JP2000122742A - Device controlling force applied to control stick - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To limit the strength of the force applied to the control stick by fitting a specific adapter onto the control stick between a force imparting means and a force detecting means. SOLUTION: A force detection control stick assembly includes the control stick 22 fitted to a base 24, a force detecting means 26 which detects the force applied thereto, and a means 28 which converts the detected force into an electric output signal. The adapter 32 is fitted onto the control stick 22 between the force imparting means which applies the force to the control stick 22 like a compression pad 30 and the force detecting means 26. Then the adapter 32 includes a back part 34 which extends to the periphery of at least part of the control stick 22, its bottom part comes into contact with the base 24, and when the control stick 22 moves by a specific quantity with the force applied thereto, it is disabled to further move.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a control stick for converting a force applied by an operator into an electric signal. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for limiting the amount of force applied to a control stick.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of devices are controlled by input from an operator using a control stick assembly or a joystick assembly. A control stick assembly is an electromechanical device that converts the force exerted on the control stick by an operator into one or more electrical output signals. The output signal may be an analog voltage signal proportional to the applied force or a pulse width modulated (pwm) signal having a constant frequency variable duty cycle signal proportional to the force. The control stick assembly may be any output signal that indicates rotation or translation in one, two, or three directions.

One or more small control stick assemblies may be incorporated into a large control stick or grip assembly to form an input means for controlling the various movable components of the system. U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,441 describes one of the structures that includes a small control stick assembly having a control stick extending through the top of a large control stick.
Examples will be disclosed. The control stick is mounted on a ball joint, which is movably seated on the grommet. The operator holds the control stick between the index finger and the thumb and moves it over the range of motion. It is preferable to have a control stick that is moved in the operating range with one finger or thumb. Such applications include computer graphics, visual displays, flight control, weapon fire control, tracking telescopes, integrated circuit design and manufacturing, vehicle control, guided missile control, plot boards, advanced infrared systems, radar systems, hoisting systems. , Search machine,
And robot control. In a given small control stick assembly, the control stick is
It has long, relatively slim projections, or pegs. Control sticks of this kind are suitable for certain applications, such as cursor control in laptop computers. However, it is desirable to use such a small control stick for applications where the force applied to the control stick is greater than that designed for the control stick to be more durable. In order to avoid loss or breakage of the control stick, means are desired to limit the amount of force applied to the control stick.

[0004]

A number of different types of handles and knobs are currently available that can be attached to a small control stick for thumb or fingertip operation. The handle and knob generally do not include any means for limiting the amount of force applied to the control stick. Accordingly, the present invention addresses one or more of the problems described above.

[0005]

In one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for limiting the force applied to a control stick comprises: means for applying force to the control stick;
An adapter attached to the control stick is included between the means for detecting this force. The adapter includes a back portion extending around at least a portion of the control stick. The adapter is attached to the control stick such that when the lower part contacts the base and the force applied to the control stick causes the control stick to move a predetermined amount, the control stick does not move further.
The adapter includes a mounting structure, such as a lever, extending from a front portion of the adapter to support the means for applying a force to the control stick. The means for applying a force to the control stick includes a compressible input pad having a raised portion so that an operator can apply a force to the control stick in a desired direction. The compression input pad provides tactile feedback to the operator regarding the magnitude of the applied force. The invention can be applied to a movable control stick along one axis or along two axes, ie in two directions.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, a force detecting control stick assembly 20 includes a control stick 22 mounted on a base 24, and a force detecting means 2 for detecting a force applied to the control stick 22.
6, and means 28 for converting the detected force into an electrical output signal. The control stick assembly 20 shown in FIG.
9 shows a force detection pointer device disclosed in US Pat. Force detecting means 26 applied to control stick 22
May include one or more force sensing resistors, ie, ceramic strain resistors. Means for converting 28 from the detected value to an electrical output signal may be implemented in hardware, or software implemented using an embedded microprocessor, or a combination of hardware and software as is known. Includes signal conditioning electronics. The force detection control stick assembly 20 may be of a type that returns to the neutral position unless a force exceeding a predetermined threshold is applied to the control stick 22. Alternatively, a control stick assembly 20 that supports or holds the position of the control stick 22 in the direction in which the force was last applied may be used. Many types of force sensing control stick assembly models are incorporated in the present invention, but are not limited to the use of the above-described device.

