A joystick includes a casing, a stick body and an optical sensor. The casing has a hole. The stick body is movably disposed on the casing via the hole. The stick body includes a pressing portion, an indication portion and an identification pattern. The indication portion is connected to the pressing portion and inserts into the hole. A sunken structure is formed on a bottom of the indication portion. The identification pattern is disposed on an inner surface of the sunken structure. The optical sensor is disposed inside the casing and faces the sunken structure, and adapted to analyze a movement of the identification pattern to identify a control status of the stick body.

A multidirectional input device includes an operation input part, a base, and a load detector. The operation input part includes an operation stick, two coupled parts configured to convert a tilt of the operation stick into two rotation angles orthogonal to each other, at least one return spring configured to return the operation stick to an upright position, and a frame accommodating the two coupled parts, the at least one return spring, and a part of the operation stick. The base has a plate shape and is provided below the frame. The load detector is provided on the frame or the base and is configured to detect a load applied to the frame.

A multi-directional input device includes an operating member that can be tilted and pushed in, a metal dome that functions as a push-in operation detector that detects a push-in operation of the operating member, a magnet holding member that is relatively movable with respect to the operating member only in a direction along a push-in direction and is interlocked only in a tilting direction, a magnet held by the magnet holding member, and a magnetic sensor that is disposed at a position facing the magnet and detects a movement of the magnet.

A control input device can include a housing defining an inner volume with a floor, and a shaft having an axis, a manipulating portion, and a sensing end. The control input device can further include a magnet mounted on the sensing end of the shaft such that the magnet is within the inner volume of the housing, and a movement mechanism configured to allow the manipulating portion of the shaft to be moved with respect to the housing such that the movement of the manipulating portion results in corresponding movement of the magnet. The control input device can further include a magnetic sensor at least partially embedded in the floor of the housing and configured to sense the movement of the magnet.

A joystick device is provided. The joystick device includes a housing, a joystick assembly, a reset assembly, a translation assembly, and a circuit board. A magnetic component is located on the translation assembly, and a magnetic induction element is located on the circuit board. The joystick assembly pushes the translation assembly to translate, and the magnetic induction element generate an output that changes with the movement of the translation assembly. A handle using the joystick device also provided.

A pointing device includes: a substrate; an operation member that is provided tiltably with respect to the substrate, and includes a protrusion protruded from one of an inner wall and an outer wall; and a rotation member that is provided rotatably on the substrate, and includes a hole which the protrusion enters when the rotation member overlaps the operation member; wherein the rotation member rotates in conjunction with the operation member when the protrusion contacts an edge of the hole according to rotation of the operation member, wherein the hole is formed in a range in which the protrusion is movable by tilt of the operation member.

A pointing device includes: a substrate; an operation member that is provided tiltably with respect to the substrate, and includes a protrusion protruded from one of an inner wall and an outer wall; and a rotation member that is provided rotatably on the substrate, and includes a hole which the protrusion enters when the rotation member overlaps the operation member; wherein the rotation member rotates in conjunction with the operation member when the protrusion contacts an edge of the hole according to rotation of the operation member, wherein the hole is formed in a range in which the protrusion is movable by tilt of the operation member.

A multidirectional input device includes an operation input part, a base, and a load detector. The operation input part includes an operation stick, two coupled parts configured to convert a tilt of the operation stick into two rotation angles orthogonal to each other, at least one return spring configured to return the operation stick to an upright position, and a frame accommodating the two coupled parts, the at least one return spring, and a part of the operation stick. The base has a plate shape and is provided below the frame. The load detector is provided on the frame or the base and is configured to detect a load applied to the frame.

An image identification method is used to eliminate accumulated error of operation of a joystick. The joystick has an optical sensor adapted to analyze a movement of a plurality of identification dots disposed on a stick body. The image identification method includes receiving a series of detection images, setting a first identification dot of the plurality of identification dots as being a reference identification dot, and setting a second identification dot of the plurality of identification dos as being the reference identification dot and cancelling the first identification dot as being the reference identification dot when the first identification dot is near a border of the detection image. A position change of the reference identification dot in the series of detection images is used for identifying a control status of the joystick.

A joystick module includes a main body, a light guide structure and a light source. The main body includes at least one hollow region. The light guide structure is disposed within the main body. The light guide structure includes a first light guide part and a second light guide part with different transmittances. The first light guide part has a light output surface exposed outside the hollow region. The second light guide part has a light input surface. The light source is disposed within the main body and located beside the light input surface of the second light guide part. After the light source emits a light beam, the light beam is introduced into the light guide structure through the light input surface of the second light guide part and exited from the at least one light output surface of the first light guide part.