Transducer for converting three dimensional mechanical input displacements into a corresponding electrical output signal
First Claim
1. Apparatus for converting mechanical input displacements into an electrical output signal representative of said displacements comprising:
- a. a flexible web including a first deflection zone extending between first and second spaced apart points on said web and a second deflection zone extending between third and fourth spaced apart points on said web, said first and second deflection zones intersecting to divide each of said zones into first and second sections;
b. a first fixed yoke coupled to the first and second points on said web;
c. a second floating yoke coupled to the third and fourth points on said web;
d. web deflection means coupled to said second yoke for transmitting the mechanical input displacements to said web;
e. sensor means coupled to the first and second deflection zones of said web for generating the electrical output signal representative of the mechanical input displacements, wherein said sensor means includesi. first means coupled to said first deflection zone for generating an electrical output signal representative of the displacement of the section of said web lying within said first deflection zone; and
ii. second means coupled to said second deflection zone for generating an electrical output signal representative of the displacement of the section of said web lying within said second deflection zone.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention can be used either as a joystick controller having three dimensions of control or as a three dimensional pressure sensor for signature verification or other purposes. The invention comprises a flexible web including a first deflection zone which extends between first and second spaced apart points on the web. A second deflection zone extends between third and fourth spaced apart points on the web. The first and second deflection zones intersect to divide each of the zones into first and second sections. A first fixed yoke includes first and second arms which are coupled to the first and second points on the web. A second floating yoke includes first and second arms which are coupled to the third and fourth points on the web. A web deflection device is coupled to the second yoke to transmit the mechanical input deflections to the web. Sensor means is coupled to the first and second deflection zones of the web for generating an electrical output signal representative of the mechanical input displacements.
44 Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for converting mechanical input displacements into an electrical output signal representative of said displacements comprising:
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a. a flexible web including a first deflection zone extending between first and second spaced apart points on said web and a second deflection zone extending between third and fourth spaced apart points on said web, said first and second deflection zones intersecting to divide each of said zones into first and second sections; b. a first fixed yoke coupled to the first and second points on said web; c. a second floating yoke coupled to the third and fourth points on said web; d. web deflection means coupled to said second yoke for transmitting the mechanical input displacements to said web; e. sensor means coupled to the first and second deflection zones of said web for generating the electrical output signal representative of the mechanical input displacements, wherein said sensor means includes i. first means coupled to said first deflection zone for generating an electrical output signal representative of the displacement of the section of said web lying within said first deflection zone; and ii. second means coupled to said second deflection zone for generating an electrical output signal representative of the displacement of the section of said web lying within said second deflection zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for converting mechanical input displacements into an electrical output signal representative of said displacements comprising:
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a. a base for supporting said apparatus; b. a cross-shaped flexible web including first and second arms intersecting at a ninety degree angle, the intersection of said first and second arms dividing each of said arms into first and second sections; c. a first fixed yoke including first and second arms coupled to the first and second sections of said first web arm; d. a second floating yoke including first and second arms coupled to the first and second sections of the second arm of said web; e. web deflection means coupled to said second yoke for transmitting the mechanical input deflections to said web; f. first means coupled to the first and second sections of the first arm of said web for generating an electrical output signal representative of the displacement of the first and second sections of said first arm; g. second means coupled to said second arm of said web for generating an electrical output signal representative of the displacements of the first and second sections of said second arm; and h. means for combining the electrical output signals produced by said first and second generating means to produce electrical output signals corresponding to the X, Y and Z components of the mechanical input displacements. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus for converting three dimensional mechanical input displacements into an electrical output signal representative of the x, y and z components of said displacements comprising:
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a. a flexible web including a first deflection zone extending between first and second spaced apart points on said web and a second deflection zone extending between third and fourth spaced apart points on said web, said first and second deflection zones intersecting to divide each of said zones into first and second sections; b. a first fixed yoke coupled to the first and second points on said web; c. a second floating yoke coupled to the third and fourth points on said web; d. web deflection means coupled to said second yoke for transmitting the three dimensional mechanical input displacements to said web and for causing either similar or dissimilar deflections on the first and second sections of said first and second deflection zones, wherein the deflections are representative of the x, y and z components of the mechanical input displacement; and e. sensor means coupled to the first and second deflection zones of said web for generating an electrical output signal directly proportional to the mechanical deflections of the first and second sections of said first and second deflection zones.
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Specification