Electrical damping system

• US 20060187197A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Northwestern University
• Original Assignee: Northwestern University
• Inventors: Weir, David W., Peshkin, Michael A., Colgate, J. Edward, Mehling, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US11/359,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20060187197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

An electrical damping system provides damping over a wide range of frequencies including high frequencies. The system includes a resistance in parallel with an electric motor or series connected resistance and capacitance in parallel with the electric motor. In another embodiment, an electrical damping system is provided for a motor having a delta or wye motor winding configuration.

Claims

1. A system for use in a haptic display for providing haptic feedback to a user comprising:

a motor having a pair of leads;

an electrical damping system including an electrical resistance connect across the leads so as to be in parallel with the motor; and

a user interface coupled to the motor to provide haptic feedback to the user.

2. A system for use in a haptic display for providing haptic feedback to a user as recited in claim 1 wherein said electrical damping system includes a capacitance connected in series with the electrical resistance, the series connected resistance and capacitance being connected in parallel with the motor.

3. A system for use in a haptic display for providing haptic feedback to a user comprising:

a motor having at least two windings;

an electrical damping circuit connected across one or more of the windings; and

a user interface coupled to the motor to provide haptic feedback to the user.

4. A system for use in a haptic display for providing haptic feedback to a user as recited in claim 3 wherein the electrical damping circuit includes a resistance coupled across one or more of the windings.

5. A system for use in a haptic display for providing haptic feedback to a user as recited in claim 4 wherein the resistance is provided by a circuit having a current-voltage characteristic with a negative slope.

6. A system for use in a haptic display for providing haptic feedback to a user as recited in claim 3 wherein the electrical damping circuit includes a short coupled across a linear combination of windings.

7. A system for use in a haptic display for providing haptic Feedback to a user as recited in claim 3 wherein the electrical damping circuit is a damped commutation amplifier.