US5225831A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Joystick and control circuit therefor
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1991-06-04
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Granted: 1993-07-06
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Expires: 2011-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A joystick and associated circuit including a joystick handle and angularly oriented opposed pairs of first and second switches positioned apart from each other on respective axes, the switches being selectively actuatable by movements of the handle, and a resistive path connected to each pair of opposed switches between an operating voltage source and an output terminal, each resistive path providing selected resistance to the respective output terminal which is representative of corresponding movements of the handle, each resistive path including resistive elements connected between the operating voltage source and the respective output terminal, activation of the switches causing the resistance of the respective resistive path to be altered to provide different resistive values to the output terminal. The invention also includes an adjustable centering apparatus and other switches and associated resistors connected into the circuit to establish different combinations of resistance and resistance values between the voltage source and the respective output terminal.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey S. Osborn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 00:10
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H25/00; H01H25/04; G; G05; G05G; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G05G2009/04703; G05G2009/04707; G05G2009/0474; G05G2009/04744; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20012; Y10T74/20201
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 words
A joystick for operating a computer and the circuitry associated therewith comprising: a joystick including an elongated operator member and a swivel mounting therefor about which the operator member is pivotal, and sets of opposed switches arranged at spaced locations about the operator member, each switch in each set having a switch operator member actuatable by predetermined movement of the elongated operator member, and each switch having a movable switch member movable by the switch operator member and spaced stationary terminals engagable by the movable switch member, each set of opposed switches includes at least four switches arranged in equal numbers of switches on opposite sides of the elongated operator member, the switch operators of the switches of each set being positioned such that they are actuated in succession as the elongated operator member is moved in the direction thereof, such that more of the switches of a set are actuated the further the elongated operator member is moved in the direction thereof, the circuit including a similar resistor network connected to each set of opposed switches, each network having a plurality of resistor elements connected in series with a potentiometer between a voltage source and an output terminal, selected ones of the resistor elements of the plurality of resistor elements being capable of being switched into or out of the circuit by actuation of selected ones of the switches in the respective set whereby, actuation of different combinations of the switches of each opposed set of switches establishing a different predetermined combination of the plurality of resistors in series with the corresponding potentiometer between the voltage source and the corresponding output terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
273 words
A joystick for operating a computer and the circuitry associated therewith comprising: a joystick including an elongated operator member and a swivel mounting therefor about which the operator member is pivotal, and sets of opposed switches arranged at spaced locations about the operator member, each switch in each set having a switch operator member actuatable by predetermined movement of the elongated operator member, and each switch having a movable switch member movable by the switch operator member and spaced stationary terminals engagable by the movable switch member, each set of opposed switches includes at least four switches arranged in equal numbers of switches on opposite sides of the elongated operator member, the switch operators of the switches of each set being positioned such that they are actuated in succession as the elongated operator member is moved in the direction thereof, such that more of the switches of a set are actuated the further the elongated operator member is moved in the direction thereof, the circuit including a similar resistor network connected to each set of opposed switches, each network having a plurality of resistor elements connected in series with a potentiometer between a voltage source and an output terminal, selected ones of the resistor elements of the plurality of resistor elements being capable of being switched into or out of the circuit by actuation of selected ones of the switches in the respective set whereby, actuation of different combinations of the switches of each opposed set of switches establishing a different predetermined combination of the plurality of resistors in series with the corresponding potentiometer between the voltage source and the corresponding output terminal.
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) | 1996-07-05 | 1997-01-04 | 1997-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-05 | 2001-01-04 | 2001-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-05 | 2005-01-04 | 2005-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |