Foot operated electrical control with potentiometers

A foot operated electrical control is disclosed with simulated aircraft rudder pedals coupled to potentiometers for providing signals to a microcomputer having a flight simulation program. The pedals are additionally linked to one another by slides and a rocker arm for simultaneous pedal travel in opposite directions. The potentiometers may provide cumulative signals determined by pedal displacement or distinct signals when functioning independently of one another. For this latter purpose a carrier block for the rocker arm is positionable out of engagement with the foot pedals. Opposed springs of the control serve to position the pedals in an upright static position. Each pedal is coupled to a potentiometer by spring and pedal biased slides with one of the slides in wiping contact with the pedal.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention pertains generally to foot actuated, electrical 
controls for providing a signal to a microcomputer or other device. 
Available today are computer programs that provide a screen display on a 
monitor of a simulated instrument panel as well as what a pilot would see 
during various stages of a flight e.g., runway, terrain, other aircraft. 
Mock-up flight or other controls may be utilized to provide signals to the 
computer via a game card port. Flight simulator programs can be driven 
with a keyboard, a mouse, and/or joystick(s). These devices provide 
electrical signals to the microcomputer, which are translated by the 
program to simulate aircraft movement. This information is then displayed 
graphically on the computer monitor to show changes in cockpit instruments 
and various views from the simulated airplane. In an optional 
auto-coordinated mode, movement of the airplane rudder is automatic with 
movement of the ailerons by electrical inputs from the keyboard, mouse, 
and/or joystick(s). In an uncoordinated mode, movement of the rudder is 
independent of the ailerons. In this mode, rudder movement is made through 
the keyboard, or a second joystick which are digital devices that can 
directly communicate with computer and software. The joystick is a hand 
operated, analog device that has a control connected to two potentiometers 
connected to a microcomputer via a game card adaptor. The variable 
resistances are converted to a digital output by the game card adaptor. 
Depending upon the values measured, the ailerons, elevators, rudder and/or 
throttle will move by an amount specified in the flight simulation 
program. 
Flying involves all the senses and the total coordination of eyes, hands, 
and feet. The conventional keyboard, mouse, and joystick make no provision 
for the use of feet in microcomputer flight simulation. All of these 
devices are hand operated. However, in most airplanes the feet operate the 
rudder which is essential for coordinated turns, crosswind landings and 
takeoffs, corrections during instrument approaches and recovery from 
spins. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,007 discloses yoke, throttle and rudder controls all in 
electrical circuit with a personal computer. Each of the controls is 
mechanically coupled to a potentiometer. The simulated rudder control 
includes a horizontal bar journalled at its center for swinging about a 
vertical axis. Pedals are fixedly located at the ends of the bar for 
travel in atypical fashion in a horizontal arc. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,070 discloses a simulator yoke wherein axial as well as 
rotational yoke movement is resisted by opposed spring elements. Control 
movement is sensed by potentiometers of the rotary or slide type. The 
flight simulation system disclosed is not intended for use with a personal 
computer. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,031 discloses a personal computer equipped with a 
flight simulation program with a mock-up instrument panel provided with a 
movable yoke. No provision is made for rudder pedals. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,955,362 discloses a flight simulator wherein reaction to 
simulator controls is provided by spring elements. Displacement of such 
controls is sensed by potentiometers of various types. 
The known controls fail to provide a rudder control providing a true 
simulation of an aircraft's rudder pedals. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
The present invention is embodied within a control having pedals which move 
opposite to one another to accurately simulate the rudder pedals of an 
aircraft and which provide electrical signals to a personal computer 
equipped with a flight simulator program. Provision is additionally made 
for independent or single pedal operation permitting other uses of the 
control. 
The present control includes a housing positionable on a floor surface and 
in which a pair of pedals are provided each mounted for fore and aft 
movement in opposite directions. Resilient members within the housing bias 
each of the pedals to a neutral position. Pedal movement is imparted to 
potentiometers via yieldably mounted components. Provision is made for 
varying pedal positioning and pedal action as well as accurately 
duplicating the opposed travel of rudder pedals by coupling same to one 
another. Repositioning of a single component enables operation of the 
present control in a single pedal mode to increase the usefulness of the 
present foot-operated control beyond that of a mock-up flight control. 
Important objectives of the present control include the provision of a foot 
operated control wherein a pair of pedals move simultaneously in opposite 
fore and aft directions in response to foot exerted pressure on one pedal 
similar to the movement of aircraft rudder pedals; the provision of a foot 
operation control having potentiometers which provide a signal to a 
microcomputer having a flight simulation program to provide the user a 
more accurate and complete simulation of aircraft operation; the provision 
of a foot operated control for providing electrical signals resulting from 
potentiometers each responsive to a foot pedal; the provision of a foot 
operated control including a rocker arm and plungers providing motion 
translating means imparting movement from a foot biased pedal of the 
control to the remaining pedal with movement of the latter being in a 
direction opposite to the foot biased pedal; the provision of a foot 
operated control providing the user the option of a pair of pedals moving 
in a linked manner to operate a pair of potentiometers in series with one 
another as well as having the capability of operating singly to provide 
separate electrical signals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
With continuing attention to the drawings wherein applied reference 
numerals indicate parts similarly hereinafter identified, the reference 
numeral 1 indicates generally the present foot operated control. A 
computer monitor or screen is at S, a mock-up throttle is at T and a 
mock-up yoke or stick is at J shown as a joystick control. 
