Patent ID: 7648106

Claim:
A control system for placing controlled members in required positions, comprising two control columns, each of which is mounted on a gimbal and has two degrees of freedom assigned to the respective controlled members to be moved, and, for each of said control columns, and assigned to said respective degrees of freedom: a) two actuators for applying to their associated control column either a resisting torque or a displacement torque for the associated degree of freedom, b) two control circuits each of which is adapted: on the one hand, to control the actuator for the associated degree of freedom so that the actuator supplies a resisting torque opposing each manipulation of a first of the control columns exerted for that degree of freedom, and on the other hand, to bring about, as a function of said manipulation of the first control column, a displacement of the second control column of the same amplitude, in the same direction and for the same degree of freedom, c) two control column position sensors for supplying to the respective control circuits an associated control column position signal, said control system further comprising: d) a mechanism for controlling displacement of said controlled members as a function of signals supplied by said control column position sensors, wherein each control column is further provided with a mechanical spring system comprising for each of said degrees of freedom a return spring assembly for spring-loading the associated control column into its neutral position and adapted to provide, in the event of manipulation of the corresponding control column, a resisting torque in support of the resisting torque supplied by the associated actuator.