Patent US4731530A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4731530A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Joystick control having optical sensors
Assignee: Cti Electronics Corp
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Filing: 1986-04-21
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Granted: 1988-03-15
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Expires: 2006-04-21
Abstract
Abstract An electromechanical control for use with a joystick lever which swivels along x and y axes simultaneously. The control has a light source and two light sensitive phototransistors. The light source emits a beam which is split into two parts. A light control sector is pivoted on the base, and mechanically linked to the lever. The sector is disposed in the paths of the two parts of the split beam, and has two arcuate translucent portions, each translucent portion being on its own radius and the portions having a common center. One part of the beam passes through one translucent portion and the other part of the beam passes through the second. The phototransistors are disposed on that side of the translucent portions opposite the location of the light source. The one translucent portion has a graduated opacity along its length, such that the light arriving at one phototransistor varies as the sector pivots by movement of the lever. The other translucent portion has a substantially monotonous or constant opacity, such that the beam part passing therethrough does not vary with movement of the lever. The arrangement is such that only when the lever is in its exact center position with respect to the base, is the opacity of the one translucent portion at the location of its phototransistor the same as that of the uniform opacity of the other translucent portion, whereby a precise indication of the said center position can be obtained by measurement of the relative outputs of the phototransistors.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter J. Mikan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:30
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05G; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/26; G01D5/32; G01D5/34; G05G2009/04703; G05G2009/04707; G05G2009/0474; G05G2009/04759
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A joystick control comprising, in combination: (a) a lever, (b) means mounting said lever for swivelling movement in the directions of x and y axes, (c) a single energy source providing a beam of radiant energy, (d) means dividing said beam into two parts, (e) means responsive to movement of said lever in a direction of one of said axes, for varying the intensity of one of said beam parts between lower and higher values, and (f) means responsive to movement of said lever in a direction of said one axis, for effecting from the other of said beam parts, a reduced-energy beam of predetermined constant value between said lower and higher values, (g) said intensity-varying means being adapted to produce, when said lever is disposed perpendicularly with respect to the said one axis, a resultant beam of intermediate intensity having solely one fixed relationship to the intensity of said reduced-energy beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A joystick control comprising, in combination: (a) a lever, (b) means mounting said lever for swivelling movement in the directions of x and y axes, (c) a single energy source providing a beam of radiant energy, (d) means dividing said beam into two parts, (e) means responsive to movement of said lever in a direction of one of said axes, for varying the intensity of one of said beam parts between lower and higher values, and (f) means responsive to movement of said lever in a direction of said one axis, for effecting from the other of said beam parts, a reduced-energy beam of predetermined constant value between said lower and higher values, (g) said intensity-varying means being adapted to produce, when said lever is disposed perpendicularly with respect to the said one axis, a resultant beam of intermediate intensity having solely one fixed relationship to the intensity of said reduced-energy beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A control as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) the energy source produces a beam of light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A control as set forth in claim 2, wherein; (a) said energy source comprises a light-emitting diode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control as set forth in claim 3, wherein: (a) said means for dividing the beam comprises a pair of prisms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control as set forth in claim 3, wherein: (a) said means for dividing the beam comprises a pair of mirrors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A control as set forth in claim 3, wherein: (a) said means for dividing the beams comprises a fiberoptic light pipe having a unitary input and a divided, two-part output.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
A control as set forth in claim 1, wherein: (a) the means for varying the intensity of one of said beam parts comprises a member having an elongate translucent portion the opacity of which varies between lower and higher limits as it is traversed along its length, and (b) the means for effecting a reduced-energy beam of constant value comprises a member having an elongate translucent portion the opacity of which is constant as it is traversed along its length and which lies between said lower and higher limits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A control as set forth in claim 7, wherein: (a) the translucent portions of said members are of arcuate configuration and different radii, and have a common center of curvature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A control as set forth in claim 2, and further including: (a) light-sensors and amplifying circuits associated therewith, respectively responsive to said varied and said reduced-energy light beams, for effecting a control.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A control as set forth in claim 7, and further including: (a) a pair of pivoted guide quadrants respectively associated with said members and connected to said lever to be pivotally actuated thereby.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A control as set forth in claim 10, wherein: (a) said guide quadrants have slots, and said lever has an end portion slidable in said slots.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A control as set forth in claim 11, wherein: (a) said end portion of the lever has a square cross section closely fitted to said slots to prevent turning of the lever about its axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control as set forth in claim 12, and further including: (a) a base member pivotally mounting said quadrants and having a centralized socket, (b) said lever having a shoulder intermediate its ends, received and confined in said socket.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
188 words
An electromechanical control for producing an electrical output signal that varies as a function of the angular position of a manually engageable lever, comprising in combination: (a) a base and means pivotally mounting the lever on the base, (b) a source providing a beam of radiant energy, (c) a first and a second detector means, each being adapted to receive part of said beam, and (d) means mechanically coupled to said lever, for modulating the part of the beam received by one detector such that the energy received by the latter varies between a maximum and minimum value as the manually engageable lever is operated from one position, through a center position, and toward an opposite position with respect to the base, and for modulating the part of the beam received by the other detector such that the energy received by the latter remains constant at a value intermediate said maximum and minimum values, (e) the energy received by the one detector means being substantially equal to that received by the said other detector means only when the the manually engageable lever is disposed at its center position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
188 words
