XY velocity controller

• US 4,983,786 A
• Filed: 01/17/1990
• Issued: 01/08/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of British Columbia
• Original Assignee: University of British Columbia
• Inventors: Stevens David R., Marziali, Andrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Schreyer, Stafford D.
• Application Number:
  US07/466,488
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 178/18, 178/19, 340/709
• US Class Current: 178/18.01
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body operating or control means for prostheses A61F2/48, A61F2/68
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04146 using pressure sensitive conductive elements delivering a boolean signal and located between crossing sensing lines, e.g. located between X and Y sensing line layers

Abstract

A XY control system for controlling vector movement in two mutually perpendicular directions (for example for computer cursor control, i.e. emulating a conventional computer mouse) uses a XY pressure sensitive digital pad or more preferably a XYZ pressure sensitive digital pad generating different signals based on the selected location at which pressure is applied to the pad. These signals are divided into X or Y and a directional signal and then converted into a velocity signal for controlling the vector motion in the required direction dependent on the selected location for application of pressure to the pad and at a velocity the magnitude of which is proportional to the displacement of the selected location from a datum area on the pad, or in the case of a XYZ pad dependent on both displacement and the amount of pressure applied at the selected location.

Claims

1. A XY control system for selecting direction and magnitude of velocity in said selected direction of a controlled means comprising a XY digital pad generating different signals depending on a selected activated location on said pad, electrical circuit means dividing said signals into a datum signal when said activated location on said pad is in a datum zone on said pad, a X signal when said activated location is displaced in a first direction from said datum zone, a Y signal when said activated location is displaced in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction from said datum zone and directional signals for said X and Y signals based on the side of said datum zone in said first and second directions respectively that said activated location is positioned on said pad, said electrical circuit means converting said X and Y signals into velocity signals proportional to the displacement of said activated location relative to said datum zone, and further electrical circuit means controlling said direction and magnitude of said velocity of said controlled means in accordance with said directional and said velocity signals.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said controlled means comprises a computer cursor and said further circuit means further includes means to convert said directional and velocity signals into signals for obtaining said mutually perpendicular movements of said cursor on a computer monitor.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said digitizer pad is pressure sensitive and said activated location is activated by pressure applied to said pad at said activated location.

4. A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said digitizer pad is a XYZ digitizer pad and said velocity signals will include a supplementary signal the magnitude of which is dependent on the amount of pressure applied to said activated location.

5. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said digital pad is mounted on a rigid backing plate sized to be received in the mouth of a user and gripped between the user'"'"'s teeth with said pad in facing relationship to the user'"'"'s tongue, said pad having a moisture resistant casing through which tongue pressure may be applied to generate said signals.

6. A control system as defined in claim 5 further comprising at least one pressure sensitive switch mounted on said backing plate adjacent to said pad in a position to be activate by said tongue.

7. A system as defined in claim 3 wherein said controlled means comprises a computer cursor and said further circuit means further includes means to convert said directional and velocity signals into signals for obtaining said mutually perpendicular movements of said cursor on a computer monitor.

8. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said controlled means comprises a computer cursor and said further circuit means further includes means to convert said directional and velocity signals into signals for obtaining said mutually perpendicular movements of said cursor on a computer monitor.

9. A system as defined in claim 5 wherein said controlled means comprises a computer cursor and said further circuit means further includes means to convert said directional and velocity signals into signals for obtaining said mutually perpendicular movements of said cursor on a computer monitor.

10. A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said controlled means comprises a computer cursor and said further circuit means further includes means to convert said directional and velocity signals into signals for obtaining said mutually perpendicular movements of said cursor on a computer monitor.