Joystick assembly
OwnerGerhard Wergeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A single-axis or multi-axis joystick assembly which is operative with a minimal amount of input force or displacement. As such, the joystick assembly is especially suited for those with severe motor handicaps who have limited movement in their extremities. The joystick assembly includes a housing and a handle operatively mounted to the housing for movement relative thereto. The handle operatively engages a sensor which generates an output signal when an input force is applied to the handle. The output signal is proportional to the input force. Preferably, the sensor is a piezoelectric pressure transducer.
Claims20
A joystick assembly comprising:
- a housing having walls defining an interior;
- a handle operatively mounted to said housing for movement relative thereto, said handle includes an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion extending outside of said housing interior, said lower portion disposed within said interior of said housing;
- an intermediate member operatively affixed to said lower portion of said handle;
- a rigid member engaging said intermediate member;
- and
- a sensor operatively mounted between said housing and said rigid member, wherein said sensor is adapted to generate an output signal when an input force is applied to said handle, said output signal being proportional to said input force.
A joystick assembly comprising:
- a housing having upper and lower portions;
- a handle having an outer member concentrically aligned with and surrounding an inner member, said inner and outer members being respectively mounted to said lower and upper portions;
- first and second intermediate members respectively affixed to each of said outer and inner members;
- and
- first and second sensors respectively mounted to said upper and lower housing portions and in respective contact with said first and second intermediate members, wherein said first sensor is adapted to generate a first output signal when a first input force is applied to said outer member, said second sensor is adapted to generate a second output signal when a second input force is applied to said inner member of said handle, said first and second output signals being respectively proportional to said first and second input forces.
A joystick assembly comprising:
- a housing having walls defining an interior;
- a handle having a longitudinal axis and upper and lower portions aligned along said longitudinal axis, said upper portion extending out said housing interior, said lower portion being operatively mounted to said housing for movement relative thereto, said handle further including first and second arms extending substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;
- and
- first and second sensor assemblies respectively associated with said first and second arms, said first and second sensor assemblies each including in series a spherical intermediate member, a rigid member, and a sensor, each of said intermediate members respectively engaging said first and second arms, and each of said sensors engaging said housing;
- wherein each of said sensors is adapted to generate a respective output signal when an input force is applied to said upper portion of said handle, said output signal being proportional to said input force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.