SAFE AND LOW COST COMPUTER PERIPHERALS WITH FORCE FEEDBACK FOR CONSUMER APPLICATIONS
First Claim
1. An interface apparatus for interfacing motion of a user manipulable object with a host computer and enabling said host computer to track motion of said user manipulable object and to command feedback forces to said user manipulable object, said interface apparatus comprising:
- a user object being physically contacted and manipulable by a user and having at least one degree of freedom of movement with respect to a ground surface;
a device microprocessor provided local to said interface apparatus and separate from said host computer and being controlled by software instructions stored in a memory device separate from said host computer, said microprocessor being coupled to said host computer by a first interface bus and receiving host commands from said host computer on said first interface bus;
an actuator coupled to said user object for applying a force along said degree of freedom to said user object, wherein said actuator applies said force in response to microprocessor force commands produced by said device microprocessor; and
a sensor coupled to said user object for detecting a position of said user object along said degree of freedom and for outputting a locative sensor signal which represents said position of said user manipulable object, said locative sensor signal being received by said host computer, wherein said host computer modifies a displayed process in response to said locative sensor signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Power management for an interface device that is manipulated by a user and in communication with a host computer and provides forces to the user. The device includes a sensor and an actuator. One embodiment provides first power from the host computer over a serial interface and second power from a power adapter. Another embodiment provides first power from the host computer and second power from a power storage device on the interface device that supplies power to the actuator. Another embodiment provides a power adapter supplying a portion of the first power to the sensor and a portion to the actuator, and a power storage device on the interface device provides second power to the actuator.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An interface apparatus for interfacing motion of a user manipulable object with a host computer and enabling said host computer to track motion of said user manipulable object and to command feedback forces to said user manipulable object, said interface apparatus comprising:
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a user object being physically contacted and manipulable by a user and having at least one degree of freedom of movement with respect to a ground surface; a device microprocessor provided local to said interface apparatus and separate from said host computer and being controlled by software instructions stored in a memory device separate from said host computer, said microprocessor being coupled to said host computer by a first interface bus and receiving host commands from said host computer on said first interface bus; an actuator coupled to said user object for applying a force along said degree of freedom to said user object, wherein said actuator applies said force in response to microprocessor force commands produced by said device microprocessor; and a sensor coupled to said user object for detecting a position of said user object along said degree of freedom and for outputting a locative sensor signal which represents said position of said user manipulable object, said locative sensor signal being received by said host computer, wherein said host computer modifies a displayed process in response to said locative sensor signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An interface apparatus for interfacing motion of a user manipulable joystick with a host computer, said interface apparatus comprising:
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a joystick being physically contacted by a user and having at least one degree of freedom of movement; an actuator coupled to said joystick for applying a force along said degree of freedom to said joystick;
wherein said actuator applies said force in response to force commands received from said host computer via a first interface bus coupling said interface apparatus to a first interface port of said host computer; anda sensor for detecting a position of said joystick along said degree of freedom and outputting sensor signals, said sensor signals being received by said host computer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification