Forked gimbal arm force feedback mechanism
US6512509B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jan 28, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05G2009/04748
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A pointing device incorporates a force feedback mechanism driven by an actuator to convey physical sensations to the user. A position sensing apparatus is provided for monitoring the position of the user manipulable object in the pointing device. The sensing apparatus employs sensors that are directly or essentially directly connected to the user manipulable object to reduce backlash and are mounted in a way to eliminate off-axis loading on the sensors. The reduction of backlash produces more accurate position measurements, while the elimination of off-axis loading protects the sensors from damage to the internal mechanisms thereof. A computer controller processes the data from the sensors, and controls the actuator to produce feedback forces to the user manipulable object via the force feedback mechanism. The force feedback mechanism employs a gimbal mount having a pair of gimbal arms. One of the arms is a double sided or forked gimbal arm which substantially retains fully the joystick handle in all movements including applied torque about the axis of the handle as well as up-down and forward-backward forces. The improved constraint provides improved accuracy with reduced toleranc…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.