Tri-axial ergonomic footswitch
A foot-operated controller includes a base configured to rest on a floor surface, and a movable contact surface coupled to the base. The contact surface includes an anterior region to support a toe region and a posterior region to support a heel region, and is configured to roll about a roll axis in response to inversion or eversion of a foot engaged with the contact surface, pitch about a pitch axis in response to plantar flexion or dorsiflexion of the foot, and yaw about a yaw axis in response to abduction or adduction of the foot. The roll, pitch, and yaw axes intersect at a point superior to the contact surface, and may align with the operator's ankle.
1. A foot-operated controller, comprising:
a base configured to rest on a floor surface;
a movable contact surface coupled to the base, the movable contact surface comprising an anterior region to support a toe region and a posterior region to support a heel region, the movable contact surface configured to:
roll about a roll axis in response to inversion or eversion of a foot engaged with the contact surface;
pitch about a pitch axis in response to plantarflexion or dorsiflexion of the foot; and
yaw about a yaw axis in response to abduction or adduction of the foot;
a roll sensor coupled to the foot-operated controller and configured to detect a roll of the contact surface and send a signal indicating the detected roll to a microprocessor;
a pitch sensor communicatively coupled to the foot-operated controller and configured to detect a pitch of the contact surface and send a signal indicating the detected pitch to the microprocessor; and
a yaw sensor communicatively coupled to the foot-operated controller and configured to detect a yaw of the contact surface and send a signal indicating the detected yaw to the microprocessor
wherein the roll axis is located in a roll plane superior to the contact surface;
wherein the roll, pitch and yaw axes intersect at a point aligned with an ankle moving the foot.
2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the roll, pitch and yaw axes intersect at a point located 1-30 millimeters above the contact surface.
3. The controller of claim 1 , wherein a point at which the roll, pitch, and yaw axes intersect is adjustable.
4. A foot-operated controller, comprising:
a base configured to rest on a floor surface;
a movable contact surface coupled to the base, the movable contact surface comprising an anterior region to support a toe region and a posterior region to support a heel region, the movable contact surface configured to:
roll about a roll axis in response to inversion or eversion of a foot engaged with the contact surface;
pitch about a pitch axis in response to plantarflexion or dorsiflexion of the foot and
yaw about a yaw axis in response to abduction or adduction of the foot a roll sensor coupled to the foot-operated controller and configured to detect a roll of the contact surface and send a signal indicating the detected roll to a microprocessor;
a pitch sensor communicatively coupled to the foot-operated controller and configured to detect a pitch of the contact surface and send a signal indicating the detected pitch to the microprocessor; and
a yaw sensor communicatively coupled to the foot-operated controller and configured to detect a yaw of the contact surface and send a signal indicating the detected yaw to the microprocessor;
wherein the roll, pitch and yaw axes intersect at a point superior to the contact surface.
5. A foot-operated controller, comprising:
a base configured to rest on a floor surface;
a movable contact surface coupled to the base, the movable contact surface comprising an anterior region to support a toe region and a posterior region to support a heel region, the movable contact surface configured to:
roll about a roll axis in response to inversion or eversion of a foot engaged with the contact surface;
pitch about a pitch axis in response to plantarflexion or dorsiflexion of the foot and
yaw about a yaw axis in response to abduction or adduction of the foot
a roll sensor coupled to the foot-operated controller and configured to detect a roll of the contact surface and send a signal indicating the detected roll to a microprocessor;
a pitch sensor communicatively coupled to the foot-operated controller and configured to detect a pitch of the contact surface and send a signal indicating the detected pitch to the microprocessor; and
a yaw sensor communicatively coupled to the foot-operated controller and configured to detect a yaw of the contact surface and send a signal indicating the detected yaw to the microprocessor;
wherein the roll sensor, pitch sensor, and yaw sensor each comprises one or more pressure sensors.