Multifunction joystick apparatus and a method for using same

A joystick apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a printed circuit board in the housing;
• a U-joint assembly above the printed circuit board in the housing wherein the U-joint assembly has a U-joint rocker pivotably connected to a U-joint slider;
• a shaft having a first end, a second end and a center position wherein the second end is pivotably connected to the U-joint rocker to allow movement of the shaft relative to the center position within a circle and wherein the movement of the shaft is in at least one of a forward and a backward direction, a side-to-side direction, an axial direction or a rotating direction to provide an end user with selectable functionality;
• a knob on the first end of the shaft;
• a magnet on the second end of the shaft;
• and
• a Hall effect integrated circuit on the printed circuit board wherein the Hall effect integrated circuit detects movement of the magnet in response to corresponding movement of the shaft and further wherein the Hall effect integrated circuit generates a corresponding proportional joystick output signal indicative of the direction of movement of the shaft and an extent of deflection of the shaft.