Low dead zone rocker controller

Abstract

The utility model discloses a low-dead-zone rocker controller. The low-dead-zone rocker controller comprises a rocker, a rocker skirt, a second sensing module, a touch sensing module and a microcontroller, the rocker skirt sleeves the upper end of the rocker, and the rocker skirt as a first sensing module can be in sensing connection with a finger capacitor to form a first capacitor; and the second sensing module is in sensing connection with the rocker skirt capacitor serving as the first sensing module to form a second capacitor. According to the low-dead-zone rocker controller, the fingers are connected with the rocker skirt through the capacitive sensing technology, the rocker skirt is connected with the second sensing module through the capacitive sensing technology, and therefore human body contact detection is achieved to solve the drifting problem of the low-dead-zone rocker, and centering errors caused by limitation of the structure of the rocker are avoided; and the centering error caused by temperature change is avoided, the service life problem caused by wire connection is also avoided, and meanwhile, the operation smoothness of the rocker is not influenced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of rocker controllers, in particular to a low dead zone rocker controller. Background Art

[0002] In various game peripherals, such as game controllers and VR devices, joysticks are a very common and important device. The performance of joysticks directly affects the user experience, and the size of the dead zone is an important parameter of joystick performance. When the dead zone is large, the joystick needs to be shaken at a larger angle to work, affecting the precision of user control; when the dead zone is small, the joystick is easy to work automatically, but due to structural consistency, temperature changes and other reasons, joysticks with smaller dead zones are prone to drift (the so-called drift refers to the output of instructions when the joystick is not touched, and the joystick controls the game character or machine to perform incorrect actions, that is, the joystick has zero-point drift). The size of the joystick dead zone is related to many factors, such as its own physical structure, the electronic solution used, and the software control method.

[0003] In the prior art, the method of reducing the dead zone by optimizing the rocker structure is generally to simplify the structure to reduce friction, and rely on the spring rebound force to make the rocker return to the middle point, that is, return to the center. The disadvantage of this method is that when the rocker is slowly shaken at a small angle, the deformation of the spring is small, the rebound force is small, and the accuracy of the return to the center is poor. In addition, the physical structure itself has certain limitations in the accuracy of the return to the center due to manufacturing tolerances, assembly tolerances, etc. In the prior art, the method of reducing the dead zone by changing the electronic solution is generally to change the original carbon film potentiometer to a Hall device, which becomes a contactless way to reduce friction and improve the accuracy of the return to the center. The disadvantage of this method using a Hall device is that it is sensitive to temperature changes. When the temperature changes greatly, the rocker that has been calibrated may drift. Moreover, the Hall device needs to be used with a magnet, and the magnetic flux of the magnet will also change with the temperature. The method of reducing the dead zone by software control in the prior art is generally to calibrate each rocker and then set a relatively small dead zone. This method can make most of the joysticks work normally, but it still cannot overcome the shortcomings of the physical structure and assembly itself and the drift caused by temperature changes. In the prior art, there is also a method of reducing the dead zone of the joystick by using shrapnel and connecting wires to detect whether a person is operating the joystick to process the joystick data, such as the patent application number 202011052405.1. In this method, there is a wire that swings with the swing of the joystick. The wire is prone to life problems due to fatigue fracture due to the swing, and the reaction force generated by the swing of the wire will have a certain impact on the smoothness of the swing of the joystick. Therefore, it is necessary to make changes. Utility Model Content

[0004] In view of the technical problem that the rocker with a smaller dead zone, i.e., the rocker with a low dead zone, is prone to drift, the utility model aims to provide a new technical solution for a low dead zone rocker controller, which is different from the existing technical solution of the low dead zone rocker controller.

[0005] The low dead zone rocker controller of the utility model comprises:

[0006] Joystick;

[0007] A rocker skirt is sleeved on the upper end of the rocker, and the rocker skirt serves as a first sensing module and can be connected to the finger capacitance inductively to form a first capacitor;

[0008] A second sensing module is inductively connected to the rocker skirt capacitor serving as the first sensing module to form a second capacitor;

[0009] A touch sensing module, electrically connected to the second sensing module;

[0010] A microcontroller is electrically connected to the touch sensing module.

[0011] Preferably, the controller comprises:

[0012] A PCB board, on which the touch sensing module, the microcontroller and the joystick are arranged.

[0013] Preferably, the controller comprises:

[0014] The handle shell is covered on the rocker, the middle part of the handle shell is provided with an opening, and the rocker skirt extends out of the opening.

[0015] Preferably, the second sensing module is a sensing sheet, which is fixed on the inner wall of the handle housing and is set at a distance from the rocker skirt for capacitive sensing.

[0016] Preferably, the controller comprises:

[0017] A conductive spring pin has one end electrically connected to the sensing sheet, and the other end electrically connected to the PCB board and the touch sensing module.

[0018] Preferably, the touch sensing module is integrated on the microcontroller.

[0019] Preferably, the upper end of the rocker skirt is covered with an insulating mushroom head cover.

[0020] Preferably, the rocker skirt and the second sensing module are respectively made of metal or have metal material sprayed on their surfaces.

[0021] Preferably, the spring pin is made of metal.

[0022] The positive and progressive effects of the utility model are:

[0023] 1) The low dead zone joystick controller of the utility model adopts capacitive sensing technology to connect the finger and the joystick skirt, as well as the joystick skirt and the second sensing module, so as to realize human contact detection to solve the drift problem of the low dead zone joystick. This solution also avoids the centering error caused by the limitation of the joystick's own structure, the centering error caused by temperature changes, and the life problem caused by wire connection, while not affecting the smoothness of the joystick operation. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional view of the low dead zone rocker controller of the utility model;

[0025] Figure 2 This is the working principle diagram of the low dead zone rocker controller of the utility model;

[0026] Figure 3 This is another working principle diagram of the low dead zone rocker controller of the utility model. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following is an explanation of the implementation of the present invention through specific examples, and those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the contents disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific implementations, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed in various ways based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0028] In the description of the present utility model, it should be noted that the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated, and cannot be understood as limiting the specific protection scope of the present utility model.

[0029] like Figure 1As shown, the utility model provides a low dead zone joystick controller, which includes: a joystick 11 and a joystick skirt 12. Game players can operate the joystick 11 through their fingers to perform various control movements. The joystick skirt 11 is sleeved on the upper end of the joystick 11, and the joystick skirt 12 also serves as a first sensing module, which can be connected with the finger 10 according to the capacitive sensing principle to form a first capacitor C1. At the same time, the joystick controller also includes a second sensing module 13, a touch sensing module 14 and a microcontroller 15, wherein the second sensing module 13 can be connected with the joystick skirt 12, i.e., the first sensing module, according to the capacitive sensing principle to form a second capacitor C2, the touch sensing module 14 is electrically connected to the second sensing module 13, and the microcontroller 15 is electrically connected to the touch sensing module 14. In this way, the capacitor C1 is formed between the finger 10 and the joystick skirt 12, i.e., the first sensing module, and the capacitor C2 is formed between the first sensing module and the second sensing module 13, and the touch sensing module 14 charges the second sensing module 13. When the finger is not touching or touching, the comparison signal of the charging time of the second sensing module 13 by the touch sensing module 14 is collected by the microcontroller 15 and transmitted to the host, and then the host determines whether the joystick data is drifted or not.

[0030] In this example, the low dead zone joystick controller further includes a PCB board 16, and a printed circuit is provided on the circuit surface side of the PCB board 16. The touch sensing module 14 and the microcontroller 15 are welded on the PCB board 16, so that the touch sensing module 14 and the microcontroller 15 are electrically connected through the copper foil traces on the PCB board 16. The joystick 11 is also welded on the PCB board 16. It should be noted that the touch sensing module 14, the microcontroller 15 and the joystick 11 may be on the same surface side or not, and the positions of the three are not limited. Here, the touch sensing module 14 and the microcontroller 15 are arranged on one side of the PCB board, and the joystick 11 is arranged on the other side of the PCB board.

[0031] Furthermore, the joystick controller also includes a conductive spring pin 17 and a handle shell 18. The handle shell 18 is covered on the joystick to fix the various components into a whole, which plays a role of protection and beauty. The middle part of the upper end of the handle shell 18 has an opening, and the joystick skirt 12 on which the joystick 11 is mounted extends out of the opening of the handle shell 18, so that the game player can operate the joystick 11 with his fingers. In a further example, the second sensing module 13 is a sensing sheet, which is a thin sheet fixed on the inner wall of the handle shell 18, for example, attached to the inner wall of the handle shell 18. The other end of the sensing sheet is spaced relatively small from the joystick skirt 12, and the sensing sheet can be connected to the joystick skirt 12 according to the principle of capacitive sensing to form a second capacitor C2. It should be noted that the distance between them must be within 2 mm to perform capacitive sensing connection. In this example, the joystick skirt 12 and the sensing sheet 13 are made of metal, and of course they can also be made of other conductive materials, or the surface is sprayed with metal materials. Here, metal materials are used as an example for explanation. One end of the spring pin 17 is electrically connected to the second sensing module 13, i.e., the sensing sheet, and the other end of the spring pin 17 is connected to the PCB board 16, i.e., the spring pin 17 is electrically connected to the touch sensing module 14, and then the second sensing module 13, i.e., the sensing sheet is connected to the PCB board 16 through the spring pin 17, and then electrically connected to the touch sensing module 14 through the copper foil trace on the PCB board 16. In this example, the spring pin 17 is made of metal, and of course, it can also be made of other conductive materials, or have a metal material sprayed on the surface, and the metal material is used as an example for description.

[0032] In this example, an insulating mushroom head cover 19 is also provided on the upper end of the joystick skirt 12 of the joystick controller. When the finger of the game player contacts the mushroom head cover 19, a first capacitor C1 is formed between the finger and the inner joystick skirt 12. The mushroom head shape of the mushroom head cover 19 is convenient for the user to operate and grasp. It can be disc-shaped or hemispherical to increase the player's operating feel, and can also be made of flexible material to prevent the finger from being scratched by metal material. The specific shape is not limited here.

[0033] like Figure 2 As shown, it is a schematic diagram of the working principle of the low dead zone rocker controller of the utility model. The rocker skirt 12 is used as the first sensing module, the sensing sheet is used as the second sensing module 13, the first sensing module and the second sensing module are connected according to the capacitive sensing principle, the second sensing module is electrically connected to the touch sensing module, and the touch sensing module 14 is electrically connected to the microcontroller 15. In another example, Figure 3As shown, the touch sensing module is integrated in the microcontroller. Since the interval between the first sensing module and the second sensing module does not exceed 2 mm, according to the parallel plate capacitance sensing principle, a second capacitor C2 is formed between the first sensing module and the second sensing module. At this time, the touch sensing module 14 charges the second capacitor C2, and the touch sensing module 14 calculates its charging time T1, generates a signal V1 such as a high level, and transmits it to the microcontroller. It should be noted that the touch sensing module here can utilize an existing touch sensing module, such as a touch chip with a model number of TTP233H-BA6 of TONTEK. When a finger approaches the mushroom head cover 19 of the rocker skirt 12, a first capacitor C1 is formed between the finger and the rocker skirt 12, i.e., the first capacitance sensing module, according to the capacitance sensing principle, and the first capacitor C1 is charged. At this time, the charge of the first capacitance sensing module increases. According to the principle of parallel plate capacitors, after the charge of the first capacitance sensing module increases, the capacitance of the second capacitor C2 also increases, and the charging time T2 of the second capacitor C2 by the touch sensing module 14 also increases. At this time, the touch sensing module 14 generates a signal V2 opposite to the signal V1 by comparing the size of T1 and T2, such as a low level, and transmits it to the microcontroller 15. The microcontroller 15 can detect whether the finger is close to or in contact with the joystick according to the collected level signal. For example, when the microcontroller detects that the finger is not close to or in contact with the joystick, it is considered that the joystick is in a non-use state. At this time, the microcontroller considers the collected joystick data to be invalid data, that is, it is considered that the joystick is always at the center point, and transmits the center point data of the joystick to the host, and the host will not drift. When the microcontroller 15 detects that the finger is close to or in contact with the joystick, it is considered that the joystick is in use. At this time, the microcontroller considers the collected joystick data to be valid data, and transmits the valid data to the host, and the host controls the game character or machine according to the instructions of the valid data of the joystick.

[0034] The low dead zone joystick controller of the utility model adopts capacitive sensing technology to connect the finger and the joystick skirt, as well as the joystick skirt and the second sensing module, so as to realize human contact detection to solve the drift problem of the low dead zone joystick. This solution avoids the centering error caused by the limitation of the joystick's own structure, avoids the centering error caused by temperature changes, and avoids the life problem caused by wire connection, while not affecting the smoothness of the joystick operation.

[0035] The utility model is described in detail above in conjunction with the embodiments of the drawings. A person skilled in the art can make various variations of the utility model according to the above description. Therefore, some details in the embodiments should not constitute a limitation of the utility model, and the utility model shall be protected within the scope defined by the attached claims.

Claims

1. A low dead zone joystick controller, characterized in that: The joystick controller comprises: Joystick; A rocker skirt is sleeved on the upper end of the rocker, and the rocker skirt serves as a first sensing module and can be connected to the finger capacitance inductively to form a first capacitor; A second sensing module is inductively connected to the rocker skirt capacitor serving as the first sensing module to form a second capacitor; A touch sensing module, electrically connected to the second sensing module; A microcontroller is electrically connected to the touch sensing module.

2. The low dead zone joystick controller according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller comprises: A PCB board, on which the touch sensing module, the microcontroller and the joystick are arranged.

3. The low dead zone joystick controller according to claim 2, characterized in that: The controller comprises: The handle shell is covered on the rocker, the middle part of the handle shell is provided with an opening, and the rocker skirt extends out of the opening.

4. The low dead zone joystick controller according to claim 3, characterized in that: The second sensing module is a sensing sheet, which is fixed on the inner wall of the handle housing and is set at a distance from the rocker skirt for capacitive sensing.

5. The low dead zone joystick controller according to claim 4, characterized in that: The controller comprises: A conductive spring pin has one end electrically connected to the sensing sheet, and the other end electrically connected to the PCB board and the touch sensing module.

6. The low dead zone joystick controller according to claim 1, characterized in that: The touch sensing module is integrated on the microcontroller.

7. The low dead zone joystick controller according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end of the rocker skirt is sleeved with an insulating mushroom head sleeve.

8. The low dead zone joystick controller according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rocker skirt and the second sensing module are respectively made of metal or have metal materials sprayed on their surfaces.

9. The low dead zone joystick controller according to claim 5, characterized in that: The spring pin is made of metal.

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