GB2216994A - Manual joystick - Google Patents
Manual joystick Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2216994A GB2216994A GB8907108A GB8907108A GB2216994A GB 2216994 A GB2216994 A GB 2216994A GB 8907108 A GB8907108 A GB 8907108A GB 8907108 A GB8907108 A GB 8907108A GB 2216994 A GB2216994 A GB 2216994A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- joystick
- directions
- pivot
- movement
- electrical means
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01L—MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE
- G01L5/00—Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes
- G01L5/22—Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes for measuring the force applied to control members, e.g. control members of vehicles, triggers
- G01L5/223—Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes for measuring the force applied to control members, e.g. control members of vehicles, triggers to joystick controls
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
- G05G9/00—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously
- G05G9/02—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only
- G05G9/04—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
- G05G9/047—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/0338—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
- G05G9/00—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously
- G05G9/02—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only
- G05G9/04—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
- G05G9/047—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks
- G05G2009/04703—Mounting of controlling member
- G05G2009/04733—Mounting of controlling member with a joint having a nutating disc, e.g. forced by a spring
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
- G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
- G05G9/00—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously
- G05G9/02—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only
- G05G9/04—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
- G05G9/047—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks
- G05G2009/0474—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
- G05G2009/04744—Switches
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
- Mechanical Control Devices (AREA)
- Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
Abstract
A manual joystick in which a thumb-cap (12) extends from a housing (10) by only a few millimetres to facilitate movement by an operations thumb. The opposite end of the stick pivots about a pivot plate (22) having the shape of a regular octagon. The pivot plate pivots along its edges with greater ease than at its corner therefore eight predetermined, evenly spaced movements are more readily selected by the operator. <IMAGE>
Description
MANUAL JOYSTICK
The present invention relates to manual joystick control devices, of the type in which a joystick is arranged to pivot at a first end, within a housing, so that movement in a first direction operates a first electrical means, and movement in a second direction operates a second electrical means. The joystick thereby allows two parameters to be controlled simultaneously, by movement in other directions, which operates both of the said first and second electrical means.
Joystick control devices are known for analogue control in which north-south movement operates a first potentiometer and east-west movement operates a second potentiometer.
Joysticks are also known for on-off digital control, in which movement towards the north, south, east or west operates a respective one of four, mutually orthoganol microswitches. In addition, two adjacent switches, positioned towards the north and east, operate when the joystick is moved to the north-east.
In an analogue joystick, controlling two parameters, any combination of said two parameters are possible. When operating such a device an operator is usually aware of the proportions of the values he has selected, because he receives feedback from the output he is trying to control.
Such an output could be, for example, the x and y position of a cursor on a monitor or the pitch and modulation of a synthesized sound. However, in some applications, for example when operating the joystick to control operations where the feedback to the operator is not so obvious, known joysticks can be difficult to use. An operator may, for example, be forced to look down at the joystick to check its orientation before using it, which may distract him from a more important primary function.
According to the present invention, there is provided a manual joystick control device, comprising a joystick arranged to pivot at a first end within a housing such that movement in a first direction generates a first electrical means, similar movement in a second direction operates a second electrical means and movement in other directions operates both said first and second electrical means; a pivot plate connected to said first end of said joystick and forced into contact with said housing under the influence of a spring wherein said pivot plate has substantially flat edges arranged such that on moving the joystick in said first and second directions said joystick pivots about respective edges of said pivot-plate, and said pivot-plate has additional edges to assist pivoting in preferred directions of said other directions.
The advantage of the invention is that the device has preferred modes of operation, in which the joystick pivots along an edge of the pivot plate, although other modes of operation are possible, in which the joystick pivots on a corner of the pivot plate. In addition to the preferred modes, for the first and second directions, edges are also provided for other preferred directions. In a preferred embodiment, the shape of the pivot plate is substantially a regular polygon, so that each of said preferred directions is substantially halfway between a first and second direction. Preferably, the pivot plate is octagonal, so that it may pivot along any one of eight edges, and electrical means are provided to detect movement in four directions.
The electrical means may be potentiometers and in a device having an octagonal pivot plate, two potentiometers may be provided, one responding to east-west movement and the other responding to north-south movement. The invention thereby allows equal proportions of the two parameters to be easily selected, by pivoting on one of the intermediate edges. However, in a preferred embodiment, the electrical means are switching means; preferably microswitches. In the device having an octagonal pivot plate, four microswitches are provided and pivoting on one of the edges operates either one or two of the microswitches.In a digital system of this type, the result obtained from two switches being operated simultaneously may be interpreted as something totally unrelated to operation of either switch without the other; the output from each switch being supplied to a decoder arranged to produce eight independent outputs.
