Hand-held controller device
First Claim
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1. A controller device comprising:
- an outer housing having an opening therein;
an elongated generally cylindrical member having a bore extending longitudinally therein from one end thereof and having pivot means pivotally securing the other end thereof to said housing, said member being disposed within said housing with said one end disposed proximate said opening;
first resilient means for normally biasing said cylindrical member into a rest position but permitting said one end to be moved laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member;
first switching means disposed around said cylindrical member so as to be actuated by said lateral movement of said one end and including at least four lateral contact members carried by said cylindrical member, and fixed contact means carried by said housing, whereby said lateral movement of said one end of said cylindrical member in any direction causes at least one of said lateral contact members to engage said fixed contact means;
plunger means including an elongated rod having a first end disposed within said bore and a second end extending out of said housing through said opening;
second resilient means for normally biasing said plunger means into a predetermined position relative to said cylindrical member but permitting said plunger means to be both rotated about its longitudinal axis and translated therealong;
second switching means affixed to said cylindrical member and actuated by translational axial movement of said plunger means; and
third switching means affixed to said cylindrical member and actuated by rotational motion of said plunger means, whereby lateral, translational or rotational forces applied to said second end of said plunger means cause said first, second and third switching means to develop corresponding signals.
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Abstract
A hand-held controller device including a two-piece outer housing shaped to be held in one hand of the user, an internal cylinder pivoted at one end and adapted to telescopically receive an elogated plunger from the other end, the plunger having a contact pin attached to the received end and a hand grip knob affixed to its other end. A first plurality of switch contacts are carried by the cylinder so as to engage a stationary contact in response to the pivotal positioning of the cylinder, and a second plurality of contact elements are also carried by the cylinder and engaged by the contact pin in response to the longitudinal positioning and the rotational positioning of the plunger.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. A controller device comprising:
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an outer housing having an opening therein; an elongated generally cylindrical member having a bore extending longitudinally therein from one end thereof and having pivot means pivotally securing the other end thereof to said housing, said member being disposed within said housing with said one end disposed proximate said opening; first resilient means for normally biasing said cylindrical member into a rest position but permitting said one end to be moved laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member; first switching means disposed around said cylindrical member so as to be actuated by said lateral movement of said one end and including at least four lateral contact members carried by said cylindrical member, and fixed contact means carried by said housing, whereby said lateral movement of said one end of said cylindrical member in any direction causes at least one of said lateral contact members to engage said fixed contact means; plunger means including an elongated rod having a first end disposed within said bore and a second end extending out of said housing through said opening; second resilient means for normally biasing said plunger means into a predetermined position relative to said cylindrical member but permitting said plunger means to be both rotated about its longitudinal axis and translated therealong; second switching means affixed to said cylindrical member and actuated by translational axial movement of said plunger means; and third switching means affixed to said cylindrical member and actuated by rotational motion of said plunger means, whereby lateral, translational or rotational forces applied to said second end of said plunger means cause said first, second and third switching means to develop corresponding signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A hand-held controller device comprising:
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an outer housing having an opening therein; an elongated generally cylindrical member having a bore extending longitudinally therein from one end thereof and having pivot means pivotally securing the other end thereof to said housing, said member being disposed within said housing with said one end disposed proximate said opening; first resilient means for normally biasing said cylindrical member into a rest position but permitting said one end to be moved laterally relative to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member; first switching means disposed around said cylindrical member so as to be actuated by said lateral movement of said one end and including plunger means including an elongated rod having a first end disposed within said bore and a second end extending out of said housing through said opening; second resilient means for normally biasing said plunger means into a predetermined position relative to said cylindrical member but permitting said plunger means to be both rotated about its longitudinal axis and translated therealong; second switching means affixed to said cylindrical member and actuated by translational axial movement of said plunger means; third switching means affixed to said cylindrical member and actuated by rotational motion of said plunger means, whereby lateral, translational or rotational forces applied to said second end of said plunger means causes said first, second and third switching means to develop corresponding signals; said cylindrical member has a first pair of spaced apart openings extending transversely therethrough, said plunger means has a second pair of spaced apart openings extending transversely therethrough, and wherein said second resilient means includes a coil spring and a first key attached to one end of said coil spring and disposed within one of said first openings and the corresponding one of said second openings, and a second key attached to the other end of said coil spring and disposed within the other of said first openings and the corresponding one of said second openings, said first and second openings and said first and second keys being dimensioned so as to permit said plunger means to be axially translated and rotated sufficient to actuate said second and third switching means respectively.
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Specification