US 5,847,694 AGranted

Apparatus for generating a signal indicative of the position of a movable element in the apparatus

AssigneeTV Interactive Data Corporation

InventorsPeter M. Redford, Donald S. Stern

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Abstract

A position sensing controller, sometimes referred to as "controller" includes a novel optical gate that is located adjacent to a light source and to a light sensor. The optical gate changes the amount of light incident on the light sensor in response to a change in position of a movable element in the controller. In response to the incident light, the light sensor drives a position signal on an output terminal, which position signal approximately indicates the position of the movable element. The position signal can drive any electrically controllable device, such as a game machine, a personal computer and an interactive television set top. The use of optical principles in a position sensing controller allows various optical position sensing parts of the controller, such as the light source, the light sensor, and the optical gate to be physically separated from each other and so avoid the mechanical wear and tear caused by friction in conventional controllers.

Claims56

Dependent claims

A controller comprising:

a housing having a portion that forms an enclosure;
a movable element having an end, said end being located outside said housing, said movable element having a predetermined range of movement with respect to said housing;
a first signal source located in said enclosure, said first signal source being a source of an electromagnetic signal;
a signal gate located in said enclosure;
a first member having a first portion and a second portion opposite said first portion, said first member being supported by said housing, said first portion being attached to said movable element and said second portion being attached to said signal gate,
wherein said first member holds said movable element substantially stationary with respect to said signal gate,
further wherein said first member holds said signal gate substantially separated from said housing to thereby eliminate friction between said signal gate and said housing;
a first signal sensor located in said enclosure, said first signal sensor being sensitive to the amount of said electromagnetic signal, said amount being determined by said signal gate, said first signal sensor having a first terminal couplable to an electrical circuit;
and
a second signal sensor located in said enclosure, said second signal sensor having a second terminal wherein said first terminal and said second terminal are directly coupled to a common junction, thereby to supply at said common junction a signal having a ratiometric voltage indicative of said position;
wherein said first member moves said signal gate in dependence on movement of said movable element by a user, and
further wherein said signal gate changes the amount of said electromagnetic signal in dependence on at least an angle of reflection or a distance between said signal gate and one of said first signal source and said first signal sensor.

9 more elements

A controller comprising:

a housing defining an interior enclosure;
a movable element located outside said housing and having a limited range of movement with respect to said housing;
a support member having a proximal end and a distal end opposite said proximal end, said proximal end being attached to said movable element;
an optical gate attached to said distal end, said optical gate being located in said enclosure,
wherein said support member holds said optical gate separated from said housing to thereby eliminate friction between said optical gate and said housing, and
further wherein said support member holds said optical gate substantially stationary with respect to said movable element and causes said optical gate to move laterally from a first location to a second location in dependence on movement of said movable element, said second location being removed from said first location;
and
a plurality of photodiodes located in said enclosure, a first photodiode of said plurality of photodiodes being physically separated from a second photodiode of said plurality of photodiodes;
wherein said first photodiode drives a first current indicative of the amount of light incident on said first photodiode and said second photodiode drives a second current indicative of the amount of light incident on said second photodiode;
and
further wherein said first photodiode has a first terminal said second photodiode has a second terminal, said first terminal and said second terminal being directly coupled to a common junction, thereby to supply at said common junction a signal having a ratiometric voltage indicative of said position.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/359,307Filed 19 Dec 1994 · continuation in part
Priority: 5 Dec 1991
Granted: 8 Dec 1998
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification36 codes

A63F 13/213
Characterised by their sensors, purposes or types: comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells
A63F 13/24
Input arrangements for video game devices: constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
A63F 13/245
Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles: specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g.…
A63F 13/28
Output arrangements for video game devices: responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for…

Family

Serial804,240Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Dec 1991
Serial868,835Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Apr 1992
Serial76,032Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Jun 1993
US 5,218,771 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Jun 1993
Serial280,699Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Jul 1994
US 5,339,095 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 16 Aug 1994
Serial298,648Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Aug 1994
US 5,459,489 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Oct 1995
US 5,847,694 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.