A joystick includes a first structural component, a second structural component, a light emitter, an optical sensor and a processor. The second structural component is assembled with the first structural component to form a chamber. The light emitter is disposed inside the chamber for illuminating one surface of the second structural component. The optical sensor is disposed inside the chamber for capturing the illuminated surface of the second structural component. The processor is electrically connected to the optical sensor and adapted to analyze an intensity distribution of the illuminated surface for determining if the joystick is obliquely pressed or laterally shifted in a relative manner.

Embodiments of the invention provide for a joystick assembly that separates the user from electrical equipment. In some embodiments, the joystick assembly comprises a handle, a rod, a camera, and a target object. The target object may move indicative of the handle by input from the user. The camera may obtain a target object image of the target object and a difference between the target object image and the image pattern is determined. A signal indicative of the difference between the target object image and the image pattern may be sent to actuate at least one actuator.

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 joystick has a related control method to provide displayed object control function. The joystick includes a body, an image sensor and a processor. The body has a deformable bottom surface whereon a pattern is disposed. The image sensor is disposed under the body and adapted to capture a frame about the pattern. The processor is electrically connected with the image sensor and adapted to generate a displayed object control signal according to pattern variation within the frame.

An input/output operation device includes an actuator detection circuit part, a drive circuit part, a drive control calculation processing part that controls the drive circuit part, and a rotation body on which the actuator is installed. The actuator includes a movable unit freely rotatable independently about two axes orthogonal to each other, a fixed unit supporting the movable unit for free rotation, and a drive part driving the movable unit with respect to the fixed unit. The detection circuit part outputs a position signal corresponding to a position of an operation part. The drive circuit part controls the drive part. The rotation body rotates about a rotation axis, in which the control calculation processing part controls the drive of the operation part through use of a coordinate system stationary with respect to a reference rotation angle of the rotation body at different rotation angles of the rotation body.

A joystick has a related control method to provide displayed object control function. The joystick includes a body, an image sensor and a processor. The body has a deformable bottom surface whereon a pattern is disposed. The image sensor is disposed under the body and adapted to capture a plurality of frames about the pattern. The processor is electrically connected with the image sensor and adapted to generate a displayed object control signal according to pattern variation within the plurality of frames.

A remote control device for a remotely controlled device including; a first input controller, including a grippable body which a user is able to apply a force and torque thereto with a first hand in order to be able to control yaw, pitch, roll and elevation of a remotely controlled vehicle; a second input controller enabling a user to control, with a second hand, a peripheral device associated with remotely controlled device; a communication device; and a controller, configured to: receive one or more first input and one or more second input signals from the first input controller and the second input controller respectively; and control the communication device for transmitting: a first output signal indicative of a first command based on the force and torque applied to the grippable body; and a second output signal indicative of a second command for controlling the peripheral device.

The invention provides an input apparatus, a games controller for a games console and an analogue control stick. The analogue control stick comprises a shaft pivotally mounted for movement about at least two orthogonal axes and a target surface disposed at a proximal end of the shaft. The analogue control stick comprises at least one light source and a sensor, for capturing images of the target surface illuminated by the light source at a polling interval. A processing unit compares a current image of the target surface with the immediately preceding image of the target surface captured by the sensor to determine magnitude and direction of any incremental movement of the target surface relative to the sensor between capturing the compared images. The processing unit accumulates data, in a memory cache, indicative of the incremental movements to calculate an absolute position of the target surface relative to a predefined or origin position. The analogue control stick comprises an origin position detection system for determining return of the target surface to a predefined origin position. The processing unit is configured to clear the cache of accumulated incremental movement data upon detection of the target surface being disposed at the predefined origin position.

A joystick has a related control method to provide displayed object control function. The joystick includes a body, an image sensor and a processor. The body has a deformable bottom surface whereon a pattern is disposed. The image sensor is disposed under the body and adapted to capture a plurality of frames about the pattern. The processor is electrically connected with the image sensor and adapted to generate a displayed object control signal according to pattern variation within the plurality of frames.

A joystick includes a first structural component, a second structural component, a light emitter, an optical sensor and a processor. The second structural component is assembled with the first structural component to form a chamber. The light emitter is disposed inside the chamber for illuminating one surface of the second structural component. The optical sensor is disposed inside the chamber for capturing the illuminated surface of the second structural component. The processor is electrically connected to the optical sensor and adapted to analyze an intensity distribution of the illuminated surface for determining if the joystick is obliquely pressed or laterally shifted in a relative manner.