Magnetic force in a directional input device

Embodiments for a user input device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a user input device comprises a body, an elongate directional control element having a first end projecting towards the body and a second end projecting away from the body and configured to be movable by a user, a magnet to hold the directional control element in one or more predetermined positions, and a sensor coupled to the body to detect a change in position of the directional control element.

BACKGROUND

Directional user input devices may be utilized to control a direction of movement of a physical object (e.g. an arm of a crane), or a virtual object on a graphical user interface. Such input devices may rely on a directional control element, sometimes termed a joystick or thumbstick, movable by the user to effect physical and/or virtual object movement. Such directional control elements generally are returned to a neutral rest position by spring force.

As the force exerted on the directional control element by the spring increases as the directional control element is moved farther away from the neutral position, accuracy of movement may become more difficult the farther the joystick is moved from the starting position. Additionally, the nature of the spring force in combination with frictional forces may present an area of uncertainty surrounding the neutral position. As a result, applications that utilize input from the directional control element may be configured to recognize a relatively large area of control element positions as the neutral position, thereby decreasing a sensitivity of the directional control element.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments related to the use of magnetic force in a directional input device are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a user input device comprising a body and an elongate directional control element having a first end projecting towards the body and a second end projecting away from the body and configured to be movable by a user. The user input device further comprises a magnet configured to hold the directional control element in one or more predetermined positions, and a sensor coupled to the body to detect a change in position of the directional control element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As mentioned above, spring force mechanisms used in directional control elements for user input devices may hamper the use of such directional control elements for accurately controlling fine movements. Further, the spring mechanisms also may increase an uncertainty of a boundary of a neutral rest position to which the control element returns when not in use, due to the decrease in spring force exerted on the directional control element as it approaches the neutral rest position. This may further reduce the accuracy of such a directional control element.

Accordingly, embodiments are disclosed that relate to the use of magnetic force to bias a directional control element toward a predetermined position. Briefly, the disclosed embodiments utilize complementary magnetic elements on the directional control element and the body of the input device to produce a reverse spring effect to hold the directional control element in one or more predetermined positions. The predetermined position may include a neutral rest position, and/or one or more rest positions spaced away from the neutral rest position.

FIG. 1shows an example computing system100. Computing system100includes a user input device102. User input device102may be connected to a computing device104, which may be coupled to one or more output devices106. Computing system100may comprise a gaming device, for example, in order to provide input to control a video game. In other embodiments, computing system100may comprise a control system for a mechanical or industrial device, such as a crane, fighter jet, etc.

User input device102may include one or more directional control elements to receive input from a user. For example, user input device102may include a directional control element, such as a joystick or thumbstick, that a user may move in order to indicate a desired of an object controlled by the directional control element. User input device102may also include other control elements, such as buttons, that a user may push in order to input a selection. User input device102further may include one or more sensors configured to track movement of its respective directional control element, and output the input information to computing device104. Example embodiments of user input device102are described below with respect toFIGS. 2-6.

Computing device104may be configured to receive input information from user input device102, process the input information, and send the processed information to output device106. Output device106may comprise any suitable device configured to accept commands from user input device102and to respond to the commands. For example, in some embodiments, output device106may include a display device112, such as a computer monitor or television screen, on which virtual objects controllable via user input device102may be displayed. In other embodiments, output device106may include a mechanical device114, such as an arm of a crane, for example, that may be moved in response to user input on user input device102. It will be understood that these embodiments are described for the purpose of example, and are not intended to be limiting in any manner.

In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 1, user input device102, computing device104, and output device106are depicted as separate devices. However, in some embodiments, two or more of the devices may be included as elements in one overall device. For example, user input device102, computing device104, and output device106may all be integrated in a single device such as a handheld video game device, or industrial machine. In other embodiments, user input device102may be a separate structure, and computing device104and output device106may be integrated in a single device, such as an integrated personal computer and monitor.

FIG. 2shows a sectional view of an example user input device200according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. User input device200is one non-limiting example of user input device102described above with respect toFIG. 1, and may include other components not depicted inFIG. 2, such as input buttons, output to a computing device, etc.

