Multiple degree-of-freedom mechanical interface to a computer system

• US 6,246,390 B1
• Filed: 06/06/1997
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation Delaware
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Rosenberg, Louis B.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CHANH DUY
• Application Number:
  US08/870,956
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/161, 345/162, 345/179, 744/71.XT, 33/1.M, 33/1.N, 33/1.MP, 33/1.PT, 335/04, 335/05, 200/6.A, 338/128, 414/5, 901/46, 901/16, 434/45
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• 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 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/0474 characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
• 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: G05G 9/04737 with six degrees of freedom
• 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 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 : for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/28 : Simulation of stick forces or the like

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing high bandwidth and low noise mechanical input and output for computer systems. A gimbal mechanism provides two revolute degrees of freedom to an object about two axes of rotation. A linear axis member is coupled to the gimbal mechanism at the intersection of the two axes of rotation. The linear axis member is capable of being translated along a third axis to provide a third degree of freedom. The user object is coupled to the linear axis member and is thus translatable along the third axis so that the object can be moved along all three degrees of freedom. Transducers associated with the provided degrees of freedom include sensors and actuators and provide an electromechanical interface between the object and a digital processing system. Capstan drive mechanisms transmit forces between the transducers and the object. The linear axis member can also be rotated about its lengthwise axis to provide a fourth degree of freedom, and, optionally, a floating gimbal mechanism is coupled to the linear axis member to provide fifth and sixth degrees of freedom to an object. Transducer sensors are associated with the fourth, fifth, and sixth degrees of freedom. The interface is well suited for simulations of medical procedures and simulations in which an object such as a stylus or a joystick is moved and manipulated by the user.

Claims

1. An apparatus for interfacing the motion of a user with a host computer system comprising:

a user manipulatable object physically contacted by said user;

a gimbal mechanism coupled between said user manipulatable object and a ground, said gimbal mechanism including a closed loop linkage of a plurality of members and providing two revolute degrees of freedom to said user manipulatable object about a first fixed axis of rotation and a second fixed axis of rotation, said user manipulatable object being coupled to said gimbal mechanism at approximately an intersection of said two fixed axes of rotation, wherein said two fixed axes of rotation are fixed with respect to said ground, wherein said linkage includes;

a) a ground member grounded to said ground;

b) first and second extension members, each extension member being rotatably coupled to said ground by first and second extension couplings, respectively, said extension members being rotatable about said two fixed axes of rotation; and

c) first and second central members, said first central member rotatably coupled to said first extension member by a first central coupling and to said user manipulatable object by a first object coupling, and said second central member rotatably coupled to said second extension member by a second central coupling and to said user manipulatable object or to said first central member by a second object coupling, and wherein said central members are rotatable about first and second floating axes, wherein when said user manipulatable object is in an origin position, said first extension coupling and said second central coupling intersect said first fixed axis of rotation, and said second extension coupling and said first central coupling intersect said second fixed axis of rotation, wherein said floating axes are movable with respect to said ground, and said floating axes being coincident with said fixed axes when said user manipulatable object is positioned in a neutral position; and

first and second degree of freedom sensors that detect movement of said user manipulatable object about said two fixed axes of rotation.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said linkage consists of exactly five members.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said first extension member, said first central member, and said second central member are rotatable about said first fixed axis, and said second extension member, said second central member, and said first central member are rotatable about said second fixed axis.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising an actuator for imparting a force along said first degree of freedom in response to signals produced by said computer system.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said sensors include rotary encoders which produce electrical signals corresponding to positions of said user manipulatable object in said two revolute degrees of freedom.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising a second degree of freedom actuator, said first degree of freedom actuator and said second degree of freedom actuator each being coupled to said ground member.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a linear axis member coupled to said user manipulatable object, said linear axis member and said user manipulatable object being translatable along a third axis with respect to said gimbal mechanism;

a second degree of freedom actuator coupled between said ground member and an extension member of said gimbal mechanism; and

a third degree of freedom actuator coupled between said linear axis member and said gimbal mechanism.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said user manipulatable object is rotatable about said third axis.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 9 further comprising a capstan drive mechanism coupling each of said actuators to said gimbal mechanism.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said user manipulatable object is rotatable about a third axis extending approximately through said intersection of said first floating axis and said second floating axis.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said first and second extension members and said first and second central members are aligned approximately in a single plane defined by said two fixed axes of rotation when said third axis is positioned perpendicularly to said plane defined by said two fixed axes of rotation.

13. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein first, second, third, and fourth members are all arranged approximately in a single plane defined by said two fixed axes when said user manipulatable object is positioned in said origin position in which said floating axes coincide with said fixed axes.

14. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said user manipulatable object may be rotated about a third axis of rotation extending approximately through an intersection of said first floating axis and said second floating axis, and wherein said third axis is substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by said first and second floating axes.

15. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein said user manipulatable object is rotatably coupled to at least one of said second member and third member.

7. An apparatus as recited in 6 further comprising a capstan drive mechanism coupling each of said actuators to said gimbal mechanism.