The control includes a housing 2 comprised of side walls 3 and 4, and end 
wall 5 and a bottom wall 6. Partitions at 7 and 8 denote interior areas of 
the housing for reception of the following described components. A pad on 
bottom wall 6 prevents slippage during control use. 
A cover 10 is removably placed on the housing and includes a pair of side 
walls 11 and an end wall 12 with a top wall 13 defining openings as at 13A 
through which project a pair of pedals at 14. 
The pedals 14 are carried by a shaft 15 with the shaft, as shown in FIG. 3, 
extending through a lower portion 14A of each pedal. An upper portion, 
above shaft 15, provides an exposed upright tread surface for foot 
contact. Lower pedal portions 14A are biased by spiral springs 16 having 
one end removably mounted in housing attached cups 17 while the remaining 
end of the springs are disposed about bosses 18 on the pedals. Accordingly 
springs 16 may be readily removed for purpose$ later noted. 
Potentiometers at 20 and 21 are part of like components of the control and 
accordingly the following description of one such component is believed 
adequate. An elongate unit base 23 is closely confined between a housing 
sidewall and a housing partition and secured in place as by fasteners F. 
Said base defines a channel 24 open at its end opposite a pedal 14. A 
plate 22 overlies the base 23 and serves to carry potentiometer 21. A 
potentiometer arm is fitted with a spherical fitting 25 disposed within 
channel 24 where it is positioned by slides or plungers at 26 and 27 in 
said channel. A spiral spring 28 in the channel biases both slides 26 and 
27 as well as potentiometer arm end 25 in one direction. As slide 27 is in 
sliding contact with pedal lower portion 14A it will be seen that lower 
pedal portion 14A will displace slide 27 for partial slide retraction into 
base 23. Positioning of spring 28 and slide 26 is by an adjustable 
follower 30 and a screw 30A for precise positioning of potentiometer arm 
25. Each potentiometer is provided with trimming adjustments as at 29. 
Pedal motion translation means for imparting opposite movement to the idle 
or non-foot biased pedal and includes a carrier block 31 having a pair of 
bores 32 to receive slides or plungers at 33 and 34 which at their inner 
ends bear against a pivotally mounted rocker arm 36. The outer end of each 
slide 33-34 is in abutment with a lower pedal portion 14A. Accordingly, 
for example foot exerted forward pressure on right hand pedal 14 causes 
slide 33 to partially retract into carrier block 31 to impart arcuate 
clockwise movement to rocker arm end 36A to advance remaining slide 34 in 
an outward direction to impart rearward motion to the lower portions 14A 
of remaining pedal 14. Rocker arm 36 is provided with spherical ends 36A 
which cooperate with radiussed inner ends of slides 33 and 34. 
For deactivating the motion translation means to permit independent pedal 
movement as when the present control is being utilized other than as a 
rudder control in a flight simulator, a retainer at 40 is provided which 
has a forward position, shown in full lines, and a retracted position 
shown in broken lines. In the broken line position, foot biased movement 
of a pedal 14 results in carrier block 31 being displaced toward retainer 
40 to deactivate the motion translation means and prevent rotational 
movement of the rocker assembly. Accordingly carrier block 31 is retracted 
by initial movement of one pedal 14 after retainer 40 has been manually 
positioned to the broken line position about pivot pin 41. The off center 
pin permits movement of a retainer finger grip 42 to swing the retainer 
about pivot pin 41 away from carrier block 31. 
With attention to the wiring schematic in FIG. 6, the potentiometers 20 and 
21 are provided with five volts as required by most microcomputers. Other 
voltages may be utilized to suit the requirements at hand. Closing double 
pole switches 43 or 44 and 45 respectively puts the potentiometers in 
series in circuit 1 or circuit 2 with current changes being cumulative as 
when the present control is used in conjunction with a computer having a 
flight simulation program. 
Double pole switches 43-44 when closed (with switch 45 open) permit the 
potentiometers 20 and 21 to operate singly to permit one or both foot 
pedals 14 to provide signals to enable optional use of the present control 
to best suit the purposes at hand. Switch block 47 is a terminal installed 
in place on housing 1 for convenient user selection of circuits 1 and 2. 
In a typical flight simulation application with the potentiometers in 
series, the output or signals are applied to circuit 1 or circuit 2. When 
functioning independent of one another, the potentiometers may provide 
separate signals respectively to circuits 1 and 2. 
In use as rudder control in combination with a microcomputer, the 
potentiometers both have a neutral or unbiased position with the 
corresponding combined resistance being for example 50K ohms applied to a 
computer game card adapter. When the control is wired as per FIG. 6 foot 
pressure on left foot pedal 14 will cause potentiometer arm 25 of 
potentiometer 20 to move counterclockwise to decrease resistance resulting 
in an increased current flow in circuit 1 assuming double pole switch 43 
is closed. The increased current flow above the set point is read by the 
computer. Similarly upon closure of double pole switch 44 5 v. is applied 
to potentiometer 21. Clockwise movement of potentiometer arm 25, upon foot 
actuation of right foot pedal 14, will increase resistance to reduce 
current flow, below the set point, through switch 44 in circuit 2. 
When the pedals function as aircraft rudder pedals conjointly but in 
opposite directions through rocker arm 36, current fluctuations from both 
potentiometers are of a magnitude readily sensed by the computer. Double 
pole switch 46, when closed, applies a constant resistance or load to 
circuit 2 for calibration purposes. 
While I have shown but a few embodiments of the invention, it will be 
apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied 
still otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention. 
Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be secured by a 
Letters Patent is: