Thumbstick with adjustable tension

US9868058B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC · US

Inventors

• Gabriel Michael Rask Gassoway · Issaquah, US
• Joshua P. Weiher · Issaquah, US
• Eph John Evans · Kent, US
• Benjamin Michael Finney · Woodinville, US
• Jason Tsai · Bellevue, US
• Jonathan Shea Robinson · Seattle, US
• Aaron Schmitz · Redmond, US
• Dustin Tiffany · Woodinville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 30, 2015
• Grant date: Jan 16, 2018
• Expiry date: Dec 6, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F3/0338
• WIPO field: Furniture, games
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for a user input device, such as a game controller, that includes a thumbstick having adjustable tilt tension. The user input device includes a housing, a joystick assembly, a thumbstick cap, and an adjustment mechanism. The housing defines an internal cavity of the user input device and includes an aperture. The joystick assembly is disposed within the internal cavity. The joystick assembly comprises a tilt-able post and is operable to generate an analog input control signal based on a position of the tilt-able post in relation to a default position. The thumbstick cap is mounted through the aperture to an end of the tilt-able post. The adjustment mechanism is configured to enable a tilt tension of the tilt-able post to be changed.