Using touch sensing to make a trackball behave like a joystick
US11364434B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 2019 |
| Grant date | Jun 21, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 24, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA63F2300/1068
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
While one type of input, either a mouse input or a joystick input, may be preferred for one type of a game, it may not be preferred, or even compatible, for another type of a game. Introduced herein is a game controller that employs a dedicated input, which is capable of the absolute accuracy of a mouse input or trackball input, but is also capable of measuring how far off center the input is (e.g., how far off center it has moved), and can also return to center when released, as is present in a joystick input. The introduced game controller integrates a touch sensing trackball to enjoy the benefits of both the mouse type input and joystick type input, in a single dedicated input, providing a user freedom to play any type of game without worrying about the compatibility of their game controllers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.