User input device200includes a body202that may at least partially house one or more components of user input device200including a directional control element204. Directional control element204may comprise an elongate element that includes a first end206that projects toward body202and a second end208which projects from body202. Second end208is configured to be moveable by a user in order to affect user inputs via the user input device200. While directional control element204is depicted inFIG. 2as an elongate element similar to a shaft, directional control element204may be of any suitable shape. For example, directional control element204may include a knob- or other-shaped end element to aid in user control of directional control element204.

Directional control element204may include a first magnetic element210. The depicted first magnetic element210is located at an end-most portion of first end206, but may have any other suitable location. First magnetic element210may be a separate element coupled to or integrated within first end206, for example, as an insert. In other embodiments, first magnetic element210may comprise the entirety of directional control element204.

First magnetic element210may interact with second magnetic element212. Second magnetic element212may be coupled with body202. In the example embodiment depicted inFIG. 2, second magnetic element212may be held in place via magnetic interaction with surface214within body202, or it may be coupled within body202via any suitable mechanism.

First magnetic element210and second magnetic element212may interact to hold directional control element204in a neutral rest position, depicted here as being perpendicular to the horizontal axis of body202. Upon movement of directional control element204by a user, the magnetic force holding first magnetic element210to second magnetic element212may lessen as the user moves directional control element204farther from the neutral position. Likewise, as the user releases directional control element204, the magnetic force may bring directional control element204back into its neutral rest position. As the magnet force increases as the magnetic elements are brought back together, the neutral rest position may have less positional uncertainty relative to spring-based biasing mechanisms. Additional information regarding movement of directional control element204will be presented below with respect toFIG. 3.

First magnetic element210and second magnetic element212may be any suitable materials that are attracted to each other via magnetic force. In one example, first magnetic element210may comprises a metallic material that is attracted to a magnet, such as steel, while second magnetic element212may be a magnet. In another example, both first and second magnetic elements210and212may be magnets with their poles aligned such that they are attracted to each other.

The magnitude of magnetic force generated between the magnetic elements may be determined by the surface area of each element, and the material of which each element is made. For example, in one non-limiting example second magnetic element212may be a neodymium magnet having a thin, cylindrical shape.

A skirted housing216may couple directional control element204to body202. Skirted housing216may act to prevent dirt, dust, or other debris from entering body202while allowing horizontal movement of directional control element204. Skirted housing216also may restrict vertical movement of directional control element204.

The position of directional control element204may be detected by a sensor218located within or coupled to body202. In the depicted embodiment, sensor218comprises an optical sensor that detects a position of skirted housing216. For example, one or more optically readable elements may be printed on, or otherwise disposed on, skirted housing216for tracking movement of skirted housing216via the optical sensor. Multiple sensors may be used in different locations around directional control element204, in order to detect movement of directional control element204in multiple directions. In other embodiments, sensor218may be a Hall effect sensor, or any other suitable sensor that may detect movement of directional control element204.

FIG. 3shows user input device200as directional control element204moves away from its neutral rest position. A directional force applied to directional control element204by a user causes the magnetic elements210and212to move apart, thereby decreasing the attractive force between the magnetic elements. The magnetic force is greatest at the point at which the directional control element204first moves from the neutral rest position, and lessens the farther directional control element204is moved away from the neutral rest position, thereby resulting in a “reverse spring” effect compared to spring-biased directional controls. The absence of a strong spring force at positional extremes that would be present in spring-based directional control elements may facilitate making precise and accurate user inputs at such positional extremes. Further, upon release of directional control element204, the magnetic force between first and second magnetic elements210and212may bring directional control element204back to the starting position.

FIGS. 4 and 5show a user input device300according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Similar to user input device200described with respect toFIGS. 2 and 3, user input device300may be one non-limiting example of user input device102described with respect toFIG. 1, and may contain additional elements not depicted inFIGS. 4 and 5. User input device300may include a body302, directional control element304including first end306and second end308, first and second magnetic elements310and312, a skirted housing316, and one or more sensors318.

Directional control element304may have an elongate shape with first end306and second end308. First end306may project towards body302, and second end308may project away from body302, and may be configured to be movable by a user. In some embodiments, a skirted housing316may allow horizontal movement of directional control element304while restricting vertical movement of directional control element304. As described above, sensor318may be an optical sensor configured to detect movement of directional control element304via corresponding movement of skirted housing316, and may be one of a plurality of sensors.

