Three axis joystick control

• US 4,046,005 A
• Filed: 06/14/1976
• Issued: 09/06/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Measurement Systems, Inc. (Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC)
• Original Assignee: Measurement Systems, Inc. (Ultra Electronics Holdings PLC)
• Inventors: Goroski, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gill, James J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ciarlante, Anthony V.
• Application Number:
  US05/695,738
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 73/88.5 R, 73/88.5 SD, 73/141 A, 73/89, 73/133, 338/5, 244/83 E
• US Class Current: 73/862.05
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/1627 of strain gauges using piezoresistors G01L5/162
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/223 to joystick controls

Abstract

A device for generating isometric control signals in three axes is formed of a shaft having opposed pairs of strain gauges mounted thereon at angles to the shaft axis. One end of the shaft is fixed and the opposite free end is operable by the fingers. Electrical circuitry for combining the signals to produce useful outputs is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A force operated, or "stiff-stick" control device which comprises:

an elongated control rod;

two pairs of elongated strain gauges mounted on the surface of said control rod, the longitudinal axis of each of said strain gauges being disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of said control rod, the gauges of each pair being on diametrically opposite sides of said rod, the diameters passing through the pairs being perpendicular to one another, and the angles of slope of the gauges of each pair being in the same direction; and

means for connecting each of said strain gauges to electric circuit means to provide signals in response to both lateral and torsional flexing of said rod.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the slopes of the gauges of one pair are opposite the slopes of the gauges of the other pair.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the angles of slope of the gauges are equal.

4. A force operated, or "stiff-stick" control device which comprises:

an elongated control rod;

two pairs of elongated strain gauges mounted on the surface of said control rod, the longitudinal axis of each of said strain gauges being disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said control rod, the gauges of each pair being on diametrically opposite sides of said rod, the diameters passing through the pairs being perpendicular to one another;

first means responsive to the outputs of the gauges of one pair to produce a first output signal;

second means responsive to the outputs of the gauges of the other pair to produce a second output signal;

third means responsive to the outputs of a first gauge of each of said pairs to produce a third signal;

fourth means responsive to the outputs of the second gauge of each of said pairs to produce a fourth signal; and

fifth means responsive to the sum of said third and fourth signals to produce a fifth, output, signal.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein each of said first through fourth means comprises a differential amplifier.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the angles of slope of the gauges of each pair are in the same direction.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the slopes of the gauges of one pair are opposite the slopes of the gauges of the other pair.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the angles of slope of the gauges are equal.