least one area for operation by the user's thumbs and fingers. The
plurality of depressible surfaces (most of the depressible
surfaces) are positioned on the housing to be within reach of the
user's thumbs with the user's hands grasping the housing; each
depressible surface or member of the plurality of depressible
surfaces or members is individually operatively associated with an
individual electricity manipulating device (e.g., a simple
momentary On switch to close an opening in a circuit), one
electricity manipulating device per each depressible surface of the
plurality of depressible surfaces. Each electricity manipulating
device (momentary On switch) is contained at least in-part within
the housing and capable of electrical output manipulation upon
physically applied depressive pressure on the associated
depressible surface. The switches (electricity manipulating
devices) are either On or Off and provide corresponding all or
nothing outputs. These simple On/Off switches are not used to
provide the user proportional or analog control.
[0006] Although there have been tens of millions of such prior art
controllers as described above sold by numerous manufacturers
despite the significant disadvantages of simple On/Off controls, I
believe such a controller can be improved, so does Nintendo Co.
Ltd. In a more recent game controller sold by Nintendo, referred to
as the N64 controller, the controller has incorporated in a center
portion a proportional joystick having rotary optical encoders to
achieve the proportional effect. The proportional joystick is
applied in an attempt to overcome the significant disadvantages of
the four simple On/Off switches located under the typical
cross-shaped rocker pad. The proportional joystick includes at
least two major disadvantages which are overcome by the present
invention. The first disadvantage is cost of manufacture, and the
second is confusion of the user. In an controller to be made in
millions of units, two relatively expensive optical encoders, a
complex gimble, multiple mechanical parts specific for the
joystick, etc. creates an additional substantial cost which is very
high. The second disadvantage is confusion of the user in that the
typical user has become commonly accustomed to use of the
cross-shaped key pad with the left thumb. The presentation of the
option of the proportional joystick with the N64 controller often
leads to confusion as whether to use the cross-shaped key pad or
the joystick, especially for beginning users and potential
buyers.
[0007] Clearly there is great advantage to the user's enjoyment of
the game by allowing the user proportional or variable control.
[0008] The primary emphasis of this disclosure is to teach analog
sensor(s) embodiment in a controller having only a single housing
structured to be held in the user's two hands simultaneously.
Nevertheless, a joystick type of controller can be greatly
advantaged by embodiment of analog sensors as described herein. The
joystick type controller may be held in two hands simultaneously
but it is not a single housing held in two hands. Rather, a
joystick includes two housings, a base housing and a handle housing
neither of which are designed to be held in two hands
simultaneously. The joystick type controller may be greatly
advantaged by inclusion of depressible surfaces (buttons and/or
triggers) operating analog sensors as described herein. Such
embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art with a
study of this disclosure. On the other hand, mouse type controllers
have a single housing but the single housing is not designed to be
held in two hands simultaneously and therefore such type
controllers are not considered relevant to the present
invention.
[0009] Other related prior art of which I am aware and believe to
be cumulative to the aforementioned includes the following U.S.
Pat. No. 4,687,200 issued Aug. 18, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,113
issued Jul. 1, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,569 issued Feb. 11, 1997;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,330 issued Sep. 4, 1984; U.S. Pat. No.
5,459,487 issued Oct. 17, 1995. Also U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,891 issued
Oct. 15, 1996 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,828 issued Dec. 31, 1996 to
the present Inventor. Additional related prior art disclosure are
in the file wrappers of the application Ser. No. 09/510,572 and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,802.
[0010] The present invention solves the aforementioned
disadvantages and provides significant additional benefits and
advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The following summary and detailed description is of
preferred structures and best modes for carrying out the invention,
and although there are clearly variations which could be made to
that which is specifically herein described and shown in the
included drawings, for the sake of brevity of this disclosure, all
of these variations and changes which fall within the true scope of
the present invention have not been herein detailed, but will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of this
disclosure.
