FR2780547A1 - Joystick command button force reduction member - Google Patents

Abstract

The command button (30) is mounted on the joystick and has an adapter (32) mounted between it and the mounting spigot (22). A converter (28) converts the mechanical movement of the button into electrical command signals. The adapter limits the force applied to the button by acting as a blocking member. This prevents the mounting spigot from being overexerted in use.

Description

DEVICE FOR LIMITING FORCES

  APPLIED TO A CONTROLLER

  The present invention relates generally to control levers which convert forces applied by an operator into electrical signals and more particularly a

  device to limit the amount of force that can be applied

  on the joystick. Various types of devices are controlled by actions of a user on a joystick or joystick structure. The control handle structure is an electromechanical device that converts the forces exerted on a control handle by an operator into one or more electrical output signals. The output signals can be analog signals of voltage proportional to the applied force or signals modulated in pulse width (PWM), fixed frequency and variable duty cycle proportional to the force. Joystick structures can provide

  signals representing rotational and / or translational movements

  tion in one, two or three dimensions.

  In order for a means of action to control various moving components of a system, some control handle structures have one or more miniature control handle structures in a larger control handle or handle structure. US Patent 4,748,441 to Brzezinski describes an example of such a configuration comprising a small control handle structure provided with a control handle extending from the top of a larger control handle. The control handle is attached to a ball joint, the ball joint being movably mounted in a grommet. The operator grasps the control handle between one of his fingers and his thumb to move it over its travel range. It is often desirable to have a control handle that can be moved over its entire travel range using a single finger or thumb. Such applications include computer drawing, visual displays, flight control, fire controls, tracking telescopes, design and fabrication of integrated circuits, vehicle control, guided missile control, tables locator, head-up infrared systems, radar systems, hoists, cranes, inspection machines and robot control. In some miniature control handle structures, the control handle includes a long, relatively thin projection or

  lug. This type of joystick is suitable for certain applications

  cations, such as a cursor command in a desktop computer. However, we may wish to use the same structure of

  miniature control lever in applications in which

  the forces exerted on the control handle may be greater than those that the control handle is designed to withstand. To avoid damaging or breaking the control handle, we wish to provide a means of limiting the quantity

  force applied to the control handle.

  Various types of handles and knobs are commonly available and can be mounted on miniature joysticks for thumb or fingertip operation. Handles and knobs typically have no means of limiting the amount of force that can be exerted

on the control lever.

  Consequently, the present invention aims to overcome a

  or more of the above problems.

  More particularly, the present invention provides a device for limiting the forces exerted on a control handle structure, the control handle structure comprising a control handle mounted in a support, means for detecting the forces exerted on the handle. control, and means for converting the detected forces into electrical output signals. This device comprises a means for exerting forces on the control handle, and an adapter mounted on the control handle between the means for exerting forces and the

  means for detecting forces, the adapter comprising a part

  rear tie which extends substantially around the control handle, the rear part being arranged to come into contact with the support and prevent further movement of the control handle when the forces exerted on the control handle

  command cause it to move a predetermined amount.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention,

  the adapter further includes a mounting structure for

  ter the means for exerting forces on the control handle.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the means for exerting forces on the control lever

  includes a compressible entry button having a sur-

  raised to allow an operator to exert a force on the

  enter button in a desired direction.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention,

  the control handle is movable along an axis.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention,

  the control handle is movable along two axes.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention,

  the control handle is movable in two dimensions.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the compressible input button provides a tactile reaction for

  operator regarding the amount of force applied.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mounting structure comprises at least one lever extending

  from part of the adapter.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control lever returns to a neutral position unless

  a force greater than a determined threshold is applied to it.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control handle structure is connected to a bracket

  support for mounting in a gripping structure.

