Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
P98126W~.1P CA 02316965 2000-06-27
1
Joystick with microphone
Description
The invention relates to a joystick for controlling a computer, said joystick
additionally
comprising a microphone.
Such a joystick is known from DE 298 04 706. Since conventional joysticks for
computers
comprise merely a joystick handle and a plurality of function buttons for the
manual input
of commands which are difficult to use fluently for certain applications, it
may take too
long, particularly in the case of fast-moving games, before certain buttons
have been found
and pressed.
It has therefore been proposed to provide the joystick with a voice interface,
particularly a
microphone, by means of which voice commands of the user can be recorded and
converted into analog input signals.
The microphone is held in a separate flexible holding arm in which it can be
positioned
close to the mouth of a user. Said holding arm, as an additional component,
results in
additional production and assembly costs.
The object of the invention, therefore, is to improve a joystick of the
initially mentioned
kind such that, with simple design, low-cost producibility and easy
operability, additional
components are not required and, nevertheless, efficient recording of the
voice commands
is guaranteed.
The object of the invention is achieved by a joystick according to claim 1. An
essential
feature is that the microphone is integrated into the free end of the joystick
handle.
This makes it possible to dispense with an additional holding arm, with the
result that not
only are costs saved in production and assembly, but also the joystick is
easier to use and to
3 0 store. The integration of the microphone into the tip of the handle is of
simple design and
permits efficient recording of the voice commands since, when in use, the
handle is usually
pointed towards the head of the user.
P98126W~.1P CA 02316965 2000-06-27
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2
Especially reliable recording of the voice commands can be achieved in that at
least one
further microphone and electronics for reducing the ambient noises are
integrated into the
housing of the joystick. Such electronic circuits are in themselves known.
In addition, it is especially advantageous if laminations for bundling the
sound waves are
disposed on the microphone(s). Such acoustic lenses are known from
loudspeakers.
It is further advantageous if a loudspeaker is integrated into the housing of
the joystick. It is
possible in this manner to obtain certain acoustic effects which cannot be
achieved with a
loudspeaker installed in the computer or positioned near the screen.
An especially low-cost embodiment of the joystick can be achieved in that
individual parts
of the joystick form the resonance surface for a microphone or for the
loudspeaker.
For certain games the joystick may preferably also be in the form of an
airplane control
column or a steering wheel.
Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the
following
description and from the example embodiments presented in the drawings, in
which:
Fig. 1 shows the handle of a joystick according to the invention;
Fig. 2 shows a variant of a joystick; and
2 5 Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of a handle.
The joystick 1 shown in Fig. 1 has a handle 2 which is pivoted on a basic
housing 3 (not
shown in detail). A microphone 6 is integrated into the front region 4 of the
free end 5 of
the handle 2. The microphone 6 may be positioned either behind one or more
openings
3 0 inside the free end 5 or directly exposed on the outside at the free end
of the handle 2.
Provided next to the microphone 6 are function buttons 7 for the input of
manual
commands.
P98126W,O.1P CA 02316965 2000-06-27
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With the joystick 1 in the usually employed position, the region 4 and
therefore also the
microphone 6 point towards the head of the user, with the result that the
sound waves
directly impinge on the microphone 6. Irrespective of the instantaneous
position of the
handle 2 in relation to the basic housing 3, the free end 5 is the point of
the joystick 1
nearest to the mouth.of the user.
Integrally formed in the region 4 of the free end 5 in front of the microphone
6 are a
plurality of laminations 8 which particularly effectively bundle the impinging
sound waves
and direct them to the microphone 6.
In an alternative embodiment, the microphone 4' may also be attached directly
to the free
end 5 of the handle 2, as is shown by the broken line in Fig. 3.
Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a joystick 1 in which a second microphone 9 for
recording
the ambient noises is disposed in the basic housing 3. By means of an in
itself known
electronic differentiating circuit it is thus possible for disturbing ambient
noises to be
reduced to a minimum.
The joystick 1 shown in Fig. 3 is a further variant in which the handle 2
itself or individual
parts 10 thereof form the diaphragm of the microphone 6. This makes it
possible for the
2 0 production costs to be further reduced since a complete separate
microphone is no longer
required.