[0012] The present invention involves the use of structures
(pressure sensors) having pressure-sensitive variable-conductance
material across proximal circuit traces in order to provide
variable output for control of action intensity of electronic
imagery in proportion to applied physical pressure in the
depression of familiar control surfaces of a two hand held game
controller. Improved methods pertaining to using and manufacturing
game controllers are also herein disclosed.
[0013] The applied physical pressure is provided by a user of the
present controller depressing a button or like depressible surface
(e.g., cross-shaped key pad) which applies pressure onto
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material which, dependant
upon the applied pressure, alters its conductivity (i.e., resistive
or rectifying properties dependant on pressure sensor material
utilized) and thereby provides analog electrical output
proportional to the applied pressure. The analog electrical output
of the variable-conductance material is output to an image
generation machine as a signal at least representational of the
analog electrical output for controlling electronic imagery.
[0014] Examples of typical left thumb use of the invention
(controller) in a game for control of action intensity of the
electronic: imagery can be to simply have a simulated character
walk with low depressive pressure applied, walk faster with
increased depressive pressure applied, and run with a relatively
high depressive pressure applied to a single depressible surface of
the controller in accordance with the present invention. The user
can choose the action intensity of imagery by applying appropriate
depressive pressure to depressible surfaces of the controller. In a
second example, a race car can veer slightly with a low depressive
pressure and turn sharply with a high depressive pressure. In an
example of typical right thumb use (or finger of the right hand as
is typical in joystick use) of the controller, variable depressive
pressure can control variable fire rate of a gun or variable
jumping height of a character, etc.
[0015] The present invention in one embodiment involves a game
controller sized and shaped to be grasped and held simultaneously
by two hands of a human user with thumbs of the grasping hands
remaining substantially free of grasping responsibilities. The
thumbs are used in depressing a plurality of depressible surfaces,
the depressible surfaces each at least in-part exposed on the
housing outer surface. A plurality of electricity manipulating
devices are contained within the housing in operable association
with the plurality of depressible surfaces for manipulating
electrical outputs with depression by the thumbs (or fingers) of
the plurality of depressible surfaces and physical pressure applied
by the depression. One or more of the electricity manipulating
devices are analog pressure-sensitive variable-conductance
electrical devices (sensors) for varying electrical output
proportional to varying physical pressure applied by the user's
thumb or fingers.
[0016] The controller of this disclosure, which can be used and
manufactured as herein described, is a controller which the user
holds or grasps in both hands simultaneously during operation
(depressing of depressible surfaces) of the controller, and the two
handed holding provides advantages for certain imagery
manipulations which cannot be obtained with single hand held
controllers such as a mouse. The ability to use and the actual use
of two hands simultaneously on a controller allows what I call
"full involvement" of the user, wherein the user can involve both
hands in the control of imagery and utilizing, in general terms,
the specialized abilities of the differentiated halves of his or
her brain. Typically the left half of the brain of a user mostly
controls the right arm and hand, and the right half of the brain
mostly controls the left arm and hand. Generally speaking, for most
users of a controller, it is much more intuitive and natural to use
the right hand digits for certain types of control functions, such
as for example, critical timing of functions such as those
associated with firing a simulated gun, or precise timing in
jumping of a simulated character of an electronic game. Typically,
the left hand and digits are used to control functions which are
more spatial in nature, such as for aiming functions which might be
associated with steering a simulated car, airplane or controlling
directional movement of a character such as the running direction
of a simulated person. The present two hand held controller allows
for placement of depressible control surfaces for certain functions
in areas of the controller which are generally most suitable for
typical human users. Additionally, a two handed controller provides
the user the advantageous ability to hold the controller in both
hands with the controller in the user's lap or held in front of the
user and free of the constraints of needing a desk top or like
surface on which to rest the controller.
[0017] An object of the present invention is to provide a game
controller having thumb or finger (digit) depressible
pressure-sensitive proportional (i.e. analog) control(s), thus the
user can control the action intensity of the game imagery by the
degree of pressure exerted on a depressible surface.
