Patent ID: 8754853

Claim:
An ergonomic control station for an operator having left and right hands, said station comprising: a platform in front of the operator; a first port hand-held instrument including: a first base for mounting to said platform; a first pistol-grip handle disposed on said first base to tilt in a first lateral direction from perpendicular to said platform; a first head unit disposed on said first handle; a first deck within said first head unit connecting to said first handle; and a first plurality of input devices disposed on at least one of said first head unit and said first handle, each device of said first plurality for receiving a first command from the operator's left hand, said each device of said first plurality being selected from a first set of modular components; a second starboard hand-held instrument including: a second base for mounting to said platform; a second pistol-grip handle disposed on said second base to tilt in a second lateral direction from perpendicular to said platform; a second head unit disposed on said second handle; a second deck within said second head unit connecting to said second handle; and a second plurality of input devices disposed on at least one of said second head unit and said second handle, each device of said second plurality for receiving a second command from the operator's right hand, said each device of said second plurality being selected from a second set of said modular components, wherein said first and second sets are configured to be interchangeable, to operate distinguishable functions, and have distinguishable device types based on ergonomic actuation, said types including thumb push, finger pull and palm press; and a processor having a plurality of connections that correspond to said first and second pluralities of input devices.