Joystick controller

Abstract

A joystick controller in two-dimensional and one-dimensional versions. The 2-D version employs a unitary sensor surface structure having eight surface-mounted or deposited strain gauges configured as two full bridges or four surface-mounted or deposited strain gauges configured as two half bridges, one for the X direction and one for the Y direction. This unique strain gauge layout design permits a new level of mechanical simplicity not heretofore available in joystick controllers. There are essentially no moving parts to wear out. An elongated post or lever is, in the preferred embodiment, mechanically coupled to the sensor surface structure by a pair of co-axial robust coil springs to provide a psychologically appealing physical motion of the lever during activation of the joystick controller. In the 1-D version, a rotatable cam element is positioned between parallel elongated leaf springs. The cam element is positioned at one end of the springs. The other end of the springs is mechanically coupled to a strain gauge layout which comprises a full bridge or half bridge sensor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.