Input Device Actuating Element Lifting Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing directional input devices, such as joysticks and two-dimensional directional sliders, often lead to musculoskeletal discomfort due to unnatural movement paths and limited ergonomic design, particularly in long-term use during gaming or other applications requiring precise directional inputs.
Innovation Solution
An input device with an actuating element that can be displaced in multiple directions within a displacement plane, featuring a lifting movement perpendicular to the displacement direction, allowing for a more natural finger movement and adjustable lifting profile to enhance user comfort and prevent strain, through a control device that manages the lifting movement based on displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional joystick with a tiltable lever is used, then directional input can be provided, but the lever length is small which causes the finger to hyperextend and leads to musculoskeletal discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adds a vertical dimension to the traditional horizontal joystick movement. The actuating element can move horizontally in the actuating area and simultaneously move vertically in the lifting direction. This dimensional extension allows the finger to maintain a more natural angle while providing input, eliminating the hyperextension problem without requiring a longer lever.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifting movement acts as an intermediary mechanism between the horizontal displacement and the input signal generation. When the actuating element is displaced horizontally, it automatically triggers a lifting movement that is detected by the detection means. This intermediary vertical motion allows the system to register input without requiring the finger to reach the edge of a small actuating area.
2Ease of operation
If the actuating area is made larger to improve ergonomics, then the device size increases which is not desirable for portable applications
Solution Approach 1:
The invention compensates for the small horizontal actuating area by introducing a vertical lifting dimension. The detection means includes both horizontal position detection and vertical lifting detection, allowing the system to generate comprehensive input signals from combined movements in two dimensions. This enables a compact device size while maintaining ergonomic operation through the added vertical degree of freedom.
3Ease of operation
If a two-dimensional directional slider is used, then directional input can be provided, but the linear movement does not correspond to natural finger movement and causes discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the linear constrained movement of traditional sliders with a more natural curved movement path. The actuating element can move horizontally and simultaneously lift vertically, creating a three-dimensional curved trajectory that better matches natural finger motion patterns. This curved path in the vertical dimension reduces discomfort while maintaining precise directional control.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an input device, in particular for an electronic device, preferably for a game controller, comprising an actuation element for the actuation of the input device by a user with an actuation portion that can be accessed from outside the input device, wherein the actuation element can be brought into multiple actuation positions, defining an actuation area, by the user. The actuation element can be moved into the actuation positions via shifting in one or more shifting directions, in particular lying substantially in a shifting plane. The input device also comprises electronic position detection means, which directly or indirectly detects a current actuation position of the actuation element. According to the invention, the actuation element is linearly moveably guided in the input device in a current stroke direction orientated perpendicular to a respective current shifting direction, and a control device is provided, with which a stroke movement of the actuation element in the current stroke direction is/can be controlled according to the shifting of the actuation element, with a shifting of the actuation element in the actuation area in the one or more shifting directions.