Hand-held controller device

• US 4,085,301 A
• Filed: 09/16/1976
• Issued: 04/18/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Ronald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, James R.
• Application Number:
  US05/724,044
• Time in Patent Office: 579 Days
• Field of Search: 200/4, 200/6 A, 200/18, 200/157
• US Class Current: 200/4
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04722 elastic, e.g. flexible shaft
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04744 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04781 with additional rotation of the controlling member
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/00 Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0214 Hand-held casings

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.

Claims

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.

2. A controller device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first resilient means includes a plurality of leaf spring elements each having one end affixed to said cylindrical member and an opposite end bearing against said fixed contact means.

3. A controller device as recited in claim 1 wherein said second switching means includes a rotatable contact member carried by said plunger means and a first pair of contact members carried by said cylindrical member and disposed one on each side of said rotatable contact member so that rotation of said plunger causes said rotatable member to engage one of said first pair of contact members.

4. A controller device as recited in claim 3 wherein said third switching means includes another contact member carried by said plunger means and a second pair of contact members carried by said cylindrical member and disposed one above and one below said other contact member so that longitudinal translation of said plunger means causes said other contact member to engage one of said second pair of contact members.

5. A controller device as recited in claim 4 wherein said rotatable contact member and said other contact member are comprised of opposite ends of a conductive pin extending through said first end of said plunger means.

6. A controller device as recited in claim 5 and further comprising a conductive coil spring disposed within said bore and about said first end of said plunger means, said coil spring having one end serving as an electrical terminal and the other end engaging said pin thereby providing an electrically conductive coupling to said pin.

7. A hand-held 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

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.