Capacitive joystick apparatus
US5576704A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 1, 1994 |
| Grant date | Nov 19, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 1, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/20201
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In one aspect of the present invention, a joystick is disclosed. The joystick includes a control shaft having an operator handle and a base. A cardan joint is provided to pivotally mount the control shaft to the base. An actuating body is rigidly attached to the control shaft. Advantageously, a plurality of electrically non-contacting sensors is provided to sense the relative position of the shaft relative to the base. The sensors include a pair of spaced apart electrodes establishing an electrostatic capacity with each other, and a dielectric body being disposed between the electrode pair. Accordingly, as the control shaft pivots, the actuating body engages the dielectric body which moves the dielectric body relative to the electrode pair thereby modifying the capacitance of the sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.