Digital joystick using capacitive sensor
US6480183B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 23, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 23, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05G2009/04777
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A joystick that detects position and movement using a capacitive sensor. The joystick has a stick mounted to allow movement within a housing, a conductive element at a first end of the stick, and a capacitive sensor. The capacitive sensor may be a capacitive touchpad. It determines position by measuring the change in capacitance on a set of conductive traces. The capacitive sensor may be shaped as a plane or may be hemispherically-shaped. The conductive element may also be triangular or other distinctive shape to allow detection of movement. An advantage of such a joystick is that absolute positioning may be determined, along with relative positioning.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.