Force-feedback input device to compensate output to actuator and apply fixed force-feedback in response to movement of operating section

• US 20030076294A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shibazaki, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 7,209,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/04 Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/00 Mechanisms for operating contacts for tap changers H01H9/0027; thermal actuating or release means H01H37/02

Abstract

A force-feedback input device comprising an operating section, actuators to supply force-feedback by way of a transmission mechanism to the operating section, a movement quantity detector to detect a quantity of movement of the actuators and a controller to control the actuators by an output from the movement quantity detector. An initializing process is performed by the controller at startup utilizing an output from the movement quantity detector, and an output to the actuators is compensated after startup so that a fixed quantity of force-feedback is supplied to a quantity of movement of the operating section.

Claims

1. A force-feedback input device comprising an operating section, actuators to supply force-feedback by way of a transmission mechanism to the operating section, movement quantity detectors to detect a quantity of movement of the actuators, and a controller to control the actuators by way of an output from the movement quantity detectors, wherein at startup or when a designated event occurs, an initializing process is performed by the controller utilizing an output from the movement detectors, and wherein an output of the actuator is compensated after startup or after the designated event has occurred so that a fixed quantity of force-feedback is supplied to a quantity of movement of the operating section.

2. A force-feedback input device according to claim 1, wherein the initializing process applies a specified output to the actuator at startup or when a designated event occurs, detects the actuator movement quantity from the detectors, calculates a value in the processor of the controller by making a comparison based on an ideal movement quantity, and after startup or after the designated event has occurred, utilizes the calculated value to compensate the output of the actuator.

3. A force-feedback input device according to claim 2, wherein an electrical current detector is installed for detecting an electrical current of the actuator, wherein a specified output is applied to the motor at startup or when a designated event occurs, wherein an electrical current value of the actuator is detected from the electrical current detector, wherein a value is calculated in the processor by making a comparison based on an ideal electrical current value, and wherein after startup or after the designated event has occurred, the calculated value is utilized to compensate an output to the motor.