Balance control

Claim 2

A control device comprising: an elongated control shaft adapted to be angularly manipulated relative to a longitudinal neutral axis about a pivot point thereon; a plurality of light sensitive, electronic control devices spaced equidistant from said point on opposite sides of said axis; means forming a light pattern having areas of different intensity and movably controlled by manipulation of said shaft to simultaneously change the light intensity of said light pattern on said respective control devices, and indicator means including a visual indicator for each control device for providing comparative indication of the light intensity striking each of said control devices.

Claim 3

The control device of claim 1 including two pairs of said control devices positioned on a common plane normal to said neutral axis, each of said control devices located outwardly of said axis on said plane on a position line intersecting said axis and normal to the position line of a next adjacent control device.

Claim 4

The control device of claim 1 wherein opposite ones in each pair of control devices are spaced equidistant and in opposite directions from said axis on a common line.

Claim 5

The control device of claim 1 wherein said visual indicator for each of said control devices is mounted on a position line extending through said respective device and said axis.

Claim 6

The control device of claim 2 wherein said light pattern forming means includes a shadow forming disk movable by said control shaft between said common plane and a fixed light source.

Claim 7

The control device of claim 2 wherein said light pattern forming means includes a light source mounted on said control shaft and forming a conically shaped volume of illumination coaxial of said shaft directed toward said common plane.

Claim 8

The control device of claim 5 wherein said shadow disk is circular and mounted on said control shaft forming a circular shadow area on said plane when said shaft is aligned on said neutral axis.

Claim 9

The control device of claim 7 wherein said circular shadow area is dimensioned so that the outer periphery thereof is spaced between said control devices and said axis when said control shaft is on said neutral axis providing illumination of said control devices with equal intensity from said light source.

Claim 10

The control device of claim 8 wherein said shadow area is changed from circular to elyptical shape on movement of said control shaft out of alignment with said axis, said shadow disk being dimentioned to selectively shadow one or more of said control devices.

Claim 11

The control device of claim 2 including a visual indicator for each of said control devices spaced between said device and said neutral axis.

Claim 12

The control device of claim 10 wherein said indicators comprise means for transmitting light supplied thereto from a light source spaced apart therefrom.

Claim 13

The control device of claim 10 wherein said light pattern forming means includes a fixed light source and a shadow forming disk carried on said movable control shaft, said light source and disk forming a circular pattern on said plane when said control shaft is in a neutral position aligned with said neutral axis.

Claim 14

The control device of claim 12 wherein disk is dimensioned to form said circular pattern of a size whereby at least portions of said visual indicators are illuminated when said control shaft is in said neutral position.

Claim 15

A control device comprising: an indicator control panel, an elongated control shaft adapted to be angularly manipulated relative to a longitudinal neutral axis normal to said panel about a pivot point, ball and socket means on said panel supporting said control shaft for angular manipulation with respect to said neutral axis, two pairs of light sensitive, electronic control devices mounted on a plane normal to said neutral axis and spaced equidistant from said pivot point, each pair of control devices are spaced on opposite sides of said axis on a straight line intersecTing the same, and means forming a light pattern having areas of different intensity and movably controlled by manipulation of said shaft out of a neutral position aligned with said axis to simultaneously change the light intensity of said light pattern on said respective control devices.

Claim 16

A control device comprising: an indicator control panel, an elongated control shaft adapted to be angularly manipulated relative to a longitudinal neutral axis normal to said panel about a pivot point, ball and socket means on said panel supporting said control shaft for angular manipulation with respect to said neutral axis, two pairs of light sensitive, electronic control devices mounted on a plane normal to said neutral axis and spaced equidistant from said pivot point, each pair of control devices are spaced on opposite sides of said axis on a straight line intersecTing the same, and means forming a light pattern having areas of different intensity and movably controlled by manipulation of said shaft out of a neutral position aligned with said axis to simultaneously change the light intensity of said light pattern on said respective control devices.

Claim 17

The control device of claim 14 including two pairs of visual signal means on said panel, each of said visual signal means positioned on one of said lines adjacent a control device for indicating the intensity of light received by said device.

Claim 18

The control device of claim 15 wherein said visual signal means are positioned between their respective control devices and said neutral axis.

Claim 19

The control device of claim 14 wherein said common lines intersect at right angles.

Claim 20

The control device of claim 15 wherein said visual signal means are positioned to be at least partially illuminated when said light pattern forming means is manipulated with said control shaft aligned on said neutral axis.

Claim 21

The control device of claim 15 wherein said visual signal means includes light transmitting sections on said panel.

Claim 22

The control device of claim 14 wherein said straight lines intersect said neutral axis and extend radially outward thereof in opposite directions, said panel having a forward face and an opposite rearward face adjacent said plane, and wherein said control devices are mounted on a rear face of said panel.

Claim 23

The control device of claim 20 wherein said light pattern forming means includes a fixed light source on said neutral axis directed forwardly to illuminate and shadow portions of said rear faceward of said panel.

Claim 24

The control device of claim 21 wherein said light pattern forming means includes a shadow forming member mounted adjacent a rearwardly projecting end portion of said control shaft for blocking out light from said fixed light source to form a movable shadow pattern on said rearward panel face.

Claim 25

The control device of claim 22 wherein said shadow forming member comprises an opaque circular disk forming a circular pattern on said rearward panel face when said control shaft is aligned on said neutral axis and forming an elliptical shadow pattern whenever said shaft is out of said neutral position.

Claim 26

The control device of claim 20 including a support wall for said control device normal to said neutral axis and spaced rearwardly of said panel, said light pattern forming means forming a pattern on said wall.

Claim 27

The control device of claim 24 wherein said light pattern forming means includes a light source directed toward said wall and mounted on said control shaft for manipulation therewith to selectively illuminate one or more of said control devices.

Claim 28

A control comprising an elongated shaft supported for angular movement relative to a neutral axis about a pivot intermediate its ends, a fixed light source on said axis spaced from and directing light toward one end of said shaft, support wall means for said shaft normal to said axis spaced from said light source, a shadow disk mounted on said one end of said shaft for movement therewith to intercept light rays from said light source forming a shadow on said wall, and at least one pair of light sensitive electronic control devices mounted on said wall and spaced on opposite sides of said shaft within said shadow produced ''''with'''' when said shaft in a neutral position aligned with said axis.

Claim 29

A control comprising an elongated shaft supported for angular movement relative to a neutral axis about a pivot intermediate its ends, a fixed light source on said axis spaced from and directing light toward one end of said shaft, support wall means for said shaft normal to said axis spaced from said light source, a shadow disk mounted on said one end of said shaft for movement therewith to intercept light rays from said light source forming a shadow on said wall, and at least one pair of light sensitive electronic control devices mounted on said wall and spaced on opposite sides of said shaft within said shadow produced ''''with'''' when said shaft in a neutral position aligned with said axis.

Claim 30

The control of claim 26 including a pair of light receiving indicators mounted on said wall and spaced outwardly of said control devices in an illuminated area outside of a neutral shadow pattern formed on said wall when shaft is in said neutral position.

Claim 31

The control of claim 27 wherein said indicators comprise rods of light transmitting material extending axially parallel of said neutral axis and including a face angularly intersecting light rays from said light source for receiving the same.

Claim 32

The control of claim 28 wherein said face of each of said rOds is aligned to intercept said light rays at an angle in accordance with an index of refraction of said light transmitting material for transmitting intercepted light in an axial direction along said rod.

Claim 33

The control of claim 29 wherein each of said rods has a viewing end opposite said face thereof for indicating the amount of light received by said rod.