16. An interface apparatus for interfacing a user with a host computer, said interface apparatus comprising:

a user manipulatable object physically contacted by said user, said user manipulatable object being movable in two revolute degrees of freedom by said user;

a gimbal mechanism coupled to said user manipulatable object and coupled to a physical ground, said gimbal mechanism providing said two revolute degrees of freedom to said user manipulatable object about a first fixed axis of rotation and a second fixed axis of rotation, wherein said two fixed axes of rotation are fixed with respect to said ground, wherein said gimbal mechanism includes a serially-linked chain of members coupled to said physical ground at both ends of said chain, said chain including a first member, a second member, a third member, and a fourth member rotatably coupled together in series, wherein when said user manipulatable object is in an origin position, a first coupling between said first member and said ground and a third coupling between said third member and said fourth member are aligned on one of said fixed axes of rotation, and a second coupling between said first member and said second member and a fourth coupling between said fourth member and said ground are aligned on a different one of said fixed axes of rotation, said first member and said fourth member being rotatable about said two fixed axes of rotation, and wherein said second member and said third member are rotatable about first and second floating axes, said floating axes being movable with respect to said ground; and

a sensor for detecting a position of said user manipulatable object in said revolute degrees of freedom and outputting sensor signals including information representative of said position of said user manipulatable object in said revolute degrees of freedom, wherein a representation of said sensor signals is output to said host computer.

17. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 16 further comprising an actuator coupled to said gimbal mechanism for providing a force in one of said revolute degrees of freedom when said host computer sends a signal to said actuator.

18. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 17 wherein said actuator is one of a plurality of physically grounded actuators, said actuators each coupled to said ground and each providing a force in a different one of said revolute degrees of freedom of said user manipulatable object.

19. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said first fixed axis of rotation is substantially mutually perpendicular to said second fixed axis of rotation.

20. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said user manipulatable object may be rotated about a third axis of rotation extending approximately through an intersection of said first floating axis and said second floating axis.

21. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 16 further comprising a first capstan drive mechanism coupled between said ground and said first member, and a second capstan drive mechanism coupled between said ground and said fourth member.

22. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 16 wherein said host computer implements a graphical environment in an application program which is coordinated with forces output by said actuators.

23. An interface apparatus for providing force feedback to a user, said interface apparatus coupled to a host computer implementing a graphical environment, said interface apparatus comprising:

a user manipulatable object grasped by said user, said user manipulatable object being movable in two revolute degrees of freedom by said user;

a gimbal mechanism coupled to said user manipulatable object, said gimbal mechanism providing said two revolute degrees of freedom to said user manipulatable object about two axes of rotation, wherein said gimbal mechanism includes a plurality of members in a closed loop and including a ground member physically coupled to a ground, wherein each member is rotatably coupled to two others of said members;

a plurality of physically grounded actuators, each of said actuators coupled to said ground and to said gimbal mechanism, and each providing a force in a different one of said revolute degrees of freedom of said user manipulatable object;

a capstan drive mechanism coupled to each of said actuators and to said gimbal mechanism, each of said capstan drive mechanisms including a rotatable capstan drum coupled to said gimbal mechanism, a pulley coupled to one of said actuators, and a flexible member coupled between said capstan drum and said pulley, said capstan drive mechanisms transmitting force from said actutators to said gimbal mechanism with substantially no backlash; and

a plurality of sensors detecting a position of said user manipulatable object in said two revolute degrees of freedom and outputting sensor signals, said sensor signals including information representative of said position of said user manipulatable object, said information received by said host computer.

24. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said two axes of rotation are substantially orthogonal and wherein said plurality of actuators include two actuators positioned to each provide force about one of said orthogonal axes.

25. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said plurality of members includes a first member rotatably coupled between said ground member and a second member, a second member rotatably coupled between said first member and a third member, a third member rotatably coupled between said second member and a fourth member, and a fourth member coupled between said third member and said ground member, and wherein said user manipulatable object is coupled to said gimbal mechanism at a rotary coupling on at least one of said second and third members.

26. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 25 wherein said user manipulatable object is coupled to said gimbal mechanism at approximately an intersection of said two axes of rotation.

27. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 26 wherein when said user manipulatable object is in an origin position, a first coupling between said first member and said ground member and a third coupling between said third member and said fourth member are aligned on one of said axes of rotation, and wherein a second coupling between said first member and said second member and a fourth coupling between said fourth member and said ground member are aligned on a different one of said axes of rotation.

28. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said flexible members of said capstan drive mechanisms are cables.

29. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein each of said actuators includes a housing coupled to said ground member and a rotatable shaft coupled to said pulley of said capstan drive mechanism.

30. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said user manipulatable object is translatable in a third degree of freedom along a third axis extending approximately through an intersection of said two axes of rotation.

31. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 30 further comprising an actuator coupled to said gimbal mechanism for providing a force in said third degree of freedom.

32. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said host computer implements a graphical environment in an application program which is coordinated with forces output by said actuators.

33. An interface apparatus as recited in claim 23 wherein said user manipulatable object is rotatable in a third degree of freedom about a third axis extending approximately through an intersection of said two axes of rotation.