US 12,243,446 B1
Electromechanical linear control system and method for receiving manual input commands
Koby Thomas Schmitz, Los Gatos, CA (US)
Filed by Koby Thomas Schmitz, Los Gatos, CA (US)
Filed on May 4, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/655,256.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/565,128, filed on Mar. 14, 2024.
Int. Cl. G09B 9/08 (2006.01); G01D 5/14 (2006.01); G05G 5/03 (2008.04); G05G 9/047 (2006.01); G09B 9/28 (2006.01); A63F 13/245 (2014.01); A63F 13/285 (2014.01); A63F 13/803 (2014.01)
CPC G09B 9/08 (2013.01) [G01D 5/145 (2013.01); G05G 5/03 (2013.01); G05G 9/047 (2013.01); G09B 9/28 (2013.01); A63F 13/245 (2014.09); A63F 13/285 (2014.09); A63F 13/803 (2014.09); G01D 2205/18 (2021.05); G05G 2009/04766 (2013.01); G05G 2009/04774 (2013.01); G05G 2505/00 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A linear control device, said device comprising:
a moveable handle configured to actuate both a linear input axis and a rotational input axis;
at least one v-groove rolling element, at least one guide tube, and rolling elements comprising at least one cylindrical rolling element and at least one u-groove rolling element;
a compliant material configured with a durometer between 40 Shore 00 to 70 Shore D;
said compliant material comprising a polymeric material;
said rolling elements configured for actuation of at least said linear input axis;
at least one linear position sensor and at least one angular position sensor;
at least one processor;
wherein at least one said v-groove rolling element is configured to at least partially constrain movement of said handle along said linear input axis;
wherein at least at a portion of said at least one cylindrical rolling element, at least one u-groove rolling element, and at least one v-groove rolling element comprises a rolling contact region comprising said compliant material;
wherein said at least one u-groove rolling element is configured to run along a guide tube;
further comprising a handle shaft with a handle shaft length and a handle shaft axis, said handle shaft attached to said moveable handle;
said handle shaft configured with a linear guide apparatus comprising a carriage comprising at least one said rolling elements, and at least one flat surface on which the rolling elements roll, said linear guide apparatus configured to only move in one dimension parallel to said handle shaft length, thus creating a linear input axis;
wherein said guide tube is configured to constrain movement of the carriage along a linear path;
said handle shaft further configured to rotate about said handle shaft axis, thus creating a rotational input axis;
said linear control device further configured so that said at least one v-groove rolling element is in contact with said handle shaft;
said handle shaft further configured so that said at least one v-groove rolling element in contact with said handle shaft undergoes sliding friction when said rotational input axis is actuated;
and wherein said at least one processor is configured to receive input from any of said at least one linear position sensor and said at least one angular position sensor, and to use said input to produce an output responsive to at least a position of said moveable handle.