Flight-control simulator for computer games
First Claim
1. A computer input device for simulating manual controls of a vehicle, the device comprising:
- (a) a housing;
(b) a control wheel column slidably mounted in the housing, the column being reciprocally slidable along its length within a range of movement;
(c) means for generating a first signal corresponding to the column'"'"'s position within its range of movement;
(d) a control wheel rotatably mounted on an end of the control wheel column external to the housing;
the wheel being reciprocally rotatable about the column within a range of movement;
(e) means for generating a second signal corresponding to the wheel'"'"'s position within its range of movement; and
(f) means for communicating the first and second signals to the computer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control wheel attached to a control wheel column is movably mounted to a control housing that is securely fastened to a support surface by way of a pair of pivoting clamp mechanisms. In-and-out movement of the control wheel column with respect to the control housing manipulates the elevator control mounted in the housing. Turning of the control wheel with respect to the control wheel column manipulates the aileron control mounted in the control housing. Additional button control and variable controls are mounted on the control wheel and control housing. Besides an aileron trim tab, the control wheel contains several buttons that may be used as weapons triggers. Besides an elevator trim tab, the control housing contains a throttle control.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer input device for simulating manual controls of a vehicle, the device comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) a control wheel column slidably mounted in the housing, the column being reciprocally slidable along its length within a range of movement; (c) means for generating a first signal corresponding to the column'"'"'s position within its range of movement; (d) a control wheel rotatably mounted on an end of the control wheel column external to the housing;
the wheel being reciprocally rotatable about the column within a range of movement;(e) means for generating a second signal corresponding to the wheel'"'"'s position within its range of movement; and (f) means for communicating the first and second signals to the computer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer input device for simulating manual controls of a vehicle, the device comprising:
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(a) a housing including a skin defining a bottom face; (b) a control wheel movably coupled to and supported by the housing, the wheel being reciprocally rotatable about an axis and reciprocally slidable along the axis, within respective ranges, with respect to the housing; (c) means for generating a signal corresponding to the wheel'"'"'s axial and rotary positions within its ranges of movement; (d) means for communicating the signal to the computer; and (e) clamping means for securing the housing to a marginal portion of a tabular support, the clamping means comprising; (1) upper jaw means, disposed within the housing, for abutting the skin of the bottom face and applying force thereto; (2) lower jaw means, external to the housing, for applying an opposite force to an underside of the marginal portion; and (3) means for closing the jaw means to forcibly grip the marginal portion. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer input device for simulating manual controls of a vehicle, the device comprising:
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(a) a housing; (b) a control wheel column slidably mounted in the housing, the column being reciprocally slidable along its length within a range of movement; (c) means for generating a signal corresponding to the column'"'"'s position within its range of movement; (d) means for communicating the signal to the computer; and (e) means for opposing sliding of the control wheel column in either direction from a rest position, said means comprising; (1) two levers pivotable about an axis normal to the column, the axis being in fixed relation to the housing; (2) stop means, in fixed relation to the housing and disposed intermediate the levers, for stopping rotation of the levers; (3) means for applying torque urging the levers against opposite sides of the stop means, the column being in its rest position when the levers are abutting opposite sides of the stop means; (4) drive means for rotating a lever of the two levers away from the stop means in response to superior torque applied to the drive means, the direction of the applied torque being determinant of which of the two levers is rotated; and (5) conversion means, to which the drive means is affixed, for converting translational force applied to the column, as by a user, to torque applied to the drive means, and for converting reactive torque applied by the rotated lever against the drive means to reactive translational force applied to the column, the reactive translational force urging the column back to its rest position.
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Specification