Patent ID: 8724884

Claim:
A controller for maneuvering an interrogation plane relative to a reference surface, the interrogation plane intersecting the reference surface and being associated with a pole about which the interrogation plane is rotatable, the pole having an adjustable angle of inclination relative to the reference surface, the controller having: a base, a handle, an arm extending from a connection with the base to a connection with the handle, the arm having hingable joints which hinge to allow the handle to be translated relative to the base in arbitrary directions across a user surface, and position sensors which measure the translation of the handle relative to the base on the user surface, the translation providing a corresponding translation of the interrogation plane relative to the reference surface; wherein the handle is rotatable about a rotation axis and is tiltable about a tilt axis to allow the handle to be angularly moved relative to the user surface, the controller further having angle sensors which respectively detect the rotation about the rotation axis and the tilt about the tilt axis, and the rotation about the rotation axis and the tilting about the tilt axis providing angular movement of the interrogation plane relative to the reference surface corresponding to the angular movement of the handle relative to the user surface; wherein the arm is configured such that the handle is constrained to translate relative to the base only across the user surface; and wherein the arm has a support pad at the connection with the handle, the support pad supporting the handle on the user surface.