[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide the
above in a structural arrangement familiar to current game
controller users, thus no secondary expensive proportional joystick
is required when proportional controls are applied to a
cross-shaped rocker key pad.
[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
inexpensive to manufacture analog input controller.
[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a game
controller in which right hand thumb buttons may also be
pressure-sensitive proportional (analog input) control(s).
[0021] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved method of using a game controller connected to an image
generation machine with visual display, in which a user depresses
depressible surfaces using hand digits on a game controller to
manipulate imagery on the display, wherein depressing of at least
one of the depressible surfaces with varying degrees of pressure
manipulates imagery of the display in proportion to the degree of
depressive pressure.
[0022] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method of controlling action intensity of imagery within a visual
display of the type associated with an electronic game allowing
user manipulation of action of imagery within the visual display by
way of depressing a depressible surface onto a pressure-sensitive
variable-conductance sensor connected to electronics within a two
hand held game controller linked to an image generation machine
such as a game console or computer which in turn is linked to the
display, and wherein depressing of a depressible surface with
varying degrees of pressure varies the conductance of the
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance sensor, thereby the action
intensity of the imagery can be proportional to the degree of
depressive pressure.
[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved method of manufacturing a two hand held type game
controller including installing pressure-sensitive
variable-conductance material for varying electrical output of
circuitry in proportion to user applied pressure to a depressible
surface.
[0024] These, as well as additional objects and advantages will
become increasingly appreciated with continued reading and with a
review of the included drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a traditional prior art game controller
commonly referred to as a game pad having a left hand area and a
right hand area with the left hand area having a cross-shaped
rocker pad depressible in four codependant areas, under each area
is an associated On/Off momentary on switch (electricity
manipulating devices), four switches, one under each depressible
area. The right hand area has depressible individual buttons
located over On/Off momentary On switches (electricity manipulating
devices).
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a Nintendo N64 prior art game controller. This
controller illustrates the growing need for variable or analog
input control in the incorporation of the complex rotary encoder
joystick. This controller has typical traditional right hand area
depressible buttons and also a typical cross-shaped depressible
rocker pad in the left hand area.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows a cross section view of a resilient dome cap
mounted over a circuit board having a first and a second circuit
trace including pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material in
a sensor arrangement in accordance with the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a top view of first and second conductive
traces with finger-like traces laying opposed in proximity with one
another.
[0029] FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of a resilient dome cap
and pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material atop
interdigitated traces on a circuit board in accordance with the
present invention.
[0030] FIG. 6 shows a top view of first and second interdigitated
circuit traces.
[0031] FIG. 7 shows a cross sectional view of a resilient dome cap
supporting pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material above
interdigitated traces on a circuit board in accordance with the
present invention.
[0032] FIG. 8 shows the sensor of FIG. 7 in a depressed or
activated state.
[0033] FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of one controller in
accordance with the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating depressive pressure in
relation or in proportion to the conductivity of a pressure sensor,
which typically corresponds to action intensity of imagery on the
game display.
[0035] FIG. 11 shows a game controller of a traditional format in
accordance with the present invention for example. The game
controller is shown connected by wires to an image generation
machine (game console or personal computer) which drives a display
such as a television or computer monitor.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0036] Referring now to drawing FIGS. 3-11 for descriptions of
preferred embodiments and best modes for carrying out the
invention. As previously mentioned, the present invention includes
a game controller which is a two hand held controller sized and
shaped to be grasped and held simultaneously by two hands of a
human user with thumbs of the grasping hands remaining
substantially free of grasping responsibilities so as to be
available and useful in depressing a plurality of depressible
surfaces 22 each at least in-part exposed on housing 20 to be
accessible by the user's digits. A plurality of electricity
manipulating devices 24 are contained (or at least in part
contained) within housing 20 in operable association with the
plurality of depressible surfaces 22 for manipulating electrical
outputs with depression by the user's hand digits (thumbs or
fingers) of the plurality of depressible surfaces 22. Electricity
manipulating devices 24 in this disclosure can be any electrical
device such as simple Off/On (momentary On) switches as are
commonly used in prior art game controllers, but with the present
invention at least one of the electricity manipulating devices 24
is an analog pressure-sensitive variable-conductance sensor 26 for
varying electrical output proportional to varying physical pressure
applied by the user's thumb or fingers on a depressible surface 22
positioned to apply pressure to pressure-sensitive
variable-conductance material 36 of sensor 26 as will be
detailed.
