Adjustable tension thumbstick

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017368451-A1
Application number	US-201615192843-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 24, 2016
Priority date	Jun 24, 2016
Publication date	Dec 28, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A thumbstick for a user input device comprises an adjustable tensioning mechanism configured to modify a tilt tension of a tiltable post. The tiltable post is operable to output a control signal based on a position of the tiltable post relative to a default position. The thumbstick comprises a cap with a cylindrical stem that defines a cavity. An engagement body is located within the cavity and contacts an engagement surface of the adjustable tensioning mechanism. The engagement body includes a cam surface disposed around an axis of the tiltable post. An adjustment body within the cavity of the stem comprises a follower that contacts the cam surface. The follower is configured to traverse the cam surface when the cap is rotated to thereby translate the engagement body along the axis of the tiltable post and adjust the tilt tension of the tiltable post.

First claim

1 . A thumbstick for a user input device, comprising:
an adjustable tensioning mechanism configured to modify a tilt tension of a tiltable post, wherein the tiltable post is operable to output a control signal based on a position of the tiltable post relative to a default position; a cap comprising a cylindrical stem that defines a cavity; an engagement body located within the cavity of the stem and contacting an engagement surface of the adjustable tensioning mechanism, the engagement body comprising a cam surface disposed around an axis of the tiltable post; and an adjustment body within the cavity of the stem and comprising a follower contacting the cam surface, the follower configured to traverse the cam surface when the cap is rotated to thereby translate the engagement body along the axis of the tiltable post and adjust the tilt tension of the tiltable post.

2 . The thumbstick of claim 1 , wherein the cam surface is an outer cam surface and the follower is an outer follower, the engagement body further comprising an inner cam surface disposed around the axis of the tiltable post between the axis and the outer cam surface, and the adjustment body further comprises an inner follower configured to traverse the inner cam surface when the cap is rotated.

3 . The thumbstick of claim 2 , wherein the outer follower comprises an outer distal end that contacts the outer cam surface at an outer contact point, and the inner follower comprises an inner distal end that contacts the inner cam surface at an inner contact point, wherein the outer contact point and the inner contact point remain at a constant location along the axis of the tiltable post during rotation of the cap.

4 . The thumbstick of claim 1 , wherein the engagement surface of the adjustable tensioning mechanism comprises an end of a movable pin that is slidably received in an opening of the tiltable post.

5 . The thumbstick of claim 1 , wherein the engagement body is configured to translate along the axis of the tiltable post without rotating.

6 . The thumbstick of claim 1 , wherein the engagement body comprises a minimum-tension stop surface configured to abut the follower of the adjustment body and prevent rotation of the adjustment body in a decreasing-tension direction when the adjustment body is in a minimum-tension orientation.

7 . The thumbstick of claim 6 , wherein the engagement body further comprises a maximum-tension stop surface configured to abut the follower of the adjustment body and prevent rotation of the adjustment body in an increasing-tension direction when the adjustment body is in a maximum tension orientation.

8 . The thumbstick of claim 1 , wherein the cam surface comprises a plurality of sloping portions and a plurality of flat portions, wherein each of the flat portions corresponds to a different tilt tension of the tiltable post.

9 . The thumbstick of claim 8 , further comprising a base that is movable with the tiltable post, the base comprising:
a ring-shaped groove comprising a plurality of alternating ridges and valleys, wherein each of the plurality of valleys comprises a bottom-most surface that is in a common plane with other bottom-most surfaces of the other valleys; and a magnet mounted below the ring-shaped groove;
wherein the cylindrical stem of the cap is made at least partially of ferromagnetic material and comprises a circular end with a plurality of mating alternating ridges and valleys that are configured to mate with the plurality of alternating ridges and valleys of the ring-shaped groove, the magnet attracting the circular end into the ring-shaped groove; and
the cap and cylindrical stem are configured to be rotated relative to the base via user manipulation of the cap to cause the plurality of mating ridges and valleys to move relative to the plurality of alternating ridges and valleys of the ring-shaped groove from a first orientation corresponding to a first tilt tension to a second orientation corresponding to a second tilt tension.

10 . The thumbstick of claim 9 , wherein:
when the cylindrical stem and the ring-shaped groove are in the first orientation, the follower of the adjustment body is positioned at a first flat portion of the plurality of flat portions of the cam surface; and when the cylindrical stem and the ring-shaped groove are in the second orientation, the follower of the adjustment body is positioned at a second flat portion of the plurality of flat portions of the cam surface.

11 . The thumbstick of claim 10 , wherein when the cap is rotated to slide the mating ridges of the circular end over the ridges of the ring-shaped groove and into the valleys of the groove, contact between the mating ridges and the bottom-most surfaces of the valleys generates tactile feedback indicating a selected tension setting.

12 . The thumbstick of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment body is configured to rotate in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the tiltable post without translating along the axis.

13 . A user input device, comprising:
a housing that defines an internal chamber and includes an aperture; and a thumbstick having a portion that extends from the aperture, the thumbstick comprising:
an adjustable tensioning mechanism disposed within the chamber and configured to modify a tilt tension of a tiltable post, wherein the tiltable post is operable to output a control signal based on a position of the tiltable post relative to a default position;
a cap comprising a cylindrical stem that defines a cavity;
an engagement body located within the cavity of the stem and contacting an engagement surface of the adjustable tensioning mechanism, the engagement body comprising a cam surface disposed around an axis of the tiltable post; and
an adjustment body within the cavity of the stem and comprising a follower contacting the cam surface, the follower configured to traverse the cam surface when the adjustment body is rotated to thereby translate the engagement body along the axis of the tiltable post and adjust the tilt tension of the tiltable post.

14 . The user input device of claim 13 , wherein the cam surface is an outer cam surface and the follower is an outer follower, the engagement body further comprising an inner cam surface disposed around the axis of the tiltable post between the axis and the outer cam surface, and the adjustment body further comprises an inner follower configured to traverse the inner cam surface when the adjustment body is rotated.

15 . The user input device of claim 14 , wherein the outer follower comprises an outer distal end that contacts the outer cam surface at an outer contact point, and the inner follower comprises an inner distal end that contacts the inner cam surface at an inner contact point, wherein the outer contact point and the inner contact point remain at a constant location along the axis of the tiltable post during rotation of the adjustment body.

16 . The user input device of claim 13 , wherein the engagement body comprises a minimum-tension stop surface configured to abut the follower of the adjustment body and prevent rotation of the adjustment body in a decreasing-tension direction when the adjustment body is in a minimum-tension orientation.

17 . The user input device of claim 16 , wherein the engagement body further comprises a maximum-tension stop surface configured to abut the follower of the adjustment body and prevent rotation of the adjustment body in an increasing-tension direction when the adjustment body is in a maximum tension orientation.

18 . The user in

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Tiffany Dustin
• Schmitz Aaron
• Finney Benjamin Michael

Classifications

• A63F13/24 Primary

  Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles · CPC title

• G05G2009/04766

  providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce · CPC title

• G05G9/047

  the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks {(for switches H01H25/04)} · CPC title

• G05G2009/04781

  with additional rotation of the controlling member · CPC title

• G05G5/05

  Means for returning or tending to return controlling members to an inoperative or neutral position, e.g. by providing return springs or resilient end-stops (G05G5/28 takes precedence) · CPC title