Patent ID: 6300938
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A control device comprising:a support;a first cylinder coupled to said support and operative to rotate with respect to said support in a first rotary degree of freedom and to translate with respect to said support in a linear degree of freedom;a second cylinder coupled to at least one of said support and said first cylinder and positioned parallel to said first cylinder, said second cylinder rotatable with respect to said support in a second rotary degree of freedom and to translate with respect to said support in said linear degree of freedom; anda first sensor coupled to at least one of said support, said first cylinder, and said second cylinder and operative to sense said rotation of at least one of said first cylinder and said second cylinder, said first sensor outputting a first control signal representative of said rotation;a second sensor coupled to at least one of said support, said first cylinder, and said second cylinder and operative to sense said translation of at least one of said first cylinder and said second cylinder, said second sensor outputting a second control signal, wherein said first cylinder and said second cylinder can be rotated and translated by a finger or hand of a user.