[0037] Shown in FIG. 3 is a pressure-sensitive variable-conductance
sensor 26 or analog sensor as it may installed by a manufacturer
within a game controller in accordance with the present invention.
Resilient dome cap 28 is shown made of rubbery material, such as
injection molded silicone rubber, mounted over a circuit board 30
having a first circuit trace 32 and a second circuit trace 34 and
including pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material 36
contacting both traces 32, 34, and an electrically conductive plate
38 is shown atop pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material
36. An underside portion of depressible surface 22 is shown atop
dome cap 28. Dome cap 28 is a resilient dome providing a return
spring lifting depressible surface 22 and provides or serves the
purpose in this example of supporting depressible surface 22 raised
upward until manually depressed to cause the lower or inner surface
of dome cap 28 to press against plate 38 which in turn presses
against pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material 36 which
as will be detailed, changes its conductivity with applied pressure
to alter the conductance of the electrical path provided thereby
between the first and second conductive traces 32 and 34 which are
in close proximity to one another yet separated. Sensor 26 can be
used in replacement of a simple momentary On switch within a game
controller wherein a momentary On switch simply closes the circuit
across the first and second traces 32 and 34 while the user presses
on depressible surface 22 and the closed circuit outputs a known
and fixed output (On or Off, or open or closed), while with the
application of sensor 26 depressing of depressible surface 22
provides variable electrical flow across the first and second
circuit traces 32, 34 varying in proportion to the degree of
depressive pressure applied by the user's thumb or finger on the
top or upper exposed portion of depressible surface 22. Such an
arrangement allows a voltage/current to be applied to first circuit
trace 32 wherein current flows from first circuit trace 32 through
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material 36 into conductive
plate 38 through pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material
36 and into second circuit trace 34. Voltage/current can be
regulated and varied by way of applied physical pressure such as
onto plate 38 to compress material 36 which alters the conductivity
of the circuit at least in-part defined by circuit traces 32 and
34.
[0038] Pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material 36 is an
important aspect of the present invention. Variable conductance can
be achieved with materials having either variable resistive
properties or variable rectifying properties. For the purpose of
this disclosure and the claims, variable-conductance means either
variably resistive or variably rectifying. Material having these
qualities can be achieved utilizing various chemical compounds or
formulas some of which I will herein detail for example. Additional
information regarding such materials can be found in U.S. Pat. No.
3,806,471 issued to R. J. Mitchell on Apr. 23, 1974 describing
various feasible pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material
formulas which can be utilized in the present invention. While it
is generally anticipated that variable resistive type active
materials are optimum for use in the pressure sensor(s) in the
present invention, variable rectifying materials are also
usable.
[0039] An example formula or compound having variable rectifying
properties can be made of any one of the active materials copper
oxide, magnesium silicide, magnesium stannide, cuprous sulfide, (or
the like) bound together with a rubbery or elastic type binder
having resilient qualities such as silicone adhesive or the
like.
[0040] An example formula or compound having variable resistive
properties can be made of the active material tungsten carbide
powder (or other suitable material such as molybdenum disulfide,
sponge iron, tin oxide, boron, and carbon powders, etc.) bound
together with a rubbery or elastic type binder such as silicone
rubber or the like having resilient qualities. The active materials
may be in proportion to the binder material typically in a rich
ratio such as 80% active material to 20% binder by volume ranging
to a ratio 98% to 2% binder, but can be varied widely from these
ratios dependant on factors such as voltages to be applied, level
or resistance range desired, depressive pressure anticipated,
material thickness of applied material 36, surface contact area
between material 36 and conductive traces such as traces 32 and 34,
whether an optional conductive plate such as plate 38 is to be
used, binder type, manufacturing technique and specific active
material used.
