Patents by Inventor Thomas G. Milner

Thomas G. Milner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4501939
    Abstract: A digital joystick controller is disclosed which utilizes a plastic base portion and a pivotally mounted "joystick." A plurality of electrical contacts are disposed within the bottom of the base portion and a planar conductive member is suspended a selected distance above the electrical contacts. The planar conductive member includes a number of elongate sections which serve to urge the joystick into an erect position and which deflect to contact selected ones of the plurality of electrical contacts in response to manual displacement of the joystick from an erect position. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention an elongate button switch is disposed within the joystick and is axially movable therein. An elongate section of the planar conductive member is utilized to urge the button switch into a first position and to selectively contact a particular electrical contact in response to manual depression of the button switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1985
    Assignee: Personal Peripherals Inc.
    Inventors: Tom M. Hyltin, Thomas G. Milner, Elam C. Frye, Jr.