Similar to user input device200, user input device300may include at least two complementary magnetic elements. However, unlike user input device200, first magnetic element310may be located on directional control element304while second magnetic element312may be located at a position spaced away from the neutral rest position. In this way, second magnetic element312may act to hold directional control element304in a rest position away from the starting position rather than in the neutral rest position, as for user input device200.

First and second magnetic elements310and312may be any suitable materials that are attracted to each other via magnetic force. In one embodiment, first magnetic element310may comprise a magnet, while second magnetic element312may comprise a metallic material.

Second magnetic element312may be one of a plurality of second magnetic elements spaced away from the neutral position of directional control element304. Each second magnetic element may hold directional control element304in a different rest position by interacting with first magnetic element310. As such, in some embodiments, first magnetic element310may comprise a cylindrical magnet in order to interact with all second magnetic elements with a consistent force from a user's perception. In other embodiments, the first magnetic element may have any other suitable shape.

The rest position or positions in which directional control element304is held may be detected by sensor318, and may correspond to a particular action output to an output device. For example, in a video game that includes simulated operation of a vehicle, such as a race car, each rest position may correspond to a gear of the vehicle transmission. Additional information about the rest positions will be described below with respect toFIG. 6.

Control element304may be held and/or returned to the neutral rest position via any suitable mechanism. In one embodiment, directional control element304may be coupled to a spring (not shown) that may automatically return directional control element304back to its starting position. In another embodiment, directional control element304may interact with an additional magnetic element (not shown), such as described above with reference to the embodiment ofFIGS. 2-3, in order to hold directional control element304in the starting position. When an additional magnetic element is used to bias directional control element304to its starting position, the magnetic force between the additional magnetic element and first magnetic element310of directional control element304may be set such that the force does not overcome the magnetic force between first magnetic element310and second magnetic element312.

Referring specifically toFIG. 5, directional control element304is depicted in a rest position spaced from the neutral position. Directional control element304is held in the rest position via magnetic interaction between first magnetic element310and second magnetic element312.

FIG. 6shows an example patterned grid400for holding a directional control element of a user input device in one or more predetermined positions. Patterned grid400may be coupled to or located within a body of a user input device, such as body302. While not depicted inFIG. 6, a directional control element, such as directional control element304, may be positioned within patterned grid400.

As explained above with respect toFIG. 4, directional control element304may have a neutral rest position, wherein directional control element304is held perpendicular to the horizontal axis of body302of input device300. This neutral position may correspond to position402. When directional control element304is moved by a user into a rest position spaced from the neutral position, as shown inFIG. 5, the rest position may correspond to position404.

Patterned grid400may be configured to restrict movement of directional control element304into one or more predetermined positions, for example, by including material that physically restricts the movement of directional control element304beyond the predetermined positions. Each rest position of patterned grid400may hold directional control element304in place using a magnetic element, such as magnetic elements312a-g. As explained previously, patterned grid400may include a plurality of rest positions, each of which correspond to a predetermined action, such as a gear of a vehicle transmission. Such a patterned grid may be used, for example, to control an electronic racing game.

Thus,FIGS. 4-6depict an embodiment for holding a directional control element of a user input device in a plurality of predetermined positions. Multiple magnetic elements may be used to hold the directional control element in rest positions. While the embodiment depicted inFIG. 6includes a patterned grid to hold the magnetic elements and restrict movement of the directional control element, in other embodiments the magnetic elements may be coupled with the body of the user input device without a patterned holder.

It will be understood that the embodiments described above with respect toFIGS. 1-6may include a single magnet and one or more corresponding magnetic surfaces to hold the directional control element in one or more desired positions. Further, the relative locations of the magnet and the magnetic surface may be configured depending on desired mechanical implementations. For example, in some embodiments a magnet may be disposed on the directional control element and a corresponding magnetic surface disposed on the body of the user input device, while in other embodiments the magnet may be disposed on the body and a corresponding magnetic surface disposed on the directional control element. It also will be understood that, in some embodiments, two or more magnets may be used.