[0041] A preferred method of manufacture for portions of that which
is shown in FIG. 3 is to create a sheet of pressure-sensitive
material 36 adhered to a conductive sheet such as steel, aluminum
or copper, for example, by applying a mixture of the still fluid
material 36, before the binder material has cured to the conductive
sheet in a thin even layer. After the binder material (material 36)
has cured and adhered to the conductive sheet, a hole punch is used
to create circular disks of the lamination of the conductive sheet
(plate 38) and material 36. The disks may then be secured to the
circuit board and in contact with circuit traces 32 and 34.
Securing may be accomplished with the use of adhesives such as the
same binder such as silicone rubber or adhesive as used in the
formula to make material 36.
[0042] Depressible surface 22 can be a button 40 style depressible
member such as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, or depressible surface 22
can be an end portion of a four-way rocker or four-way key pad 42
as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. For further clarity, depressible
surface 22 and electricity manipulating device 24 are herein
described and shown as separate elements, but they are only
necessarily separate in a functional sense (i.e., physical
depressing function verses electrical controlling function). In
practical application, depressible surface 22 and electricity
manipulating device 24 may be structured as one part. For example,
the upper part of dome cap 28 protruding through housing 20 could
itself be exposed to contact by a hand digit to function as the
depressible surface 22 as shown for example in FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0043] FIG. 4 shows first and second electrically conductive traces
32, 34 with finger-like traces laying in proximity with one another
which can be the form of the first and second conductive traces 32,
34 of FIG. 3. The spacings between the conductive finger-like trace
elements shown in FIG. 4 allow for adhesive which can be used to
adhere a layer or disk of pressure-sensitive variable-conductance
material 36 to circuit board 30 if so desired by the
manufacturer.
[0044] Shown in FIG. 5 is a second pressure-sensitive
variable-conductance sensor 26 or analog sensor embodiment as it
may installed by a manufacturer within a game controller useful
with the present invention. Resilient dome cap 28 is mounted over
circuit board 30 having first and second circuit traces 32, 34 and
including pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material 36
contacting both traces 32, 34. Optional plate 44 is shown atop
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material 36. An underside
portion of depressible surface 22 is shown atop dome cap 28.
Depressible surface 22 is shown in-part supported by housing 20,
which in this example is housing 20 providing lateral support
against the side of surface 22 and additionally with surface 22
including a lower flange abutting the underside of housing 20 and
thereby being prevented from escaping housing 20. Optional plate 44
in this arrangement can be a stiff plate utilized as a physical
load distributor to distribute compressive loads received from the
underside of dome cap 28 with depression of depressible surface 22
across material 36 and not be an electrical conductor, or
alternatively it can also be an electrical conductor dependant upon
the particular thickness of material 36 and or spaced distance
between circuit traces 32 and 34 beneath material 36. Plate 44 does
not have to be applied atop material 36 in all embodiments.
Circumstances which effect the determination as to whether plate 44
or conductive plate 38 for that matter are used atop material 36
include: the particular formula of material 36; dimensions of the
applied material 36; the size, shaped proximity and layout of the
circuit traces in contact with material 36, and manufacturing
considerations such as is material 36 directly applied to plate 44
or 33 in an easily handled disk and then adhered to the circuit
board 30, or applied directly to circuit board 30 and traces 32, 34
such as by application in a fluid mixture (uncured) using a
removable mask; or directly injected onto circuit board 30 such as
with injection molding; or a pill/disk of material 36 is sliced
from a cured cylinder or extrusion of material 36 and the pill/disk
adhered to circuit board 30 and/or traces 32, 34; and other
manufacturing techniques.
[0045] FIG. 6 shows a top view of closely interdigitated circuit
traces 32 and 34 in a form as may likely be used in the sensor
structures shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8.
