Devices capable of sensing rotary motion
First Claim
1. A rotation-sensing device, comprising a support;
- means for holding in fixed position relative to said support a protrusion having an outer periphery;
means for sensing rotary movement occurring about said outer periphery and initiating signals corresponding thereto; and
microprocessor means in circuit with said sensing means and constructed and arranged to receive said signals and provide output data with respect to one or another or all of the following;
(i) the angular amount of rotary movement sensed by said sensing means;
(ii) the direction of such rotary movement; and
, (iii) the angular speed of such rotary movement.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rotation-sensing device for providing output signals that correspond to rotary hand movement made about the device by an operator is disclosed. The device comprises a cover member including an outer surface having a generally cylindrical, longitudinally elongate, non-rotatable protusion carried thereon. The protrusion projects outwardly from the outer surface and is provided with an outer periphery thereon. The device further includes a plurality of generally longitudinally elongate, circumferentially spaced, sensing means which are positioned adjacent the outer periphery of the protrusion and are responsive to the rotary hand movement of the operator for providing output signals corresponding to such movement. In addition, the device includes means coupled to the sensing means for leading the signals generated in the sensing means away from the switch device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A rotation-sensing device, comprising a support;
- means for holding in fixed position relative to said support a protrusion having an outer periphery;
means for sensing rotary movement occurring about said outer periphery and initiating signals corresponding thereto; and
microprocessor means in circuit with said sensing means and constructed and arranged to receive said signals and provide output data with respect to one or another or all of the following;
(i) the angular amount of rotary movement sensed by said sensing means;
(ii) the direction of such rotary movement; and
, (iii) the angular speed of such rotary movement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- means for holding in fixed position relative to said support a protrusion having an outer periphery;
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3. A rotation-sensing device for providing output signals that correspond to rotary hand movement made about said device by an operator, said device comprising:
- a cover member including an outer surface having a generally cylindrical, longitudinally elongate, non-rotatable protrusion carried thereon, said protrusion projecting outwardly from said outer surface and having an outer periphery thereon;
a plurality of generally longitudinally elongate, circumferentially spaced sensing means positioned adjacent said outer periphery and responsive to said rotary hand movement of the operator for providing output signals corresponding to said movement;
means coupled to said sensing means for leading said signals away from said device; and
microprocessor means connected in circuit with said signal leading means and constructed and arranged to interpret said signals for providing output data with respect to one or another or all of the following;
(i) the angular amount of the rotary hand movement made by the operator;
(ii) the angular direction of such rotary hand movement; and
, (iii) the angular speed of such rotary hand movement. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
- a cover member including an outer surface having a generally cylindrical, longitudinally elongate, non-rotatable protrusion carried thereon, said protrusion projecting outwardly from said outer surface and having an outer periphery thereon;
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11. A rotation-sensing device, comprising a support;
- means for defining a protrusion having an outer periphery in fixed position relative to said support;
means for sensing rotary movement occurring about said outer periphery and initiating signals corresponding thereto; and
means for determining from said signals the direction and angular amount of said movement. - View Dependent Claims (13, 15, 17, 18, 19)
- means for defining a protrusion having an outer periphery in fixed position relative to said support;
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12. A rotation-sensing device for providing output signals that correspond to rotary hand movement made about said device by an operator, said device comprising:
- a cover member including an outer surface having a generally cylindrical, longitudinally elongate, non-rotatable protrusion projecting outwardly from said outer surface and having an outer periphery;
a plurality of generally longitudinally elongate circumferentially spaced sensing means positioned adjacent said outer periphery and responsive to said rotary hand movement of the operator for providing output signals corresponding to said movement; and
means for determining from said signals the direction and angular amount of said movement. - View Dependent Claims (14, 16)
- a cover member including an outer surface having a generally cylindrical, longitudinally elongate, non-rotatable protrusion projecting outwardly from said outer surface and having an outer periphery;
Specification