How the Nintendo D-Pad Works
A mechanical switch design that allows a user to control directional movement in video games using a single, tilting thumb-operated button.
Original patent title: “Multi-directional switch”
A mechanical switch design that allows a user to control directional movement in video games using a single, tilting thumb-operated button. Granted to Nintendo Co Ltd in 1987 with 13 claims and 129 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes the mechanical structure of the directional pad, or D-pad, found on game controllers. It uses a central fulcrum that allows a single key member to tilt in multiple directions. When a user presses one side of the button, the key tilts, pressing a flexible rubber layer down onto a specific electrical contact on the circuit board below. This creates a simple electrical connection that tells the game console which direction the player wants to move.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover digital joysticks or analog sticks that measure the degree of tilt.
- Does not cover touch-sensitive directional controls or capacitive surfaces.
- Does not cover switches that use separate, individual buttons for each direction.
- Does not cover wireless communication methods for sending the button press signal.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The innovation is the use of a single, central fulcrum combined with a deformable, resilient sustaining member that automatically returns the button to a neutral position after it is released.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) controller
Super Nintendo (SNES) controller
Game Boy directional pad
Modern retro-style game controllers
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This invention solved the problem of how to provide precise, reliable directional control in a compact, durable format for home video game consoles. It became the industry standard for game controllers for decades, appearing on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and virtually every subsequent console controller.
Filed
August 9, 1985
Granted
August 18, 1987
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Nintendo remains the primary entity associated with this design, having refined it through generations of hardware. Many third-party controller manufacturers and retro-gaming hardware companies continue to utilize this exact mechanical architecture for their products.
Market impact
This patent defined the physical interface for the home console gaming market in the 1980s and 1990s. By standardizing the D-pad, it allowed developers to create games with consistent control schemes that worked across different hardware platforms, effectively establishing a universal language for character movement in digital space.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes the mechanical structure of the directional pad, or D-pad, found on game controllers. It uses a central fulcrum that allows a single key member to tilt in multiple directions. When a user presses one side of the button, the key tilts, pressing a flexible rubber layer down onto a specific electrical contact on the circuit board below. This creates a simple electrical connection that tells the game console which direction the player wants to move.
The clever bit
The innovation is the use of a single, central fulcrum combined with a deformable, resilient sustaining member that automatically returns the button to a neutral position after it is released.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover digital joysticks or analog sticks that measure the degree of tilt.
- Does not cover touch-sensitive directional controls or capacitive surfaces.
- Does not cover switches that use separate, individual buttons for each direction.
- Does not cover wireless communication methods for sending the button press signal.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
40/40
Highly cited
Claim breadth
9/20
Moderate scope
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$63K – $202K
Midpoint $126K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
13 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Shirai, I. (1987). How the Nintendo D-Pad Works (U.S. Patent No. 4,687,200). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4687200/nintendo-d-pad-directional
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How the Nintendo D-Pad Works cover?
A mechanical switch design that allows a user to control directional movement in video games using a single, tilting thumb-operated button.
Who owns patent US 4687200?
Nintendo Co Ltd owns this patent, granted in 1987.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 4687200 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 129 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This invention solved the problem of how to provide precise, reliable directional control in a compact, durable format for home video game consoles. It became the industry standard for game controllers for decades, appearing on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and virtually every subsequent console controller.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover digital joysticks or analog sticks that measure the degree of tilt.
Patent monitoring