Video pinball machine controller having an optical accelerometer for

Abstract

The invention comprises a controller that includes a base, a handle mounted on the base, a flipper switch mounted at a distal end of the handle, and having two optical accelerometers mounted within a cavity of the handle for detecting the force applied to the controller. Each optical accelerometer includes a light source, a light detector, and a shield having a pattern formed thereon that varies from the first end of the shield to a second end of the shield so as to allow an increasing amount of light to pass through the shield as the shield moves from its first end to its second end. The shield is pivotally mounted between the light source and the light detector so that the force applied to the handle causes the shield to pivot thereby allowing a varying amount of light to be passed from the light detector through the shield to the light source. Thus, the amount of light detected by the light source is a function of the amount of deflection of the shield, which is further a function of the amount of force applied. The pattern formed on the shield can take a variety of forms. In the preferred embodiment the pattern is a progressive grey scale pattern that goes from a ten percent grey scale at the first end to a ninety percent grey scale at the second end. The pattern can also comprise a slot that has a width that varies increasingly from the second end to the first end of the shield.