Patent ID: 8319125
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: A61B,G05G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A pedal input device comprising: a base plate; a rotation center portion provided at the center of the base plate; a contacting plate rotatably and tiltably fitted to the rotation center portion, the contacting plate having a yaw switch contacting portion protruding downwards from a lower surface of the contacting plate; a pedal plate carried by the contacting plate and foot-operated so as to cause a drive member to make three-degree-of-freedom rotational movement, three-degree-of-freedom translational movement, the combination of two-degree-of-freedom translation and one-degree-of-freedom rotation, and the combination of two-degree-of-freedom rotation and one-degree-of-freedom translation; a pair of pitch switches installed on the base plate in an opposing relationship with each other so that the pitch switches can be alternately contacted to the contacting plate of the pedal plate; a pair of roll switches installed on the base plate in a perpendicular relationship to the pitch switches so that the roll switches can be alternately contacted to the contacting plate of the pedal plate; and a pair of yaw switches installed on the base plate in a spaced-apart relationship with each other so that the yaw switches can be alternately contacted to the yaw switch contacting portion as the pedal plate rotates, wherein the rotation center portion includes a ball race provided at the center of the base plate and a ball joint attached to the contacting plate, the ball joint being coupled with the ball race for rotational and pivotal movement relative to the ball race.