As mentioned above, the above described devices and methods may be tied to a computing system including one or more computers. For example, the user input devices ofFIGS. 1-6, as well as the computing device104and/or output device106, ofFIG. 1may, together or individually, take the form of a computing system in some embodiments.FIG. 7schematically shows a nonlimiting computing system700that may perform one or more of the above described methods and processes. Computing system700is shown in simplified form. It is to be understood that virtually any computer architecture may be used without departing from the scope of this disclosure.

Computing system700includes a logic subsystem702and a data-holding subsystem704. Computing system700may optionally include a display subsystem706, communication subsystem708, and/or other components not shown inFIG. 7, such as a mechanical output system. Computing system700may also optionally include other user input devices than a directional user input device embodiment as disclosed herein, such as keyboards, mice, game controllers, cameras, microphones, and/or touch screens, for example.

Logic subsystem702may include one or more physical devices configured to execute one or more instructions. For example, logic subsystem702may be configured to execute one or more instructions that are part of one or more applications, services, programs, routines, libraries, objects, components, data structures, or other logical constructs. Such instructions may be implemented to perform a task, implement a data type, transform the state of one or more devices, or otherwise arrive at a desired result.

Logic subsystem702may include one or more processors that are configured to execute software instructions. Additionally or alternatively, logic subsystem702may include one or more hardware or firmware logic machines configured to execute hardware or firmware instructions. Processors of logic subsystem702may be single core or multicore, and the programs executed thereon may be configured for parallel or distributed processing. Logic subsystem702may optionally include individual components that are distributed throughout two or more devices, which may be remotely located and/or configured for coordinated processing. One or more aspects of logic subsystem702may be virtualized and executed by remotely accessible networked computing devices configured in a cloud computing configuration.

Data-holding subsystem704may include one or more physical, non-transitory, devices configured to hold data and/or instructions executable by logic subsystem702to implement the herein described methods and processes. When such methods and processes are implemented, the state of data-holding subsystem704may be transformed (e.g., to hold different data).

Data-holding subsystem704may include removable media and/or built-in devices. Data-holding subsystem704may include optical memory devices (e.g., CD, DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-Ray Disc, etc.), semiconductor memory devices (e.g., RAM, EPROM, EEPROM, etc.) and/or magnetic memory devices (e.g., hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, tape drive, MRAM, etc.), among others. Data-holding subsystem704may include devices with one or more of the following characteristics: volatile, nonvolatile, dynamic, static, read/write, read-only, random access, sequential access, location addressable, file addressable, and content addressable. In some embodiments, logic subsystem702and data-holding subsystem704may be integrated into one or more common devices, such as an application specific integrated circuit or a system on a chip.

FIG. 7also shows an aspect of the data-holding subsystem in the form of removable computer-readable storage media710, which may be used to store and/or transfer data and/or instructions executable to implement the herein described methods and processes. Removable computer-readable storage media710may take the form of CDs, DVDs, HD-DVDs, Blu-Ray Discs, EEPROMs, and/or floppy disks, among others.

It is to be appreciated that data-holding subsystem704includes one or more physical, non-transitory devices. In contrast, in some embodiments aspects of the instructions described herein may be propagated in a transitory fashion by a pure signal (e.g., an electromagnetic signal, an optical signal, etc.) that is not held by a physical device for at least a finite duration. Furthermore, data and/or other forms of information pertaining to the present disclosure may be propagated by a pure signal.

When included, display subsystem706may be used to present a visual representation of data held by data-holding subsystem704. As the herein described methods and processes change the data held by the data-holding subsystem, and thus transform the state of the data-holding subsystem, the state of display subsystem706may likewise be transformed to visually represent changes in the underlying data. Display subsystem706may include one or more display devices utilizing virtually any type of technology. Such display devices may be combined with logic subsystem702and/or data-holding subsystem704in a shared enclosure, or such display devices may be peripheral display devices.

When included, communication subsystem708may be configured to communicatively couple computing system700with one or more other computing devices. Communication subsystem708may include wired and/or wireless communication devices compatible with one or more different communication protocols. As nonlimiting examples, the communication subsystem may be configured for communication via a wireless telephone network, a wireless local area network, a wired local area network, a wireless wide area network, a wired wide area network, etc. In some embodiments, the communication subsystem may allow computing system700to send and/or receive messages to and/or from other devices via a network such as the Internet.