Switch Controller

The invention relates to a switch controller which is adapted to prevent an inadvertent operation of a foot-operated switch controller as used in a surgical microscope for controlling the vertical movement of the microscope body or for controlling the focussing.

When using a surgical microscope to permit an observation of an affected part on a magnified scale while undertaking a surgical operation, both hands are occupied for the purpose of performing the surgical operation and hence are unavailable to performing the focussing, for example. To overcome this difficulty, there is provided a surgical microscope which may be automatically operated by foot.

However, a foot-operated controller is liable to an inadvertent operation. By way of example, the controller may include a pair of pushbuttons disposed in juxtaposition, one serving to move the microscope upward and the other downward. When one of these pushbuttons is to be depressed by foot, both of them may be depressed simultaneously.

It is an object of the invention to provide a switch controller which completely eliminates the likelihood of inadvertent operation, by using a combination of normally open switches and normally closed switches such that the simultaneous depression of two pushbuttons cannot complete either circuit.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the controller of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along the line II--II shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical connection of switches contained in the controller.

The switch controller according to the invention will be described below as applied to a foot-operated switch controller associated with a microscope. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the controller includes a body 1 having a pair of first and second pushbuttons 2, 3 mounted therein. These pushbuttons are arranged so that the depression of the pushbutton 2 moves a microscope body upward while the depression of the pushbutton 3 moves the microscope body downward. A spring 4 normally biases the pushbutton 2 upward. While not shown, a similar spring biases the pushbutton 3 upward. The pushbutton 2 has a pair of actuator pins 5, 6 secured to its inner end. The pin 6 is longer than the pin 5. A first normally open microswitch 7 and a first normally closed microswitch 8 are located below the pins 5 and 6, respectively. In a similar manner, the pushbutton 3 carries a pair of actuator pins, with an actuator pin of a reduced length located in alignment with the pin 5 and an actuator pin of an increased length located in alignment with the pin 6. A second normally open microswitch 9 and a second normally closed microswitch 10 (see FIG. 3) are located below the pins on the pushbutton 3. When the pushbutton 2 is depressed by foot, the actuator pin 6 initially actuates the microswitch 8, and thereafter the pin 5 actuates the microswitch 7. Similarly, when the pushbutton 3 is depressed, the microswitch 10 (see FIG. 3) located below the longer pin is initially actuated, and then the microswitch 9 located below the shorter pin is actuated. It is to be noted that the microswitches 7,9 located below the shorter pins are normally open switches while the microswitches 8, 10 located below the longer pins are normally closed switches.

Referring to FIG. 3 where similar parts are designated by like numerals, there is shown a first circuit which includes a drive A for moving a microscope body vertically upward. A second circuit includes a drive B which moves the microscope body vertically downward. The first normally open switch 7 and the second normally closed switch 10 are connected in series with the drive A in the first circuit. The first normally closed switch 8 and the second normally open switch 9 are connected in series with the drive B in the second circuit.

When it is desired to move the microscope body upward, the pushbutton 2 may be depressed. This causes the longer pin 6 to actuate the microswitch 8. The microswitch 8 has its movable contact 8a switched from a terminal 8b to terminal 8c. Subsequently, the shorter pin 5 actuates the microswitch 7, whereby its movable contact 7a is switched from terminal 7b to 7c. As a result, the first circuit is completed to connect the drive A with a power source 11, moving the microscope body upward.

When the pushbutton 3 is depressed, the microswitch 10 is initially actuated, and its movable contact 10a is switched from terminal 10b to terminal 10c. Subsequently, the microswitch 9 is actuated, switching its movable contact 9a from terminal 9b to terminal 9c. As a result, the second circuit is completed to connect the drive B with the source 11, moving the microscope body downward.

When both pushbuttons are inadvertently depressed simultaneously, the longer pins initially actuate the microswitches 8 and 10. The movable contact 8a is switched to terminal 8c, and the movable contact 10a is switched to terminal 10c. The shorter pins then actuate the microswitches 7 and 9. The movable contact 7a is switched to terminal 7c and the movable contact 9a is switched to terminal 9c. Although the microswitches 7 and 9 are closed, the opening of the microswitches 8 and 10 prevents both the first and the second circuits from being completed.

It will be seen from the foregoing that an inadvertent operation of the switch controller of the invention does not result in completing any drive. Also it will be understood that the switch controller is equally applicable to any other operation of the microscope such as the focussing of the objective.