Abstract: A joystick comprising a housing, a ball supported and held within the housing, and a joystick handle attached to the ball. The joystick also includes a first device held within the housing, and a second device held within the housing. The joystick also includes a first engagement shaft extending from the first device to the ball, the first engagement shaft having an end adjacent the ball and engaging the ball, and a second engagement shaft extending from the second device to the ball, the second engagement shaft having an end adjacent the ball and engaging the ball.

Abstract: A case includes first and second halves, each having an opening in its one side, combined together with the openings opposed to each other. A moving member is accommodated within the case and slidingly movable along a movement guide. An operator is connected to the moving member. The operator has a proximal end connected to the moving member, a free end projecting outwardly from an upper surface of the case, and a bent portion bent between the both ends. Tops of the first and second halves are displaced from each other, in a direction vertical to the upper surface, to form a gap permitting entry of the operator. Edge regions of the tops of the both halves overlap with each other in the direction vertical to the upper surface, and the bent portion is bent so that the free end projects outwardly through the gap in the overlapping regions.

Abstract: A resistive film for use in a potentiometer. The film is in contact with a movable wiper. The film includes a cured polymer resin and a cured thermosetting resin. Conductive particles of carbon black and graphite are dispersed in the film. The conductive particles cause the resins to be electrically resistive. Carbon nanoparticles are also dispersed in the film. The nanoparticles increase the wear resistance of the resistive film and reduce electrical noise as the wiper moves across the film.

Abstract: A multi-axis potentiometer according to this invention is capable of determining actuator movement along multiple axes. The potentiometer includes a hollow, semi-spherical shell lined internally with a resistive element. Electrical contacts are attached across from each other along the resistive element near an opening of the shell to supply a source voltage or current to the resistive element. A pair of sensors are arranged on the end of an armature to contact the resistive element. The sensors in the end of the armature are used to sense voltage or current levels at the points where they contact the resistive element. These voltage or current levels are used to determine spherical coordinates corresponding to the location of the contact point and to determine an angle of rotation of the armature relative to the resistive element. A slidable handle can further be provided to a stem of the armature. The slidable handle contains a sensor to contact a resistive element located on the stem of the armature.

Abstract: A structure and method of making resistive emitting members which exhibit high resistivity while at the same time providing high temperature operation significantly above that known in the art. Specifically the use of nitrides of Group IVB transition metals from the periodic table, exclusive of titanium is described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a driving mechanism for an electronic part such as a switch, a variable resistor, etc., which can be remote-controlled, wherein an ultrasonic motor is used as a driving source for the electronic part. Therefore the object thereof is to provide a driving mechanism for an electronic part, which produces no electromagnetic noise and for which the construction can be simplified by omitting a converting mechanism and a controlling mechanism.

Abstract: The control device for a motor-vehicle friction clutch incorporates an electric motor which drives an output member in a substantially translational motion through a motion conversion crank gear unit designed as a worm gearing. This axis of a worm of the crank gear unit and the resultant drive force exerted on the output member by the assigned worm gearwheel lie in a common plane normal to the axis of rotation of the worm gearwheel. A spring-type energy accumulator supports the drive motion of the electric motor in the release direction of the clutch and is tensioned in the engagement direction by the electric motor. In this way a comparatively small-sized electric motor can also be used for rapid release movements.

Abstract: A slide rheostat having a light-emitting device for permitting a person to check the position of the knob of the rheostat in the nighttime or in the dark. The rheostat includes a transparent upper baseplate, a transparent lower baseplate, a laminated sheet including a pressure-sensitive contact member, a transparent sliding body that reciprocates, the knob being formed on the sliding body, an indicator portion having a transparent region, and a pressure-applying member. The light-emitting device is disposed below the lower baseplate rather than on the knob carried by the sliding body. When the light-emitting device is lit, the emitted light is transmitted through the lower baseplate, the laminated sheet, the upper baseplate, and the transparent region of the indicator portion that has a scale thereon. Part of the light directly reaches the outside through this transparent region, while the other part arrives at the outside after passing through the knob.