A control device intended for a user to choose and select functions in a vehicle includes a knob that can be manipulated in rotation about a main axis with respect to a fixed support. The knob comprises a neutral position in which the main axis coincides with a neutral axis that is fixed with respect to the support. The control device also comprises a printed circuit board on which the knob and at least one direction sensor are fixed. The printed circuit board is mounted with the ability to pivot with respect to the support about an axis transverse overall to the neutral axis so as to come to occupy at least a first activated position in which the main axis is inclined with respect to the neutral axis when the knob is moved in a direction orthogonal to the neutral axis. The direction sensor is intended to detect the activated position.

Hand controls for an aircraft, including a single axis hand control which is configured to control movement of an aircraft along a vertical axis where the aircraft includes a plurality of rotors that are attached to the aircraft at a fixed position and the plurality of rotors rotate independently of one another. The hand controls further include a three axis hand control which is configured to control movement of the aircraft within a plane defined by a roll axis and a pitch axis, as well as about a yaw axis.

An input/output operation device (165) includes: an operation part (850); a movable unit (180) including a loosely fitted space inside, a main body supporting the operation part (802) and including a first loosely fitted surface (820) exposed in the loosely fitted space, and at least one drive magnet (401, 402); a fixed unit including a second loosely fitted surface (821) in point- or line-contact with the first loosely fitted surface of the movable unit, a holder (811) supporting the movable unit for free rotation, a base (811) including a space for accommodating at least a part of the movable unit and supporting the holder, and at least one drive coil (301, 302); a drive part to rotate the movable unit with respect to the fixed unit; and a detector to detect a position of the operation part in the fixed unit. One of the first and second loosely fitted surfaces includes an inner peripheral surface formed into a recessed portion, and another one of the first and second loosely fitted surfaces includes at least one protruded spherical surface.

A one-handed joystick for excavators allows an operator to make all necessary motions with a single hand and arm for manipulating an excavator tool. The one-handed joystick includes a rotatable cylinder bar, a rotatable ring and an industrial joystick base. The rotatable cylinder bar is grasped with a hand. The industrial base is moved front to back, or right to left. The following are preferable hand/arm motions. A downward hand curl is associated with a bucket digging motion; an upward hand curl is associated with a bucket dump; a forearm forward push is associated with a boom/stick extension; a forearm reward pull is associated with a boom/stick retraction; a left-hand movement is associated with swinging the excavator left; a right-hand movement is associated with swinging the excavator right; a clockwise hand twist is associated with a stick/boom extension; and a counter clockwise hand twist is associated with a stick/boom retraction.

A four-axis joystick provides the ability to control four parameters in a single input device. In one embodiment, the Z-direction of control is implemented by a telescoping joystick handle, with the X- and Y-directions of control being implemented by pivoting motions of the handle in directions radial to an axis of the joystick handle, and the theta-direction of control implemented by rotation of a portion of the handle about the handle axis. The four-axis joystick may be used as an input device for audio mixing applications with the X-, Y-, and Z-dimensions of control mapped to panning of an audio source in the left-right, forward-backward, and up-down directions respectively, and the theta-dimension mapped to volume control of low frequency effects.

The manipulation device includes: a fixing portion having a fixing surface to be fixed on an object; a moving part that has a moving surface arranged to face the fixing surface and is configured such that the relative position of the moving surface with respect to the fixing surface is manually adjusted; a fixing portion side circuit component that is arranged at the fixing portion; a moving portion side circuit component that is arranged at the moving portion so as not to be in contact with the fixing portion side circuit component, and includes an electric circuit where the impedance as measured from the fixing portion side is a predetermined impedance; and an input portion that is arranged at the moving portion manually operable, and changes the impedance of the electric circuit measured from the fixing portion.

A thumbstick for a user input device comprises an adjustable tensioning mechanism configured to modify a tilt tension of a tiltable post. The thumbstick comprises a cap with a stem that defines a first cavity. A base is moveable with the tiltable post and comprises a portion extending into the first cavity. The portion defines a second cavity and comprises a protuberance projecting into the second cavity. An adjustment body within the second cavity comprises a recessed slot and a contacting surface at a distal end. The slot is configured to engage the protuberance to adjust the tilt tension of the tiltable post.

A magnetic spring input device is disclosed. In various embodiments, an input device as disclosed includes a manual input structure movably coupled to a base assembly; and a non-stationary magnet fixedly coupled to the manual input structure; a stationary magnet coupled to the base assembly in a manner that is fixed with respect to at least a first input axis of the input device, the stationary magnet being coupled to the base assembly with a first magnetic pole having a first magnetic polarity is oriented opposite a corresponding magnetic pole of the non-stationary magnet having the first magnetic polarity, in a position that is adjacent to but offset from the non-stationary magnet when the manual input structure is in a neutral position. The non-stationary magnet is coupled to the manual input structure in a position such that movement of the manual input structure about or along the first input axis of the input device brings said poles have said first magnetic polarity within sufficient proximity to generate a repulsive magnetic force.

A thumbstick for a user input device comprises an adjustable tensioning mechanism configured to modify a tilt tension of a tiltable post. The tiltable post is operable to output a control signal based on a position of the tiltable post relative to a default position. The thumbstick comprises a cap with a cylindrical stem that defines a cavity. An engagement body is located within the cavity and contacts an engagement surface of the adjustable tensioning mechanism. The engagement body includes a cam surface disposed around an axis of the tiltable post. An adjustment body within the cavity of the stem comprises a follower that contacts the cam surface. The follower is configured to traverse the cam surface when the cap is rotated to thereby translate the engagement body along the axis of the tiltable post and adjust the tilt tension of the tiltable post.

A thumbstick for a user input device comprises an adjustable tensioning mechanism configured to modify a tilt tension of a tiltable post. The thumbstick comprises a cap with a cylindrical stem that defines a first cavity. Abase is moveable with the tiltable post and comprises a cylindrical portion extending into the first cavity. The cylindrical portion defines a second cavity and comprises a protuberance projecting into the second cavity. An adjustment body within the second cavity comprises a recessed slot and a contacting surface at a distal end. The slot is configured to engage the protuberance to adjust the tilt tension of the tiltable post.