US6222525B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image controllers with sheet connected sensors
Assignee: ANASCAPE (A NEVADA Ltd PARTNERSHIP)
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Filing: 1996-07-05
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Granted: 2001-04-24
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Expires: 2016-07-05
Abstract
Abstract A sensor connecting sheet material for inclusion in appropriately structured multiple-axes controllers comprised of a single input member operable in 6 DOF relative to a reference member of the controller. The input member having return-to-center resiliency relative to the reference member on at least the three perpendicular linear axes. The input member can be of a continuously rotatable trackball-type or a limited rotation joystick-type, and the reference member can be a shaft, a base or a housing. The controllers include carriage structuring for influencing sheet connected sensors by hand-applied operation of the input member. The preferred structures provide cooperative interaction with movement or force influenced sensors in primarily a single area. Some, most, or all of the sensors are preferably supported on a generally single plane, such as on a printed flexible membrane sensor sheet or circuit board sheet. In an alternative embodiment, sensors and conductive traces are applied on a generally flat, flexible membrane sensor sheet, which is then bent into a three dimensional configuration which may in some cases reach a widely-spread 3-D constellation of 6 DOF and/or other sensor mountings. The use of sensors connected by a sheet member, whether finally applied in a flat or 3-D configuration, enables efficient circuit and sensor connection and placement during manufacture, resulting in low product costs and high reliability.
Inventors
- 👤 Brad A. Armstrong
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:37
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H13/00; H01H13/70; H01H13/78; H01H13/785; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/20; A63F13/21; A63F13/218; A63F13/24; A63F13/25; A63F13/28; A63F13/285; G; G05; G05G; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G05G9/04737; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/016; G06F3/02; G06F3/0202; G06F3/021; G06F3/0213; G06F3/03; G06F3/033; G06F3/0354; G06F3/03548; G06F3/03549; H01H13/702; H01H25/00; A63F2300/00; A63F2300/10; A63F2300/1006; A63F2300/1037; A63F2300/1043; A63F2300/1056; G05G2009/0474; G05G2009/04755; G05G2009/04766; G06F2200/00; G06F2200/16; G06F2200/161; G06F2200/1612; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/01; G06F2203/013; H01H3/00; H01H2003/008; H01H2201/00; H01H2201/022; H01H2201/032; H01H2201/036; H01H2215/00; H01H2215/004; H01H2215/006; H01H2231/00; H01H2231/008; H01H2237/00; H01H2237/002; H01H25/002; H01H25/008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
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 structurally connecting, at least in part, to the sensors of said input member, and said at least one sheet structurally connecting, at least in part, to the sensors of said finger depressible buttons; said at least one sheet having electrically conductive traces located on said at least one sheet, said electrically conductive traces electrically connecting with the sensors of said input member, and said electrically conductive traces electrically connecting with the sensors of said finger depressible buttons; said image controller is connected to an image generation device; at least one of the finger depressible buttons is structured with a resilient dome cap; said resilient dome cap is structured to provide a tactile feedback to a human hand; a pressure-sensitive variable sensor is the sensor associated with said at least one of the finger depressible buttons, whereby depression of said at least one of the finger depressible buttons provides a proportional signal representing the level of depressive pressure applied; said at least one sheet comprises a flexible membrane sheet connected to a rigid circuit board sheet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
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 structurally connecting, at least in part, to the sensors of said input member, and said at least one sheet structurally connecting, at least in part, to the sensors of said finger depressible buttons; said at least one sheet having electrically conductive traces located on said at least one sheet, said electrically conductive traces electrically connecting with the sensors of said input member, and said electrically conductive traces electrically connecting with the sensors of said finger depressible buttons; said image controller is connected to an image generation device; at least one of the finger depressible buttons is structured with a resilient dome cap; said resilient dome cap is structured to provide a tactile feedback to a human hand; a pressure-sensitive variable sensor is the sensor associated with said at least one of the finger depressible buttons, whereby depression of said at least one of the finger depressible buttons provides a proportional signal representing the level of depressive pressure applied; said at least one sheet comprises a flexible membrane sheet connected to a rigid circuit board sheet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image controller according to claim 1 in which said plurality of finger depressible buttons are at least 10 in number, at least some of said buttons represent keys for numbers 1-9.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image controller according to claim 2 in which said plurality of finger depressible buttons are at least 40 in number, at least some of said buttons represent keys for the alphabet, and at least one of said buttons represents a spacebar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image controller according to claim 3 in which said input member is operable on at least six axes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
122 words
An image controller comprising: an input member movable on at least two axes, said input member having associated sensors; and a plurality of finger depressible buttons, said finger depressible buttons having 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 includes electrically conductive traces, said traces engaging the sensors; at least one of the finger depressible buttons is structured with a resilient dome cap; said resilient dome cap is structured to provide a tactile feedback to a human hand; said at least one sheet comprises a flexible membrane sheet connected to a rigid circuit board sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
An image controller comprising: an input member movable on at least two axes, said input member having associated sensors; and a plurality of finger depressible buttons, said finger depressible buttons having 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 includes electrically conductive traces, said traces engaging the sensors; at least one of the finger depressible buttons is structured with a resilient dome cap; said resilient dome cap is structured to provide a tactile feedback to a human hand; said at least one sheet comprises a flexible membrane sheet connected to a rigid circuit board sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
An image controller according to claim 5 in which said at least one of the finger depressible buttons is associated with a pressure-sensitive variable sensor, whereby depression of said at least one of the finger depressible buttons provides a proportional signal representing the level of depressive pressure applied.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
An image controller according to claim 5 in which said plurality of finger depressible buttons are at least 10 in number, at least some of said buttons represent keys for numbers 1-9.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
An image controller according to claim 7 in which said plurality of finger depressible buttons are at least 40 in number, at least some of said buttons represent keys for the alphabet, and at least one of said buttons represents a spacebar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image controller according to claim 7 in which said input member is operable on at least six axes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image controller according to claim 8 in which said input member is operable on at least six axes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
An image controller according to claim 9 in which said at least one of the finger depressible buttons is associated with a pressure-sensitive variable sensor, whereby depression of said at least one of the finger depressible buttons provides a proportional signal representing the level of depressive pressure applied.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
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.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
69 words
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.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image controller according to claim 12 in which at least one of the finger depressible buttons is structured with a resilient dome cap.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image controller according to claim 13 in which said image controller is connected to an image generation device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
An image controller according to claim 14 in which said image generation device includes a television based electronic game.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image controller according to claim 13 in which said resilient dome cap is structured to provide a tactile feedback to a human hand.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
An image controller according to claim 16 in which a plunger is positioned above said dome cap, said plunger comprising a non-conductive rigid plastic material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image controller according to claim 12 in which said at least one of the finger depressible buttons is associated with 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.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
An image controller according to claim 12 in which said at least one sheet comprises said flexible membrane sheet connected to a second sheet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
An image controller according to claim 19 in which said second sheet is a circuit board.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
An image controller according to claim 19 in which said second sheet is a rigid membrane support structure.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
An image controller according to claim 20 in which said at least one sheet comprises said flexible membrane sheet further supported by a third sheet, said third sheet is a rigid membrane support structure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
An image controller according to claim 22 in which said at least one of the finger depressible buttons is associated with 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.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-04-23 | 2004-10-23 | 2005-04-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-04-23 | 2008-10-23 | 2009-04-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-04-23 | 2012-10-23 | 2013-04-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |