Abstract:
A control stick assembly capable of conversion between an automatic return mode and a free-floating mode is disclosed. The control stick assembly comprises a control stick, a pair of potentiometers, linkages coupling the control stick to the potentiometers, spring means for urging the control stick toward a select position and means for reversibly disengaging the spring means.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a control stick assembly for generating electrical signals representative of the coordinates of control stick displacement and more particularly to a control stick assembly capable of operation in both an automatic return mode and a free-floating mode. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Control stick assemblies are used to generate electrical input signals for model aircraft radio control, computer display courser control, wheel chair controls, etc. There are basically two different types of control stick assemblies, each having a distinct mode of operation. In one type, a spring actuated mechanism is incorporated in the assembly which tends to return the control stick to some neutral or select position automatically when the stick is not acted upon by an external force. In the other type, the spring return mechanism is omitted so that the stick remains wherever placed after the external force is removed. 
     For some applications one type of device may be preferred over the other type. However, in many applications, an automatic return control stick would be preferred at times and a free-floating control stick would be preferred at other times. For example, the mode of operation for control stick assemblies which are used as an input control device for computer programs generally depend on the software that is used, wherein some software requires an automatic return mode and other software requires a free-floating mode. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to the invention, there is provided a control stick assembly capable of conversion between an automatic return mode and a free-floating mode. The control stick assembly comprises a control stick and means for generating an electric signal representative of the control stick position. 
     The assembly comprises spring means for urging the control stick toward a select or neutral position and means for reversibly disengaging the spring means for preventing the spring means from urging the control stick toward the select position. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for generating an electric signal representative of the control stick position comprises a potentiometer and a linkage connecting the control stick to the input shaft of the potentiometer so that angular displacement of the control stick about the axis of the input shaft results in rotation of the input shaft. The spring means comprises a movable member which is displaced from a first position toward a second position when the control stick is moved from the select position. The means for reversibly disengaging the spring means comprises a latch capable of releasably engaging and maintaining the movable member in the second position. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred control stick assembly; 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the control stick assembly of FIG. 1 with the bottom panel removed; 
     FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the components associated with one axis of the control stick assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2 and part of the other axis thereof; 
     FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the control stick assembly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in a free-floating mode; 
     FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of another preferred control stick assembly; 
     FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the control stick assembly shown in FIG. 5 in an automatic return mode; and 
     FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the control stick assembly shown in FIG. 5 in a free-floating mode. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A preferred control stick assembly constructed according to principles of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The assembly comprises a housing 8 having a top panel 9 and a bottom panel 10. The top panel 9 has a truncated pyramidal recess 11 with a control stick access opening 12 at its apex. A ball 19 is located on the underside of top panel 9 in closely spaced relationship to the edges of the access opening 12 and control stick 18 extends upwardly through opening 12 so as to be accessible from the top of housing 8. 
     With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, first and second potentiometers 13 and 14 are mounted on plates 16 and 17, respectively. One end of a control stick 18 is fixed to the ball 19. Control stick 18 is coupled to the input shaft of the first potentiometer 13 by the first crank 21. Specifically, a first connecting rod 22 extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the input shaft of the second potentiometer 14 from the end of the first crank 21 to ball 19. The first connecting rod 22 is fixed to the ball 19 but is free to rotate and translate with respect to the end of the first crank 21. 
     Control stick 18 is coupled to the input shaft of the second potentiometer 14 by a second crank 24. A second connecting rod 25 extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the input shaft of the first potentiometer 13 from the end of the second crank 24 to ball 19. The second connecting rod 25 is also fixed to ball 19 but is free to rotate with respect to the second crank 24. 
     As control stick 18 is displaced so that ball 19 rotates about the axis of the input shaft of potentiometer 13, such rotation is transferred to the input shaft by the first crank 21 and the first connecting rod 22, while the second connecting rod 25 rotates relative to the end of the second crank 24. A battery is connected across the end terminals of potentiometer 13 to produce, between one end terminal and an intermediate terminal, an electrical signal proportional to the rotational displacement of the input shaft. 
     Likewise, as control stick 18 is displaced so that ball 19 rotates about the axis of the input shaft of potentiometer 14, such rotation is transferred to the input shaft by the second crank 24 and the second connecting rod 25 while the first connecting rod 22 rotates with respect to the end of the first crank 21. A battery is connected across the end terminals of potentiometer 14 to produce, between one end terminal and an intermediate terminal, an electrical signal proportional to the rotational displacement of that input shaft. 