  The present invention also provides a handle structure comprising a handle having an internal part and a

  opening at a predetermined location; a hand structure

  yours mounted in the internal part of the handle; a control handle structure mounted on the holding structure, the control handle structure comprising a control handle mounted in a support, means for exerting forces on the control handle, means for detecting the forces exerted on the joystick, a way to convert

  forces detected in electrical output signals, and an adapta-

  tor mounted on the control handle between the means for exerting forces and the means for detecting forces, the adapter comprising a rear part extending substantially around the control handle, the rear part being arranged for

  come into contact with the support and prevent further movement

  of the joystick after the joystick has moved a predetermined amount due

forces exerted on it.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention,

  the adapter further includes a mounting structure for

  wear the means to exert forces on the control handle. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the means for exerting forces on the control lever

  includes a compressible entry button having a raised portion

  to allow an operator to exert forces on the

  joystick in a desired direction.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the raised part of the compressible entry button is mounted in the opening of the handle. According to an embodiment of the present invention,

  the control handle is movable along an axis.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the control handle is movable along two axes and the compressible entry button comprises several raised parts,

  each raised part being arranged to allow the operation

  tor to exert a force in a desired direction along a chosen axis. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control handle is movable in two dimensions and the

  raised portion extends substantially around the perimeter of bou-

  compressible entry tone that is exposed in the opening of the handle to allow the operator to exert force in

  any direction chosen from the two dimensions.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the mounting structure comprises at least one lever extending

  from part of the adapter.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control lever returns to a neutral position unless a force greater than a determined threshold is applied to the

control lever.

  These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be discussed in detail in

  the following description of particular embodiments

  made without limitation in relation to the appended figures among which: FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a control handle structure according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of an adapter according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a back view of the adapter; Figure 4 is a top view of the adapter; Figure 5 is a bottom view of the adapter; Figure 6 is a side view of the adapter; Figure 7 is a front view of the adapter mounted on a control handle; Figure 8a is a front view of a compressible input button; Figure 8b is a top view of the compressible input button; Figure 8c is a bottom view of the compressible input button; Figure 8d is a side view of the compressible input button;

  FIG. 9a is a front view of a lever incorporating

  rant a compressible input button according to the present invention; Figure 9b is a side view of the joystick; and

  Figure 9c is a front view of the controller.

  FIG. 1 shows a structure of a joystick

  force detection command 20 comprising a control handle 22 mounted in a support 24, means 26 for detecting the forces applied to the control handle 22 and means 28 for

  convert the detected forces into electrical output signals.

  The control handle structure 20 shown in Figure 1 is representative of the force sensing pointing device described in United States patent 5659354. The means 26 for detecting the force exerted on the control handle 22 may include one or more force sensing resistors or ceramic strain gauges. The means 28 for converting the detected forces into electrical output signals comprises an electronic signal processing circuit which can be implemented by hardware or software executed in

  using an integrated microprocessor or a combination of materials

  software and software as is known in the art. The force detection control handle structure 20 may be of the type which returns to a neutral position unless a force greater than a predetermined threshold is applied to the control handle 22. As a variant, the handle structure control 20 which locks or maintains the position of the control handle 22 in the direction of the last applied force can be used. Various types of structures

  force detection control levers can be incorporated

  res in the present invention which is not understood, however

  limit to use with the above device.

  The present invention comprises, to limit the forces exerted on the control handle 22, means for exerting forces on the control handle 22, represented in FIG. 1 as a compressible input button 30, and an adapter 32 mounted on the control handle 22 between the means for exerting forces and the means 26 for detecting forces. The adapter 32 is provided to prevent forces greater than desired from being exerted on the control handle 22 since excessively high forces could cause the control handle 22 to bend or break relative to the control handle structure 20. The adapter 32 is made of a rigid and durable material such as hard plastic or metal and has a rear part 34 extending around at least part of the handle 22. The rear part 34 is arranged to come into contact with the support 24 when

  the forces exerted on the control lever 22 bring the ma-

  control net 22 to move a predetermined amount.

