Ergonomic multi-axis controller

• US 5,252,970 A
• Filed: 01/30/1991
• Issued: 10/12/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Baronowsky
• Original Assignee: David Baronowsky
• Inventors: Baronowsky, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/648,150
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 340/706, 340/709, 340/710, 200/6 A, 273/148 B, 74/471 XY
• US Class Current: 341/20
• 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: G06F 2203/0333 Ergonomic shaped mouse for one hand
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A manually operated ergonomic multi-axis controller such as those used for controlling cursor position along x and y axes and for entering x, y and/or z coordinate information into a computer or the like. The housing includes a distal end portion angled with respect to the upper surface and the base of the housing to conform to the natural curvature of the human hand. The primary actuator, such as a trackball or joystick is positioned at the distal end portion. Secondary actuators are located along the sides of the housing.

Claims

1. A manually operable multi-axis controller, which comprises:

a housing having a base, and an upper portion having a forward access face and a top surface for supporting the hand of a user;

a primary actuator for generating spatial coordinate information with respect to at least X and Y coordinate axes, and having a presentation angle for operation access of from about 0°

to about 70°

, said presentation angle being the angle at which a Z-coordinate axis is inclined from the horizontal, said Z-coordinate axis being orthogonal to both said X and Y axes, wherein said primary actuator is actuatable by a single user contact point;

means for retaining said primary actuator at said forward access face at said presentation angle; and

pick up means for generating and transmitting at least one signal in response to actuation of said primary actuator.

2. The multi-axis controller of claim 1 wherein said top surfaced and said base generally define an angle of from about 20 to about 50 degrees and said forward access face and said top surface generally define an angle of from about 80 to about 140 degrees.

3. The multi-axis controller of claim 1 wherein said forward access face includes an aperture through which said primary actuator at least partially projects.

4. The multi-axis controller of claim 1 wherein said primary actuator is a control sphere.

5. The multi-axis controller of claim 4, wherein said control sphere is rotatable around both said X and Y axes orthogonally oriented with respect to each other, said X and Y axes defining a plane, and said plane and said base defining an angle of from about 20 to about 90 degrees.

6. The multi-axis controller of claim 5 wherein said plane and said base define an angle of from about 65 to 70 degrees.

7. The multi-axis controller of claim 5 wherein the means for retaining said primary actuator comprise contacting means at first, second, third and fourth contact points on the surface of said control sphere, said first, second, third and fourth contact points being spaced apart in relative relationship so as to generally define a tetrahedron with each side being smaller in length than the diameter of the control sphere.

8. The multi-axis controller of claim 7 wherein the contacting means at said first, second, third and fourth contact points respectively are rotatable contacting means.

9. The multi-axis controller of claim 7 wherein the contacting means on at least two of said first, second, third and fourth contacting points are pick-up means for generating a signal in response to rotation of said primary actuator control sphere.

10. The multi-axis controller of claim 9 wherein said pick-up means each comprise a shaft axially oriented in parallel relationship to a respective one of the coordinate axes of rotation of said contact sphere, and an encoding means associated with said shaft.

11. The multi-axis controller of claim 1 wherein the primary actuator is a joystick.

12. The multi-axis controller of claim 11 wherein said means for retaining said joystick comprises:

a joystick holder movable in one of either the x or y directions and movably mounted on a first support means, said first support means being movable in the other of the x or y directions and being movably mounted on a second support means orthogonally oriented with respect to said first rectilinear support means; and

,

means for biasing said joystick to a central position.

13. The multi-axis controller of claim 12 wherein said biasing means comprises a cantilever spring fixedly attached at its proximal end to the housing, and having a distal end connected to the joystick holder.

14. The multi-axis controller of claim 13 wherein said joystick comprises a distal contact surface for contact by the hand of an operator.

15. The multi-axis controller of claim 14 wherein said distal contact surface includes a portion for receiving applied pressure generally proximally directed onto said distal contact surface, said apparatus further comprising means for generating a signal in response to the applied pressure.

16. The multi-axis controller of claim 15 wherein said means for generating a signal in response to the applied pressure comprises a distally biased slidable member which is movable in a z axis direction in response to the applied pressure, and means for generating an electrical signal indicative of the magnitude of movement of the slidable member.

17. The multi-axis controller of claim 1 further including at least one side surface and at least one secondary actuator associated with said at least one side surface.

18. The multi-axis controller of claim 17 wherein said secondary actuator is a push button controller.

19. The multi-axis controller of claim 1 wherein said primary actuator comprises a touch sensitive control surface.