An electromechanical control for producing an electrical output signal that varies as a function of the angular position of a manually engageable lever, comprising in combination: (a) a base and means pivotally mounting the lever on the base, (b) a source providing a beam of radiant energy, (c) a first and a second detector means, each being adapted to receive part of said beam, and (d) means mechanically coupled to said lever, for modulating the part of the beam received by one detector such that the energy received by the latter varies between a maximum and minimum value as the manually engageable lever is operated from one position, through a center position, and toward an opposite position with respect to the base, and for modulating the part of the beam received by the other detector such that the energy received by the latter remains constant at a value intermediate said maximum and minimum values, (e) the energy received by the one detector means being substantially equal to that received by the said other detector means only when the the manually engageable lever is disposed at its center position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
The invention as defined in claim 14, wherein: (a) said mechanical means comprises a sector pivotally carried on the base, and a mechanical linkage disposed between the lever and the sector, and adapted to rotate the sector, (b) said sector having two arcuate light-transmitting translucent portions, one of said portions having an area of graduated opacity along its length, and the other of said portions having an area of constant opacity along its length, (c) the opacity of the said other translucent portion being substantially identical to that of the first translucent portion at a point near its center.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as defined in claim 15, wherein: (a) said first and second detector means comprise light-sensitive receiving devices disposed respectively at one side of said one translucent portion and said other translucent portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The invention as defined in claim 16, wherein: (a) said source comprises a light-transmitting device disposed on the opposite sides of said translucent portions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
The invention as defined in claim 17, and further including: (a) a mirror, and a prism disposed in path of the beam from said source, said prism passing a portion of said beam to said mirror and said mirror reflecting it toward the other translucent portion, and the prism reflecting a part of said beam toward said one translucent portion.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as defined in claim 14, wherein: (a) said pivotal mounting means comprises a ball joint between said base and lever.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention as defined in claim 17, wherein: (a) said light-transmitting device comprises a light-emitting diode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention as defined in claim 16, wherein: (a) said light-sensitive receiving devices comprise phototransistors.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as defined in claim 14, and further including: (a) a fiber optic cable disposed between said source and said beam modulating means, whereby the source can be located remotely from the base.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as defined in claim 14, and further including: (a) a fiber optic cable disposed respectively between said first and second detector means, and said beam modulating means, whereby the said first and second detector means can be located remotely from the base.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention as defined in claim 15, wherein: (a) said translucent portions comprise sheets of plastic film having the desired opacity characteristics.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
156 words
A joystick control comprising, in combination: (a) a lever, (b) means mounting said lever for swivelling movement in the directions of x and y axes, (c) a single energy source providing a beam of radiant energy, (d) means dividing said beam into two parts, (e) means responsive to movement of said lever in a direction of one of said axes, for varying the intensity of one of said beam parts between lower and higher values, and (f) means responsive to movement of said lever in a direction of said one axis, for effecting from the other of said beam parts, a reduced-energy beam of predetermined constant value between said lower and higher values, (g) said intensity-varying means being adapted to produce, when said lever is disposed at a given predetermined angle with respect to the said one axis, a resultant beam of intermediate intensity having solely one fixed relationship to the intensity of said reduced-energy beam.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
156 words
A joystick control comprising, in combination: (a) a lever, (b) means mounting said lever for swivelling movement in the directions of x and y axes, (c) a single energy source providing a beam of radiant energy, (d) means dividing said beam into two parts, (e) means responsive to movement of said lever in a direction of one of said axes, for varying the intensity of one of said beam parts between lower and higher values, and (f) means responsive to movement of said lever in a direction of said one axis, for effecting from the other of said beam parts, a reduced-energy beam of predetermined constant value between said lower and higher values, (g) said intensity-varying means being adapted to produce, when said lever is disposed at a given predetermined angle with respect to the said one axis, a resultant beam of intermediate intensity having solely one fixed relationship to the intensity of said reduced-energy beam.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
198 words
An electromechanical control for producing an electrical output signal that varies as a function of the angular position of a manually engageable lever, comprising in combination: (a) a base and means pivotally mounting the lever on the base, (b) a source providing a beam of radiant energy, (c) a first and a second detector means, each being adapted to receive part of said beam, (d) means mechanically coupled to said lever, for modulating the part of the beam received by one detector such that the energy received by the latter varies between a maximum and minimum value as the manually engageable lever is operated from one position, through a center position, and toward an opposite position with respect to the base, and for modulating the part of the beam received by the other detector such that the energy received by the latter remains constant at a value intermediate said maximum and minimum values, (e) the energy received by the one detector means being substantially equal to that received by the said other detector means only when the the manually engageable lever is disposed at a given predetermined position intermediate the said one position and the said opposite position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
198 words
An electromechanical control for producing an electrical output signal that varies as a function of the angular position of a manually engageable lever, comprising in combination: (a) a base and means pivotally mounting the lever on the base, (b) a source providing a beam of radiant energy, (c) a first and a second detector means, each being adapted to receive part of said beam, (d) means mechanically coupled to said lever, for modulating the part of the beam received by one detector such that the energy received by the latter varies between a maximum and minimum value as the manually engageable lever is operated from one position, through a center position, and toward an opposite position with respect to the base, and for modulating the part of the beam received by the other detector such that the energy received by the latter remains constant at a value intermediate said maximum and minimum values, (e) the energy received by the one detector means being substantially equal to that received by the said other detector means only when the the manually engageable lever is disposed at a given predetermined position intermediate the said one position and the said opposite position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-03-15 | 1991-09-14 | 1992-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-15 | 1995-09-14 | 1996-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-15 | 1999-09-14 | 2000-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |