Haptic throttle devices and methods

• US 20070006847A1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Gregorio, Pedro
• Granted Patent: US 7,406,943 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/399
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2026/023 with electrical means to generate counter force or torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/105 characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/0404 Throttle position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/602 Pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/26 using computer, e.g. microprocessor

Abstract

An apparatus includes a sensor configured to be coupled to a throttle interface. The sensor is configured to output a sensor signal associated with a condition of the throttle interface. A first brake element has a first friction surface and a second brake element has a second friction surface. The second brake element is configured to be coupled to the throttle interface. The friction surface associated with the first brake element is positioned opposite the friction surface associated with the second brake element. The first brake element is configured to move relative to the second brake element. An actuator is coupled to the first brake element and is configured to output haptic feedback to the throttle interface via the first brake element based on the sensor signal.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a sensor signal associated with a state of a throttle interface;

receiving an input signal at a processor, the input signal being associated with information independent of an operation of the throttle interface; and

outputting via an actuator haptic feedback associated with the input signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting the haptic feedback includes outputting a friction force.

3. A processor-readable medium storing code representing instructions to cause a processor to perform a process, the code comprising code to:

receive a sensor signal associated with a state of a throttle interface;

receive an input signal at a processor, the input signal being associated with information independent of an operation of the throttle interface; and

output via an actuator haptic feedback associated with the input signal.