Touching feedback device

• US 5,589,854 A
• Filed: 06/22/1995
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ming-Chang Tsai
• Inventors: Tsai, Ming-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung, Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/493,547
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/161, 345/163, 345/167, 74/741 X Y, 74/490.10, 273/148 B, 273/438, 200/6 A, 338/128
• US Class Current: 345/161
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce
• 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 2203/015 Force feedback applied to a joystick
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

A tactile feedback device is provided. The device includes a joystick assembly with a joystick handle and a pair of perpendicular yoke components installed below the joystick handle. Each yoke component has a driving motor installed for driving the joystick handle. The device also includes a force feedback controlling system used for producing the force of a simulated condition, and to provide a relative average current to the motors for obtaining a relative rotating speed. The joystick can thereby produce different displacements of the joystick handle at the same time, and the operator can feel the different reaction forces produced. The device includes an automatic reset function using a pair of sensors respectively installed on the yoke components. The joystick handle can be automatically reset to the zero position of each when the sensors are not aligned with respective light blocking members.

Claims

1. A tactile feedback device, comprising:

a joystick assembly having a joystick handle and a pair of orthogonally disposed yoke components installed adjacent a bottom end of said joystick handle and adapted for corresponding displacement therewith, each of said yoke components having a driving motor connected to one end thereof through reduction gears and a variable resistor coupled to an opposing end of said yoke for generating a position signal, said pair of yokes being displaceable responsive to rotation of said driving motors for corresponding displacement of said joystick handle; and

a force feedback controlling system including (1) a central processing unit connected to a computer, (2) an A/D converter having a pair of inputs respectively coupled to said variable resistors of said pair of yokes and an output coupled to said central processing unit for converting respective position signals to digital signals, (3) a PWM driver circuit having an input coupled to said central processing unit, and (4) a bridge amplifier having an input coupled to said PWM driver and a pair of outputs respectively coupled to said driving motors, each of said driving motors receives a relative average current according to a simulation condition established by the computer for obtaining a relative rotating speed thereof to generate a relative feedback force to said joystick handle.