Aircraft controls simulator

An aircraft controls simulator, for use with a computer programmed for aircraft flight simulation, having a yoke, a throttle control and a rudder control. A cabinet has a shaft extending therefrom attached to a simulated yoke control. The shaft operates an elevator potentiometer responsive to horizontal movement of the shaft and an aileron control responsive to rotation of the shaft. A throttle knob connected to a second shaft operates a throttle potentiometer. A foot operated potentiometer produces rudder control signals. A cable connects the potentiometers to the computer which utilizes the potentiometer positions to operate the flight simulation program.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to computer game controls, and more 
particularly to a device which simulates the major controls of an aircraft 
for use with flight simulator programs. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
There are a number of personal computer programs available on the market 
which are utilized to provide various types of simulated aircraft flight, 
such as take-offs, landings, maneuvers, instrument flight, and navigation 
with realistic display graphics on the computer monitor. In many 
instances, the computer keyboard is used to enter instructions to the 
computer. While of some value, such approach lacks the actual feel and 
movements that would be used in piloting an aircraft. Typical flight 
simulation programs include the ASI-IFR software produced by Alban 
Scientific, Inc., Worlds of Flight available from Tom Mix Software, and 
F-16 available from KRT Software, and Flight Simulator II from Sublogic. 
There is a need for a low cost control simulator which will give the 
appearance and feel of the yoke control, the throttle control, and rudder 
controls for a light aircraft to be used in conjunction with any of these 
programs for flight simulation. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention may be packaged in any desired configuration. 
However, a simple arrangement is to provide a small cabinet having an 
aircraft control yoke mounted to the panel by means of a movable shaft, 
and a throttle knob and shaft mounted adjacent to the control yoke. If 
desired, the yoke and throttle controls may be full sized as would be 
found in a light aircraft or these controls could be somewhat smaller. 
The control yoke is attached to a control shaft which projects from the 
cabinet. The yoke may be turned to rotate the shaft to simulate aileron 
control and may be pushed in and withdrawn to simulate elevator control. A 
pair of electrical potentiometers is disposed in the cabinet and connected 
to the control shaft. Each potentiometer is connected to a 5 volt source 
such that the center arms thereof can produce an output voltage between 
zero and 5 volts to be used by the computer to simulate motion of an 
aircraft responsive to the aircraft control surfaces. 
The elevator potentiometer is secured to the cabinet and coupled to the 
control shaft by a lever arm to cause it to rotate when the control yoke 
is pushed forward or pulled rearward. A centering spring may be included 
to apply physical resistance to operation of the elevator control to 
heighten realism of the simulation. The control shaft is also coupled to 
the shaft of the aileron potentiometer which is free to move without 
rotation of the shaft when the elevator control is used. When the aileron 
control is simulated by rotation of the yoke, the potentiometer shaft 
rotates, producing an output voltage between zero to 5 volts. A centering 
spring may be used in conjnction with the aileron potentiometer. 
The throttle control operates in a similar fashion as the elevator control, 
having a spherical knob attached to a slidable shaft adapted to rotate the 
shaft of a throttle potentiometer. 
A floor mounted unit is provided with a rudder potentiometer that is 
rotatable by a pair of foot pedals. Alternatively, a potentiometer and 
knob can be mounted on the cabinet panel to simulate operation of the 
rudder. 
The various potentiometers are connected to a multiconductor cable having a 
plug for connecting into the computer. 
As will now be recognized, the invention provides a set of simulated light 
aircraft controls to permit the user of a computer flight simulation 
program to gain a realistic experience and practice in flying an aircraft. 
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a realistic 
controller for an aircraft flight simulation program for a computer having 
aileron, elevator, rudder and throttle controls. 
It is another object of the invention to provide a controller having an 
aircraft type control yoke and a throttle knob in which the control yoke 
operates in aileron potentiometer and an elevator potentiometer. 
It is yet another object of the invention to provide an elevator and 
aileron simulation control yoke having resistance to operation thereof and 
means for applying a centering bias thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIG. 1 illustrates a possible arrangement of the invention when used in 
connection with a computer and display unit. A cabinet 8 having a front 
panel 13 which contains a set of potentiometers which are connected by a 
cable 76 to a computer and display unit 100 shown in phantom view placed 
on top of cabinet 13. The cabinet 13 is shown resting on table 5. An 
aileron and elevator control yoke 12 and throttle 47 project from cabinet 
13 and are appropriately located for a user seated before the setup. On 
the floor beneath table 5 is a rubber control unit 70 having a base unit 
52, a rotatable crossbar 58 and a pair of foot pedals 60. As will be 
discussed below, pedals 60 may be operated by the user's feet to simulate 
control of a rudder. An alternative rudder control 51 is indicated in 
phantom view as will be discussed hereinafter. 
Details of a preferred arrangement for the elevator and aileron control 
elements is shown in FIG. 2. In this view, a bottom plate 19 of cabinet 8 
is shown in partial view as well as a partial view of cabinet panel 13. An 
upright bracket 16 is attached to bottom plate 19 and supports a shaft 28 
which may have a diameter of 1/4". Holes through bracket 16 and front 
panel 13 act as bearings for shaft 28. Shaft 28 is connected to a 
simulated aircraft control yoke 12 which may be full size or smaller. 
Wheel 12 may be made from any suitable material but preferably is of 
plastic to minimize cost. As will be recognized, shaft 28 may be moved 
inward and outward by means of control yoke 12. At the rear of shaft 28, 
the control shaft of a potentiometer 30 is coupled thereto. 
Potentiometer 30 is mounted to a horizontally disposed L-shaped bracket 14 
by its bushing and lock nut. Thus, bracket 14 will move forward and to the 
rear as shaft 28 is moved horizontally by control yoke 12. Bracket 14 is 
guided by vertical bracket 16 such that potentiometer 30 will not rotate 
as shaft 28 is moved backward and forward. A notch 15 cut in the forward 
end of bracket 14 is coupled by a lever arm 17 to control shaft 18 of 
potentiometer 20. As will be noted, potentiometer 20 is attached to bottom 
plate 19 which may be done with epoxy cement or the like. Therefore, as 
yoke 12 is moved backward and forward, potentiometer 20 will be rotated as 
indicated by arrow C and is utilized to simulate movement of the elevator 
surfaces of an aircraft. When control yoke 12 is rotated as indicated by 
arrow A, shaft 28 rotates the wiper of potentiometer 30 to simulate 
aileron control of an aircraft. 
It is desirable to provide some resistance to movement of yoke 12 both 
laterally and in rotation to more realistically simulate the feeling of an 
aircraft control yoke. To that end, torsion spring 32 is attached by rod 
31 to shaft 28 at one end and to bracket 14 at the other end. As shaft 28 
rotates, spring 32 acts as a torsion spring to oppose the rotation in 
either direction. It also acts as a centering spring and is adjusted to 
define the desired center position of potentiometer 30 which would 
represent level flight of the aircraft. 
Similarly, compression spring 34 is provided between the end of bracket 14 
and vertical bracket 16. As control yoke 12 is moved inward and outward, 
spring 34 is either compressed or stretched providing resistance to the 
motion. Spring 34 also acts as a centering spring and lever arm 14 is 
adjusted to place elevator potentiometer 20 in a neutral position for 
level flight when centered. 
FIG. 3 shows a cutaway view of cabinet 8 illustrating a typical throttle 
control assembly. Here, potentiometer 40 is attached to bottom plate 19. A 
vertical bracket 45 is provided with holes in front panel 13 and bracket 
45 supporting shaft 44 which is free to slide in panel 13 and bracket 45 
as indicated by arrow D. A round knob is attached to the outer end of 
shaft 44 to simulate a typical throttle control. A fork assembly 43 is 
mounted at the inner end of shaft 44 and is coupled to lever arm 42 by 
rotatable bushing 49. Arm 42 operates control shaft 41 of potentiometer 
40. Thus, movement of knob 47 inward and outward simulates the operation 
of the throttle of the aircraft. 
In FIG. 4, the arrangement for operation of the rudder potentiometer is 
shown. Rudder potentiometer 50 is mounted into base unit 52 along with 
weights 54 which may be included to give the unit stability. A felt or 
rubber mat may be also attached to the bottom surface thereof to provide 
friction with the floor. A bushing assembly 56 is provided which couples 
crossarm 58 to potentiometer 50 such that movement of pedals 60 by the 
user's feet will cause rotation of potentiometer 50. Since the rudder 
control is not critical, the rudder control potentiometer may be mounted 
on panel 13 and controlled by knob 51 as shown in FIG. 5 and in phantom 
view in FIG. 1. This alternative arrangement reduces the cost of the 
controls simulator. 
Since normally only a small movement of rudder pedals is required, it may 
be desirable to drive potentiometer through a gearing arrangement such 
that a small rotation results in a large rotation of potentiometer 50. 
Alternatively, a high voltage may be applied to potentiometer 50 such that 
the output voltage has a greater swing than for the normal operating 
voltage. 
A typical electrical connection for the simulator of the invention is shown 
in schematic form in FIG. 5. As shown, potentiometers 20, 30, 40, and 50 
have one side of each connected through a sensitivity resistor 71, 72, 73 
and 74. These resistors may be adjusted to produce a desired maximum swing 
of voltage when the simulated controls are moved over their maximum range. 
Generally, most programs and logic circuits in the computer require a 
maximum of 5 volts. Consequently, FIG. 5 shows 5 volts applied to the 
potentiometer circuits. However, it is to be understood that this voltage 
may be varied in accordance with the computer, the program and the 
sensitivity required from the potentiometers. The wiper arms of each 
potentiometer are connected to a pin on a plug 75 via a cable 76. The type 
of plug 75 and the pin connections are selected to match the computer and 
program with which the device will be used as will be clear to those of 
skill in this art. 
As will now be understood, the user is seated in front of the control box 
with the rudder control unit 70 at a convenient location to permit 
operation thereof with the user's feet. The program is loaded into the 
computer and the simulated aircraft shown on the graphic display on the 
screen is observed while the throttle control 47, aileron and elevator 
control 12, and rudder control 70 are operated to perform take-offs, 
landings, and other maneuvers within the capabilities of the flight 
simulation program. It has been found that when the system is operated in 
a darkened room or with a hood placed over the operator and computer, a 
very realistic feeling of flight is obtained and the user obtains both 
manual and psychological practice in aircraft flight. 
Although specific mechanical arrangments of the controls and the 
potentiometers have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those of skill 
in the art to use a variety of other arrangements to obtain the desired 
rotation of the potentiometers. Such variations are considered to fall 
within the scope and spirit of the invention.