Method and apparatus for generating directional and force vector in an input device

An input device comprising:

• a housing;
• a pad received within the housing, the pad having an upper surface and a lower surface;
• a board member received within the housing;
• a plurality of switches secured to the board member, the switches facing the lower surface of the pad, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the upper surface of the pad;
• a sensor to detect which of the switches are actuated;
• and
• a translator to calculate magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated.

An input device comprising:

• a housing;
• a pad received within the housing, the pad having an upper surface and a lower surface, the pad including
• a plurality of actuating members spaced relatively uniformly with each other and affixed to the lower surface of the pad;
• a board member received within the housing;
• a plurality of switches secured to the board member with each switch facing its corresponding actuating member and representing a particular direction, the switches being actuated by the corresponding actuating members when pressure is applied to the upper surface of the pad, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the upper surface of the pad;
• a sensor to detect which of the switches are actuated;
• a translator to calculate magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated.

A display control system comprising:

• an input device comprising
• a pad having an upper surface and a lower surface;
• a plurality of switches positioned to be actuated from pressure applied to the upper surface of the pad with each switch representing a particular direction, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the pad;
• and
• a sensor to detect which of the switches are actuated;
• a translator to calculate magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated;
• a display device;
• a host controller connected to the display device for displaying symbols on the display device, the host controller including a processing means for moving a selected symbol on the display device with magnitude and direction of force input calculated by the translator.

A method of moving a symbol on a display device of a display control system, the display control system comprising a display device, a host controller connected to the display device, a processor, an input device having a pad, a plurality of switches actuated by pressure applied to the pad with each switch representing a particular direction, and a sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

• scanning the switches by the sensor for actuation of the switches, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the pad;
• calculating by the processor magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated;
• and
• moving by the host controller a selected symbol on the display device with magnitude and direction of force input calculated by the processor.