Patent ID: 6106392
Filing Date: 2000-08-22
Classification: A63D,G06F

Abstract:
An electronic controller apparatus and cue stick for pool or billiard simulation games, comprising:a housing adapted to move over an underlying surface and having:a top,a bottom,a sidewall interconnecting the top with the bottom for providing the housing with an interior space,a first depressed region at an exterior surface of the sidewall,a second depressed region at the exterior surface of the sidewall at an opposite side of the housing;a stalk rotatably mounted at the interior space of the housing, the stalk having an upper end extending from the top of the housing, and a lower end terminating at the interior space of the housing proximate the bottom of the housing;a first support member disposed in the interior space at the bottom of the housing to support the lower end of the stalk;a second support member disposed at the interior space near the top of the housing to support the upper end of the stalk;a control ring mounted to the upper end of the stalk, the control ring having a bore extending therethrough;a cue stick having a coating of rubber compound along a portion of an exterior surface thereof, the cue stick constructed and arranged for movement through the bore of the control ring;a first sensor assembly mounted to the upper end of the stalk and exposed to the bore of the control ring for generating a signal responsive to movement of the cue stick through the bore;a second sensor assembly mounted to an exterior surface of the stalk for generating a signal responsive to rotational movement of the stalk about a longitudinal axis of the stalk;a first control button extending from the sidewall at the first depressed region of the housing between the top and bottom of the housing;a second control button extending from the sidewall at the second depressed region of the housing between the top and bottom of the housing;a spring supported by the first support member for coaction with the lower end of the stalk for biasing the stalk in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stalk;a mouse ball disposed at the interior space of the housing, a portion of the mouse ball extending through the bottom of the housing to contact the underlying surface;a third sensor assembly mounted at the interior space of the housing for generating a signal responsive to movement of the mouse ball along the underlying surface;a circuit board disposed at the interior space of the housing;means for interconnecting the circuit board with the stalk, the control ring, the first, second and third sensor assemblies, and the first and second control buttons;wherein movement of the stalk, mouse ball, cue stick, and first and second control buttons generates signals to the circuit board with information about movement of the cue stick to display the effects of cue stick activity.