Industrial Robot Touch Interface with Safety Controller

A single manually operable input means (joystick) is designed to control multiple traversing means (robotic arm, end effector, base) through a unified control scheme. The joystick generates control signals that are processed by the robot controller to coordinate movements across different degrees of freedom, allowing one input device to perform multiple control functions that previously required separate inputs for each traversing means.

The patent replaces the touchscreen interface with virtual keys requiring visual attention with a physical joystick and button interface. The joystick provides tactile feedback and mechanical resistance, allowing operators to control the robotic system without visual confirmation. Physical buttons provide tactile confirmation of input, eliminating the need to look at a display screen while maintaining input precision through ergonomic design and force feedback.

The patent implements selective input methods for different control functions. Critical safety-related functions (emergency stop, mode switching) use physical buttons and joysticks that require deliberate mechanical action, preventing accidental activation. Non-critical functions may use touch display inputs. This differentiation of input modalities based on the criticality of the function maintains low device complexity while ensuring high reliability for essential operations.

The patent combines multiple control functions into integrated components. The joystick assembly integrates analog stick movement with directional buttons and trigger switches into a single modular unit. The robot controller integrates signal processing, safety monitoring, and coordinate transformation algorithms into one centralized controller. This consolidation reduces the number of separate hardware components that need to be manufactured and assembled, simplifying production while maintaining system reliability through integrated safety checks and error handling.