Joystick controller

• US 4,509,383 A
• Filed: 12/01/1982
• Issued: 04/09/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Championship Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Championship Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Yeh, Gregory Y. S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Andrews, Stephen B.
• Application Number:
  US06/446,066
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 74/471 XY, 200/6 A, 338/128, 273/148 B, 242/96, 191/12.2 R
• US Class Current: 74/471.0XY
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04774 with additional switches or sensors on the handle
• 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: G05G 9/04785 the controlling member being the operating part of a switch arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

An improved joystick controller is disclosed in which the controller has a handle which is pivotally mounted in a base. An electrical cord carries the signal generated by the joystick controller from the base. The improvement comprises a ring and a spacer for positioning the ring spaced apart from the base. An outer housing encloses the base, the spacer and the ring with the housing having a substantially planar surface. The substantially planar surface has a radius of curvature which is greater than the outer ring of the ring. A cylindrically shaped member is mounted near the center of the planar surface. The member has a radius of curvature less than the inner radius of the ring and is positioned such that the ring passes through the member and rests on the surface. Thus, the rotation of the handle about its pivotal axis causes the cord to be wound or unwound about the spacer in the housing.

Claims

1. In a joystick controller of the type having a handle pivotally mounted in a base for selective movement about a pivotal axis from a nominal rest position for selectively generating switch closures;

a cord from said base for carrying electrical signals from said switch closures, wherein the improvement comprising;

a ring having an inner radius and an outer radius

a spacer for positioning said ring spaced apart from said base;

one end of said spacer attached to said ring, the other end of said spacer attached to said base; and

a housing for enclosing said base, said spacer, and said ring;

said housing having a substantially planar surface with a radius of curvature greater than the outer radius of said ring;

a substantially cylindrically shaped member having a radius of curvature less than said inner radius being positioned near the center of said surface;

said housing with said member being engaged with said ring disposed over said member and resting against said surface;

whereby the rotation of said handle about said pivotal axis winds and unwinds said cord from said controller.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein said spacer is substantially cylindrically shaped.

3. The joystick controller of claim 2, wherein said spacer further comprises a support rod centrally located along the axis of said cylindrically shaped spacer and said cylindrically shaped member having an aperture therein for receiving said support rod.

4. The controller of claim 1 further comprising switch means in said handle at an end other than the end mounted in said base;

said switch means electrically connected to said cord.