     Complex displacement of control stick 18 is resolved into components along axes coinciding with the axis of rotation of the input shafts of potentiometers 13 and 14, respectively and electrical signals proportional to the components of this displacement are generated across the terminals of the potentiometers. 
     The first crank 21 has a flat face from which a pair of pins 32 extends toward a plate 16. The pins 32 are preferably pressed into holes in the flat face of the first crank 21. The location of the pins determines the neutral position of the control stick for one axis. The surface of plate 16 facing toward the first crank 21 has a pair of pegs 33 and 34. A first rocker arm 36 is positioned between the plate 16 and the first crank 21. The first rocker arm 36 has an opening 37 at one end into which peg 33 fits to permit first rocker arm 36 to pivot away from the input shaft of the potentiometer 13. At the other end, the first rocker arm 36 has a hook 38. A spring 39 extends between the hook 38 and the peg 34 to bias the top edge of first rocker arm 36 against both of the pins 32. The spring 39 and the first rocker arm 36, acting through pins 32, provide a return force acting against the control stick 18, when it is displaced in either direction about the axis of the input shaft of potentiometer 13. 
     More particularly, when the first crank 21 is rotated in one direction due to the displacement of control stick 18, one of the pins 32 causes first rocker arm 36 to pivot from a position adjacent the input shaft of potentiometer 13 to a position removed from the input shaft in which the spring 39 is expanded. When the first crank 21 is rotated in the other direction, the other pin 32 pivots first rocker arm 36 from the position adjacent the input shaft of potentiometer 13 to a position away from the input shaft in which spring 39 is again expanded. Expansion of the spring generates a force acting in a direction opposite the force causing such expansion, i.e., the force causing the displacement of the control stick 18. 
     With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the first rocker arm 36 has a notch 41 extending first generally upwardly from its bottom edge and then generally horizontally sufficiently to form a lip 42. A latch 43 having a bar 44 is mounted on the bottom panel 10 of the housing 8 by pins 45 and afforded pivoting movement between a locked position in which the bar 44 can engage lip 42 when the first rocker arm 36 is displaced from the input shaft of potentiometer 13 and an unlocked position in which bar 44 cannot engage lip 43. 
     To engage bar 44, latch 43 is first pivoted to the unlocked position. The control stick 18 is displaced so that first rocker arm 36 moves downwardly away from the input shaft of potentiometer 13 as far as possible in order that bar 44 can be positioned in notch 41. Latch 43 is then pivoted to the locked position wherein bar 44 engages lip 42 thereby preventing upward movement of the first rocker arm 36 due to the return force generated by the spring 39. This prevents the return force from acting on the control stick 18 through the first rocker arm 36 and the first crank 21. If an automatic return mode is desired, latch 43 is pivoted to the unlocked position, disengaging bar 44 from lip 42 and allowing first rocker arm 36 to respond to the force generated by spring 39 and 15 to act on the control stick 18 through the first crank 21. Thus, latch 43 acts with rocker arm 36 as a switch to render control stick 58 free of spring force when bar 44 lies in notch 41 and to apply spring force to control stick 58 when latch 43 is pivoted to free bar 44. from notch 41. 
     The elements associated with potentiometer 14 are the same as those described in connection with potentiometer 13. That is, the second crank 24 has a flat face from which a pair of pins 46 extend toward a plate 17. A second rocker arm 47 is pivotally mounted between the second crank 24 and plate 17. A spring 48 generates a return force against second rocker arm 47 when it is displaced against the force of spring by pins 46 when second crank 24 is rotated. 
     The second rocker arm 47 has a notch 49 and lip 51 similar to notch 41 and lip 42 of first rocker arm 36. A second latch 52 having a bar 53 is pivotally mounted on the bottom panel of the housing 10 for removably engaging the lip 42 when the second rocker arm 47 has been displaced and the spring 48 has been expanded. When the bar 53 engages the lip 51, the second rocker arm 47 is prevented from responding to the force generated by spring 48 and therefore preventing the return force generated by spring 48 from acting upon control stick 18. 
     The present invention is equally applicable to other control stick assembly designs which incorporate a spring mechanism for automatically returning the control stick to a select position. 
     For example, FIG. 5 shows another preferred control stick assembly constructed in acordance with the invention. The assembly comprises a control stick 58 having ball 59 rotatably mounted in a corresponding socket in a housing 61 thereby permitting control stick 60 to pivot relative to housing 22. A first potentiometer 62 is mounted on the outside of the housing 61. A rotatable input shaft 63 of the potentiometer 61 extends into the interior of the housing 61. One end of a pivotable, U-shaped linkage 63 is rigidly attached to the input shaft 63. The other end of the linkage 64 is rotatably attached to the housing 61 by a pivot pin 66. The lower end of the control stick 58 is slidably captured in a slot 67 in the linkage 64. When the control stick 58 is displaced, input shaft 63, which is coupled by linkage 64 to ball 59, rotates an amount proportional to the displacement of the control stick 58. 
     Lever arms 68 and 69 are mounted on input shaft 63 so that they are free to rotate relative thereto. A spring 71 interconnects the lever arms 68 and 69 to urge them together. A peg 72 is disposed between the lever arms 68 and 69. The end of the linkage 64 that is attached to the input shaft 63 has a stop pin 73, also positioned between lever arms 68 and 69. 
     When the control stick 58 is displaced from its neutral position, the stop pin 73 causes the lever arm 68 (or lever arm 69) to rotate away from the peg 72. The force generated by the spring 71 urges lever arm 68 (or lever arm 69) back towards the peg 72. Thus, when control stick 58 is released, it returns to the neutral position. 
     A second potentiometer, similar to the first potentiometer, is also mounted on the outside of the housing and has an input shaft extending into the interior of the housing. The input shaft to the second potentiometer is generally perpendicular to the input shaft 63 of the first potentiometer 62 and is connected to the control stick 68 in a manner similar to that described for input shaft 63, i.e., by a second linkage similar in construction to the first linkage 64. A pair of lever arms rotatably mounted on the input shaft and interconnected by a spring provide a return force against the control stick 58 when it is displaced such that ball 59 rotates about the axis of the input shaft of the second potentiometer. 
     With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the lever arm 68 has a notch 76 which faces a corresponding notch 77 on lever arm 69. A latch pin 78 having a head 79 and a shaft 81 is mounted on the bottom panel 82 of the housing. The shaft 81 extends through the bottom panel 82 into the interior of the housing. The end of the shaft 81 remote from the head 79 has a tang 83. A spring 84 is disposed around the shaft between the exterior surface of the bottom panel of the housing and the head 79 of the latch pin 78. 
     The latch pin 78 is mounted on the bottom panel 82 at a position in which the notch 76 in lever arm 68 is directly above the tang 83 of latch pin 78 when the lever arm 68 is rotated away from peg 72 as far as possible as a result of the displacement of control stick 58. 
     A second latch pin 84 is similarly associated with lever arm 69. Third and fourth latch pins are likewise associated with the lever arms rotatably mounted on input shaft of the second potentiometer. 
     With reference to FIG. 7, the control stick assembly is converted from an automatic return mode to a free-floating mode by displacing the control stick 58 so that lever arm 68 rotates away from peg 72. Latch pin 78 is moved upwardly against the force of spring 84 until the tang 83 engages the notch 76, thereby preventing the lever arm from responding to the return force generated by spring 71 as a result of its expansion. This prevents the return force from acting on control stick 58. This procedure is repeated for lever arm 69 and both lever arms associated with the second potentiometer. 
     To convert from a free-floating mode to an automatic return mode, the tang 83 is disengaged from notch 76 by manually pulling the head 79 of the latch pin 78 downwardly. A pair of indentations 86 in the bottom panel 82 are provided to facilitate gripping of the head 79. The spring 84 assures that when the latch pin 78 is not engaged with the lever arm 68, the latch pin 78 will be sufficiently below the lever arm 68 to not interfere with the movement of the lever arm. Each latch pin can be so disengaged from its associated lever arm. 
     The preceding description has been presented with reference to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings. Workers skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described devices can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principles, spirit and scope of this invention. For example, the means for generating an electrical signal representative of control stick position has been described in terms of potentiometers and mechanical linkages which couple the control stick with the potentiometers. This invention is equally applicable to other means for generating an electrical signal representative of control stick position. Magnetic couplings as well as couplings utilizing the Hall effect are known for generating electrical signals representative of control stick position. 
     Accordingly, the foregoing description should not be read as pertaining only to the precise devices described, but rather should be read consistent with and as support for the following claims which are to have their fullest fair scope.