The present invention for limiting the force applied to the control stick 22 includes a means for applying a force to the control stick 22 such as a compression pad 30 as shown in FIG. Adapter 3 mounted on control stick 22
And 2. The adapter 32 is designed such that a greater than desired force is not applied to the control stick 22 such that the control stick 22 bends or breaks from the control stick assembly 20. The adapter 32 is made of hard plastic or a durable, hard material and has a back portion 34 extending around at least a portion of the control stick 22. The back portion 34 is arranged to contact the base 24 when the control stick 22 moves by a predetermined amount due to the force applied to the control stick 22. Contact between the back portion 34 and the base 24 prevents further movement of the control stick 22. Adapter 3
2 substantially surrounds the control stick 22, structurally supports the control stick 22, and prevents the control stick 22 from being damaged or destroyed. The back portion 34 may extend completely around the control stick 22 or may extend around a selected segment of the control stick 22 in the area where the back portion 34 will contact the base 24. .

[0008] Connect the adapter 32 to the control stick 2
For mounting on the adapter 2, the adapter 32 includes a mounting port 35 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 and is sized to fit the control stick 22. The depth of the mounting port 35 is such that a space remains between the adapter 32 and the base 26 even when the control stick 22 is fully engaged with the mounting pouch 35. The space between the base 24 and the back portion 34 of the adapter 32 requires that the adapter 32 be able to tilt toward the base 24 in the direction in which the force is applied, as shown in FIG. The size of the space varies according to the shape and size of the back portion 34 so that the back portion 34 contacts the base 24 when the control stick 22 is at the desired operating limit. To maintain the engagement between the adapter 32 and the control stick 22, the adapter includes an opening 36 for inserting a mounting screw (not shown) and a cotter pin (not shown) or another known in the art. Including coupling means. The friction force is sized so that the mounting port 35 fits snugly on the control stick 22 and by using a tactile finish on the control stick 22, the mounting port 3 is such that a frictional force is generated between the surfaces.
5 helps to hold the adapter 32.

As shown in FIGS. 2 through 6, adapter 32 extends from front portion 38 of adapter 32.
It includes one or more levers 37. The lever 37 forms a mounting structure for the compression input pad 30. Various types of handles, knobs and switches may be used as a means for applying force, and the invention is not limited to the compression input pad 30. The adapter 32 need only include the lever 37 necessary to support the selected means of exerting a force on the control stick 22. Used as a means of applying force to the control stick 22,
Handles, knobs and switches are available from several manufacturers. Instead of or in addition to the mounting structure, a lever 37 is added to the adapter 32 to support a selected means of applying a force to the compression input pad 30.

FIGS. 1 and 8a illustrate a compressed input pad 30 having two raised portions 39, 40 forming a surface on which an operator applies a force in a desired direction to the input pad.
Raised portions 39, 40 are located on compression input pad 30 in each direction in which control stick 22 can be moved. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8a to 8d, the compression input pad 30 is configured to move along one axis in the left-right direction. For movement along two axes, the compression input pad 30 has four raised portions to allow an operator to apply forces in up, down, left, and right directions.
For a control stick assembly that can move in two directions, i.e., two axes and any location between these axes, the compression input pad 30 has a raised profile around the circumference of the compression input pad 30. Like a rim,
What is necessary is just to include the raised part which forms the multidirectional support part which applies a force to the control stick 22. The material used to construct the compression input pad 30 must be selected to provide the desired force / feel characteristics and handle the control stick assembly 20.

The present invention is applicable to situations where a control stick assembly is used to provide an electrical signal to a moving component in various types of systems, such as the systems described in the Background of the Invention above. , The components can be moved in a desired direction at a desired speed. 9a to 9c
A handgrip assembly 42, such as that shown in FIG. 3, is often provided for the operator of the system for the movable components and subsystems required for operator input. The handgrip 44 has a hollow interior (not shown) and an opening at a predetermined location where the control switch is mounted, such as the compression input pad 30. A retaining structure (not shown) is mounted inside the handgrip 44 for the means to apply force to the control stick 22 where the force is applied. One or two
One or more control stick assemblies 20 may be incorporated into the handgrip 44 or another location such as a panel. The control stick assemblies may be of the same or different types, depending on the components of the system that are controlled via input from the operator. Furthermore, the control switch is a hand grip,
It may be operated with one finger, or thumb, according to the location of the panel or another structure incorporating the control stick assembly. Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.

