Actuator having electronically controllable tactile responsiveness
First Claim
1. An actuator having tactile feedback capabilities, comprising:
- an actuatable member for receiving a tactile feedback;
a servo motor having said actuatable member attached thereto;
a position encoder in communication with said servo motor, said encoder having an index representing a reference position of said servo motor and said encoder providing position information of said servo motor relative to said reference position;
a controller receiving said position information from said encoder;
a store of force-position relation information accessible to said controller, said controller outputting at least one force value corresponding to said position information in accordance with said store of force-position relation information; and
a drive signal source generating a drive signal to said servo motor in accordance with said at least one force value, said drive signal causing a force in said servo motor, said force providing said tactile feedback to said actuatable member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An actuator having electronically controllable tactile responsiveness which is flexibly programmable to facilitate provision in a single actuator of torque-position characteristics, such as a selectable number of detents per actuation through its full operative path. A rotary actuator facilitates provision in a single actuator, of torque versus angular position characteristics, such as a selectable number of detents per revolution. The actuator is in communication with a servo motor having a position encoder which outputs position information to a controller that has access to torque-position relation information. The controller outputs a digital torque signal, in accordance with the torque-position relation information, which is converted to an analog current signal applied to the servo motor to generate torque in the servo motor. The torque, presenting a tactile response to a human interacting with the actuator, is sensed as a detent or a plurality of detents. Similarly, an exercise machine actuator and a linear/joystick actuator are implemented having controllable tactile responsiveness that is electronically controllable in accordance with a selectable torque profile.
407 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An actuator having tactile feedback capabilities, comprising:
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an actuatable member for receiving a tactile feedback; a servo motor having said actuatable member attached thereto; a position encoder in communication with said servo motor, said encoder having an index representing a reference position of said servo motor and said encoder providing position information of said servo motor relative to said reference position; a controller receiving said position information from said encoder; a store of force-position relation information accessible to said controller, said controller outputting at least one force value corresponding to said position information in accordance with said store of force-position relation information; and a drive signal source generating a drive signal to said servo motor in accordance with said at least one force value, said drive signal causing a force in said servo motor, said force providing said tactile feedback to said actuatable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification