Multi-Directional Slide Button Actuator for Extra Controller Inputs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming controllers have a limited number of buttons, which can be inconvenient for First-Person-Shooter gamers who need to perform multiple actions simultaneously, such as aiming, reloading, meleeing, or jumping, often requiring them to sacrifice aiming on the right analog stick.
Innovation Solution
A slide button actuator system that allows gamers to engage buttons by lateral directions, in addition to or instead of perpendicular movements, enabling one button to provide two or three inputs (e.g., slide left, slide right, press down) rather than just one.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of buttons on a gaming controller is increased to provide more inputs, then the functionality for gamers is improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slide button is designed to perform multiple functions: it can slide left to activate one input, slide right to activate another input, and press down to activate a third input. This multi-functionality allows a single button to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate buttons, thereby increasing the number of available inputs without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional perpendicular button pressing is used, then the button actuation mechanism is simple, but the number of inputs per button is limited to one
Solution Approach 1:
The button actuation mechanism is extended from a single perpendicular dimension to multiple dimensions by adding lateral sliding movements (left and right directions). This dimensional expansion allows the same button to activate multiple different inputs depending on the direction of movement, thereby increasing the number of inputs per button while adding only moderate complexity to the actuation mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
An input device is provided to supply multiple input from a button. The input device may include a first switch and a second switch. The input device may further include a slide button on a surface of the input device. The slide button may actuate the first switch when the slide button slides along a first direction substantially parallel to the surface of the input device. The slide button may actuate the second switch when the slide button slides along a second direction substantially parallel to the surface of the input device. The input device may further include a third switch. The slide button may actuate the third switch of the input device when the slide button is pressed towards the surface of the input device.