CONTROL SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED CONTROL METHODS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A signal-producing mechanism, comprising:
- a first conductor;
a second conductor having a varying, predetermined spacing from the first conductor;
a third conductor having a plurality of interconnecting positions between the first conductor and the second conductor; and
a predetermined one of a plurality of output signals producible when the third conductor connects the first conductor and the second conductor in each of the plurality of interconnecting positions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems, devices and methods for controlling a desired output of an output device. These systems, devices and methods include connecting an electrical resistance element having a selected one of a plurality of resistance values with an electrical circuit portion having a plurality of electrical components, determining an electrical characteristic associated with the connected electrical circuit portion and the variable resistance element, and generating a control signal based on the electrical characteristic to control the desired output of the output device.
-
Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A signal-producing mechanism, comprising:
-
a first conductor; a second conductor having a varying, predetermined spacing from the first conductor; a third conductor having a plurality of interconnecting positions between the first conductor and the second conductor; and a predetermined one of a plurality of output signals producible when the third conductor connects the first conductor and the second conductor in each of the plurality of interconnecting positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A signal-producing mechanism, comprising:
-
a first circuit portion having a first resistance; a second circuit portion having a second resistance; a third circuit portion having a third resistance; wherein at least one of the first circuit portion, the second circuit portion and the third circuit portion is positionable in one of a plurality of interconnecting positions with respect to the other two circuit portions; wherein at least one of the first resistance, the second resistance and the third resistance comprises a variable resistance that varies in association with each one of the plurality of interconnecting positions; and a plurality of selectable output signals each corresponding to one of the plurality of interconnecting positions.
-
-
14. A directional control, comprising:
-
a body movable into at least one of a plurality of positions corresponding to one of a plurality of selectable directions; an electrical circuit operable to produce a plurality of outputs signals each corresponding to one of the plurality of selectable directions; and a conductor movable by the body into contact with the electrical circuit, the conductor having a plurality of resistance values each corresponding to one of the plurality of selectable directions. - View Dependent Claims (15)
-
-
16. A control system, comprising:
-
a member movable about a center point to select a directional output having an x-axis component and a y-axis component; a directional control comprising; a first conductive member having a circular shape; a second conductive member having a circular shape and positionable non-concentrically within the first conductive member; a first conductive portion positionable in a first plurality of positions to connect the first conductive member and the second conductive member, wherein each of the first plurality of positions corresponds to a first signal representative of the x-axis component of the directional output; a third conductive member having a circular shape and positionable concentrically within the first conductive member; a fourth conductive member having a circular shape and positionable non-concentrically within the third conductive member; and a second conductive portion positionable in a second plurality of positions to connect the third conductive member and the fourth conductive member, wherein each of the second plurality of positions corresponds to a second signal representative of the y-axis component of the directional output. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method of controlling a desired output of an output device, comprising:
-
connecting an electrical resistance element having a selected one of a plurality of resistance values with an electrical circuit portion having a plurality of electrical components; determining an electrical characteristic associated with the connected electrical circuit portion and the variable resistance element; and generating a control signal based on the electrical characteristic to control the desired output of the output device.
-
-
24. A method of generating a directional control signal, comprising:
-
applying a voltage across a first conductive member and a second conductive member that have a spacing between one another that varies in each of a plurality of directions; connecting a first conductive portion between the first conductive member and the second conductive member in a selected one of a plurality of directions, where the resistance characteristic of the first conductive portion varies with a size of the variable spacing; measuring an electrical characteristic associated with a circuit formed by the first conductive member and the second conductive member connected by the first conductive portion; and generating a directional control signal corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of directions.
-
-
25. A control system, comprising:
-
means for connecting an electrical resistance element having a selected one of a plurality of resistance values with an electrical circuit portion having a plurality of electrical components; means for determining an electrical characteristic associated with the connected electrical circuit portion and the variable resistance element; and means for generating a control signal based on the electrical characteristic to control the desired output of an output device.
-
-
26. A control system, comprising:
-
means for applying a voltage across a first conductive member and a second conductive member that have a spacing between one another that varies in each of a plurality of directions; means for connecting a first conductive portion between the first conductive member and the second conductive member in a selected one of a plurality of directions, where the resistance characteristic of the first conductive portion varies with a size of the variable spacing; means for measuring an electrical characteristic associated with a circuit formed by the first conductive member and the second conductive member connected by the first conductive portion; and means for generating a directional control signal corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of directions.
-
Specification