JOYSTICK AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

• US 20090212766A1
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Danfoss Power Solutions Inc. (Danfoss A/S)
• Original Assignee: Sauer-Danfoss Incorporated (Danfoss A/S)
• Inventors: Olson, Jesse W., Krueger, Joseph K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,122,783 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.200
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04707 with ball joint
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04755 Magnetic sensor, e.g. hall generator, pick-up coil
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 25/04 Sealing against entry of dust, weather or the like in selector apparatus for gearings, F16H59/0213
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/05 Means for returning or tending to return controlling members to an inoperative or neutral position, e.g. by providing return springs or resilient end-stops G05G5/28 takes precedence
• 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: Y10T 74/20171 Resiliently biased control lever
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

A joystick having a movable member that includes a shaft portion and a spherical portion wherein the shaft portion has a diameter less than the spherical portion. An actuating member is secured to the shaft portion of the movable member to provide actuation of the movable member. A magnet is disposed within the spherical portion of the movable member and positioned adjacent a three axis sensor such that the magnet moves in a hemispherical pattern along the three axis sensor to operate a device.

Claims

1. A joystick comprising:

a movable member extending from a shaft portion at a first end to a spherical portion terminating at a second end wherein the diameter of the shaft portion is less than the diameter of the spherical portion;

an actuating member secured to the shaft portion of the movable member;

a magnet disposed within and extending from the second end of the spherical portion of the movable member; and

a three axis sensor disposed underneath and adjacent the second end of the spherical portion of the movable member such that movement of the actuating member positions the magnet in a hemispherical pattern along the three axis sensor to operate a device.

2. The joystick of claim 1 wherein the movable member is of one piece construction.

3. The joystick of claim 1 wherein the movable member and actuating member are made of a transparent material.

4. The joystick of claim 3 wherein the transparent material is plastic.

5. The joystick of claim 3 wherein a light emitting diode is detected by a user through the transparent material of the movable member and actuating member.

6. The joystick of claim 1 wherein the movable member is formed of a transparent plastic material using an injection molding process wherein the magnet is over molded

7. The joystick of claim 1 wherein the shaft portion of the movable member has a central axis and the magnet is positioned axially along the central axis.

8. The joystick of claim 7 wherein the spherical portion of the movable member has a center point and the magnet is not located on the center point.

9. The joystick of claim 1 further comprising a housing surrounding the movable member and having an annular flange at a first end and extending to a second end that surrounds the three axis sensor.

10. The joystick of claim 9 wherein a conical compression spring is secured between the first end of the housing and around the shaft portion of the movable member to create a biasing force on the movable member to bias the movable member to a neutral position wherein no net force exists on the movable member.

11. The joystick of claim 9 wherein a seal is disposed around the housing and connects the housing to the actuating member.

12. The joystick of claim 1 wherein the magnet is a cylindrical magnet.

13. A method of manufacturing a joystick steps comprising:

injection molding plastic to form a movable member having a shaft portion at a first end that extends into and terminates in a spherical portion and wherein the shaft portion has a diameter less than a diameter of the spherical portion;

over molding a magnet in the spherical portion during the injection molding of the movable member;

securing an actuating member to the first end of the movable member; and

placing a three axis sensor underneath and adjacent the second end of the movable member such that movement of the actuating member positions the magnet in a hemispherical pattern along the three axis sensor.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the moveable member is of one piece construction.

16. The joystick of claim 13 wherein the plastic is transparent.

15. (canceled)