초록 ▼

A user input system for inputting computer signals, such as a joystick, has an elongated member or handle that is movably received by a housing. The handle is capable of moving in at least three perpendicular directions, i.e., along X, Y and Z axes, and is capable of being rotated about at least one

A user input system for inputting computer signals, such as a joystick, has an elongated member or handle that is movably received by a housing. The handle is capable of moving in at least three perpendicular directions, i.e., along X, Y and Z axes, and is capable of being rotated about at least one of the three axes. In a first embodiment, a pair of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) are mounted at an end of the handle and oriented toward the interior of the housing. The LEDs are strobed to alternately project light downward into the housing. A light detecting element, such as a two-dimensional position sensing device (“PSD”), two one-dimension PSDs, or a four quadrant photodiode, is positioned opposite the LEDs, and mounted to the housing to receive the light from the LEDs to produce signals. The signals are converted from analog to digital and input to a microprocessor. The microprocessor, employing trigonometric methods, calculates the position and orientation (i.e., rotation) of the handle and outputs the coordinates to a host computer. The joystick preferably includes switches that produce signals and a slidable member that produces a variable signal, all of which are also output to the computer. In a second embodiment, the LEDs are mounted to the housing to project the light upward and the light detecting unit is mounted at the end of the handle.

대표청구항 ▼

A computer input apparatus for providing signals to a computer, comprising: a housing having an interior; an elongated member retained by the housing and movable along at least two of three perpendicular axes and rotatable about at least one of the three axes, the elongated member having a first end

A computer input apparatus for providing signals to a computer, comprising: a housing having an interior; an elongated member retained by the housing and movable along at least two of three perpendicular axes and rotatable about at least one of the three axes, the elongated member having a first end portion movably retained by the housing and a free end portion movable by a user along the two of three axes and rotatable about the one axis; first and second light emitting elements within the interior of the housing and retained by one of the housing and the first end portion of the elongated member; a light detecting element within the interior of the housing and retained by the other of the housing and the first end portion of the elongated member, the first and second light emitting elements projecting light to illuminate first and second areas on a surface of the light detecting element, and the light detecting element detecting the first and second illuminated areas and producing first and second signals respectively, in response thereto, the first and second signals corresponding to positions of the first and second illuminated areas, respectively, on the surface of the light detecting element; and processing circuitry electrically coupled to the first and second light emitting elements and the light detecting element to alternately cause the first and second light emitting elements to emit light, the processing circuitry receiving the first and second signals produced in response thereto, and producing a first position signal based on the first and second signals, the first position signal corresponding to a spatial position of the elongated member along the two of three axes and a rotational position based on rotation of the elongated member about the one axis.