Device for generating control signals that can be evaluated electrically

• US 20080311993A1
• Filed: 06/12/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RAFI GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: RAFI GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Klein, Alfred, Beutler, Detlef
• Application Number:
  US12/157,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20080311993A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/38
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/06 Details of their grip parts G05G1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04774 with additional switches or sensors on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/005 for preventing unintentional use of a control mechanism G05G5/28 takes precedence

Abstract

In a device (1) for generating control signals that can be evaluated electrically, which are generated by the manual actuation of a joystick (4) inserted in a housing (3) of the device (1) and which can be deflected in various movement directions, it is intended to ensure that exclusively intended control movements of the joystick are transferred without imposing any physical strain on the user when the user operates the joystick. Furthermore, the operating safety of the device or the electrical circuit should be capable of being checked and guaranteed throughout the entire service life. This task is accomplished in that one or more sensor switches (11) are integrated in the outer jacket surface of the joystick (4), each of these can trigger a check signal (13) and the device (1) can be activated by the check signal (13) or check signals (13).

Claims

1. A device (1) for generating control signals that can be evaluated electrically and can be generated by manual actuation of a joystick (4, 4′

, 4″

) mounted in a housing (3) of the device (1), and which can be deflected in various movement directions, wherein at least one sensor switch (11) is integrated in the outer surface of the joystick (4, 4′

, 4″

), by means of which a check signal (13) can be triggered when the joystick (4, 4′

, 4″

) is gripped, and wherein the check signal (13) allows the device (1) to be activated.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one evaluation unit (12) is electrically connected to the sensor switch (11) and the evaluation unit (12) allows the device (1) to be activated in accordance with the check signals (13) generated by the sensor switch (11).

3. The device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the evaluation unit (12) is connected to at least one of a circuit board (5) and a microprocessor (6), and the evaluation unit (12) enables the circuit board (5) and/or the microprocessor (6) to be controlled in such a way that the circuit board (5) and/or the microprocessor (6) are enabled when a check signal (13) is present.

4. The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensor switches (11) is configured as a selected one of a capacitive metal plate and a light-permeable plate with light-emitting diodes and light wave detectors.

5. The device in accordance with claim 2, wherein a measuring signal (14) can be generated by the evaluation unit (12), and each measuring signal (14) is transferable to the circuit board (5) and/or the microprocessor (6) for checking the function of the evaluation unit (12).

6. An electrical circuit (2) for creating electrical control signals generated by manual actuation of a joystick (4, 4′

, 4″

) mounted in a housing (3) of a device (1) and can be deflected in various movement directions, wherein at least one sensor switches (11) is assigned to the joystick (4, 4′

, 4″

), and is adapted to generate a check signal (13) when the joystick (4, 4′

, 4″

) is gripped, and the check signal (13) is transferred to an evaluation unit (12) installed in the joystick (4, 4′

, 4″

) and the device (1) is adapted to be activated by the evaluation unit (12).