Twin stick control system
US6161637A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 5, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 19, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 5, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/2063
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A twin stick control system for a movable unit such as a ZRT vehicle includes two control sticks placed side-by-side. Each control stick controls the operation of at least one drive wheel on each side of the vehicle. The control sticks are movable from their neutral position in a first range of motion without any interference from a spring restoring force tending to return them to neutral, thus allowing the control sticks to remain wherever the operator places them in the first range of motion. A cruise control system is located to abut against the control sticks at the conclusion of the first range of motion to define a cruise control speed setting. The sticks can still be advanced forwardly beyond the cruise control speed setting, but encounter a spring force when doing so which is directed to returning the sticks back to the cruise control speed setting.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.