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AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorRichard H. Hollow
Estimating the term…
A two axis joystick controller (14) produces at least one output signal in relation to pivotal displacement of a member (32) with respect to an intersection of the two axes. The member (32) is pivotally movable on a support (42) with respect to the two axes. The support (42) has a centrally disposed aperture (46). A light source (34) is mounted on the pivotally movable member (32) above the aperture (46) to direct light (47) through the aperture. A light sensor (48) is mounted below the aperture (46) in the support (42) at the intersection of the two axes to receive the light (47) from the light source (34) directed through the aperture (46). The light sensor (48) produces at least one output signal related to a location on the sensor (48) at which the light (47) from the light source strikes the sensor (48). The two axis controller (14) is small enough in size to be mounted on another, hand-operated X-Y controller (10) for thumb operation by a hand positioned to operate the other X-Y controller (10). Knob (18) has a saddle shaped top (20) dimensioned to receive the thumb.
A two-axis controller which produces at least an output signal in relation to pivotal displacement of a member with respect to an intersection of the two axes, which comprises a support and a member pivotally movable on a support with respect to the two axes, said support comprising a plate portion surrounding an elevated portion having a centrally disposed aperture and said member being in pivotal contact with said plate portion, a light source mounted on said pivotally movable member above the aperture to direct light through the aperture at the intersection of the two axes to receive light from said light source directed through the aperture, a light sensor producing at least one output signal related to a location on said sensor at which the light from said light source strikes the sensor.
A two-axis controller which produces at least one output signal in relation to pivotal displacement of a member with respect to an intersection of the two axes, which comprises a support and a member resting and movable on the support with respect to the two axes, said support comprising a plate portion surrounding an elevated portion having a centrally disposed aperture, said member being in pivoted contact with said plate portion, a light source mounted on said pivotally movable member above the aperture to direct light through the aperture, and a light sensor mounted below the aperture at the intersection of the two axes to receive light from said light source directed through the aperture, the light sensor producing at least one output signal related to a location on said sensor at which the light from said light source strikes the sensor.
In combination, a first joystick controller movable by a hand of a user to provide a first level of two-axis control and a second joystick controller mounted on said first joystick controller, said second joystick controller being movable by a thumb of the user's hand while the hand is on said first joystick controller to provide a second level of two-axis control, said second joystick controller including a thumb-actuable button, a support comprising a plate portion surrounding an elevated portion with a centrally disposed aperture, a member resting and pivotally movable on said plate portion of said support with respect to said two axes of said second level, said axes intersecting one another orthogonally, said button being attached to one extremity of said member, a light beam source mounted on said pivotally movable member above the aperture to direct a light beam through the aperture, a light sensor mounted below the aperture at the intersection of the two second-level axes to receive said light beam directed through the aperture, the light sensor producing at least one output signal related to a location on said sensor at which the light from said light source strikes the sensor.
The combination of claim 10 wherein said pivotally movable member includes an enclosure portion defining a circular knife edge, said support having a raised frusto-conical portion surrounded by a planar portion, the knife edge having a circumference closely fitting the base of the frusto-conical portion, said light source being located within the enclosure portion above the frusto-conical portion, and the pivotal movement of said pivotally movable member causing a rocking motion of said knife edge on said planar surface.
In combination, a hand-actuable control means for providing a first level of control, and a joystick controller mounted on said control means, said joystick controller being movable by a thumb of a user's hand while the hand engages said control means, the thumb movement of the joystick controller providing a second level of control, said joystick controller including a rocker pivotal with respect to first and second orthogonal axes, a support comprising a plate portion surrounding on elevated portion having a centrally situated aperture, a button adapted to receive the thumb of the user, said rocker having first and second extremities, said button being attached to said first rocker extremity and said second rocker extremity resting and being pivotally movable on said plate portion of said support adjacent said aperture, means on said pivotally movable rocker for directing a light beam through said aperture, a light sensor mounted adjacent the aperture at the intersection of the two axes to receive the light beam passing through the aperture, and means coupled to said light sensor for producing signals representative of the location of the light beam with respect to the intersection of the axes.
A two-axis joystick controller having an improved breakout comprising a shaft movable with respect to orthogonal X and Y axes, said shaft having a first end and a second end, a finger-actuable button fixed to said first end, said second end terminating in a circular knife edge, a support plate for said shaft, said support plate having a planar portion surrounding a raised portion, said circular knife edge fitting closely around said raised portion while resting on said planar portion, and means for biasing said circular knife edge of said shaft against said planar portion of said support plate.
