# US 10,372,155 B2 · Joystick and related control method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,372,155 B2 - Document ID: US10372155B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/681,415 - Filed: 2017-08-20 - Published: 2019-02-21 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-20 - Assignees: Pixart Imaging Inc. - Applicants: PixArt Imaging Inc. - Inventors: Wei-Chung Wang; Hsin-Chia Chen; Hui-Hsuan Chen; Chao-Chien Huang; Chu-Hung Nien - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10372155B2 ## CPC - G05G 9/047: the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks {(for switches H01H25/04)} - G06F 3/038: Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry - G05G 2009/04759: {Light-sensitive detector, e.g. photoelectric} - G05G: CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY ("Bowden" or like mechanisms F16C1/10; gearings or mechanisms not peculiar to this purpose F16H; speed changing or reversing mechanisms for gearings conveying rotary motion F16H59/00 - F16H63/00) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A joystick has a related control method to provide displayed object control function. The joystick includes a body, an image sensor and a processor. The body has a deformable bottom surface whereon a pattern is disposed. The image sensor is disposed under the body and adapted to capture a plurality of frames about the pattern. The processor is electrically connected with the image sensor and adapted to generate a displayed object control signal according to pattern variation within the plurality of frames. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A joystick, comprising: a body having an enclosed space, and further having a deformable bottom surface whereon a pattern is disposed, wherein the pattern is deformable along with the deformable bottom surface; an image sensor disposed inside the enclosed space and adapted to capture a plurality of frames about the pattern; a processor electrically connected with the image sensor and adapted to generate a displayed object control signal for determining whether the joystick is pinched or operated by other gestures according to pattern variation within the plurality of frames; and a light source disposed under the body and adapted to project a beam onto the deformable bottom surface; wherein the body is a hollow sunken structure, the deformable bottom surface is located on an inner of a top portion of the hollow sunken structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The joystick of claim 1, wherein the pattern comprises a plurality of dots, the plurality of dots is arranged in asymmetry, and the displayed object control signal is generated according to position variation of the plurality of dots. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The joystick of claim 1, wherein the pattern is an asymmetric form, the displayed object control signal is generated according to deformation variation of the asymmetric form. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The joystick of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a top portion and a support portion connected with each other, and wherein a hardness of the top portion whereon the deformable bottom surface is located is greater than hardness of the support portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The joystick of claim 1, further comprising: an opaque cover disposed above the body for shelter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The joystick of claim 1, wherein the processor compares continuous frames or compares a current frame with a preset frame to acquire the pattern variation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The joystick of claim 1, wherein the displayed object control signal is a cursor control signal. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The joystick of claim 2, wherein the plurality of dots is made by high-reflective material. ### Claim 9 A control method capable of providing displayed object control function via a deformable bottom surface of a joystick, the control method comprising: an image sensor of the joystick acquiring a plurality of frames about the deformable bottom surface; a processor of the joystick identifying characteristics of a plurality of dots on the deformable bottom surface; and the processor of the joystick generating a displayed object control signal for determining whether the joystick is pinched or operated by other gestures according to characteristics variation of the plurality of dots within the plurality of frames; wherein the deformable bottom surface is a part of a body having an enclosed space, the image sensor is disposed inside the enclosed space, a pattern is deformable along with the deformable bottom surface, a light source of the joystick is disposed under the body and adapted to project a beam onto the deformable bottom surface, the body is a hollow sunken structure, and the deformable bottom surface is located on an inner of a top portion of the hollow sunken structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The control method of claim 9, wherein the characteristics variation represents difference between continuous frames. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The control method of claim 9, wherein the characteristics variation represents difference between a current frame and a preset frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The control method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of dots is arranged in asymmetry, and the characteristics variation represents position variation of the plurality of dots. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The control method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of dots is conducting dots electrified by an external power supply, and the characteristics variation represents variation of an inductive capacitance value of each conducting dot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The control method of claim 9, wherein the displayed object control signal is a cursor control signal.