Abstract: A joystick controller has a body (10), an operating shaft (12) and a ball-and-socket joint (14) mounting the operating shaft for universal pivotal movement relative to the body (10) about a pivot center. First and second and third carrier members (16, 17, 19) are movable relative to the body (10) about respective first, second and third, mutually perpendicular axes which pass through the pivot center of the ball-and-socket joint (14), and carry respective magnets (24, 26, 29). Rotary movement of the operating shaft (12) about its longitudinal axis causes movement of the third carrier member (19) about the third axis. Hall-effect devices (52, 54, 56) are mounted on a common planar circuit board (48) at the base of the body (10) and producing respective output signals indicative of the positions of the magnets (24, 26, 29) carried on the first, second and third carrier members (16), respectively.

Abstract: A joystick controller has a body (10), an operating shaft (12) and a ball-and-socket joint (14) mounting the operating shaft for universal pivotal movement relative to the body (10) about a pivot center. First and second and third carrier members (16, 17, 19) are movable relative to the body (10) about respective first, second and third, mutually perpendicular axes which pass through the pivot center of the ball-and-socket joint (14), and carry respective magnets (24, 26, 29). Rotary movement of the operating shaft (12) about its longitudinal axis causes movement of the third carrier member (19) about the third axis. Hall-effect devices (52, 54, 56) are mounted on a common planar circuit board (48) at the base of the body (10) and producing respective output signals indicative of the positions of the magnets (24, 26, 29) carried on the first, second and third carrier members (16), respectively.