Harold Larson

US Patent:

41617266, Jul 17, 1979

Filed:

Apr 6, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/785144

Inventors:

David C. Burson - Garland TX
Harold D. Larson - Plano TX

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

G06F 302

US Classification:

340365R

Abstract:

A digital joystick control includes an elongated shaft member having a spherical ball at one end thereof. First and second socket members are coupled to the joystick to provide a swivel joint between the ball and the socket members enabling movement of the shaft about the ball in any direction; movement of the joystick effects corresponding movement of the socket members. Each of the socket members is connected to a plate member which moves therewith. The plate members have a patterned surface presenting conductive and non-conductive regions in opposing relation to wiper arms which engage the patterned surfaces. The patterned surfaces are coded in such a manner that the locations of the conductive and non-conductive regions of the patterned surfaces with respect to the wiper arms are changeable in response to movement of the shaft of the joystick whereby a unique digital-coded positional signal is generated for preselected incremental positions of the shaft.