Multi-plane sheet connected sensors
OwnerBrad A. Armstronginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sheet material connecting sensors in multiple-axes image controllers having at least two-axes input members and also including finger depressible buttons. In some embodiments at least some of the sensors are pressure-sensitive variable sensors for variable output representative of the level of applied pressure. In some embodiments the variable sensors include resilient dome caps structured to provide passive tactile feedback to a human hand. Other preferred embodiments additionally include an active tactile feedback for providing vibration to be felt by a hand operating the controller.
Claims24
A physical-to-electrical converter;
- comprising:
- a manual input member with associated sensors, said input member moveable on at least two axes;
- and
- a plurality of finger depressible buttons with associated sensors;
- and
- at least one sheet connecting to the sensors of said input member, and said at least one sheet connecting to the sensors of said finger depressible buttons;
- said at least one sheet comprising at least
- a flexible membrane sheet,
- said flexible membrane sheet having a first portion thereof residing in a first plane, said flexible membrane sheet bent and having a second portion thereof residing in a second plane;
- an electric motor with shaft and offset weight are within a handle of said converter for providing active tactile feedback;
- and
- at least one of the finger depressible buttons is associated with a sensor which is a pressure-sensitive variable sensor for providing a proportional signal, whereby depression of said at least one of the finger depressible buttons provides a proportional signal representing the level of depressive pressure applied.
An image controller comprising:
- an input member with associated sensors, said input member moveable on at least two axes;
- and
- a plurality of finger depressible buttons with associated sensors;
- and
- at least one sheet connecting to the sensors of said input member, and said at least one sheet connecting to the sensors of said finger depressible buttons;
- said at least one sheet comprising at least
- a flexible membrane sheet,
- said flexible membrane sheet having a first portion thereof residing in a first plane, said flexible membrane sheet having a second portion thereof residing in a second plane.
An image controller comprising:
- an input member with associated sensors for manual manipulation, said input member moveable on at least two axes;
- and
- a plurality of finger depressible buttons with associated sensors;
- and
- at least one flexible sheet connecting to the sensors of said input member, and said at least one flexible sheet connecting to the sensors of said finger depressible buttons;
- said at least one flexible sheet having a first portion thereof residing in a first plane, said at least one flexible sheet having a second portion thereof residing in a second plane;
- and
- active tactile feedback means for providing vibration to be felt by a hand operating said controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.