Foot operated control system for a multi-function device

A foot-operated control system for controlling and operating a multi-function device with the foot, the system comprising:

• a selector circuit which is electrically couplable to a multi-function device and is operable for selecting one of at least two functions to be performed by the multi-function device in response to a selection input and is further operable to actuate a multi-function device when such a device is coupled thereto to perform the selected function in response to an actuation input;
• a foot-operated control device electrically coupled to the selector circuit, the control device operable to generate said selection and actuation inputs to be electrically input to the selector circuit for controlling a multi-function device, the foot-operated control device comprising:
• a base with a front end, a rear end, a left side and a right side;
• a foot pedal mounted to move on said base for generating all of said selection and actuation inputs, the foot pedal being mounted for azimuthal lateral movement between a central position and a leftmost position overlying said left side of said base and spaced laterally from said central position and a rightmost position overlying said right side of said base and spaced laterally from said central position,
• said pedal also being mounted for elevational movement about a horizontal axis mounted to said base, the pedal movable about said horizontal base axis between an elevational up position in which a front end of said pedal is at an elevational position above the elevational position of a rear end of said pedal and an elevational down position in which the front end of said pedal is at an elevational position approximately equal to or below the elevational position of the rear end of said pedal;
• an electrical sensor system carried by said base and including signal generating circuits which are responsive to the azimuthal lateral movement of said pedal and are operable to generate a first selection input when the pedal is moved to the leftmost position and a second selection input when the pedal is moved to the rightmost position, the selector circuit operable for receiving said selection inputs and selecting a first function and second function in response to said first selection input and second selection input, respectively;
• the signal generating circuits of said sensor system further responsive to elevational movement of the pedal into the elevational down position in the central position and further operable to generate an actuation input, the selector circuit operable for receiving said actuation input and actuating a multi-function device coupled thereto to perform the selected function.

A multi-function device capable of performing a plurality of different selectable functions and including at least one mechanical structure operable to execute the selected functions, the device comprising:

• a selector circuit operable for selecting one of the plurality of functions of the multi-function device in response to a selection input, the selector circuit further operable for generating a command signal corresponding to a selected function to initiate operation of the mechanical structure of the multi-function device to perform the selected function in response to an actuation input;
• a signal receiving circuit electrically coupled to said selector and said mechanical structure, the signal receiving circuit operable for receiving said command signal from the selector circuit and controlling the mechanical structure to execute a selected mechanical function;
• a foot-operated control device electrically coupled to the selector circuit, the control device operable for generating said selection and actuation inputs to be electrically input to said selector circuit, the control device comprising:
• a base with a front end, a rear end, a left side and a right side;
• a foot pedal mounted to move on said base for generating all of said selection end actuation inputs, the foot pedal being mounted for azimuthal lateral movement between a central position and a leftmost position overlying said left side of said base and spaced laterally from said central position and a rightmost position overlying said right side of said base and spaced laterally from said central position,
• said pedal also being mounted for elevational movement about a horizontal axis mounted to said base, the pedal operable about said horizontal base axis between an elevational up position in which a front end of said pedal is at an elevational position above the elevational position of a rear end of said pedal and an elevational down position in which the front end of said pedal is at an elevational position approximately equal to or below the elevational position of the rear end of said pedal;
• an electrical sensor system carried by said base and including signal generating circuits which are responsive to the azimuthal lateral movement of said pedal and are operable to generate a first selection input when the pedal is moved to the leftmost position and a second selection input when the pedal is moved to the rightmost position, the selector circuit operable for receiving said selection inputs and selecting a first function and second function in response to said first selection input and second selection input, respectively;
• the signal generating circuit of said sensor system further responsive to elevational movement of the pedal into the elevational down position in the central position and further operable to generate an actuation input, the selector circuit operable for receiving said actuation input and generaing a command signal for the signal receiving circuit for actuating the multi-function device to perform the selected function.