  The contact between the rear part 34 and the support 24 prevents a

  additional movement of the control handle 22. The adapta-

  tor 32 substantially surrounds the control handle 22 and provides structural support for the control handle 22, protecting

  thus the control handle 22 of a damage or a rup-

  ture. The rear part 34 can completely surround the control handle 22 or it can extend only around selected parts of the control handle 22 in areas where the rear part 34 is likely to come into contact with the support 24. attach the adapter 32 to the control handle 22, the adapter 32 comprises a mounting opening 35 as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 which has a dimension and a shape suitable for adapting to the control handle 22. The shape of the mounting opening 35 makes it possible to leave a space between the adapter 32 and the support 24 even when the control handle 22 is completely engaged in the mounting opening 35. The space between the support 24 and the part rear 34 of the adapter 32 is necessary to allow the adapter 32 to tilt towards the support 24 in the direction in which the force is applied, as shown in Figure 7. The amount of space will vary depending on the shape and the dimension of the rear part 34 and must be chosen so that the rear part 34 contacts the support 24 when the control lever 22 is at the desired displacement limit. To keep in

  contact the adapter 32 and the control handle 22, the adapter

  tor includes openings 36 for inserting adjustment screws (not shown), a pin (not shown), or any other

  fixing means known in the art. The forces of rubbing-

  can also help hold adapter 32 by sizing mounting opening 35 for tight mounting on

  the control lever 22, and using textured finishes

  on the control lever 22 and in the mounting opening

  which create frictional forces between surfaces.

  As shown in Figures 2 to 6, the adapta-

  tor 32 further comprises one or more levers 37 which extend

  tooth from a front portion 38 of the adapter 32. The lever 37 constitutes a mounting structure for the compressible entry button 30. Various types of handles, buttons and switches can be used as means for exerting forces and the

  present invention is not limited to the input buttons compri-

  mniable 30. The adapter 32 can include as many levers 37 as necessary to constitute the means chosen to exert forces on the control handle 22. Such handles, buttons and switches which can be used as means for exerting forces on the joystick 22 are

  commercially available from several manufacturers. A struc-

  mounting structure, instead of or in addition to the levers 37, can be added to the adapter 32 to constitute the means chosen for

  exert forces on the compressible entry button 30.

  Figures 1 and 8a show the compressible entry button 30 as having two raised parts 39, 40 which constitute a surface allowing the operator to exert forces on the entry button in a chosen direction. The raised parts 39, 40 are arranged on the compressible entry button 30 in each direction in which the control handle 22 is allowed to move. The compressible entry button 30, represented in FIGS. 1 and 8a to 8d, is formed for movement along a single axis to the left or to the right. For movement along two axes, the compressible entry button 30 will comprise four raised parts to form a surface so that the operator can exert forces in the up, down, left and right directions. For a control handle structure suitable for exerting a movement in two dimensions, that is to say along two axes and anywhere between the two axes, the compressible input button 30 may comprise a raised part which constitutes an omnidirectional support for exerting a force on the control handle 22, such as a raised border around the perimeter of the compressible entry button 30. The material used to constitute the button

  compressible input 30 must be chosen to ensure

  desired strength / feel to manipulate the structure

control lever size 20.

  The present invention applies in cases where a control handle structure is used to supply electrical signals to a moving component in various types of systems, such as the systems mentioned above in the disclosure section of the prior art, to move the component at a desired speed in a desired direction. A handle structure 42, such as that shown in FIGS. 9a to 9c is

  often intended for operators of systems equipped with

  mobile health and other subsystems requiring operator controls. The handle 44 has a hollow internal part (not shown) and openings at predetermined locations in which are mounted control switches, such as for example the compressible input button 30. Holding structures (not shown) are mounted in the internal part of the handle 44 as means capable of limiting the force on a control handle 22 when forces are exerted on it. One or more control lever structures 20

  can be incorporated in a handle 44 or in other places

  cements such as a sign. The control handle structures can be of the same or of various types, depending on the components of the system which are controlled by an action of an operator. In addition, the control switches can be operated with any finger or thumb of either hand, depending on the location of the panel handle or other structure

  which incorporates the control handle structure.

