Magnetic Manual User Interface Devices

• US 20100265176A1
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seektech Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seektech Inc.
• Inventors: Jemmott, George L., Warren, Alexander L., Merewether, Ray, Olsson, Mark S., Martin, Michael J., Jessup, Amos H., Canepa, Loni M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,870,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04707 with ball joint
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04755 Magnetic sensor, e.g. hall generator, pick-up coil
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/05 Means for returning or tending to return controlling members to an inoperative or neutral position, e.g. by providing return springs or resilient end-stops G05G5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks

Abstract

Various finger tip controlled manual interface devices that can be used as inputs to personal computers, electromechanical systems and video game consoles utilize concentrically arranged magnets. The polarities of the magnets are oriented to provide restoration forces on a one of the magnets to bias it toward a neutral position. A magnetic sensor including a plurality of sensing elements such as Hall effect devices generates output signals representative of direction and amount of movement of the magnet that is biased to the neutral position.

Claims

1. A manual user interface device, comprising:

a manual actuator having an axis;

an annular magnet having a central bore;

a substantially spherical magnet that can be operatively coupled to the manual actuator, the spherical magnet being positioned in the bore of the annular magnet, the magnetic axes of the magnets being substantially co-axial, and the polarity of the magnets being oppositely oriented such that the interaction of their magnetic fields provides restoring forces that urge the spherical magnet so that its axis is aligned with a neutral axis; and

a three-axis magnetic sensor positioned to detect changes in a magnetic field due to movement of the spherical magnet and generate signals representative of the direction and amount of movement of the spherical magnet relative to the neutral axis.

2. The manual user interface device of claim 1 wherein the manual actuator is a pliant deformable cup-shaped member.

3. The manual user interface device of claim 1 wherein a central section of the cup-shaped member can be depressed and deformed to establish a frictional contact with an upper surface of the spherical magnet.

4. The manual user interface device of claim 3 and further comprising a ball-sleeve supporting the annular magnet.

5. The manual user interface device of claim 3 wherein the ball-sleeve is dome shaped and includes a neck around which the annular magnet is seated.

6. The manual user interface device of claim 3 and further comprising a mechanically activated switch beneath the spherical magnet which can be activated by depressing the central section of the cup-shaped member.

7. The manual user interface device of claim 6 wherein the switch is a dome-switch.

8. The manual user interface device of claim 6 and further comprising a low-friction barrier separating the spherical magnet and the two state switch.

9. The manual user interface device of claim 6 and further comprising a carrier float separating the magnetic sensor and the two state switch.

10. A manual user interface device, comprising:

a manual actuator having an axis;

a plurality of magnets arranged in a concentric relationship with at least one of the magnets being operatively coupled to the manual actuator and the polarity of the magnets being oriented such that the interaction of their magnetic fields provides restoring forces that urge the coupled magnet so that its magnetic axis is aligned with a neutral axis; and

a plurality of magnetic sensing elements positioned to detect changes in a magnetic field due to movement of the operatively coupled magnet and generate signals representative of the movement of the operatively coupled magnet relative to the neutral axis.

11. The manual user interface device of claim 11 wherein the operatively coupled magnet is connected to the manual actuator and has a substantially spherical shape and another magnet has a substantially annular shape and surrounds the spherical magnet.

12. The manual user interface device of claim 11 wherein the magnetic sensing elements are Hall effect devices.

14. The manual user interface device of claim 11 wherein the operatively coupled magnet is a spherical magnet connected to the manual actuator and the spherical magnet is surrounded by a plurality of circumferentially arranged roller magnets.

15. The manual user interface device of claim 11 wherein the plurality of magnetic sensing elements and the magnets are supported on a printed circuit board (PCB).

16. The manual user interface device of claim 12 wherein the manual actuator includes a paddle, a cup that holds the spherical magnet and a shaft connecting the paddle and the cup.

17. The manual user interface device of claim 11 wherein the magnets include a plurality of stacked pairs of spherical magnets, each stack with oppositely oriented polarities.

18. The manual user interface device of claim 12 and further comprising a bias magnet connected to the spherical magnet.

19. The manual user interface device of claim 12 wherein the manual actuator is made of a pliant material and has a central section that can be depressed to provide a frictional connection with the spherical magnet that provides the operative coupling and that can be laterally displaced to allow a user to move the spherical magnet to displace a magnetic axis of the spherical magnet away from the neutral axis.

13. The manual user interface device of claim 13 wherein the Hall effect devices form part of a three-axis magnetic sensor that generates digital output signals representing the direction and amount of movement of the spherical magnet relative to the neutral axis.

20. A manual user interface device, comprising:

an annular magnet;

a sleeve supporting the annular magnet;

a substantially spherical magnet positioned in a bore of the annular magnet, the magnetic axes of the magnets being substantially co-axial, and the polarity of the magnets being oppositely oriented such that the interaction of their magnetic fields provides restoring forces that urge the spherical magnet so that its axis is aligned with a neutral axis;

a manual actuator having an axis, the manual actuator including a pliant deformable cup-shaped member with a central section that can be deformed downwardly by manual engagement with a user'"'"'s hand to establish a frictional contact with an upper surface of the spherical magnet, the central section being deformable laterally to allow the spherical magnet to be tilted by moving the central section away from the neutral axis;

a mechanically activated switch beneath the spherical magnet which can be activated by depressing the central section of the cup-shaped member;

a low-friction barrier separating the spherical magnet and the switch; and

a three-axis magnetic sensor positioned to detect changes in a magnetic field resulting from movement of the spherical magnet and generate signals representative of the direction and amount of movement of the spherical magnet relative to the neutral axis.