The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 19, 1996
Filed:
Dec. 01, 1994
Thomas M Baker, Peoria, IL (US);
Michael Furlong, Cambridge, MN (US);
John F Szentes, Peoria, IL (US);
Jay Tschetter, Plymouth, MN (US);
Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US);
Abstract
In one aspect of the present invention, a joystick is disclosed. The joystick includes a control shaft having an operator handle and a base. A cardan joint is provided to pivotally mount the control shaft to the base. An actuating body is rigidly attached to the control shaft. Advantageously, a plurality of electrically non-contacting sensors is provided to sense the relative position of the shaft relative to the base. The sensors include a pair of spaced apart electrodes establishing an electrostatic capacity with each other, and a dielectric body being disposed between the electrode pair. Accordingly, as the control shaft pivots, the actuating body engages the dielectric body which moves the dielectric body relative to the electrode pair thereby modifying the capacitance of the sensor.