Potentiometer joystick

• US 4,107,642 A
• Filed: 02/14/1977
• Issued: 08/15/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atari Incorporated (Infogrames Entertainment SA)
• Original Assignee: Atari Incorporated (Infogrames Entertainment SA)
• Inventors: Crummett, James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Albritton, C. L.
• Application Number:
  US05/768,280
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 338/128, 338/44, 338/54, 338/27, 338/151, 338/156, 338/38, 338/80, 338/222, 74/471 XY, 200/61.47, 200/61.52, 200/81.9 HG
• US Class Current: 338/128
• 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: H01C 1/125 of fluid contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/32 the contact moving in an arcuate path

Abstract

A joystick comprising a control handle within which is located an inclination sensitive potentiometer. The potentiometer includes an elongate resistance element and an electrically conductive liquid wiper. Movement of the potentiometer causes the wiper to flow along the resistance element and to vary the output resistance of the potentiometer.

Claims

1. An inclination sensitive type joystick, comprising:

(a) a handle controllable by an operator of the joystick, said handle having a convex tilting surface for engaging substantially horizontal surfaces during operation;

(b) a first inclination sensitive potentiometer mounted within said handle and having an electrically conductive fluid wiper, an elongate resistance element in wiping relation to the wiper, said fluid and resistance element being located within the potentiometer, and electrical leads operatively connected to the fluid and the resistance element to form a potentiometer circuit;

(c) a second inclination sensitive potentiometer mounted within said handle and having an electrically conductive fluid wiper, an elongate resistance element in wiping relation to the wiper, said fluid and resistance element being located within the potentiometer, and electrical leads operatively connected to the fluid and the resistance element to form a potentiometer circuit; and

(d) means for attaching said first and second potentiometers to said handle so that displacement of the handle is resolved into corresponding output resistance values.