CONTROL LEVER FOR HEAVY MACHINERY WITH NEAR-PROXIMITY SENSING

摘要

A control lever for heavy machinery includes a proximity sensor (12) for reducing the likelihood of inadvertent activation of the heavy machinery components. The proximity sensor is disposed adjacent an operating position of the control implement (20) and detects when an operator's hand is in an operating position on the control implement in accordance with a capacitance of the operator's hand. The sensing circuit (10) outputs an activate signal to a controller circuit (14) for controlling the heavy machinery components whe n the operator's hand is in the operating position on the control implement. A s a consequence, the operator is not required to perform excessive operations to effect control of the heavy machinery and has both hands available for machi ne operation.