Slide Button Actuator for Multi-Input Gaming Controller Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming controllers have a limited number of buttons, causing inconvenience for First-Person-Shooter gamers who must sacrifice aiming on the right analog stick to perform other actions like reload, melee, or jump.
Innovation Solution
A slide button actuator system that allows gamers to engage buttons by lateral directions, providing two or three inputs (slide left, slide right, press down) instead of one, using a three-position switch system with a slide button that actuates different switches based on sliding and pressing motions.
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 control capabilities are improved, but the device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slide button is designed to perform multiple functions: it can slide left, slide right, and press down, each triggering different switch actuations. This multi-functionality allows a single button component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate buttons, thereby improving control capabilities while maintaining device simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The button control is extended from traditional one-dimensional pressing motion to two-dimensional movement by adding lateral sliding capability. The button can now move not only perpendicular to the surface (pressing) but also parallel to the surface (sliding left/right), creating additional input dimensions without adding more buttons
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional buttons are used on a gaming controller, then the device structure is simple, but the number of inputs per button is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The button's movement is segmented into distinct directional components (left slide, right slide, press down), with each direction corresponding to a specific switch actuation. This segmentation allows the single button to generate multiple discrete inputs through different movement segments, increasing the number of inputs without increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The button transitions from a static pressing mechanism to a dynamic multi-directional actuator. By enabling the button to move dynamically in multiple directions (lateral sliding and perpendicular pressing), the system extracts more input possibilities from a single component, thereby increasing adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity
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.