Force-Sensing Cursor Control Grip for Vibrating Flight Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flight unit graphical user interface cursor control is impaired by vibrations, leading to inaccurate cursor positioning and limited control of other components due to shared hand operation.
Innovation Solution
A cursor control device with a graspable body and force sensor that allows precise cursor movement along X and Y axes, integrated with control components and a confirming button to prevent unwanted actuations, enabling stable and ergonomic control in vibrating environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a trackball is used for cursor control, then the cursor can be moved over the screen, but vibrations cause the operator's hand to tremble and accurate positioning becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical trackball system with a voice recognition system that uses acoustic signals to control cursor movement. The voice-activated cursor control eliminates the need for manual manipulation of mechanical components, thereby removing the negative impact of vibrations on positioning accuracy while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces voice commands as an intermediary between the operator and the cursor control system. Instead of directly manipulating the trackball, the operator speaks commands that are translated into cursor movements, creating a buffer that isolates the control system from vibration-induced hand tremors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the operator uses the same hand to move the cursor and actuate other control components, then all controls can be accessed, but the number of available finger positions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the voice recognition system universal for both cursor control and actuation of other control components. A single voice interface handles multiple functions including cursor movement, button presses, and parameter adjustments, eliminating the need for separate physical controls and freeing up device space while maintaining full control accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the control functions from the physical domain and transfers them to the voice domain. By removing the need for physical manipulation of multiple control components, the system simplifies the control layout while maintaining versatility through voice-activated commands.
3Ease of operation
If a directional transducer moved by the thumb is used, then cursor control is provided, but vibrations still affect the operator's hand and control accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical directional transducer system with a voice recognition system. This substitution removes the dependency on manual manipulation that is susceptible to vibration effects, thereby improving reliability and control accuracy in vibrating environments while maintaining ease of operation through natural voice commands.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides precise cursor control and simultaneous operation of multiple control components, maintaining accuracy and ergonomics even in harsh vibrating conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a force sensor (7) coupled to the graspable body (6) and designed to sense the movements of the graspable body (6) with respect to the base structure (5) along at least first axis (X) and a second axis (Y)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6~7
AI summary
Device (1) for controlling a cursor (C) of a graphical user interface (2) of a flight unit (3), comprising a base structure (5); a graspable body (6) shaped to be grasped by a hand of an operator and movable with respect to the base structure (5) by the manual force provided by the operator by means of his/her hand; a force sensor (7) coupled to the graspable body (6) and designed to sense the movements of the graspable body (6) with respect to the base structure (5) along at least a first axis (X) and a second axis (Y); an interface circuit (8) for converting the signals provided by the force sensor (7) into control signal of the graphical user interface (2) of the flight unit (3) in order to move the cursor (C) along a first axis and a second axis of the graphical user interface (2) based on the force provided to the graspable body (6) by the operator.