The joystick may extend beyond the housing by several centimetres allowing it to be held between a thumb and forefinger. However in a preferred embodiment the joystick is connected to a thumb-plate which extends beyond the housing by only a few millimetres so that movement is effected solely by movement of the operators thumb. The device may also be provided with additional buttons, allowing control of other parameters to be effected under control of the operators fingers.
The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Figure 1 shows a joystick housing and a thumb-cap of a pivoting joystick;
Figure 2 is a cross section through the central axis of the joystick of Figure 1, showing a pivot plate, bush and microswitch;
Figure 3 shows a top view of the pivot plate shown in
Figure 2; and,
Figure 4, shows a top view of the bush and microswitch shown in Figure 2.
A housing 10 for a joystick control device is shown in
Figure 1 having dimensions of approximately ten centimetres in length and five centimetres in width. The joystick pivots against the housing on the inside of a base plate 11 (obscured in the Figure) and the opposite end of the joystick is covered by a thumb cap 12, which protrudes through a hole 13 by a few millimetres, to allow movement by means of an operator's thumb. Movement of the joystick may be made in any direction, until the protruding portion of the thumb-cap comes into contact with edge 14 of hole 13.
The outside surface of base plate 11 is provided with feet, allowing the device to rest on a suitable surface.
However, the device may be hand-held and the housing is shaped to assist this type of operation. The device is also provided with four buttons 15 which may operate as "toggles" or "on-while-down" type switches for controlling other parameters or devices. A cable extends from the device, carrying a wire for each electrical means, although multiplexing or modulating circuits could be provided within the housing if desired.
A vertical cross section through the central axis of the joystick is shown in Figure 2, in which a joystick-rod 20 is connected, at its upper end, to the thumb cap 12, via a bush 21, and at its lower end to a pivot plate 22. A portion of the thumb-cap 12 is shown protruding through the housing 10 as described above. The device is provided with four microswitches 23 (one shown in the Figure) which contact the bush 21. Movement of the thumb-cap to the right operates the microswitch shown, and similar movement in the other directions operates the other microswitches.
Each microswitch 23 is mounted to a portion 24A, of a bracket 24, lying parallel to the base plate". A second portion 24B of said bracket 24 is connected to the base plate and an orthoganol portion connects said first and second portions. The first (upper) portion of bracket 24 is longer than the second (lower) portion of said bracket so that the pivot plate 22 is in contact with the base plate".
A spring 25 surrounds the joystick-rod 20 and is in contact with the base plate".
A top view of the pivot plate is shown in Figure 3 and, as shown, is a regular octagon. Now, as the thumb-cap is moved, the joystick pivots against the pivot plate 22 and distorts the spring 25. Minimum distortion of spring 25 is achieved if the pivot plate pivots along one of its eight edges 30. The spring 25 therefore has sufficient stiffness so that the preferred modes of operation are apparent to the operator allowing one of these modes to be selected with ease.
A top view of the bush 21 and microswitches 23 are shown in Figure 4. As shown in the Figure, the bush is square and thereby provides a flat surface for the switching arm 40 of each microswitch 23. In alternative embodiments, more microswitches may be provided, say six, in which case the bush (21) would be hexagonal, and the pivot plate would be twelve-sided. In a analogue embodiment, the microswitches would be replaced by potentiometers of similar devices. A toothed rack could be connected to the bush 21 which would cooperate with toothed rotating potentiometers.
Alternatively, in line potentiometers could be employed.
Claims (8)
1. A manual joystick control device, comprising a joystick arranged to pivot at a first end within a housing such that movement in a first direction operates a first electrical means, similar movement in a second direction operates a second electrical means and movement in other directions operates both said first and second electrical means; a pivot plate connected to said first end of said joystick and forced into contact with said housing under the influence of a spring, wherein said pivot plate has substantially flat edges arranged such that on moving the joystick in said first and second directions said joystick pivots about respective edges of said pivot-plate, and said pivot-plate has additional edges to assist pivoting in preferred directions of said other directions.
2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the pivotplate is substantially a regular polygon.
3. A device according to claim 2, wherein operation in said first or second directions causes pivoting on first faces of said polygon, and operation in the other preferred directions causes pivoting on second faces of the polygon, wherein said first and second faces alternate around said polygon.
4. A device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the pivot plate is octagonal and said electrical means detect movement in four directions.
5. A device according to any preceding claim, wherein said electrical means are switching means such as microswitches.
6. A device according to claim 5 when dependent on claim 4, including four microswitches positioned substantially ninety degrees apart around the joystick.
7. A device according to claim 5, wherein each microswitch has a moving arm and each of said arms contacts a respective face of a square-shaped bush surrounding said joystick.
