Hand-activated controller
First Claim
1. A hand-activated controller, comprising:
- a base;
a circuit board attached to the base, the circuit board further having an aperture extending therethrough;
first, second, third, and fourth switches disposed on the circuit board and arranged around the periphery of the aperture;
a shaft having a first tubular portion, a second tubular portion and a plate portion secured to the shaft and located between the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion, the plate portion being located above the first, second, third and fourth switches;
a spring being disposed between the plate portion and the base, the spring extending through the aperture of the circuit board and being received by the second tubular portion;
a ball-shaped member being coupled to the first tubular portion of the shaft;
a microprocessor electrically coupled to the first, second, third and fourth switches;
the microprocessor configured to determine when the first, second, third and fourth switches transition from a first operational state to a second operational state indicating that the ball-shaped member and the shaft have been pushed downwardly toward the base, and to generate a first command signal in response thereto;
fifth and sixth switches disposed on the circuit board, the plate portion of the shaft having a ramp portion that contacts at least one of the fifth and sixth switches when the ball-shaped member and the shaft are rotated about a vertical axis extending through the shaft to transition at least one of the fifth and sixth switches from the first operational state to the second operational state; and
the microprocessor further configured to determine when at least one of the fifth and sixth switches transition from the first operational state to the second operational state indicating that the ball-shaped member and the shaft have been rotated, and to generate a second command signal in response thereto.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hand-activated controller including a base and a circuit board attached to the base is provided. The circuit board has an aperture extending therethrough, and first, second, third, and fourth switches disposed thereon proximate to the aperture. The controller further includes a shaft having a tubular portion and a plate portion. The plate portion is disposed proximate to the first, second, third and fourth switches. The controller further includes a ball-shaped member that is coupled to the tubular portion of the shaft, and a microprocessor. The microprocessor determines if the first, second, third and fourth switches transition from a first operational state to a second operational state indicating that the ball-shaped member and the shaft have been pushed downwardly toward the base, and to generate a first command signal in response thereto.
161 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A hand-activated controller, comprising:
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a base; a circuit board attached to the base, the circuit board further having an aperture extending therethrough; first, second, third, and fourth switches disposed on the circuit board and arranged around the periphery of the aperture; a shaft having a first tubular portion, a second tubular portion and a plate portion secured to the shaft and located between the first tubular portion and the second tubular portion, the plate portion being located above the first, second, third and fourth switches; a spring being disposed between the plate portion and the base, the spring extending through the aperture of the circuit board and being received by the second tubular portion; a ball-shaped member being coupled to the first tubular portion of the shaft; a microprocessor electrically coupled to the first, second, third and fourth switches; the microprocessor configured to determine when the first, second, third and fourth switches transition from a first operational state to a second operational state indicating that the ball-shaped member and the shaft have been pushed downwardly toward the base, and to generate a first command signal in response thereto; fifth and sixth switches disposed on the circuit board, the plate portion of the shaft having a ramp portion that contacts at least one of the fifth and sixth switches when the ball-shaped member and the shaft are rotated about a vertical axis extending through the shaft to transition at least one of the fifth and sixth switches from the first operational state to the second operational state; and the microprocessor further configured to determine when at least one of the fifth and sixth switches transition from the first operational state to the second operational state indicating that the ball-shaped member and the shaft have been rotated, and to generate a second command signal in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification