Patent · US Expired

Proportional control with a joystick device for inputting computer variables

US4872672A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
20References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 26, 1988
Grant dateOct 10, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 26, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA63F2300/8017
  • WIPO fieldFurniture, games
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A joystick, or any other type of input device which translates motion into a related signal, provides proportional control for a variable associated with a computer program, such, not adapted for proportional joystick control. In one embodiment, one input to the computer causes a variable in a computer program to repeatedly increment in one direction, a second input causes the variable to repeatedly increment in the opposite direction. The first input is provided for a period of time related to a change in joystick position in a first direction and produces the second input for a period of time corresponding to the degree the joystick is moved in a second direction. In another embodiment, the present invention produces keyboard symbol codes to simulate a keyboard. The invention repeatedly produces an appropriate code for a number of times, the number corresponding to the degree to which the joystick was moved. The invention may also accept instructions from the computer to which the joystick is attached for transforming joystick signals into signals usable by the computer.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.