Master control device with multi-finger grip and methods therefor

A control device comprising:

• a thumb grip member, a finger grip member coupled to the thumb grip member, an input control, a sensor coupled to at least one of the thumb grip member and the finger grip member, a proximal end, and a distal end opposite the proximal end;
• wherein the thumb grip member comprises a thumb grip receptive to a thumb of a hand of a user of the control device;
• wherein the finger grip member is coupled to the thumb grip member at the proximal end of the control device and extends toward the distal end of the control device;
• wherein the finger grip member comprises a finger grip extension portion and a finger grip receptive to multiple fingers of the hand of the user;
• wherein the finger grip extension portion comprises a first side and a second side reverse of and opposite to the first side;
• wherein the first side of the finger grip member comprises a finger grip surface contacted by the multiple fingers;
• wherein the finger grip member includes an extended portion that extends past the thumb grip member in a direction away from the finger grip extension portion;
• wherein the thumb grip member and the finger grip member are moveable in a pinching configuration with reference to each other;
• wherein the input control is positioned on the second side of the finger grip member on the extended portion of the finger grip member, the input control operative to sense direct contact of the thumb with the input control to provide a control signal to a control system;
• wherein the input control is accessible to the thumb of the hand during operation of the control device by the hand;
• and
• wherein the sensor is configured to sense relative positions of the thumb grip member and the finger grip member with reference to each other in the pinching configuration.

A control device comprising:

• a thumb grip member, a finger grip member coupled to the thumb grip member, an input control, a sensor coupled to at least one of the thumb grip member and the finger grip member, a proximal end, and a distal end opposite the proximal end;
• wherein the thumb grip member comprises a thumb grip receptive to a thumb of a hand of a user of the control device;
• wherein the finger grip member is coupled to the thumb grip member at the proximal end of the control device and extends toward the distal end of the control device;
• wherein the finger grip member comprises a finger grip extension portion and a finger grip receptive to multiple fingers of the hand of the user;
• wherein the finger grip extension portion comprises a first side and a second side reverse of the first side;
• wherein the thumb grip member and the finger grip member are moveable in a pinching configuration with reference to each other;
• wherein the thumb grip member comprises a first side and a second side reverse of and opposite to the first side;
• wherein a thumb grip surface of the thumb grip is on the first side of the thumb grip member, wherein the thumb grip surface is receptive to contact by the thumb;
• wherein the input control is positioned on the thumb grip member on the second side of the thumb grip member, the input control operative to sense direct contact of a finger with the input control to provide a control signal to a control system;
• wherein the input control is accessible to at least one finger of the multiple fingers of the hand during operation of the control device by the hand;
• and
• wherein the sensor is configured to sense relative positions of the thumb grip member and the finger grip member with reference to each other in the pinching configuration.