MOTOR BALANCED ACTIVE USER INTERFACE ASSEMBLY
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An active user interface assembly, comprising:
- a housing;
a user interface coupled to and extending from the housing, the user interface rotatable, from a null position, about an axis; and
a feedback motor coupled to the user interface and adapted to be selectively energized, the feedback motor operable, upon being energized, to supply a feedback force to the user interface that opposes user interface movement about the axis, the feedback motor disposed such that its center of gravity is located at a position relative to the user interface to mass balance the user interface when it is in the null position.
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Abstract
An active user interface assembly includes a user interface, and one or more feedback motors coupled to the user interface. The one or more feedback motors, when energized, supply a feedback force to the user interface that opposes user interface movement. One of the feedback motors is disposed such that its center of gravity is located at a position relative to the user interface to mass balance the user interface when it is in the null position. The configurations allow for the center of gravity of a feedback motor to be positioned in a manner that alleviates the need for counterbalance weights.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An active user interface assembly, comprising:
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a housing; a user interface coupled to and extending from the housing, the user interface rotatable, from a null position, about an axis; and a feedback motor coupled to the user interface and adapted to be selectively energized, the feedback motor operable, upon being energized, to supply a feedback force to the user interface that opposes user interface movement about the axis, the feedback motor disposed such that its center of gravity is located at a position relative to the user interface to mass balance the user interface when it is in the null position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An active user interface assembly, comprising:
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a housing; a user interface coupled to and extending from the housing, the user interface rotatable, from a null position, about a first axis and a second axis, the first and second axes being perpendicular; a first feedback motor coupled to the user interface and disposed such that its center of gravity is located at a first position relative to the user interface, the first feedback motor adapted to be selectively energized and operable, upon being energized, to supply a feedback force to the user interface that opposes user interface movement about the first axis; a second feedback motor coupled to the user interface and disposed such that its center of gravity is located at a second position relative to the user interface, the second feedback motor adapted to be selectively energized and operable, upon being energized, to supply a feedback force to the user interface that opposes user interface movement about the second axis, wherein at least one of the first position and the second position are selected to mass balance the user interface when it is in the null position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An active user interface assembly, comprising:
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a housing; a user interface coupled to and extending from the housing, the user interface rotatable, from a null position, about a first axis and a second axis, the first and second axes being perpendicular; a first feedback motor disposed such that its center of gravity is located at a first position relative to the user interface, the first feedback motor adapted to be selectively energized and operable, upon being energized, to supply a feedback force that opposes user interface movement about the first axis; a first feedback gear set coupled between the first feedback motor and the user interface and configured to transfer the feedback force supplied by the first feedback motor to the user interface; a second feedback motor disposed such that its center of gravity is located at a second position relative to the user interface, the second feedback motor adapted to be selectively energized and operable, upon being energized, to supply a feedback force that opposes user interface movement about the second axis; and a second feedback gear set coupled between the second feedback motor and the user interface and configured to transfer the feedback force supplied by the second feedback motor to the user interface, wherein the first position and the second position are selected to mass balance the user interface when it is in the null position. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification