Electro-mechanical hand controller

An inclination sensitive hand controller comprises a generally cylindrical handle having liquid contact switches mounted at different angles of orientation within the handle. The switches are actuated dependent upon the tilting of the handle from a preselected position. A squeeze responsive control switch is mounted in a non-exposed position within the handle. This switch is activated or deactivated upon squeezing of the handle to control connection and disconnection of electrical power to the tilt switches. An exposed finger- depressible switch is mounted at one end of the handle which independently controls other circuits than the circuits controlled by the tilt switches and the squeeze responsive control switch.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This control handle is a unique improvement over all other prior art. 
A control handle is capable of simultaneously controlling a plurality of 
switches mounted within said handle. A combination of switch closures will 
be interpreted by a control signal receiver. The control signal receiver 
is of known construction and does not form part of the present invention. 
The control handle does not need to be oriented to any fixed object for 
stability of operation, and is ambidextrous by nature of design layout. 
Only one hand of an operator is necessary for full operation of the 
control handle. 
The switches are of the type which use electrically conductive liquid 
within the switch. The use of sealed tilt switches makes the control 
handle safe to use in an explosive atmosphere. These switches are low 
cost, long life, and sealed against the environment, which increases their 
useful life as compared to other types of electro-mechanical switches and 
potentiometers. The control handle takes advantage of the electronics in a 
control signal receiver, thus eliminating the need to incorporate variable 
resistance devices that translate positional information which are more 
costly and of lower life cycle. The plurality of tilt switches in the 
handle provides more flexibility and added efficiency by matching the 
psychomotor coordination of the operator to the type and nature of signal 
control receiver being used. By variation of the basic design, the control 
handle can be adapted to many types of radio controlled devices, computer 
controls, video games, industrial controls, and by people who have 
restricted mobility.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 illustrates the improved hand controller 13 according to the present 
invention. The handle is held with one hand by an operator 11 and is 
connected to a control signal receiver by a control cable 12. The control 
signal receiver is of known construction and does not form part of the 
present invention and is not shown. The control handle 13 also has a push 
button switch 14 that can be actuated by the operator's thumb which 
provides commands to the signal receiver for other purposes. 
The forward orientation is referenced by the appendage 10 on the handle. 
FIG. 2 illustrates a push button switch 14 mounted in handle 13 which is 
compressible. Inserted in handle which has a generally cylindrical shape 
is a casing 15 which houses a side sensing grip switch 16 which is held in 
place by a rod 17 so that the grip switch can pivot freely on the rod's 
axis when the operator squeezes the control handle to activate the grip 
switch. A tilt switch assembly is mounted to a wire loom 18 in the casing 
15. 
Cable 12 is secured into the bottom of handle 13 through a cable strain 
relief 19 that fits into the casing 15. 
FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 designate the vertical position of the tilt switch 
assembly loom 18. All tilt switches are adjusted to a specified tilt angle 
that is best suited for a particular application. Tilting or angular 
displacement of the handle from a normal vertical orientation, generally 
toward one of four horizontal, orthogonal directions will activate a 
respective one of or a combination of the four switches 20,21,22, or 23 
which are securely supported from a loom 18 within the handle. A 
combination of eight directional signals can be translated by a control 
signal receiver. Switch 23 is mounted at a right angle to switch 22 which 
is mounted at a right angle to switch 21 which is mounted at a right angle 
to switch 20. 
FIG. 5 designates one electrical layout. Tilting of handle 13 from a 
vertical position will provide one of eight positional signals to a 
control signal receiver by closing the electrical contacts in one or two 
of the tilt switches. By changing the tilt orientation of one or more tilt 
switches (a twenty-five degree tilt angle being illustrated in FIG. 3 by 
way of example) and adding passive components, the control switch assembly 
can easily interface with other types of control signal receivers. A switch 
16 can be wired as a DEAD-MAN SWITCH to stop positional information fed 
into a signal receiver if the operator drops the control handle. Or switch 
16 can be wired as an INHIBIT SWITCH as illustrated. The operator would 
squeeze the handle to disable information being sent to receiver.