Claims (19)

  1. Device for limiting the forces exerted on a control handle structure (20), the control handle structure (20) comprising a control handle (22) mounted in a support (24), means (26) for detecting the forces exerted on the control handle (22), and means (28) for converting   the forces detected in electrical output signals, characteristic   rised in that it comprises an adapter (32) mounted on the control handle (22) between the means for exerting forces and the means for detecting forces (26), the adapter (32) comprising a rear part ( 34) which extends substantially around the control handle (22), the rear part (34) being arranged   to come into contact with the support (24) and prevent movement   additional control lever (22) when the forces exerted on the control lever (22) bring the   control lever (22) to move by a predetermined amount   born. 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the adapter (32) further comprises a mounting structure for carrying the means for exerting forces on the lever. control (22).   3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the means for exerting forces on the control handle (22) comprises a compressible entry button (30) having a raised part (39, 40) to allow an operator to exercise a   force the input button (30) in a desired direction.   4. Device according to claim 1, in which the   control lever (22) is movable along an axis.   5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the   control lever (22) is movable along two axes.   6. Device according to claim 1, in which the   control lever (22) is movable in two dimensions.   7. Device according to claim 3, in which the compressible entry button (30) provides a tactile reaction for   operator regarding the amount of force applied.   8. Device according to claim 3, wherein the mounting structure comprises at least one lever (37) extending   from a part (38) of the adapter (32).   9. Device according to claim 1, in which the control lever (22) returns to a neutral position unless a force greater than a determined threshold is applied to the control handle (22).   10. Device according to claim 1, in which the control handle structure (20) is connected to a bracket.   support for mounting in a gripping structure.   11. Handle structure (42) comprising:   a handle (44) having an internal part and an opening   ture at a predetermined location; a holding structure mounted in the internal part of the handle (44); a control handle structure (20) mounted on the holding structure, the control handle structure (20) comprising a control handle (22) mounted in a support (24), means for exerting forces on the handle control (22), means (26) for detecting the forces exerted on the control handle, and means (28) for converting the detected forces into electrical output signals, this handle being characterized in that it comprises a adapter (32) mounted on the control handle (22) between the means for exerting forces and the means for sensing forces (26), the adapter (32) having a rear portion (34) extending substantially around the control handle (22), the rear part (34) being arranged to come into contact with the support (24) and prevent further movement of the control handle (22) after the control handle (22) has moved from   predetermined amount due to the forces exerted on it.   The structure of claim 11, wherein the adapter (32) further comprises a mounting structure for supporting the means for exerting forces on the joystick. control (22).   13. The structure of claim 11, wherein the means for exerting forces on the control handle (22) comprises a compressible entry button (30) having a raised portion (39, 40) to allow an operator to exert force on the input button (30) in a desired direction. 14. Structure according to claim 13, in which the raised part (39, 40) of the compressible entry button (30)   is mounted in the opening of the handle (44).   15. The structure of claim 14, wherein   the control handle (22) is movable along an axis.   16. Structure according to claim 14, in which the control handle (22) is movable along two axes and the   compressible entry button (30) comprises several sur-   raised (39, 40), each raised part (39, 40) being arranged   to allow the operator to exert a force in a direction tion desired along a chosen axis.   17. Structure according to claim 14, in which the control handle (22) is movable in two dimensions and   the raised portion (39, 40) extends substantially around the perimeter   meter of compressible entry button (30) which is exposed in the opening of the handle (44) to allow the operator to exert a force in any direction chosen from the two dimensions. 18. Structure according to claim 12, in which the mounting structure comprises at least one lever extending   from part of the adapter (32).   19. The structure as claimed in claim 12, in which the control lever (22) returns to a neutral position unless a force greater than a determined threshold is applied to the control handle (22).