Patent EP0295368A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0295368A2
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EP
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Manually-operated control device
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1988-03-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-03-18
Abstract
Abstract A joystick for moving a cursor on a display screen uses an infra-red transmitter (34) radiating into a transparent handle. As the handle is moved by an operator, infra-red light is directed to one of four optical detectors (31) covering up, down, left and right directions respectively. The device can also detect movement at 45 degrees to any of these directions since light is then directed to two detectors (31). A further four optical detectors (31a) are provided, each arranged adjacent one of the first four detectors (31), so that further movement of the handle in the same direction can be detected. An additional optical detector is arranged to detect downward movement of the handle against a spring (24). The handle is translatably mounted, rather than pivotally mounted as in a standard joystick.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael John Garrett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 19:58
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G05G2009/04703; G05G2009/04714; G05G2009/0474; G05G2009/04759
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A manually-operated control device for controlling the position of a cursor on a display screen comprising a source of light (34), a plurality of detectors (31, 31a) responsive to light from the source and a manually-movable handle (14) operable to vary the relative said intensities of light falling on the various detectors, the handle having a neutral position and a plurality of operative positions whereby the position of the handle may be detected by interrogation of the detectors, characterised in that: the handle includes transmission means (15,16) for transmitting the light from the source through the transmission means to the detectors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A manually-operated control device for controlling the position of a cursor on a display screen comprising a source of light (34), a plurality of detectors (31, 31a) responsive to light from the source and a manually-movable handle (14) operable to vary the relative said intensities of light falling on the various detectors, the handle having a neutral position and a plurality of operative positions whereby the position of the handle may be detected by interrogation of the detectors, characterised in that: the handle includes transmission means (15,16) for transmitting the light from the source through the transmission means to the detectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the handle is translatably mounted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the transmission means includes a surface (50 or 51) arranged to reflect light within the transmission means during tranmsisison.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
56 words
A device as in any preceding claim in which the transmission means is formed in the shape of a mushroom, arranged to receive light from the source into a spigot (15) forming the stem of the mushroom and to internally reflect the light such that it emanates from the transmission means as a circle of light.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
34 words
A device as in any preceding claim in which the plurality of detectors comprises four detectors (31), each mounted in a support member (10, 21, 30) at a different corner of a notional square.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as in claim 5 wherein the handle may be moved within a predetermined region which is sufficiently extensive to permit each detector to be illuminated and, further, which is sufficiently extensive to permit two adjacent detectors to be illuminated simultaneously.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as in claim 6 in which each detector has associated with it a further detector (31a), such that, when the handle (14) is moved to illuminate said each detector, further movement in the same direction causes illumination of the respective further detector.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
19 words
A device as in any preceding claim including switch means (24,37,38,41) responsive to manual pressure exerted on the handle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
A device as in claim 8 in which the switch means comprises a further detector (37) responsive to said light from said source and means (24, 38, 41) responsive to the manual pressure for directing a portion of said light to this further detector.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
47 words
A device as in any preceding claim in which each of the plurality of detectors (31, 31a) has a filter (18) over its active region to reduce the intensity of background radiation reaching the detector over a range of frequencies distinct from those of the light source.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
13 words
A device as in any preceding claim in which the light is infra-red.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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