Control stick rotatably positionable in three axes

• US 6,081,257 A
• Filed: 02/18/1997
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Airbus Helicopters Deutschland Gmbh (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Eurocopter Deutschland Gesellschaft Mit Beschrã¤Nkter Haftung (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: Zeller, Stegfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US08/802,421
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 345/161, 74/471 XY, 244/17.13, 244/237, 356/139.03, 356/141.5, 356/152.2, 356/152.1
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/26 characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04759 Light-sensitive detector, e.g. photoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04781 with additional rotation of the controlling member
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0325 using a plurality of light emitters or reflectors or a plurality of detectors forming a reference frame from which to derive the orientation of the object, e.g. by triangulation or on the basis of reference deformation in the picked up image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

To determine the position of a control stick which can be adjusted in three axes, reliably and accurately in all three axes in a constructionally simple, compact and light-weight manner by means of a single sensor in an opto-electronic fashion, the sensor according to the invention contains a beam emitter which is fixedly connected with the control stick and emits at least two mutually spatially separate light beams. A stationary, light-sensitive detector mosaic situated along the whole adjusting range of the control stick in the beam path of both light beams, determines the position coordinates of the two light spots generated thereon by the light beams. An analyzing circuit determines the rolling, pitching and yawing position of the control stick from the position coordinates of the two light spots.

Claims

1. A control apparatus for navigational control of a helicopter having a control stick which can be rotatably positioned in three axes for generating control signals based on a spacial orientation thereof, and which has an opto-electronic sensor for determining the control stick position, said control apparatus comprising:

a beam emitter which is immovably connected with the control stick and emits two spatially separate light beams;

a stationary, light-sensitive detector mosaic situated along an entire adjusting range of the control stick in the beam path of both of said light beams, for determining position coordinates of two spacially separated light spots generated by said light beams on the detector mosaic; and

an analyzing circuit for determining the rolling, pitching and yawing position of the control stick, as a function of the position coordinates of only said two light spots.

2. Control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the two light beams is aligned with an axis of rotation of the control stick.

3. Control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the detector mosaic comprises two separate detector fields, each situated in a beam path of one of the two light beams.

4. Control apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said detector fields are arranged in a common plane.

5. Control apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the two light beams are inclined to one another.

6. Control apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said two light beams are perpendicular to each other.

7. Control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the two light beams are aligned in parallel to one another.

8. Control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said beam emitter comprises two light-emitting diodes fastened to the control stick.

9. Control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said beam emitter comprises a light-emitting single diode and a beam splitter arranged behind it.

10. Control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the beam emitter is a laser beam emitter.