Aircraft controls simulator
First Claim
1. A simulated aircraft control system for providing input signals to computer flight simulation programs to thereby produce graphic flight simulation displays on a personal computer screen comprising:
- a chassis having a first bracket disposed vertically and attached thereto;
a first electrical potentiometer having a control shaft and attached to said chassisa simulated aircraft yoke control having a yoke shaft projecting therefrom, said shaft supported in a horizontal position by said first bracket, and rotatable and movable horizontally with respect to said first bracket by said yoke control;
a second electrical potentiometer having a control shaft, said control shaft directly connected to said yoke shaft, said second potentiometer having a second bracket disposed horizontally and attached thereto, said second bracket and said second potentiometer movable horizontally by said yoke shaft, said second bracket including means for preventing said second bracket from rotating when said yoke control and yoke shaft are rotated thereby causing rotation of said yoke shaft to operate said second potentiometer; and
first coupling means for coupling said second bracket to said control shaft of said first potentiometer for rotating same when said second bracket is moved horizontally.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An aircraft controls simulator, for use with a computer programmed for aircraft flight simulation, having a yoke, a throttle control and a rudder control. A cabinet has a shaft extending therefrom attached to a simulated yoke control. The shaft operates an elevator potentiometer responsive to horizontal movement of the shaft and an aileron control responsive to rotation of the shaft. A throttle knob connected to a second shaft operates a throttle potentiometer. A foot operated potentiometer produces rudder control signals. A cable connects the potentiometers to the computer which utilizes the potentiometer positions to operate the flight simulation program.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A simulated aircraft control system for providing input signals to computer flight simulation programs to thereby produce graphic flight simulation displays on a personal computer screen comprising:
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a chassis having a first bracket disposed vertically and attached thereto; a first electrical potentiometer having a control shaft and attached to said chassis a simulated aircraft yoke control having a yoke shaft projecting therefrom, said shaft supported in a horizontal position by said first bracket, and rotatable and movable horizontally with respect to said first bracket by said yoke control; a second electrical potentiometer having a control shaft, said control shaft directly connected to said yoke shaft, said second potentiometer having a second bracket disposed horizontally and attached thereto, said second bracket and said second potentiometer movable horizontally by said yoke shaft, said second bracket including means for preventing said second bracket from rotating when said yoke control and yoke shaft are rotated thereby causing rotation of said yoke shaft to operate said second potentiometer; and first coupling means for coupling said second bracket to said control shaft of said first potentiometer for rotating same when said second bracket is moved horizontally. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a system ahving a computer programmed to provide an operator with graphical display simulation of aircraft flight in which variable output voltages represent movement of aircraft ailerons, elevators, rudder and throttle, apparatus for providing the operator with simulated aircraft controls therefor comprising:
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(a) a chassis having a front panel; (b) means for simulating an aircraft yoke control, said means including (i) a first shaft projecting from said panel, (ii) a yoke attached to said first shaft for moving said first shaft horizontally to a simulate control of elevators and rotating said first shaft to simulate control of ailerons; (iii) a first potentiometer having a control element operatively coupled to said first shaft and to a source of voltage, said first potentiometer adapted to cause its said control element to rotate when said first shaft is rotated thereby producing an aileron control voltage to said computer, (iv) a second potentiometer having a control element operatively coupled to said first shaft and to a source of voltage, said second potentiometer adapted to cause its said control element to rotate when said first shaft is moved horizontally thereby producing an elevator control voltage to said computer, (c) means for simulating a throttle control, said means including (i) a second shaft projecting from said panel, (ii) a knob attached to said second shaft for moving said shaft horizontally, (iii) a third potentiometer having a control element operatively coupled to said second shaft and to a source of voltage, said third potentiometer adapted to cause its said control element to rotate when said second shaft is moved horizontally, thereby producing a throttle control voltage to said computer, (d) means for simulating a rudder control, said means including (i) a fourth potentiometer mounted to said panel and coupled to a source of voltage, said fourth potentiometer having a control element, (ii) a rudder knob coupled to said fourth potentiometer control element for rotation by an operator to thereby produce a rudder control voltage to said computer; and (e) a multiconductor electrical cable connected to said first, second, third and fourth potentiometers at a first end thereof and an electrical connector connected to the other end thereof for connecting to said computer, said cable for providing said voltages to said potentiometers and for communicating said aileron, elevator, throttle and rudder control voltages to said computer.
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10. In a personal computer programmed to simulate flight of an aircraft, an input device for manual operation by a user to simulate aileron and elevator control of the aircraft comprising:
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a chassis; an aircraft type control yoke having a horizontally disposed yoke shaft, said yoke shaft attached to said chassis so as to be movable horizontally fore and aft with respect to said chassis and rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise; an aileron potentiometer having a first body portion and a first rotatable wiper portion, said aileron potentiometer operatively coupled to said yoke shaft and having an input electrically connected to a voltage source and a first variable voltage output controlled by rotation of said first wiper by said yoke shaft, said aileron potentiometer moving fore and aft when said yoke shaft is moved fore and aft; means attached to said chassis and coupled to said aileron potentiometer to prevent said first body portion thereof from rotating when said yoke shaft is rotated thereby causing rotation of said first wiper; an elevator potentiometer having a second body portion and a second rotatable wiper, said second body portion attached to said chassis, said elevator potentiometer having an input electrically connected to said voltage source and a second variable voltage output controlled by rotation of said second wiper; coupling means attached to said yoke shaft and to said elevator potentiometer for rotating said second wiper when said yoke shaft moves horizontally fore and aft; and electrical connection means for coupling said first and second variable voltage outputs to said computer.
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Specification