[0012] Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a control stick assembly according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the adapter according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the adapter.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the adapter.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the adapter.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the adapter.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the adapter attached to the control stick.

FIG. 8a is a top view of a compressible input pad.

FIG. 8b is a top view of a compressible input pad.

FIG. 8c is a bottom view of the compressible input pad.

FIG. 8d is a side view of a compressible input pad.

FIG. 9a is a front view of a handgrip incorporating a compression input pad in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9b is a side view of the handgrip.

FIG. 9c is a top view of the handgrip.

[Sign]

 Reference Signs List 20 control stick assembly 22 control stick 24 base 26 force detection means 28 force conversion means 30 input pad 32 adapter 36 opening 37 lever 42 hand grip assembly 44 hand grip

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing the front page (72) Inventor Val Gee Voucher 61561 Lo Annoke Green 401, Illinois United States 401 (72) Inventor Lisa A. Krieger United States of America Illinois 61548 Metamora Bayside Circle 705 (72) Inventor Stephen W. Lector United States Illinois State 61548 Metamora R3

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A control stick assembly comprising: a control stick attached to a base; means for detecting a force applied to the control stick; and means for converting the detected force to an electrical output signal. An apparatus for limiting force, comprising: means for applying force to the control stick; and an adapter mounted on the control stick between the force applying means and the force detecting means. The adapter has a back portion extending substantially around the control stick, the back portion contacting the base, and the force applied to the control stick causes the control stick to move by a predetermined size. When moving, arrange to prevent further movement of the control stick Apparatus characterized by being. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises a mounting structure for supporting the means for applying a force to the control stick. 3. The means for exerting a force on the control stick comprises a compressible input pad having a raised portion to enable an operator to exert a force on the input pad in a desired direction. The device of claim 1, wherein 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control stick is movable along one axis. 5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the control stick is movable along two axes. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control stick is movable in two directions. 7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the compressible input pad provides tactile feedback to an operator taking into account the magnitude of the applied force. 8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mounting structure includes at least one lever extending from a portion of the adapter. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control stick returns to a neutral position if no force above a predetermined threshold is applied to the control stick. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control stick assembly is connected to a holding bracket for mounting in a gripping structure. 11. A handgrip assembly, comprising: an inner portion; a handgrip having an opening at a predetermined location; a retaining structure attached to the inner portion of the handgrip; A control stick assembly, the control stick assembly comprising:
A control stick attached to a base, a means for applying a force to the control stick, a means for detecting a force applied to the control stick, a means for converting the detected force into an electric output signal, and the force applying means; An adapter mounted on the control stick between the force detection means, the adapter having a back portion extending substantially around the control stick, the back portion contacting the base. A hand grip assembly, wherein the control stick is arranged to prevent further movement of the control stick after moving a predetermined distance due to the force on the control stick. 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the adapter comprises a mounting structure for supporting a means for applying a force to the control stick. 13. The means for exerting a force on the control stick comprises a compressible input pad having a raised portion, such that an operator can exert a force on the input pad in a desired direction. An apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that: 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the raised portion of the compressible input pad is mounted in an opening of the handgrip. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the control stick is movable along one axis. 16. The control stick is moveable along two axes, and the compression input pad includes a plurality of raised portions, the raised portions being provided along an axis selected by an operator. 15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the device is arranged to apply a force in a direction. 17. The control stick is moveable in two directions, the raised portion extends substantially around the compression input pad exposed to the opening of the handgrip, and the operator can move the control stick in the two directions. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the device is adapted to apply a force in either direction. 18. The device of claim 12, wherein the mounting structure includes at least one lever extending from a portion of the adapter. 19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control stick returns to the neutral position if no force exceeding a predetermined threshold is applied to the control stick.