Patent · US Active

Hand-activated controller

US8698747B1 · kind B1 · utility

1Cited by
130References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 12, 2010
Grant dateApr 15, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 13, 2032

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05G9/04796
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A hand-activated controller including a base and a circuit board attached to the base is provided. The circuit board has an aperture extending therethrough, and first, second, third, and fourth switches disposed thereon proximate to the aperture. The controller further includes a shaft having a tubular portion and a plate portion. The plate portion is disposed proximate to the first, second, third and fourth switches. The controller further includes a ball-shaped member that is coupled to the tubular portion of the shaft, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor determines if the first, second, third and fourth switches transition from a first operational state to a second operational state indicating that the ball-shaped member and the shaft have been pushed downwardly toward the base, and to generate a first command signal in response thereto.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.