Controller apparatus using force sensing resistors

Claim 1

A controller apparatus for controlling a device, said controller apparatus comprising: a support having a surface and a wall extending from the surface and along a segment of said surface, said wall having an inner surface; a plurality of force sensing resistors positioned in a predetermined arrangement adjacent to the inner surface of said wall, each of said plurality of force sensing resistors generating a signal in response to a force applied to the force sensing resistor; and means for engaging said plurality of force sensing resistors, said means comprising: a cylindrically-shaped puck being supported by said support and within a region defined by said inner surface of said wall, said puck having top and bottom puck surfaces and a recess extending from said top puck surface toward said bottom puck surface and being translationally movable to selectively engage and transmit a translational force to said plurality of force sensing resistors, and translational force applied to a force sensing resistor causing said force sensing resistor to generate a signal for controlling a function of the device, and a second member attached to said puck for translationally moving said puck in response to a force being applied by a user's hand to said second member, said second member includes a disk-like body having top and bottom disk surfaces and an aperture extending from said top disk surface through said bottom is surface, and a shaft extending through the aperture of the disk-like body and engaging the disk-like body and being positioned in the recess of said puck.