Multimode manipulator
First Claim
1. A manipulator with multiple operating modes which comprises:
- a control member actuated by an operator'"'"'s finger,a shaft fixed on said control member and rotatably mounted about a coaxial axis of rotation so as to allow said control member to be rotated about said axis under the effect of a pivoting force exerted by said finger,hinging means provided in a central part of said shaft so as to enable said shaft and said control member to rock about a center of rotation located on said axis in said central part, under the effect of a rocking force distinct from said pivoting force, exerted by said finger in a rocking position and with a variable intensity,spring means for exerting on said control member a return motion to a home position once said rocking force ceases,means for detecting an angular position of said control member about said axis and for generating first data representing said angular position,means for detecting a rocking position of the control member and for generating second data representing said rocking position and said variable intensity,selecting means actuated by said finger for selecting a first operating mode, in which at least said first data are taken into account, a second operating mode in which only said second data are taken into account, and a third mode in which said first and said second data are both taken into consideration,validation means actuated by said finger for validating said first and second data.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The manipulator embodying the invention comprises a disk mounted rotatably about an axis by a shaft and capable of pivoting about a center of rotation with elastic return motion towards a home position, a detector which determines the angular position of the disk in relation of the axis, strain gauges detecting the orientation of the disk with respect to the center of rotation, a reversing switch for switching from an operating mode in which the data relating to the orientation of the shaft are taken into account, to an operating mode in which the data ralating to the angular position of the disk are taken into account, and a switch for validating one or other of these data. The invention applies notably to the remote control of a cursor on a screen.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A manipulator with multiple operating modes which comprises:
-
a control member actuated by an operator'"'"'s finger, a shaft fixed on said control member and rotatably mounted about a coaxial axis of rotation so as to allow said control member to be rotated about said axis under the effect of a pivoting force exerted by said finger, hinging means provided in a central part of said shaft so as to enable said shaft and said control member to rock about a center of rotation located on said axis in said central part, under the effect of a rocking force distinct from said pivoting force, exerted by said finger in a rocking position and with a variable intensity, spring means for exerting on said control member a return motion to a home position once said rocking force ceases, means for detecting an angular position of said control member about said axis and for generating first data representing said angular position, means for detecting a rocking position of the control member and for generating second data representing said rocking position and said variable intensity, selecting means actuated by said finger for selecting a first operating mode, in which at least said first data are taken into account, a second operating mode in which only said second data are taken into account, and a third mode in which said first and said second data are both taken into consideration, validation means actuated by said finger for validating said first and second data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A device for the management of a cursor on a display associated with a processor, said device comprising a manipulator with multiple operating modes which comprises:
-
a control member actuated by an operator'"'"'s finger, a shaft fixed on said control member and rotatably mounted about a coaxial axis of rotation so as to allow said control member to be rotated about said axis under the effect of a pivoting force exerted by said finger, hinging means provided in a central part of said shaft so as to enable said shaft and said control member to rock about a center of rotation located on said axis in said central part, under the effect of a rocking force distinct from said pivoting force, exerted by said finger in a rocking position and with a variable intensity, spring means for exerting on said control member a return motion to a home position once said rocking force ceases, means for detecting an angular position of said control member about said axis and for generating first data representing said angular position, means for detecting a rocking position of the control member and for generating second data representing said rocking position and said variable intensity, selecting means actuated by said finger for selecting a first operating mode, in which at least said first data are taken into account, a second operating mode in which only said second data are taken into account, and a third mode in which said first and said second data are both taken into consideration, validation means actuated by said finger for validating said first and second data, wherein said processor uses said first data to pivot said cursor about a center of rotation and said second data to displace the cursor along an axis passing through said center and having a last orientation given to said cursor.
-
Specification