Electronic controls for linear and rotary actuators

A method for controlling both speed and steering of a conveyance, which method comprises:

• a) controlling said speed as a function of first and second input positions of first and second transducers;
• b) controlling said steering as a function of a difference in said input positions;
• and
• c) decreasing sensitivity of said steering to said difference as an inverse and nonlinear function of said difference.

A method for controlling both speed and steering of a conveyance, which method comprises:

• a) controlling said speed as a function of first and second inputs to first and second transducers;
• b) controlling said steering as a function of a difference in said inputs;
• and
• c) automatically reducing said speed of said conveyance as a nonlinear function of said difference.

A method for producing control signals, which method comprises:

• a) producing first and second control signals proportional to successive ones of first and second inputs;
• b) decreasing differences in said control signals as an inverse and nonlinear function of said differences whenever said first control signal is greater than said second control signal;
• and
• c) decreasing differences in said control signals as an inverse and nonlinear function of said differences whenever said second control signal is greater than said first control signal.

A method for producing control signals, which method comprises:

• a) producing successive ones of first and second control signals proportional to successive inputs with respect to a first axis;
• b) decreasing differences between said control signals as an inverse and nonlinear function of said differences whenever one of said control signals is larger than the other of said control signals;
• and
• c) said decreasing step comprises analog processing of one of said control signals.

An X-Y controller (58) which comprises:

• eyeglass frames (60) having a pair of earpieces (64A and 64B);
• means, comprising first and second transducers (62), each having a sensing axis (68A and 68B), and both being mounted to said eyeglass frames, for producing first and second outputs that are proportional to inclinations of a head (70) of a person (56) wearing said eyeglass frames;
• and
• said sensing axes being disposed at equal and opposite angles to said earpieces, and being disposed at a larger angle to each other.

A method for controlling speeds of first and second actuators as a function of first and second outputs produced by respective ones of first and second transducers, and for controlling differences in speeds of said actuators as a function of differences in said outputs, which method comprises:

• a) user actuating said first transducer to selective input positions;
• b) user actuating said second transducer to selective input positions;
• c) producing said first output from said first transducer that is proportional to said selective positions thereof;
• d) producing said second output from said second transducer that is proportional to said selective positions thereof;
• e) decreasing said first output as an inverse and nonlinear function of said second output whenever said first output exceeds said second output;
• and
• f) decreasing said second outpost as an inverse and nonlinear function of said first output whenever said second output exceeds said first output.

A method for controlling speeds of first and second actuators in response to first and second outputs produced by respective ones of first and second transducers, and for controlling differences in speeds of said actuators in response to differences in said outputs, which method comprises:

• a) user actuating said first transducer to selective input positions;
• b) user actuating said second transducer to selective input positions;
• c) producing said first output from said first transducer that is proportional to said selective positions thereof;
• d) producing said second output from said second transducer that is proportional to said selective positions thereof;
• e) increasing said first output as an inverse and nonlinear function of said differences whenever said first output is lower than said second output;
• and
• f) increasing said second output as an inverse and nonlinear function of said differences whenever said second output is lower than said first output.