A two-axis joystick controller requiring a step breakout force before displacement occurs comprising a rocker plate having a flat portion surrounding a tapered raised portion, a rocker having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends, said first end having user-actuable means for rocking said rocker with respect to first and second orthogonal axes, said second end of said rocker terminating in a circular knife edge that is contained in a plane normal to said longitudinal axis, said knife edge having a circumference closely fitting the base of said tapered raised portion, biasing means surrounding said rocker for urging said circular knife edge of said rocker against said flat portion of said rocker plate whereby said circular knife edge completely touches said rocker plate before said rocker is rocked and said knife edge only touches said rocker plate at a single contact point when said rocker is rocked on said rocker plate.
A two-axis controller which produces at least one output signal in relation to pivotal displacement of a member with respect to an intersection of the two axes, which comprises the member pivotably movable on a support with respect to the two axes, a biasing means connected to said pivotally movable member for urging said pivotally movable member into a position orthogonally disposed relative to the intersection axes, said biasing means being a coil spring concentrically surrounding said pivotally movable member and having a first end fixedly connected to said pivotally movable member and a second fixedly mounted end, said support having a centrally disposed aperture, a light source mounted on said pivotally movable member above the aperture to direct light through the aperture, and a light sensor mounted below the aperture at the intersection of the two axes to receive light from said light source directed through the aperture, the light sensor producing at least one output signal related to a location on said sensor at which the light from said light source strikes the sensor, said pivotally movable member including an enclosure portion defining a circular knife edge, said support having a raised frusto-conical portion surrounded by a planar portion, the knife edge having a circumference closely fitting the base of the frusto-conical portion, said light source being located within the enclosure portion above the frusto-conical portion, and the pivotal movement of said pivotally movable member causing a rocking motion of said knife edge on said planar portion.
In combination, a first joystick controller movable by a hand of a user to provide a first level of two-axis control and a second joystick controller mounted on said first joy-stick controller, said second joystick controller being movable by a thumb of a user's hand while the hand is on said first joystick controller to provide a second level of two-axis control, said second joystick controller including a thumbactuable button, a support with a centrally disposed aperture, a member pivotally movable on said support with respect to said two-axes of said second level, said axes intersecting one another orthogonally, said button being attached to one extremity of said member, a light beam source mounted on said pivotally movable member above the aperture to direct a light beam through the aperture, a biasing means connected to said pivotally movable member for urging said pivotally movable member into a position orthogonally disposed relative to the intersecting axes, said biasing means being a coil spring concentrically surrounding said pivotally movable member and having a first end fixedly connected to said pivotally movable member and a second fixedly mounted end, said pivotally movable member including an enclosure portion defining a circular knife edge, said support having a raised frusto-conical portion surrounded by a planar portion, the knife edge having a circumference closely fitting the base of the frusto-conical portion, said light source being located within the enclosure portion above the frusto-conical portion, and the pivotal movement of said pivotally movable member causing a rocking motion of said knife edge on said planar surface, a light sensor mounted below the aperture at the intersection of the two second-level axes to receive said light beam directed through the aperture, the light sensor producing at least one output signal related to a location on said sensor at which the light from said light source strikes the sensor.
In combination, a hand-actuable control means for providing a first level of control, and a joystick controller mounted on said control means, said joystick controller being movable by a thumb of a user's hand while the hand engages said control means, the thumb movement of the joystick controller providing a second level of control, said joystick controller including a rocker, pivotal with respect to first and second orthogonal axes, a support having a centrally situated aperture, a button adapted to receive the thumb of the user, said rocker having first and second extremities, said button being attached to said first rocker extremity and said second rocker extremity being pivotally mounted on said support adjacent said aperture, a biasing means connected to said pivotally movable rocker for urging said pivotally movable rocker into a position orthogonally disposed relative to the intersecting axes, said biasing means being a coil spring concentrically surrounding said pivotally movable rocker and having a first end fixedly connected to said pivotally movable rocker and a second fixedly mounted end, said pivotally movable rocker including an enclosure portion defining a circular knife edge, said support having a raised frusto-conical portion surrounded by a planar portion, the knife edge having a circumference closely fitting the base of the frusto-conical portion, said light source being located within the enclosure portion above the frusto-conical portion, and the pivotal movement of said pivotally movable rocker causing a rocking motion of said knife edge on said planar surface, means on said said pivotally movable rocker for directing a light beam through said aperture, a light sensor mounted adjacent the aperture at the intersection of the two axes to receive the light beam passing through the aperture, and means coupled to said light sensor for producing signals representative of the location of the light beam with respect to the intersection of the axes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.