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.

What it 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.

What it doesn't 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.

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.

Why it matters

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.

Real-world examples

• 1.Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) controller
• 2.Super Nintendo (SNES) controller
• 3.Game Boy directional pad
• 4.Modern retro-style game controllers