Control knob with multiple degrees of freedom and force feedback
First Claim
1. A knob controller device comprising:
- a knob coupled to a grounded surface, said knob rotatable in a rotary degree of freedom about an axis extending through said knob, said knob also moveable in it transverse direction approximately perpendicular to said axis;
a rotational sensor that detects a position of said knob in said rotary degree of freedom;
a transverse sensor operative to detect a position of said knob in said transverse direction; and
an actuator coupled to said knob and operative to output a force in said rotary degree of freedom about said axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a control knob on a device that allows a user to control functions of the device. In one embodiment, the knob is rotatable in a rotary degree of freedom and moveable in at least one transverse direction approximately perpendicular to the axis. An actuator is coupled to the knob to output a force in the rotary degree of freedom about the axis, thus providing force feedback. In a different embodiment, the knob is provided with force feedback in a rotary degree of freedom about an axis and is also moveable in a linear degree of freedom approximately parallel to the axis, allowing the knob to be pushed and/or pulled by the user. The device controlled by the knob can be a variety of types of devices, such as an audio device, video device, etc. The device can also include a display providing an image updated in response to manipulation of the knob. Detent forces can be provided for the knob by overlapping and adjusting ranges of closely-spaced detents in the rotary degree of freedom of the knob.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. A knob controller device comprising:
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a knob coupled to a grounded surface, said knob rotatable in a rotary degree of freedom about an axis extending through said knob, said knob also moveable in it transverse direction approximately perpendicular to said axis;
a rotational sensor that detects a position of said knob in said rotary degree of freedom;
a transverse sensor operative to detect a position of said knob in said transverse direction; and
an actuator coupled to said knob and operative to output a force in said rotary degree of freedom about said axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A knob controller device comprising:
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a knob coupled to a grounded surface, said knob rotatable in a rotary degree of freedom about an axis extending through said knob, said knob also moveable in a linear degree of freedom approximately parallel to said axis;
a rotational sensor that detects a position of said knob in said rotary degree of freedom;
a linear sensor that detects a position of said knob in said linear degree of freedom; and
an actuator coupled to said knob and operative to output a force in said rotary degree of freedom about said axis. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for controlling functions of a device from input provided by a knob, the method comprising:
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reading a rotary sensor signal from a rotary sensor, said rotary sensor signal being representative of a position of a knob in a rotary degree of freedom about an axis extending through said knob;
reading a transverse switch signal from a transverse switch, said transverse switch signal indicating when said knob is moved in a transverse degree of freedom approximately perpendicular to said axis;
using at least one of said rotary sensor signal and said transverse switch signal to control at least one function of said device; and
providing a force feedback signal to an actuator that is coupled to said knob, said force feedback signal being based at least in part on said rotary sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. An interface control device including force feedback and providing rate control and position control modes, the interface control device comprising:
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a user manipulatable object grasped by a user and movable in a degree of freedom;
an actuator coupled to said user manipulatable object and providing forces on said user manipulatable object in said degree of freedom;
a sensor that detects a position of said user manipulatable object in said degree of freedom and outputs a sensor signal including information representing said position;
a microprocessor coupled to said actuator and to said sensor, said microprocessor controlling said forces provided by said actuator and receiving said sensor signal from said sensor, wherein said microprocessor commands either a position control mode or a rate control mode for said user manipulatable object, wherein said position control mode controls a value based on a position of said user manipulatable object in said degree of freedom, and wherein said rate control mode controls a rate of change of said value based on a position of said user manipulatable object in said degree of freedom. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for providing detent forces for a force feedback control, the method comprising:
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outputting a first force for a first detent on a user manipulatable object contacted by a user and moveable in a degree of freedom, said first force being output when said user manipulatable object is moved within a range of said first detent, said first force being output by a electronically-controlled actuator, wherein said first force assists movement of said user manipulatable object toward an origin position of said first detent and wherein said first force resists movement of said user manipulatable object away from said origin position of said first detent; and
outputting a second force for a second detent on said user manipulatable object when said user manipulatable object is moved within a range of said second detent, said second force being output by said actuator and said second detent having an origin position different from said origin position of said first detent, wherein said second force assists movement of said user manipulatable object toward an origin position of said second detent and wherein said second force resists movement of said user manipulatable object away from said origin position of said second detent, wherein a portion of said range of said first detent overlaps a portion of said range of said second detent. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for providing detent forces for a force feedback control, the method comprising:
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defining a periodic wave;
using at least a portion of said periodic wave to define a detent force curve, said detent force curve defining a force to be output on a user manipulatable object based on a position of said user manipulatable object in a degree of freedom, said user manipulatable object being contacted and moveable by a user; and
using said detent force curve to command said force on said user manipulatable object, said force being output by a electronically-controlled actuator. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification