Control Stick Gating to Prevent Unintended Command Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control sticks may cause undesirable operations in mechanical devices due to unintentional physical inputs, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A control stick with enabling and disabling functionality, featuring a handle, interactive element, and controller system that allows for three operational configurations: partially toggled for data transmission, toggled shut for blocking data transmission or sending a default command, and toggled open for immobilization, to prevent undesired operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the control stick is designed to translate all physical inputs into operational instructions, then the control responsiveness is improved, but the risk of undesirable operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control stick system dynamically changes its operational state based on the configuration of the interactive element. The system transitions between different modes: normal operation mode where handle movements translate to device commands, and disabled mode where the interactive element blocks data transmission. This dynamic switching allows the system to maintain high responsiveness during normal use while automatically preventing undesirable operations when the interactive element is in the blocked position.
Solution Approach 2:
The interactive element serves as an intermediary component between the handle and the controller system. It physically intercepts and blocks the transmission path of data from the handle to the transmitter when in the blocked configuration. This intermediary mechanism allows the system to maintain full control responsiveness when needed while providing a physical barrier that prevents unintended commands from reaching the controlled device.
2Reliability
If the control stick includes additional interactive elements for enabling and disabling, then the safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interactive element is designed to perform multiple functions within a single integrated component. It serves as both a normal control interface element and a safety disable mechanism. When in the first configuration, it allows normal data transmission; when in the second configuration, it blocks data transmission to prevent undesirable operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate safety mechanisms and maintains relatively simple device structure while improving safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the safety disable function with the existing control interface by integrating the interactive element into the handle structure. Rather than adding a completely separate safety mechanism, the design combines the control and safety functions into a unified interactive element that is already part of the control stick assembly. This merging approach minimizes additional structural complexity while achieving the safety objective.
Data Source
AI summary
A control stick includes a handle coupled to a base, the handle pivots relative to the base, and a controller system configured to detect an angle and a direction of the handle relative to a neutral position and provide data to a controlled device based on the angle and the direction, wherein the controller system includes a transmitter. The control stick also includes an interactive element coupled to the handle that includes at least three operational configurations. In a first operational configuration, the interactive element is partially toggled and enables the data to be transmitted via the transmitter. In a second operational configuration, the interactive element is toggled shut and blocks the data from being transmitted from the transmitter or sends a default command. In a third operational configuration, the interactive element is toggled open and blocks the data from being transmitted from the transmitter or sends the default command.