[0046] Shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is a third pressure-sensitive
variable-conductance sensor 26 or analog sensor embodiment as it
may installed by a manufacturer within a game controller or used by
a user of the game controller in accordance with the present
invention. Rubber dome cap 28 is mounted over circuit board 30
having first and second circuit traces 32, 34 and including
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance material 36 on the bottom
side of resilient dome cap 28. An upper exposed portion of dome cap
28 is exposed exterior of housing 20 so that depression by a thumb
or finger of depressible surface 22 causes downward movement or
depression of dome cap 28 to bring material 36 into contact with
traces 32 and 34. Depressible surface 22 is shown in-part supported
or laterally stabilized by housing 20. Material 36 is not
permanently contacting traces 32 and 34 as is shown in FIG. 3 and
5, but instead is on the underside of dome cap 28 in pill or disk
form and raised or held upward above traces 32, 34 by dome cap 28
until, as indicated in FIG. 8, surface 22 is depressed to push dome
cap 28 downward to bring material 36 into contact with traces 32,
34 which, under pressure, establishes a conductive path across
traces 32, 34. Also shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is the surface of
material 365 which contacts traces 32 and 34 is convexed which in
this particular application provides for the apex of the surface to
first contact across traces 32 and 34 followed by material 36 which
is flexible deforming with additional applied pressure to somewhat
flatten-out and contact additional surface area of both traces 32
and 34. This arrangement of relatively lower initial surface area
contact followed by additional or a larger surface area contact
with further depression can provide additional conductivity changes
due to not only the inherent conductivity changes brought about by
pressure applied to material 36 but also by establishing additional
current paths possible by the additional surface contact area.
Material 36 in FIG. 7 and 8 can be formed with a flat bottom
surface and function adequately without the increasing surface area
effect provided by the convexed shape shown. Additionally sensors
26 of FIGS. 3, 5, 7 and 8 will function within the scope of the
invention absent the spring return effect of dome cap 28 wherein
material 36 shown in FIG. 7 would be resting upon traces 32 and 34
and actuated by depression of surface 22.
[0047] In the prior art, typically a carbon-rich conductive pill or
disk is located on the underside of a typical dome cap such as dome
cap 28. In the prior art carbon-rich conductive pills are employed
as simple On/Off momentary On switches wherein the pill is
depressed by the user onto and across circuit traces to close the
circuit and released to open the circuit. In the prior art, the
carbon-rich pill is a component of a switch that is only an On/Off
switch. The prior art carbon-rich conductive pill is commonly used
exclusively as an improved On/Off switch with the improvement being
that this is considered a bounce-less switch not subjecting the
circuitry to rapid on/off oscillations at the time of initial
depression. Carbon-rich pills are made of granular carbon in high
concentrations in a silicone rubber binder producing a resilient
conductive material resistant to mechanical bouncing when depressed
onto a surface. The carbon-rich pill is utilized to advantage in a
simple On/Off bounceless switch.
[0048] Such a carbon-rich pill, to my knowledge, has never been
used or anticipated to be used for an analog sensor to provide
action intensity control of electronic imagery. Neither, to my
knowledge, has such a carbon-rich pill ever been used or
anticipated to be used for an analog sensor in a two hand held game
controller. I have discovered that such a carbon-rich pill or disk
can be used, in a novel manner as taught herein, as an analog
sensor in a game controller to provide action intensity control of
electronic imagery such as that associated with electronic games.
However, a narrow range of resistivity change found in a typical
prior art carbon-rich pill as a function of depressive pressure
exerted makes it not an ideal choice as an analog sensor in a human
hand operated controller.
[0049] In the range of light depression by a typical user's thumb
or finger (i.e., approximately one to six ounces) a carbon-rich
pill as a variable resistor may typically have a range of
resistance from a high value of approximately 3 thousand ohms to a
low value near 10 ohms, which is a narrow range compared to a
tungsten carbide based material 36 which may typically have a range
from approximately 3 million ohms down to a low of approximately 10
ohms. Thus, the tungsten carbide based material 36 has a range of
nearly 3 million ohms, while the carbon-rich pill has a range of
nearly 3 thousand ohms, resulting in an improvement of three
magnitudes (i.e., one thousand times) in range of the tungsten
carbide material 36 over the carbon-rich pill.
