# US 11,298,611 B2 · User input device and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,611 B2 - Document ID: US11298611B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/351,840 - Filed: 2021-06-18 - Published: 2021-12-30 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2020-06-29 - Assignees: Apple Inc. - Applicants: Apple Inc. - Inventors: Caleb J. Flori; Colin J. Abraham; Min C. Kim; Xuan Liu; Joshua J. Pong - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298611B2 ## CPC - A63F 13/24: Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles - A63F 2300/1043: being characterized by constructional details - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A user input device may include a shaft carried by a housing and having a first end extending outwardly beyond the housing for manipulation by a user and a second end within the housing. A set of one or more sensors may be carried by the housing to sense shaft movement. A first contact member may be within the housing, and a spring may be coupled between the first contact member and the shaft to urge the first contact member and the shaft apart. A motor may be carried within the housing and may have a rotatable output extending therefrom. A second contact member may be coupled to the rotatable output and may be in contact with the first contact member to be selectively moveable based upon motor rotation to set a spring compression and thereby set a return-to-center bias for the shaft while being manipulated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A user input device, comprising: a housing; a shaft carried by the housing and having a first end extending outwardly beyond the housing for manipulation by a user and a second end within the housing; a set of one or more sensors carried by the housing to sense movement of the shaft; a first contact member within the housing; a spring coupled between the first contact member and the shaft and urging the first contact member and the shaft apart; a motor carried within the housing and having a rotatable output extending therefrom; and a second contact member coupled to the rotatable output and in contact with the first contact member to be selectively moveable based upon motor rotation to set a compression of the spring and thereby set a return-to-center bias for the shaft while the first end of the shaft is being manipulated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The user input device of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises a coil spring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The user input device of claim 2, wherein: the shaft has a shaft passageway therethrough; and the first contact member is slidable within the shaft passageway. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The user input device of claim 3, wherein the coil spring is within the shaft passageway, between the first contact member and adjacent portions of the shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The user input device of claim 3, wherein: the first contact member has a contact member passageway therein; and the coil spring is within the contact member passageway. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The user input device of claim 1, wherein the first end of the shaft comprises a removable contact pad. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The user input device of claim 6, further comprising: a controller coupled to the set of one or more sensors and the motor; wherein, the controller is configured to set the rotatable output to move the first contact member to a release position for the removable contact pad. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The user input device of claim 1, further comprising: a controller coupled to the set of one or more sensors and the motor; wherein, the controller is configured to operate the motor to set the return-to-center bias using an output of the set of one or more sensors. ### Claim 9 A user input device, comprising: a housing; a shaft carried by the housing and having a first end extending outwardly beyond the housing for manipulation by a user and a second end within the housing; a plurality of sensors carried by the housing to sense movement of the shaft; a first contact member within the housing; a coil spring coupled between the first contact member and the shaft and urging the first contact member and the shaft apart; a motor carried by the housing and having a rotatable output extending therefrom; a second contact member coupled to the rotatable output and in contact with the first contact member, the second contact member positioned to be selectively moved in a direction determined by a direction of motor rotation, and to set a compression of the coil spring while the first end of the shaft is being manipulated; and a controller coupled to the plurality of sensors and the motor and configured to operate the motor to set a return-to-center bias for the shaft at least partially in response to outputs of the plurality of sensors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The user input device of claim 9, wherein: the shaft has a shaft passageway therethrough; and the first contact member is slidable within the shaft passageway. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The user input device of claim 10, wherein the coil spring is within the shaft passageway between the first contact member and adjacent portions of the shaft. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The user input device according to claim 10, wherein the first contact member has a contact member passageway therein; and wherein the coil spring is within the contact member passageway. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The user input device of claim 9, wherein the first end of the shaft comprises a removable contact pad. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The user input device of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to set the rotatable output to move the first contact member to a release position for the removable contact pad. ### Claim 15 A method of making a user input device, comprising: mounting a shaft and associated sensors within a housing so that a first end of the shaft extends outwardly beyond the housing for manipulation by a user and a second end of the shaft is within the housing; and mounting a return-to-center bias arrangement to the shaft, the return-to-center bias arrangement comprising a first contact member within the housing, a spring urging the first contact member and the shaft apart, a motor having a rotatable output extending therefrom, and a second contact member coupled to the rotatable output and in contact with the first contact member to be selectively moved in a direction determined by a direction of motor rotation to set a compression of the spring and thereby set a return-to-center bias for the shaft while the first end of the shaft is being manipulated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the spring comprises a coil spring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein: the shaft has a shaft passageway therethrough; and the first contact member is slidable within the shaft passageway. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the coil spring is within the shaft passageway between the first contact member and adjacent portions of the shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein; the first contact member has a contact member passageway therein; and the coil spring is within the contact member passageway. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein; the first end of the shaft comprises a removable contact pad; and the motor sets the rotatable output to move the first contact member to a release position for the removable contact pad.