Abstract: An active vibratory pedal assembly including a pedal and means integrated with the pedal for causing the vibration of the pedal which, in one embodiment, comprises a vibration generation assembly located and mounted to the underside of the pedal plate which includes an electric motor and an eccentric coupled to and rotatable relative to the motor and adapted to generate a force that causes the vibration of the pedal plate for providing an operator with a sensory signal of a vehicular condition or event such as, for example, a vehicle's excessive speed.

Abstract: A treadle assembly provides an electrical signal to an electronic controlled engine. The assembly includes a treadle suspended in the operator compartment. The treadle is pivotally mounted to a lever which pivots in response to the operator imposed depression of the treadle which, in turn, actuates a rotatable gear. The gear is in operative engagement with the potentiometer and an electrical signal is sent to the engine in response to rotation of the gear. The lever and gear are preferably interconnected by a slot and pin connection to reduce manufacturing costs associated with the components and accommodate misalignment during assembly and tolerance stackup associated with assembling individual components together.

Abstract: A foot operated control unit for controlling a power circuit of an associated power driven device. The control unit includes at least one control mechanism which may be connected with the power circuit. The control unit also has a unitary base, composed of electrically non-conductive material, defining two mounting stations. Each mounting station includes a mounting bracket, a pair of positioning pins and a mounting slot in the base plate for mounting a control mechanism and an actuating lever. A foot operated unitary cover, or actuating member, composed of electrically non-conductive material is pivotally mounted to the base. The actuating lever cooperates with the actuating member to actuate the control mechanism in response to pivotal movement of the actuating member relative to the base.

Abstract: A multi-function control system to control a variety of operations associated with a powered surgical device such as an arthroscopic surgical shaver. The system has an ergonomically designed foot switch which has a plurality of discrete force sensitive transducers arranged in an arcuate pattern. The transducers have no moving parts and have a force sensitive element which produces a variable output which is a function of the force applied by a user. The foot switch is used in conjunction with a control console which enables a user to adjust the force sensitivity threshold of the transducers. The foot switch additionally has physically discrete and tactilely sensible areas enabling a user to activate selected functions with a minimal amount of foot movement.

Abstract: A foot switch includes a base member having an upwardly facing surface, a force sensing resistor disposed on the surface and coupled electrically to a sensing circuit, and an actuating layer disposed on the force sensing resistor and the base member surface. The actuating layer has an elevated portion which is substantially centered over the force sensing resistor, the elevated portion having a convex upper surface which is a portion of a spherical surface. The sensing circuit includes a constant current source connected in series with the force sensing resistor between ground and a predetermined voltage.

Abstract: A variable impedance device which is connected between the preamplifier of a microphone or electric instrument and a public address system for controlling the signal volume of a musical performance. The variable resistor is controlled by a foot pedal operated by the performer so that his hands are free for an uninterrupted performance. The impedance includes a first section that can be preset manually to provide maximum desired signal volume with the footpedal in one direction (toe depressed on the pedal) and a second section that can be preset to provide minimum desired signal volume (heel depressed on the pedal).

Abstract: A belted-roller treadmill may be modified to serve as a potentiometer whose variable potential may be controlled by sliding the treadmill's belt (10) back and forth with one's foot. The exposed surfaces of the belt would be flush with the exposed surface of a classroom floor (190). An array of such treadmills may be connected to computer hardware for real-time acquisition of data so that an instructor may gauge his students' satisfaction with his instruction in real time.

Abstract: A brake pedal actuation sensor includes an optical coupler. In a preferred embodiment: the optical sensor is carried by a housing; a shutter is provided to interrupt the optical coupling according to the distance between the housing and a bearing; the shutter is carried by the bearing; and the distance between the housing and the bearing is dependent upon the force applied to the brake. Additionally, a circuit responsive to an output of the optical coupler is provided for generating an electrical output signal indicating brake pedal actuation.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle having accessories as for example an anti-dive suspension and anti-dive suspension control, has an electrical circuit which is effective for applying control type signals to such accessories reflective of the rate of change in magnitude of the force applied to the vehicular braking system by the driver; a force sensitive resistor placed in the vehicular braking system is effective to create output signals to the electrical circuit which signals are employed by the electrical circuit to produce corresponding control type signals for application to the accessories.

Abstract: An operator controlled variable electrical power delivery console and foot pedal controller are provided. The variable electrical power delivery console is designed to supply power to universal motors that are subjected to fluctuating loads that impact the performance of the motor. The invention combines two types of solid state electronic circuits including a selectable power booster circuit that responds to load changes that enables a motor to operate at high torque and another selectable solid state electronic circuit which allows the motor to operate at high speeds and lesser torque demands. The invention includes a selectable auxiliary foot pedal controller that is operator selectable for use with either of the two types of electrical circuits.

Abstract: A variable power foot pedal controller for controlling electrical power to universal motors and which contains solid state circuitry that boosts the power to accommodate high torque performance from the motor in response to load changes. The foot pedal controller includes a steel cable linkage arrangement that interfaces with a slide type control variable resistor that provides the linear motion control for varying the resistance that biases the solid state circuitry that boosts the power being delivered to the motor. The linkage arrangement allows operator incremental power delivery control by manipulating the slide variable resistor and further activates and deactives switch elements according to positional states of the linkage to energize the solid state circuitry or bypass the solid state circuitry.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle having accessories as for example cruise control, transmission torque converter lock-up control, or anti-dive suspension control, has an electrical logic circuit which is effective for applying control type signals to such accessories in response to magnitude of the force applied to the vehicular braking system by the driver; a force sensitive resistor placed in the vehicular braking system is effective to create output signals to the logic circuit which signals are employed by the logic circuit to determine when respective control type signals are to be applied to such accessories.

Abstract: A foot operated control device including electrical force sensing devices functional to sense forces applied to the control device and to produce electrical signals proportional to the force applied, the electrical signals being adapted to operate electrically responsive hydraulic control valves.

Abstract: The present invention is a braking value transmitter with a pedal to modulate the braking pressure. The pedal is braced against a spring. The force exerted by the pedal or the position of the pedal is sensed by an electronic sensor. The output signal of the sensor is fed to an electronic system, which transforms the approximately linear characteristic of the sensor into a progressive characteristic.

Abstract: A foot pedal for varying resistance in an electrical circuit having an on-off control is formed having a base member with an actuator foot plate cover pivotally mounted thereto; an array of circular members is positioned in a circular recess between said base member and cover; said array including a pair of electrode discs spaced by a compressible resistance disc; said compressible resistance disc comprising a flexible elastomer with electro-conductive particulate dispersed therein; said array including an actuating plate which has a spherical joint connection with the actuator foot plate cover; an operator's foot pressure compresses the compressible disc to decrease resistance while a spring opens the pedal device when the operator's foot pressure is removed.

Abstract: An electronic treadle (10) for generating an electrical signal proportioned to the degree of angular movement of a pivotally mounted treadle plate (14) includes a base (32) having side portions (26,28) which cooperate with corresponding side members (22,24) extending from the treadle plate. A pair of stops (76,78) are carried on one (26) of the side portions which cooperate with a tab (80) movable with the treadle plate (14) to limit the angular movement thereof. Movement of the treadle plate (14) is transmitted to a rotary potentiometer (66) carried on side portion (28) by a shaft (62) and socket (57) connecting the shaft to side member (22).

Abstract: A controller for electric motors comprises a casing, a carbon pile resistor contained in a through hole of an insulating frame carried by the casing, a U-shaped spring conductor plate with an end secured to the insulating frame, a rotational plate pivotally supported on the casing, a first terminal connected to an end of the carbon pile resistor, and a second terminal connected to the conductor plate. The other end of the conductor plate is operatively connected to the rotational plate. Thus the other end of the conductor plate is biased and presses the other end of the carbon pile resistor in response to the rotation of the rotational plate.

Abstract: A round foot controller has a molded cover 75 attached to a molded base 11 by interengaging projections 79 and 16 extending in opposite directions toward each other from the rims of telescoping walls 77 and 13. The wall 77 is near the perimeter of the cover and is concentric with another wall 76 that surrounds the wall 77. The wall 13 concentrically surrounds another wall 14 in the base. The base has openings 96 and the cover has corresponding openings 97 left by the respective molds that form the undersides of the projections 16 and 79. The double-walled structure of the cover telescoping with the double-walled structure of the base prevents inadvertent access to the electrical components in the foot controller. However, the resistence of a variable resistor 21 or 103 in the controller, can be varied by pressure on any part of the cover 75.

Abstract: A variable resistance controller for electrical braking systems and the like wherein the form on which the resistance wire is wound has spaced apart flats into which some of the coils are drawn during winding. This arrangement provides alternate lands and depressions over which a leaf spring type contact rolls. The preferred arrangement has only two coils per land to give increased contact pressure of the leaf spring therewith and to provide predetermined incremental increases in electrical output as the leaf spring rolls from one land to the other. In the preferred embodiment, the spacing of the lands is arranged so that the electrical output is proportional to the hydraulic actuating pressure.The preferred embodiment also includes a diode connected between the output of the controller and ground through a fusible link to permit the collapsing magnetic field of the controlled braking electromagnets to draw current through the diode on deactuation of the unit to bypass the wound resistor.

Abstract: An electronic synthesizer instrument incorporates bass pedals for the notes of the musical scale, together with foot control apparatus adapted to select and modify the tone quality of sounds produced by operation of the bass pedals. The foot control apparatus includes push button switches which are operated by the toe of an operator's foot, and slide controls which are positioned by the operator's foot. At least some of the switches are preset switches for selecting and controlling multiple combinations of the functional units of the synthesizer. The control state of the instrument is at all times indicated by readily observable indicating lights.