Switches and joysticks using a non-electrical deformable pressure sensor

• US 6,556,149 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kinotex Sensor GmbH, Nitta Corporation
• Original Assignee: Canpolar East Inc.
• Inventors: Inkster, Robert, Reimer, Ernest M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US09/511,383
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/22, 341/31, 341/34, 250/227.21, 250/227.22, 744/71.XY, 345/175, 345/176, 345/170
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/9631 using a light source as part of the switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

Switches and joysticks comprise user-moveable two position and multi position switches, including simple on/off and variable switches such as dimmers. The switches operate on the principle of detecting the position of a user-grippable switch arm, a portion of which bears on a pressure-sensitive pad. The pad is a deformable material which detects and localizes pressure against the pad, by transmitting into the pad matrix a wave energy such as light, and detecting the intensity of same. As the pad is locally compressed, intensity of the wave energy increases in the region around the compression. The position of a switch arm may thus be detected, and the information transmitted to a central processing unit, for further processing.

Claims

1. A control device for human control of electrical equipment:

comprising;

a user interface for manipulation by a user, comprising a rigid member having a first contact region for actuation by a user, and a second contact region spaced from said first contact region;

a support for supporting said user interface, said interface being mounted to said support for relative movement between said interface and support;

a first volume of compressible and resilient material supported by said support in contact with said second contact region of said user interface, sad material being light translucent and having light scattering centers generally evenly disbursed throughout said volume to fully scatter a beam of light within said compressible material;

a light source in operative communication with said material for transmitting a beam of light into said material and forming within said material an integrated cavity comprising a region of fully scattered light wherein compression of said integrated cavity results in an increase in light intensity within said cavity;

at least one light detector means in operative communication with said compressible material for detecting the intensity of fully scattered light within said cavity and changes in intensity of said light in response to compression of said material by said user interface;

signal processor means in communication with said light source means and said detector means, for receiving information indicative of the light level detected by said detector means, and converting said information into information indicative of the position of said interface relative to said support, for control of said electrical equipment; and

said user interface, support and compressible and resilient material being arranged and adapted for compression of a region of said material by said user interface, wherein manipulation and displacement of said interface by a user, relative to said support, changes the location of said compressed region relative to said support for communicating to said electrical equipment the position of said interface relative to said support.

2. A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said user interface is mounted to said support for movement about a single axis of rotation.

3. A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said user interface is mounted to said support for movement about two axes of rotation.

4. A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said user interface is mounted to said support for movement about three axes of rotation.

5. A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said user interface is mounted to said support for linear sliding movement.

6. A control device as defined in claim 5, wherein said user interface is provided with only one of said second contact regions, in communication with a single volume of compressible material.

7. A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said user interface comprises an arm having an elongate axis and a base, said base comprising said second contact region;

said base having a means for compressing a region of said material, radially displaced from said elongate axis; and

said light source and detector comprising a plurality of light sources and detectors spaced about said material.

8. A control device as defined in claim 1 comprising a joystick, wherein:

said user interface comprises an arm having an elongate axis, said arm having a base comprising said second contact region;

said light source and detector means comprising a plurality of light sources and detectors spaced for communication with substantially all of said body of said material.

9. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said arm is mounted to said support for pivoting about a single axis rotation.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said axis is coaxial with said elongate axis of said arm, and said base includes means for compressing a region of said material radially displaced from said axis.

11. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said axis is transverse to said elongate axis of said arm for permitting a rocking movement of said arm.

12. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said arm is mounted to said support for pivoting about two, axes of rotation.

13. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said arm is mounted to said support for pivoting about three axes of rotation.

14. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said support comprises a part-spherical concavity, said compressible material forming a lining of said concavity.

15. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said compressible material comprises a cellular foam plastic material.

16. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said second contact region comprises a broadened base of said arm, the underside of said base has a means for compressing a region of said material radially displaced from the elongate axis of said arm.

17. A device as defined in claim 8, wherein said base extends;

laterally outwardly from said arm for compressing a region of said material radially displaced from said arm.

18. A device as defined in claim 17 wherein said support comprises a housing at least partly enclosing said material for retaining said base with the interior of said housing.

19. A device as defined in claim 18 further comprising a second volume of said compressible material opposed to said first volume of compressible material and positioned between an upper face of said base and the interior of said housing.

20. A control device as defined in claim 1 comprising an on/off or proportional control switch wherein said compressible material comprises at least two regions each associated with a light source and a detector means, said user interface comprising a lever arm having two sides, each side being in contact with a separate of said regions of compressible material for compressing one or the other of said regions in response to movement of said interface.

21. A device as defined in claim 20 wherein said interface comprises a generally platelike base having an arm extending upwardly therefrom, said material comprising a pad for supporting said base.

22. A device as defined in claim 21, wherein said support comprises a housing at least partly surrounding said base;

said compressible material being positioned both above and below said base wherein pivotal movement of said user interface results both in compression of a first portion of said material between an upper surface of said base and said housing and compression of a second portion of said material diagonally opposed to said first portion.

23. A device as defined in claim 21, wherein said support comprises a housing confining said base to retain said arm to said support and limiting the pivotal movement of said arm.

24. A device as defined in claim 21, wherein said first contact region of said user interface comprises a rotatable knob, said knob being mounted to said support for rotation about the axis of said knob;

said second contact region comprising a paddle extending radially outwardly from said knob whereby, rotation of said knob translates into arcuate movement of said paddle, said compressible material being provided in two portions on either side of said paddle and confined within said support, whereby arcuate movement of said paddle compresses one portion or the other of said compressible material, said light source means and detector means being in communication with both sides of said compressible material.

25. A device as defined in claim 1 wherein said user interface comprises a plunger, the base of which comprises said second region, said support comprising a housing for partly confining said plunger.