Foot Controller

Abstract

To provide a foot controller which allows intuitive operation, has good operability, and has a compact structure. [Solution] A foot controller 1 includes a base 2, a heel rest 3 on which the heel is placed on the base 2, a cross-shaped notch 4 formed in the base 2, and an operating lever 5 that can move left and right and forward and backward along the cross-shaped notch 4, and controls an object to be operated by moving the operating lever 5 left and right or forward and backward, and the trajectory of left and right movement of the operating lever 5 can be a straight line that approaches the heel rest 3 as it moves away from the intersection 4c of the cross-shaped notch 4. The surface of the base 2 on which the heel rest 3 is located may be an inclined surface 2a whose height gradually increases from the heel rest 3 toward the operating lever 5. A spherical portion 5b may be provided at the tip of the operating lever 5.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a foot controller for remotely operating a dental microscope or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, microscopes require operations such as adjusting the position of the lens barrel, adjusting the focus, changing the magnification, etc. Conventionally, these operations were performed manually, but in medical settings, etc., adjustments may be required in situations where the surgeon cannot use his or her hands.

[0003] In such cases, devices that use a foot controller or pedals to operate the microscope are known, such as the invention described in Patent Document 1. However, the operation of conventional devices is not intuitive, and there is a possibility of erroneous operation. In addition, when operating multiple functions, multiple pedals are required, which complicates the operation and requires a large installation space. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2008-188110 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has an object to provide a foot controller that allows intuitive operation, is easy to operate, and has a compact structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the foot controller of the present invention comprises a base, a heel rest for placing the heel on the base, a cross-shaped notch formed in the base, and an operating lever that can be moved left and right and forward and backward along the cross-shaped notch, and is characterized in that the object to be operated is controlled by moving the operating lever left and right or forward and backward.

[0007] In addition, the foot controller of the present invention comprises a base, a heel rest for placing the heel on the base, two cross-shaped notches formed in the base, and an operating lever disposed in each of the two cross-shaped notches and movable in the left-right and front-back directions along the cross-shaped notches, and is characterized in that an object to be operated is controlled by moving each of the operating levers in the left-right or front-back directions.

[0008] According to this invention, when operating a dental microscope or the like remotely, the operating lever allows intuitive operation and good operability, and the cross-shaped notch allows for accurate directional control. Furthermore, since multiple functions can be controlled with one or two operating levers, the device can be made smaller.

[0009] In the foot controller, the two operating levers are arranged on an arc centered on the heel rest portion, allowing the user to swing their foot naturally from side to side around their heel, and selectively operate each operating lever.

[0010] In addition, by making the distance between the movement paths of the two operating levers in the front-rear direction narrower toward the heel rest portion, operability with the toes can be further improved.

[0011] Furthermore, the left-right movement path of the operating lever is made linear, approaching the heel rest portion as it moves away from the intersection of the cross-shaped notches, thereby improving operability in the left-right direction.

[0012] Furthermore, by making the surface on which the heel rest portion of the base is located an inclined surface whose height gradually increases from the heel rest portion toward the operating lever, the user's feet can be placed at a natural angle, thereby reducing the burden on the user's feet.

[0013] Furthermore, by providing the operating lever with a spherical portion at its tip, operability with the toes can be further improved. Effect of the Invention

[0014] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a foot controller that allows intuitive operation, is easy to operate, and has a compact structure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1A to 1C are diagrams showing a first embodiment of a foot controller according to the present invention, in which (a) is a plan view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is an enlarged view of a cross-shaped slit and its vicinity. [Diagram 2] 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the foot controller shown in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3] 5A and 5B are diagrams showing a second embodiment of a foot controller according to the present invention, in which (a) is a plan view and (b) is a side view. [Figure 4] 4 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the foot controller shown in FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of a foot controller according to the present invention is used to operate a dental microscope.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a foot controller according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This foot controller 1 comprises a base 2 to be placed on a floor surface, a heel rest 3 for placing the heel on a surface 2a of the base 2, a cross-shaped notch (hereinafter referred to as "notch") 4 formed in the surface 2a of the base 2, and an operating lever 5 that can move left and right and forward and backward along the notch 4.

[0018] The base 2 has an inclined surface (surface 2a) that slopes upward from the heel placement portion 3 (part of the surface 2a) toward the operating lever 5, allowing the user's foot to be placed at a natural angle.

[0019] The slit 4 is formed in a cross shape with a slit 4a in the left-right direction (X direction) and a slit 4b in the front-rear direction (Y direction), and the left-right slit 4a is formed in a straight line approaching the heel rest part 3 as it moves away from the intersection 4c. By forming the left-right slit 4a in this way, the operation lever 5, which will be described later, can be smoothly operated with the heel rest part 3 as the center. On the other hand, the front-rear slit 4b is formed in a single straight line.

[0020] The operating lever 5 is configured in a joystick shape, with the rod-shaped portion 5a inserted into the slit 4, and its lower end pivotally held below the slit 4, and can move left and right and forward and backward along the slit 4. A spherical portion 5b is formed at the tip of the operating lever 5. In the lever operation, the left and right and forward can be easily operated even if the operating lever 5 is simply rod-shaped. However, while operation in the upward direction (away side) is possible by lifting the foot, it is difficult with the heel on the ground. Therefore, by providing a spherical portion 5b of about 30Φ, the operating lever 5 can be easily pushed upward (with the heel on the ground) without the effort of lifting the heel by sliding downward using the surface of the heel side of the toes, etc., and thus operability and fatigue are greatly improved. In addition, even if the height of the spherical portion 5b is adjusted as described below, it does not affect operability because it is spherical.

[0021] Since the length and shape of the toes and soles of the feet vary from person to person, fixing the spherical portion 5b at a fixed height can cause problems such as time-consuming operation and fatigue. Therefore, for example, by providing a threaded portion on the operating lever 5 and using a fixing nut to adjust and fix the spherical portion 5b to a height suitable for the desired operation, operability can be improved and fatigue can be reduced.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 2, by placing the heel of the foot F on the heel rest 3 on the surface 2a and moving the operating lever 5 in the left-right or front-back direction with the toe, an electrical signal according to the direction and length of movement can be output, for example, the magnifying function of the dental microscope can be controlled by operating it in the left-right direction, the focus adjustment function can be controlled by operating it in the front-back direction (first operation mode), the lateral movement of the lens barrel can be controlled by operating it in the left-right direction, and the vertical movement of the lens barrel can be controlled by operating it in the front-back direction (second operation mode). At this time, the movement of the operating lever 5 is restricted in the left-right and front-back directions by the cross-shaped notch 4, so unintended operation in a diagonal direction can be prevented.

[0023] The above two operation modes can be switched by operating a switch (not shown) provided on the base 2, by voice input, or the like, making it possible to control a plurality of functions with a single operating lever 5.

[0024] It is also possible to provide two foot controllers 1 and use both simultaneously. For example, one foot controller can control the magnification function and focus adjustment function, while the other foot controller can control the positional movement of the lens barrel.

[0025] Next, a foot controller according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. This foot controller 11 differs from the foot controller 1 of the first embodiment in that it has two operating levers 15A, 15B on a base 12, but the other components are the same as those of the foot controller 1. The same components of the foot controller 11 as those of the foot controller 1 are given the same reference numbers and detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0026] The base 12 is formed slightly wider than the base 2 of the foot controller 1, and has an inclined surface (surface 12a) that slopes upward from the heel rest portion 3 (part of the surface 12a) toward the operating levers 15A and 15B.

[0027] The two operating levers 15A, 15B are configured in a joystick shape similar to the operating lever 5 of the foot controller 1, with the rod-shaped portion 15a inserted into the slit 4 and the lower end thereof pivotally held below the slit 4 and movable in the left-right and front-back directions along the slit 4. The operating levers 15A, 15B have spherical portions 15b formed at their tips.

[0028] The operating levers 15A, 15B are arranged on an arc 13 centered on the heel rest 3. This arrangement allows the user to selectively operate each of the operating levers 15A, 15B by naturally swinging his or her foot from side to side around the heel.

[0029] The slits 4, like those of the foot controller 1, are formed in a cross shape with slits 4a in the left-right direction (X direction) and slits 4b in the front-rear direction (Y direction), and the left-right slits 4a are formed in straight lines approaching the heel rest part 3 as they move away from the intersection 4c. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 3(a), the slits 4b in the front-rear direction are not parallel to each other, and the distance D between them becomes narrower as they approach the heel rest part 3. This narrows the distance between the movement trajectories of the operating levers 15A, 15B in the front-rear direction as they approach the heel rest part 3, improving operability with the toes.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 4, the heel of the foot F is placed on the heel rest 3 on the surface 12a of the base 12, and the toe is moved toward one of the operating levers 15A, 15B, and the operating lever 15A or 15B is moved left and right or forward and backward with the toe, so that an electrical signal according to the direction and length of movement can be output. For example, the first operating lever 15A controls the magnification function of the microscope when operated left and right, and controls the focus adjustment function when operated forward and backward. Meanwhile, the second operating lever 15B controls the lateral movement of the lens barrel when operated left and right, and controls the vertical movement of the lens barrel when operated forward and backward.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the position of the operating lever, the type of controllable functions, etc. can be appropriately changed depending on the purpose of use. In addition, the foot controller of the present invention can be used for various devices other than dental microscopes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 1, 11 Foot controller 2, 12 bases 3 Heel placement part 4. Cut 5, 15A, 15B Operating lever 13 Arc

Claims

1. The base and a heel placement portion for placing a heel on the base; A cross-shaped notch formed in the base; an operating lever that is movable in the left-right and front-rear directions along the cross-shaped slit, A foot controller characterized in that an object to be operated is controlled by moving the operating lever in a left-right or forward-backward direction.

2. The base and a heel placement portion for placing a heel on the base; Two cross-shaped notches formed in the base; an operating lever disposed in each of the two cross-shaped slits and movable in the left-right and front-rear directions along the cross-shaped slits; A foot controller characterized in that an object to be operated is controlled by moving each of the operating levers left and right or forward and backward.

3. 3. The foot controller according to claim 2, wherein the two operating levers are arranged on an arc centered on the heel rest portion.

4. 4. The foot controller according to claim 2, wherein the distance between the movement paths of the two operating levers in the front-rear direction becomes narrower toward the heel rest portion.

5. 3. The foot controller according to claim 1, wherein the left-right movement path of the operating lever is a straight line approaching the heel rest portion as it moves away from the intersection of the cross-shaped notches.

6. 3. The foot controller according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the base on which the heel rest portion is located is an inclined surface whose height gradually increases from the heel rest portion toward the operating lever.

7. 3. The foot controller according to claim 1, wherein the operating lever has a spherical portion at a tip end.

Images