[0050] Tungsten carbide having an extreme resistance range as a
function of physical depressive pressure allows for greater
variation (higher resolution) of physical pressure applied within
those levels normal to light use by the thumb or finger of a
typical human user. The variable resistance range of tungsten
carbide is additionally quite stable over a wide temperature range.
Tungsten carbide also has excellent wear characteristics and
minimal hysteresis. Therefore, tungsten carbide is a preferred
active material for use with the present invention.
[0051] Within the scope of the invention, material 36 can be
manufactured and fixed in place with numerous processes not yet
detailed, and for example, tungsten carbide can be mixed with
un-crosslinked silicone rubber and extruded from a tool or pressed
into a cylindrical mold, allowed to crosslink, and then cut or
sliced into disks or pills of material 36 which can then be placed
in appropriate location to circuit traces 32, 34 or on dome cap 28.
Another process is to mix tungsten carbide or other suitable
material with an injection moldable silicone rubber and then inject
the material onto any desirable surface such as a membrane surface
such as mylar, or circuit board 30 and traces 32, 34, or using an
injection process for creating dome cap 28 with disks or pills of
material 36 thereon, such as could be performed for the dome cap 28
and material 36 arrangement of FIGS. 7 and 8, or dome cap 28 can be
a flexible/resilient dome cap and material 36 can be molded either
onto the dome cap or onto the circuit board, etc. If a metal dome
cap is used and is electrically conductive, one circuit trace such
as trace 32 can make electrical contact with a foot of the dome cap
and the second trace below the approximate center of the dome cap
with material 36 positioned between the second trace and the center
of the dome cap such that depression of the dome cap effectively
sandwiches material 36.
[0052] FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of a controller in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention. Shown at the top of
the view is an upper portion 50 of housing 20. Upper portion 50 of
housing 20 includes on the right hand side a pair of circular holes
52 for receiving and in-part supporting (retaining) depressible
surfaces 22 which in this example are buttons 40. On the left hand
side of the housing top is a cross-shaped opening 54 through the
housing for in-part receiving and supporting a four-way rocker 42
which is a depressible surface 22. The depressible surfaces when
assembled into the housing are in-part exposed on the housing
surface for depressing by the digits of the human hands. Shown
below the housing upper portion 50 is rocker 42 and buttons 40.
Additionally shown are individual rubber dome caps 28 beneath
button 40 and a four-gang rubber dome cap 28 beneath rocker 42
having four codependant areas. Shown beneath the rubber dome caps
is circuit board 30 having on its left side an array of circuit
traces forming four areas including adjacent circuit traces 32 and
34 in close proximity to one another for operative engagement with
material 36 installed by the manufacturer atop each of the four
areas which are located such that the four-gang rubber dome cap can
be applied over the four locations of material 36 to provide a dome
cap over each material 36 location. Rocker 42 can then be located
atop the four-gang rubber dome cap so that one dome cap is located
underneath each one of the four arm structures (four codependant
areas) of rocker 42. Each arm of rocker 42 is placed one arm above
each of the four locations of material 36. Rocker 42 is supported
elevated above material 36 by dome caps, and when housing 20 is
fully assembled with a lower portion 56 of housing, a flange 58 on
the lower outward edge of rocker 42 prevents rocker 42 from
completely passing through cross-shaped hole 54. Shown on the right
side of circuit board 30 are two locations of applied material 36
installed by the manufacturer over separated yet in close proximity
to circuit traces 32 and 34. The two individual dome caps 28 will
be placed one over each material 36 location of the right side of
the board 30, and button 40 positioned onto dome caps 28, the upper
surfaces of buttons 40 positioned through holes 52 and housing 20
and circuit board 30 connected to one another and housing 20 closed
with upper portion 50 and lower portion 56 affixed together. Also
shown on circuit board 30 is circuit traces 32 and 34 connecting to
active electronics 46 installed by the manufacturer and electronics
46 having the capacity to output a signal at least representational
of the analog electrical output of pressure-sensitive
variable-conductance sensor(s) 26 into output cable 48 leading to
an image generation machine 60 such as a game console or computer
connected to a display (FIG. 11). Active electronics 46 (i.e., ASIC
or micro-controller integrated circuity, etc.) which in addition to
having normal circuitry of a typical game controller such as a
prior art controller also has circuitry for interpreting the analog
output of sensor material 36 and converting it into a digital
signal (if a digital signal is desired) which is output to a host
graphic generation machine via cable 48. For the sake of brevity
and because it is well known to those skilled in the art, this
disclosure does not detail converting analog to digital signals,
i.e., specifically converting the output of sensors 26 to a digital
signal or form for control of imagery. It is conceivable that
within the scope of the invention, circuit traces 32 and 34 could
simply be connected directly to conductors of cable 48 for
outputting a signal at least representational of the analog
electrical output of pressure-sensitive variable-conductance
sensor(s) 26 through output cable 48 into an image generation
machine 60 wherein active electronics 46 may be located.
[0053] FIG. 10 shows an idealized graph indicating conductivity of
pressure-sensitive variable-conductance sensor such as sensor 26
and the corresponding action intensity of imagery in a game machine
as a function of depressive pressure exerted by the thumb or
fingers (digit) onto the depressible surfaces of a game controller
as herein described. The graph shows that with a low depressive
pressure, the conductivity is also low (resistivity high), and
action intensity of imagery would normally be arranged to be low
since the typical user will normally naturally associate low
applied pressure with low action intensity. As depressive pressure
increases so also increases the conductivity (resistivity lowering)
proportionally in a smooth continuous change or analog manner so as
to provide a variable electrical output.
[0054] Examples of typical left thumb use of the invention in a
game can be to simply have a simulated character shown on the
display walk with low depressive pressure applied to a depressible
surface 22 of sensor 26, walk faster with increased depressive
pressure applied to the depressible surface 22, and run with a
relatively high depressive pressure applied to the same depressible
surface 22, with this being an example of controlling or changing
the action intensity of the imagery proportionally with changes in
depressive pressure applied to depressible surface 22 of sensor 26.
The user can choose the action intensity of imagery by applying
appropriate depressive pressure. In a second example, a race car
can veer slightly with a low depressive pressure applied to surface
22 of sensor 26 and turn sharply with a high depressive pressure
applied to the same depressible surface 22. In a typical right
thumb use and an example of use of the invention, variable
depressive pressure can control variable fire rate of a gun or
variable jumping height of a character shown as an image on display
62. Alternatively, the invention in combination with an electronic
game console or PC and display can be arranged so the action
intensity of the imagery is reduced proportionally to increases or
increasing depressive pressure applied on depressible surface 22 of
sensor 26 wherein a simulated race car shown on the display travels
at a high rate with little or no depressive pressure applied to
surface 22, and is slowed proportionally to increased or increasing
depressive pressure applied by the user to the depressible surface
22 of sensor 26, an arrangement wherein the sensor 26 is applied as
a braking system.
[0055] FIG. 11 shows a game controller of a traditional format in
accordance with the present invention for example. The game
controller is shown connected by cable 48 to an image generation
machine 60 such as a game console or personal computer which drives
a display 62 such as a television, computer monitor or head-mount
display, etc.
[0056] Although I have very specifically described preferred
structures and best modes (methods) of the invention, it should be
understood that the specific details are given for example to those
skilled in the art. Many changes in the described specifics can
clearly be made without departing from the scope of the invention,
and therefore it should be understood that the scope of the
invention is not to be overly limited by the specification and
drawings given for example, but is to be determined by the spirit
and scope and broadest possible interpretation of the attached
claims.
* * * * *