Chin activated switch
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare
InventorsCharles J. McCarthy, Steven Charles, Daniel M. Eichenbaum
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A chin activated switch for use in adjusting the movement of a binocular microscope along three orthogonal axes allows the operator to utilize his hands and feet to control other devices. This chin switch contains a plurality of microswitches which are activated by specific movements of the chin. A chin plate upon which the operator's chin rests is connected to a pivot rod and rocker assembly the movement of which actuates the microswitches. These microswitches in turn control motors which move the microscope in the desired directions.
Claims8
A device for controlling movement of an instrument along three orthogonal axes by movement of the chin of an operator, comprising:
- a chin plate for placement against the chin of the operator;
- motor means for driving the instrument along three orthogonal axes and controlled by the location of said chin plate;
- and
- means for converting movements of said chin plate to signals for said motor means, comprising a pivot lever connected to and extending from said chin plate;
- a push rod lying within said pivot lever and extending from said chin plate, said push rod being sufficiently rigid to transmit push forces without buckling and being sufficiently flexible to bend;
- a rocker plate connected to said push rod and extending generally perpendicular thereto;
- support means to retain one end of said rocker plate stationary relative to movement of said chin plate, said push rod and said pivot lever;
- first switch means mounted on said support means adjacent said rocker plate for activating said motor means to move the instrument along one of the three orthogonal axes due to movement of said rocker plate;
- and second and third switch means lying on said rocker place adjacent said pivot lever for activating said motor means to move the instrument along two of the three orthogonal axes due to movement of said pivot lever in a direction parallel to the plane of said rocker plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.