Joystick device

• US 20020178624A1
• Filed: 05/28/2002
• Published: 12/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kawasaki Precison Machinery
• Inventors: Muraoka, Hideyasu, Yamamoto, Ryo
• Granted Patent: US 6,892,481 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/348
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/06 Details of their grip parts G05G1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04755 Magnetic sensor, e.g. hall generator, pick-up coil
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04774 with additional switches or sensors on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04781 with additional rotation of the controlling member
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04788 comprising additional control elements
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04792 for rotary control around the axis of the controlling member

Abstract

A joystick device is provided including a larger number of proportional control actuators than the prior art thereby enjoying higher operability. Joystick device includes an operation lever having a grip portion provided on a surface thereof with a slide switch substantially T-shaped in section. The slide switch has a web portion connected to an upper surface of a shaft rotatably supported at a lower portion of the operation panel. A magnet is embedded in a lower surface of the shaft. When the operator slides the slide switch, the web portion of the slide switch pivots about the shaft, while the shaft rotates to displace the magnet in accordance with pivotal movement of the web portion. A magnetic sensor detects a variation in magnetic field intensity in accordance with displacement of the magnet, whereby a voltage proportional to the amount of movement of the slide switch is outputted.

Claims

1. A joystick device comprising an operation lever capable of being pivotally supported at a base end thereof, first operation means located at a tip portion of the operation lever and supported so as to be movable in a predetermined direction, and voltage outputting means for outputting a voltage proportional to the amount of movement of the first operation means.

2. The joystick device according to claim 1, wherein the voltage outputting means includes a magnet that is displaceable in accordance with movement of the first operation means, and a sensor for detecting a magnetic field intensity varying in accordance with displacement of the magnet, and is constructed to output a voltage proportional to a variation in magnetic field intensity detected by the sensor.

3. The joystick device according to claim 2, further comprising a rotating shaft connected to the first operation means and rotatably supported by the operation lever, wherein the magnet is mounted on the rotating shaft so as to be displaceable with rotation of the rotating shaft in accordance with movement of the first operation means.

4. The joystick device according to claim 1, further comprising biasing means for returning the first operation means to a home position.

5. The joystick device according to claim 1, further comprising a built-in amplifier for amplifying the voltage outputted by the voltage outputting means.

6. The joystick device according to claim 1, further comprising a built-in regulator for regulating the voltage outputted by the voltage outputting means.

7. A joystick device comprising an operation lever capable of being pivotally supported at a base end thereof, first operation means located at a tip portion of the operation lever and supported so as to be movable in a predetermined direction, and an operation panel removably mounted on the operation lever so as to position between the first operation means and the operation lever, the operation panel being rotatable together with the first operation means and fixable.

8. The joystick device according to claim 7, wherein:

the operation lever comprises a hollow body defining an opening portion shaped to allow the operation panel to be fitted therein; and

the operation panel is fixed when fitted in the opening portion.

9. The joystick device according to claim 8, wherein the operation lever has a fitting portion formed with recessed or projecting portions, while the operation panel has a fitting portion formed with projecting or recessed portions each of which is engageable with any one of the recessed or projecting portions of the operation lever, wherein when a combination of the recessed portions and the projecting portions in engagement is changed to another combination, the operation panel is rotated through a predetermined angle and fixed.

10. The joystick device according to claim 7, further comprising second operation means expandably and retractably supported on the operation lever, and a switch which is secured to the second operation means and is capable of being actuated for ON/OFF operations in response to expansion/retraction of the second operation means, the switch having an actuating portion positioned on an axis of rotation of the operation panel.

11. The joystick device according to claim 7, further comprising voltage outputting means for outputting a voltage proportional to the amount of movement of the first operation means.