8. A manual joystick control device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Figures.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8807366A GB8807366D0 (en) | 1988-03-29 | 1988-03-29 | Manual joystick |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8907108D0 GB8907108D0 (en) | 1989-05-10 |
| GB2216994A true GB2216994A (en) | 1989-10-18 |
Family
ID=10634246
Family Applications (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8807366A Pending GB8807366D0 (en) | 1988-03-29 | 1988-03-29 | Manual joystick |
| GB8907108A Withdrawn GB2216994A (en) | 1988-03-29 | 1989-03-29 | Manual joystick |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8807366A Pending GB8807366D0 (en) | 1988-03-29 | 1988-03-29 | Manual joystick |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (2) | GB8807366D0 (en) |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0477098A2 (en) * | 1990-09-18 | 1992-03-25 | Fujitsu Limited | Cursor displacement control device for a computer display |
| EP0645732A1 (en) * | 1993-09-24 | 1995-03-29 | SINTECNA S.r.l. | Device for pointing the cursor on the screen of interactive systems |
| EP1048507A2 (en) * | 1999-04-30 | 2000-11-02 | C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni | Vehicle user interface |
| EP1658545A2 (en) * | 2003-08-29 | 2006-05-24 | Motorola, Inc. | Joystick controller for cellular telephone |
| WO2016076974A1 (en) * | 2014-11-10 | 2016-05-19 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | System for controlling welding parameter of a welding system |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3631946A (en) * | 1969-04-28 | 1972-01-04 | Citroen Sa | Transmission and clutch with manual pulse switch |
| US3835270A (en) * | 1973-06-04 | 1974-09-10 | Itt | Joy stick control mechanism with movable printed circuit switch assembly controlling motor input power polarity |
| US4088040A (en) * | 1977-01-03 | 1978-05-09 | Ross Myring Brian | 360° Cable actuating lever |
| EP0121866A2 (en) * | 1983-04-08 | 1984-10-17 | Tektronix, Inc. | Keyboard joyswitch |
-
1988
- 1988-03-29 GB GB8807366A patent/GB8807366D0/en active Pending
-
1989
- 1989-03-29 GB GB8907108A patent/GB2216994A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3631946A (en) * | 1969-04-28 | 1972-01-04 | Citroen Sa | Transmission and clutch with manual pulse switch |
| US3835270A (en) * | 1973-06-04 | 1974-09-10 | Itt | Joy stick control mechanism with movable printed circuit switch assembly controlling motor input power polarity |
| US4088040A (en) * | 1977-01-03 | 1978-05-09 | Ross Myring Brian | 360° Cable actuating lever |
| EP0121866A2 (en) * | 1983-04-08 | 1984-10-17 | Tektronix, Inc. | Keyboard joyswitch |
Cited By (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0477098A2 (en) * | 1990-09-18 | 1992-03-25 | Fujitsu Limited | Cursor displacement control device for a computer display |
| EP0477098A3 (en) * | 1990-09-18 | 1992-07-29 | Fujitsu Limited | Cursor displacement control device for a computer display |
| US5504502A (en) * | 1990-09-18 | 1996-04-02 | Fujitsu Limited | Pointing control device for moving a cursor on a display on a computer |
| EP0645732A1 (en) * | 1993-09-24 | 1995-03-29 | SINTECNA S.r.l. | Device for pointing the cursor on the screen of interactive systems |
| US5563629A (en) * | 1993-09-24 | 1996-10-08 | Sintecna S.R.L. | Device for pointing the cursor on the screen of interactive systems |
| EP1048507A3 (en) * | 1999-04-30 | 2000-12-06 | C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni | Vehicle user interface |
| EP1048507A2 (en) * | 1999-04-30 | 2000-11-02 | C.R.F. Società Consortile per Azioni | Vehicle user interface |
| US6369717B1 (en) | 1999-04-30 | 2002-04-09 | C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni | Vehicle user interface |
| US6636156B2 (en) | 1999-04-30 | 2003-10-21 | C.R.F. Societa Consortile Per Azioni | Vehicle user interface |
| EP1658545A2 (en) * | 2003-08-29 | 2006-05-24 | Motorola, Inc. | Joystick controller for cellular telephone |
| WO2005022285A3 (en) * | 2003-08-29 | 2006-06-08 | Motorola Inc | Joystick controller for cellular telephone |
| EP1658545A4 (en) * | 2003-08-29 | 2008-03-05 | Motorola Inc | Joystick controller for cellular telephone |
| WO2016076974A1 (en) * | 2014-11-10 | 2016-05-19 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | System for controlling welding parameter of a welding system |
| US10799972B2 (en) | 2014-11-10 | 2020-10-13 | Illinois Tool Works Inc. | System for controlling welding parameter of a welding system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8907108D0 (en) | 1989-05-10 |
| GB8807366D0 (en) | 1988-05-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |