US 5,859,372 A · Device for use in manual control of the movement of a real or imaginary object

Abstract

An apparatus for providing translational and rotational control signals comprises a base; a handle; and a suspension system operable to resiliently couple the handle to the base such that the handle may be freely moved in translational and rotational directions relative to the base and to move the handle to a neutral position when no forces are applied to the handle. The suspension system includes a plurality of suspension members each having an orientation axis, the suspension members being disposed such that respective pairs of the orientation axes are orthogonal to each other; and a plurality of sensors, each sensor having a pair of sensor components, at least two sensors being coupled to each of the suspension members and operable to sense translational and rotational movement of the respective suspension member along its orientation axis, the sensors producing output signals indicative of the translational and rotational movement of the handle with respect to the base.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An apparatus for providing translational and rotational control signals, comprising:

a base;
a handle;
and
a suspension system operable to resiliently couple the handle to the base such that the handle may be freely moved in translational and rotational directions relative to the base and to move the handle to a neutral position when no forces are applied to the handle, the suspension system including:
a plurality of suspension members each having an orientation axis, the suspension members being disposed such that respective pairs of the orientation axes are orthogonal to each other;
a plurality of sensors, each sensor having a pair of sensor components, at least two sensors being coupled to each of the suspension members and operable to sense translational and rotational movement of the respective suspension member along its orientation axis, the sensors producing output signals indicative of the translational and rotational movement of the handle with respect to the base;
and
an interface operable to transfer the output signals from the sensors to a signal processing system.

5 more elements

An apparatus for providing translational and rotational control signals, comprising:

a base;
a handle;
and
a suspension system operable to resiliently couple the handle to the base such that the handle may be freely moved in translational and rotational directions relative to the base and to move the handle to a neutral position when no forces are applied to the handle, the suspension system including:
first, second and third suspension members, each having:
(i) first and second substantially planar body portions on which a translational axis, a rotational axis, and a deformation axis are defined, said axes being orthogonal to one another;
and (ii) a first fastener at the first body portion fixedly coupled to the base and a second fastener at the second body portion fixedly coupled to the handle, the suspension members being disposed such that the translational axes extend in different directions and such that the rotational axes extend in different directions;
two suspension elements disposed on each suspension member and operable to elastically couple the first and second body portions together at elastic deformation zones, the deformation zones being spaced apart from one another along the deformation axis, the suspension elements being operable to elastically deform in response to translational movement along the translational axis and rotational movement about the rotational axis of respective suspension members;
a plurality of sensors, each sensor having a pair of sensor components, at least one sensor being coupled to each of the suspension members and operable to sense translational and rotational movement of the respective suspension member along its respective first and second axes, the sensors producing output signals indicative of the translational and rotational movement of the handle with respect to the base;
and
an interface operable to transfer the output signals from the sensors to a signal processing system.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device for use in manual control of the movement of a real or imaginary object

Life of this patent

Device for use in manual control of the movement of a real or imaginary object

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19