Input devices for control of airborne camera systems

• US 20060016966A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 01/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc. (Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hughes, Michael R., Sommer, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,253,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/006 Apparatus mounted on flying objects
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

An sensor/emitter system includes a sensor/emitter payload capable of generating image signals in response to radiation falling thereon and of emitting a radiation beam includes a manually controllable input device. In a first embodiment, a hand held control unit (HCU) comprises an enclosure for housing input control actuators, and a handle extending from the enclosure. The enclosure includes a control panel surface having one or more control actuators protruding therefrom for actuation by a thumb of an operator while the operator grips the handle and a longitudinal axis of the handle makes an angle of between 180 to 135 degrees with respect to the control panel surface. In addition, the handle is contoured with an ovoid shape and over coated with a foam material to provide a more comfortable grip over extended use. In a second embodiment, a lap top control unit (LCU) is reconfigurable by an operator to swap control elements from a left side to a right side to accommodate both left and right-handed users.

Claims

1. An sensor system comprising:

a sensor payload capable of generating image signals in response to radiation falling thereon, said sensor payload having a field of view from which radiation is received and a pointing direction substantially centered within the field of view, said payload being rotatable about at least one rotation axis for directing said pointing direction onto a radiation scene;

an ECU in communication with the sensor payload comprising one or more systems for controlling the sensor, for directing the pointing direction and for receiving the image signals from the sensor;

a hand held control unit (HCU) in communication with the ECU for use by an operator to input control commands to the ECU, said HCU comprising an enclosure for housing input control actuators, and a handle extending from the enclosure; and

,

wherein the enclosure includes a control panel surface having one or more control actuators protruding therefrom for actuation by a thumb of an operator while the operator grips the handle and wherein said handle has a longitudinal axis and wherein an angle formed between said control panel surface and said handle longitudinal axis is between 180 to 150 degrees.

2. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein said angle is between 175 and 135 degrees.

3. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein said angle is 161 degrees.

4. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein said handle is formed with a contoured cross-section for fitting comfortably in the palm of the hand and wherein said contoured cross-section comprises a narrow cross-section and an opposed broad cross-section and wherein said handle attaches to the enclosure with said narrow cross-section facing away from the control panel surface.

5. The sensor system of claim 4 wherein said contoured cross-section comprises and ovoid cross-section.

6. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein said control panel surface includes at least one input control actuator located within reach of the thumb of an operator loosely gripping the handle in either the left or the right hand.

7. The sensor system of claim 6 wherein said handle includes at least one input control actuator attached thereto a surface opposed to said control panel surface for actuation by one or more of the fingers of an operator loosely gripping the handle in either the left or the right hand.

8. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein said payload further includes a radiation emitter for emitting a radiation beam substantially coincident with said pointing direction.

9. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein each of said ECU and said HCU includes a transmitter and a receiver configured for transmitting and receiving command signals between the ECU and the HCU by a wireless communication interface.

10. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein said handle comprises a hollow thin walled inner tube and a compliant foam cover installed over said hollow inner tube to prevent slipping of the handle in the hand of the operator.

11. The sensor system of claim 1 wherein said enclosure has a weight distribution and said handle has a weight distribution and wherein the weight distributions of said enclosure and said handle are distributed to substantially balance about an operator gripping location on the handle.

12. The sensor system of claim 1 further comprising a display device in communication with the ECU for displaying an image based on radiation falling thereon.

13. An sensor system comprising:

a sensor payload capable of generating image signals in response to radiation falling thereon, said sensor payload having a field of view from which radiation is received and a pointing direction substantially centered within the field of view, said payload being rotatable about at least one rotation axis for directing said pointing direction onto a radiation scene;

an ECU in communication with the sensor payload comprising one or more systems for controlling the sensor, for controlling the pointing direction and for receiving the image signals from the sensor;

a hand held control unit (HCU) in communication with the ECU for use by an operator to input control commands to the ECU, said HCU comprising an enclosure for housing input control actuators, and a handle extending from the enclosure; and

,

wherein the enclosure includes a control panel surface having one or more control actuators protruding therefrom for actuation by a thumb of an operator while the operator grips the handle and wherein said handle is formed with a contoured cross-section for fitting comfortably in the palm of the hand and wherein said contoured cross-section comprises a narrow cross-section and an opposed broad cross-section and wherein said handle is attached to the enclosure with the narrow cross-section facing away from the control panel surface.

14. The sensor system of claim 13 wherein said contoured cross-section comprises an ovoid cross-section.

15. The sensor system of claim 13 wherein said handle includes a longitudinal axis and wherein the handle is attached to said enclosure with an angle formed between said control panel surface and said handle longitudinal axis is between 180 to 150 degrees.

16. The sensor system of claim 15 wherein said angle is between 175 and 135 degrees.

17. The sensor system of claim 15 wherein said angle is 161 degrees.

18. The sensor system of claim 13 wherein said control panel surface includes at least one input control actuator located within reach of the thumb of an operator loosely gripping the handle in either the left or the right hand.

19. The sensor system of claim 16 wherein said handle includes at least one input control actuator attached to said handle on a surface opposed to said control panel surface for actuation by one or more of the fingers of an operator loosely gripping the handle in either the left or the right hand.

20. The sensor system of claim 13 wherein said payload further includes a radiation emitter for emitting a radiation beam substantially coincident with said pointing direction.

21. The sensor system of claim 13 wherein each of said ECU and said HCU includes a transmitter and a receiver configured for transmitting and receiving command signals between the ECU and the HCU by a wireless communication interface.

22. The sensor system of claim 13 wherein said handle comprises a hollow thin walled inner tube and a compliant foam cover installed over said hollow inner tube to prevent slipping of the handle in the hand of the operator.

23. The sensor of claim 13 wherein said enclosure has a weight distribution and said handle has a weight distribution and wherein the weight distributions of said enclosure and said handle are distributed to substantially balance about an operator gripping location on the handle.

24. The sensor system of claim 13 further comprising a display device in communication with the ECU for displaying an image based on radiation falling thereon.

25. An sensor system comprising:

a sensor payload capable of generating image signals in response to radiation falling thereon, said sensor payload having a field of view from which radiation is received and a pointing direction substantially centered within the field of view, said payload being rotatable about at least one rotation axis for directing said pointing direction onto a radiation scene;

an ECU in communication with the sensor payload comprising one or more systems for controlling the sensor, for controlling the pointing direction and for receiving the image signals from the sensor;

a lap top control unit (LCU) in communication with the ECU for use by an operator to input control commands to the ECU, said LCU comprising a base unit for housing a first movable control module located in a convenient position for operation by a right hand of an operator, and a second movable control module located in a convenient position for operation by a left hand of the operator, and wherein the LCU is reconfigurable by the operator to exchange the position of the first movable control module with the position of the second movable control module.

26. The sensor system of claim 25 wherein the base unit comprises:

a left receiving port configured to receive either one of said first movable controller and said second movable controller therein; and

,

a right receiving port configured to receive either one of said first movable controller and said second movable controller therein.

27. The sensor system of claim 26 wherein the said base unit further comprises a third controller fixedly attached to said base unit in a center position between said left receiving port and said right receiving port.

28. The sensor system of claim 26 wherein at least one of said a first movable control module and said second movable control modules includes a two-axis joystick actuator.

29. The sensor system of claim 28 wherein at least one of said first movable control module and said second movable control module includes two control actuators for performing the same control function, and wherein the at least one movable control module is configured to activate one of said two control actuators when the at least one movable control module is installed in said left receiving port, and wherein the at least one movable control module is configured to activate the other of said two control actuators when the at least one movable control module is installed in said right receiving port.

30. The sensor system of claim 25 wherein the payload is rotatable about two axes for changing the point direction in azimuth and in elevation and further wherein the payload is configured with an adjustable field of view, further comprising:

a two-axis joystick actuator for directing said pointing direction in azimuth and elevation installed in said first movable control module; and

,

a joystick actuator for changing the adjustable field of view installed in said second movable control module.

31. The sensor system of claim 26 wherein each of said first and said second movable controllers comprises:

a top plate for forming a control panel surface on a top side thereof;

a sealed enclosure attached to a bottom side of the top plate for housing control elements therein;

a mounting flange attached to the top plate for attaching the top plate to the base unit; and

,

a plurality of latching elements associated with the flange for latching the flange to the base unit.

32. The sensor system of claim 26 further comprising an electrical interface element installed within the base unit for communicating with each of said first movable module, said second movable module, and said ECU.

33. The sensor system of claim 32 further comprising:

a first multi-port electrical connector installed within said left receiving port and in communication with said electrical interface element;

a second multi-port electrical connector installed within said right receiving port and in communication with said electrical interface element; and

,

wherein each of said first and said second multi-port connectors includes a first set of ports for interfacing with said first movable module and second set of ports for interfacing with said second movable module.

34. The sensor system of claim 32 wherein each of said ECU and said electrical interface element includes a transmitter and a receiver configured for transmitting and receiving command signals between the ECU and the electrical interface by a wireless communication interface.

35. The sensor system of claim 25 wherein said payload further includes a radiation emitter for emitting a radiation beam substantially coincident with said pointing direction.

36. The sensor system of claim 25 further comprising a display device in communication with the ECU for displaying an image based on radiation falling thereon.