Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
  • G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of two-dimensional [2D] relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
  • G06F3/03543—Mice or pucks
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
  • G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
  • G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
  • G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
  • G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
  • G06F3/0354—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of two-dimensional [2D] relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks
  • G06F3/03549—Trackballs

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device facilitating the maintenance of a designation ball.
• designation ball is meant an assembly comprising a fixed body and a movable part such as for example a sphere.
• the fixed part includes sensors making it possible to deliver information concerning the movement of the mobile part.
• the invention finds particular utility for a designation ball belonging to equipment mounted on board an aircraft.
• the designation ball can then be used to select flight parameters.
• on-board equipment must reach a required level of reliability. This level is generally quantified by calculating an average time between two failures. This time is well known in Anglo-Saxon literature under the name of “MTBF” (Mean Time Between Failure). This is an average theoretical duration between two failures requiring the removal of the equipment in question outside the aircraft.
• the designation balls are sensitive to solid or liquid particles which may pollute the surface of the moving part. This pollution requires the removal of the equipment comprising the designation ball, which reduces the average time between two failures.
• Several solutions can be envisaged to improve the reliability of an equipment comprising a designation ball. For example, an attempt has been made to improve the sealing of the designation ball itself. This seal is located between the moving part and the fixed part of the designation ball. Improving this seal requires more tightening of seals. The tightening slows the movement of the sphere relative to the body and causes jolts harmful to its use.
• Another solution consists in replacing mechanical elements rotating in contact with the sphere and used as sensors, by optical sensors directly locating the movement of the sphere.
• optical sensors are less sensitive to pollutants but are of a more complex technology and tend to significantly increase the cost of the designation ball.
• the object of the invention is to increase the reliability of an item of equipment comprising a designation ball without thereby altering its operation or significantly increasing its cost of production.
• the subject of the invention is a device comprising a designation ball, the designation ball comprising a movable part, and a body inside which the movable part can move, the designation ball delivering information on the orientation of the movable part relative to the body, the device further comprising a cover inside which the designation ball is fixed, the cover being separate from the body and comprising an opening revealing the mobile part of the designation ball in order to operate the moving part from the outside of the cover, the designation ball comprising maintenance means, characterized in that the device comprises means for accessing the maintenance means of the designation ball from outside cover.
• the invention has the advantage of allowing the maintenance of the designation ball without obligation to deposit the equipment which includes it outside the aircraft.
• FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of a device according to the invention.
• Figure 2 shows an assembled view of the same device.
• Figures 1 and 2 show the principle of the invention in a simplified manner.
• FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a device according to the invention.
• the device shown in Figure 1 includes a designation ball 1 located inside a cover 2.
• the cover 2 has, in this embodiment an ergonomic shape allowing an operator to put the palm of his hand in it .
• the operator keeps the fingers of the hand placed on the device free to move a moving part 3 of the designation ball.
• the moving part 3 generally has the shape of a sphere.
• the maneuvering of the mobile part 3 by the operator is done from the outside of the cover 2.
• the cover 2 has an opening 4 revealing in part the mobile part 3.
• the designation ball includes means of maintenance allowing in particular to clean mechanical elements rotating around an axis and kept in contact with the moving part 3.
• the device comprises means for accessing the means for servicing the designation ball 1 from the outside of the cover 2. More precisely, in the absence of these means, the opening 4 is adjusted by so as to reveal only part of the moving part 3. The adjustment is made so as to limit the possible penetration of liquid or solid particles inside the cover 2.
• the means for accessing the maintenance means allow a person responsible for maintaining the device to access the maintenance means from the outside of the cover 2 using suitable tools such as a screwdriver without removing all of the equipment comprising the device.
• the means for accessing the maintenance means comprise a window 5 fixed to the cover 2 in a removable manner.
• the removable fixing can be carried out by means of several screws of which only the axes 6 and 7 have been shown so as not to overload the figure.
• the screws can be made captive with respect to window 5.
• the window 5 has the shape of a washer pierced with a hole 8 forming the opening 4 of the cover 2.
• the hole 8 has a shape which adjusts to the shape of the moving part 3 so as to limit the penetration of particles, liquids or solids, inside the cover 2.
• the hole 8 has an internal shape of a portion of sphere of the same radius as that of the part mobile 3.
• FIG. 2 represents the same elements as those represented in FIG. 1, namely the designation ball 1 and its moving part 3, the cover 2 and the window 5. Unlike FIG. 1, the different elements are shown in assembled position.
• the device shown in Figure 2 further comprises means for discharging liquid or solid particles penetrating inside the cover 2 between the window 5 and the designation ball 1.
• the discharge means comprise a clearance 9 located between the cover 2 and window 5 on the one hand and the designation ball 1 on the other.
• the evacuation means also comprise a collector 10 recovering all of the particles penetrating inside the cover 2 through the clearance 9.
• the evacuation means also comprise a pipe 11 allowing the elimination of the particles present in the collector 10.
• a seal 12 is provided between the window 5 and the cover 2.
• the seal 12 is formed by an O-ring.
• FIG. 3 represents an item of equipment for an aircraft dashboard.
• This equipment allows the pilot of the aircraft to enter data relating to the flight parameters of the aircraft.
• the equipment comprises a keyboard 15 and the designation ball 1 mounted in the cover 2.
• An upper part 16 of the cover 2 allows the pilot to place the palm of his hand there.
• the upper part 16, also called palm rest allows the pilot to stabilize his hand so that data entry, in particular using the designation ball, is done with precision.
• the equipment shown in FIG. 3 is generally installed next to the seat of the pilot of the aircraft and the pilot extends his arm downward to put his hand on the palm rest and to operate the keyboard and / or the designation ball .
• This low position of the equipment in the cockpit of the aircraft makes the equipment sensitive to the risk of penetration of particles, in particular liquid, capable of depositing on the palm rest 16.
• the equipment comprises the window 6, for example fixed to the cover 2 by captive screws or clips. Inside the aircraft, the window 6 can be removed to access the designation ball 1.
• the designation ball 1 comprises a body 17 forming a fixed part of the designation ball 1 and fixed to the equipment and a sphere forming the moving part 3 of the designation ball 1.
• the body 17 is distinct from the copot 2.
• window 5 is removed, which gives access to means for maintaining the designation ball 1.
• the designation ball 1 comprises a crown 18 fixed to the body 17 and preventing the movable part 3 from losing contact with the body 17.
• the maintenance means comprise, for example, the crown 18 in which a seal is placed.
• the crown 18 is fixed to the body 17. Once the window 5 has been removed, it is possible to dismantle the crown 18 and then the sphere 3.
• This disassembly gives access to mechanical elements 19 rotating in contact with the sphere 3 and used as sensor for the movement of the sphere 3.
• the mechanical elements 19 comprise, for example, two rollers whose axes are perpendicular and which make it possible to determine the movements of the sphere 3 along the two axes. These rollers are particularly sensitive to particles entering and depositing in the designation ball 1.
• the maintenance of the designation ball consists essentially in cleaning these rollers and possibly in loading the seal belonging to the crown 18.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Position Input By Displaying (AREA)
• Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=32050521

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (4)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2002
  • 2002-10-18 FR FR0213005A patent/FR2846111B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-10-10 US US10/529,240 patent/US7683884B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-10-10 BR BR0315491-2A patent/BR0315491A/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-10-10 CA CA002502471A patent/CA2502471A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-10-10 EP EP03785990A patent/EP1552376A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-10-10 WO PCT/FR2003/003003 patent/WO2004038575A2/fr not_active Ceased

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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