System for steering an electronically responsive device
First Claim
1. A foot operated steering device for use with an element to be moved comprising:
- (a) an electronic circuit mounted on a board, the circuit including a transducer responsive element on the board mounting the electronic circuit;
(b) a first control element having a face for application of foot pressure such that foot pressure applied to the face of the first control element causes the first control element to interact with the transducer responsive element to operate the electronic circuit and thereby move an element;
(c) a resilient material connected between the first control element and the transducer;
(d) the first control element and the transducer responsive element interengaging whereby foot pressure applied to the face can affect a relative change of the transducer such that foot pressure applied on a selected place and direction over all radial directions in the range of 360°
on the first control element acts to change the condition of the transducer responsive element; and
(e) the operation being effected by movement of a foot relative to an ankle, the movement being relatively wobbling motion about the ankle, such motion being motion about the ankle joint and about the foot joint to move in a rotational manner such that foot movement acts to cause the first control element to move to permit a controlled revolutional movement of the first control element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steering and pointing device for use with a computer comprises an electronic circuit mounted on a board. A first control element is responsive to foot pressure applied by rotating the foot about the ankle. The pressure applied to the first control element causes a transducer responsive element to operate the circuit. The first control element is movable with respect to the transducer such that foot action acts to cause the first control element to swivel a partial ball and socket interengagement and thereby interact with the circuit. A first control element includes a resilient material mounted such that pressure applied to the resilient material causes movement in different directions of the transducer. This acts to change the electrical relationship on the board and thereby vary an output signal from the electronic circuit. There is an output signal transmitted to operating a device on a computer. A second control element is located substantially adjacent to a first control element, and operates a switch for the circuit. In other cases, the first control element is movable by moving a hand on the first control element.
65 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A foot operated steering device for use with an element to be moved comprising:
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(a) an electronic circuit mounted on a board, the circuit including a transducer responsive element on the board mounting the electronic circuit; (b) a first control element having a face for application of foot pressure such that foot pressure applied to the face of the first control element causes the first control element to interact with the transducer responsive element to operate the electronic circuit and thereby move an element; (c) a resilient material connected between the first control element and the transducer; (d) the first control element and the transducer responsive element interengaging whereby foot pressure applied to the face can affect a relative change of the transducer such that foot pressure applied on a selected place and direction over all radial directions in the range of 360°
on the first control element acts to change the condition of the transducer responsive element; and(e) the operation being effected by movement of a foot relative to an ankle, the movement being relatively wobbling motion about the ankle, such motion being motion about the ankle joint and about the foot joint to move in a rotational manner such that foot movement acts to cause the first control element to move to permit a controlled revolutional movement of the first control element. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12)
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2. A steering device for use with an element to be moved comprising:
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(a) an electronic circuit mounted on a board, the circuit including a transducer responsive element on the board mounting the electronic circuit; (b) a first control element having a face for application of pressure such that pressure applied to the face of the first control element causes the first control element to interact with the transducer responsive element to operate the electronic circuit and thereby move an element; (c) a resilient material connected between the first control element and the transducer; and (d) the first control element including a pressure responsive element interengaging at least partly over a peripheral interface of the transducer responsive element whereby pressure applied to the peripheral interface can effect a relative change of position of the transducer responsive element about a central position of the transducer responsive element, and wherein a substantially smooth increase in pressure on the first control element creates a substantially smooth increase in the speed of the movement of the element and movement is effected in a rotational manner such that the first control element moves so as to permit a controlled revolutional movement of the first control element. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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13. A pointing device for use with a cursor to be moved on a computer comprising:
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(a) an electronic circuit mounted on a board within a housing, the circuit including a responsive element on the board mounting the electronic circuit; (b) a control element having a face for application of pressure such that pressure applied to the face of the first control element causes the first control element to interact with a responsive element to operate the electronic circuit and thereby move a cursor; (c) the control element and the pressure responsive element interengaging whereby pressure applied to the pressure responsive element can affect a relative change of the responsive element such that pressure on a selected place and direction over all radial directions in the range of 360°
on the control element acts to change the condition of the responsive element;(d) the electronic circuit including means for providing an output signal in response to the condition of the responsive element, and including means for transmitting the output signal to a computer to move the cursor selectively over 360°
on a screen associated with the computer; and(e) a second control element being in a unit separate from the first control element and being intended to be operated by a human limb different to a human limb for operating the first control element, such element being a switch. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification