Controller for remote vehicles and craft and for virtual subjects

• US 7,362,234 B1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clayton R. Golliher, James D. Moore
• Original Assignee: Clayton R. Golliher, James D. Moore
• Inventors: Moore, James D., Golliher, Clayton R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US11/218,341
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 341/176, 200/61, 200/54, 244/234, 244/189, 455/95, 455/345, 455/130, 455/99, 446/456, 446/460, 446/154, 463/36, 463/37, 463/31, 463/43, 463/38
• US Class Current: 340/12.5
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A control system which provides directional control over various real and virtual vehicles, craft and moveable subjects. The control system includes a housing, a controller in the housing having an electronic radio control PC board or an electronic video control PC board and tilt switches which are fixed relative to the housing at preferred orientations. The switches are connected to control terminals of the electronic control PC board. With the tilt switches fixed relative to the housing, orientation of the housing can result in the electronic control PC board transmitting signals to a remote vehicle, craft or virtual subject. Rather than tilt switches, the control system can include pots having shafts orthogonally arranged relative to the housing. The pots are connected to control terminals of the electronic control PC board. Pendulums are fixed to the shafts of the pots. With the pots having shafts orthogonally arranged relative to the housing such that the pendulums can swing responsive to gravity, orientation of the housing can result in the electronic control PC board transmitting signals to a remote vehicle, craft or virtual subject.

Claims

1. A control system for the remote operation of vehicles and craft, comprising

a housing;

an RC controller including an electronic radio control PC board of the type having control terminals for receipt of actuated proportional control resistances for signal output control of the radio control PC board and an antenna;

pots having shafts orthogonally arranged relative to the housing, the pots being fixed relative to the housing and electrically connected to the control terminals of the electronic radio control PC board;

pendulums fixed to the shafts of the pots, respectively, and movable relative to the housing.

2. The control system of claim 1, the housing having the appearance of a realistic or fanciful control device for a vehicle or craft, an apparent orientation of neutrality and an apparent forward/aft direction, the pots including a first pot the shaft of which is rotatable about a first axis substantially transverse to the apparent forward/aft direction and a second pot the shaft of which is rotatable about a second axis substantially parallel to the forward/aft direction.

3. The control system of claim 2, the first pot providing apparent variable forward motion, the second pot providing apparent left and right turns, respectively.

4. The control system of claim 2, the first pot providing apparent variable pitch, the second pot providing apparent left and right banks, respectively.

5. The control system of claim 4 further comprising

a variable apparent throttle switch operatively located on the housing and electrically connected to the control terminals.