Haptic pointing devices

• US 6,281,651 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Fifer, Kirk, Cussen, Terry, Dinsmore, Mike, Haanpaa, Douglas, Jacobus, Charles J., Siebert, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih, Karen
• Application Number:
  US09/185,152
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 318/568.11, 318/568.16, 414/7, 414/5, 744/71, 434/45
• US Class Current: 318/568.11
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/02 Hand grip control means handles or pedals for crane control B66C13/56; for measuring the force applied to control members G01L5/22; hand-held casings for switching devices, e.g. joy-sticks H01H9/0214
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 17/0266 comprising more than two actuating or connecting rods
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0057 with kinematics chains of the type spherical-prismatic-spherical
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0066 with kinematics chains of the type universal-prismatic-spherical
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1689 Teleoperation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/40122 Manipulate virtual object, for trajectory planning of real object, haptic display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20201 Control moves in two planes

Abstract

A haptic pointing device includes a plurality of rigid, elongated proximal members, each connected to a separate rigid, elongated distal member through an articulating joint. The other end of each proximal member is coupled to an actuator such as a motor, causing that member to swing within a separate plane perpendicular to the shaft of the motor in response to a control signal. An end-effector is interconnected to the second end of each distal member through an articulating joint, such that as the actuators move the proximal members, the end-effector moves in space. In a preferred embodiment, the device includes at least three proximal members and three distal members, and the end-effector is coupled to a user-graspable element such as a stylus which retains a preferred orientation in space as the members are driven by the actuators. In a force-feedback application, the haptic pointing device further includes a position sensor associated with each degree of freedom, and haptic processing means interfaced to a virtual reality system or teleoperations environment. Additional components may be provided to increase flexibility, degrees of freedom, or both.

Claims

1. A haptic pointing device, comprising:

a plurality of rigid, elongated proximal members, each with a first end and a second end;

an actuator coupled to the first end of each proximal member, causing each member to swing within a separate plane in response to a control signal;

a plurality of rigid, elongated distal members, each distal member having a first end interconnected to the second end of a proximal member through an articulating joint; and

an end-effector interconnected to the second end of each distal member through an articulating joint.

2. The haptic pointing device of claim 1, including three proximal members and three distal members.

3. The haptic pointing device of claim 1, further including:

a position sensor associated with each proximal member; and

haptic processing means outputting an electronic signal indicative of the position of the end-effector in space.

4. The haptic pointing device of claim 1, wherein the articulating joints are universal joints.

5. The haptic pointing device of claim 1, wherein the articulating joints are ball joints.

6. The haptic pointing device of claim 1, wherein the articulating joints utilize a flexible material.

7. The haptic pointing device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a motor having a shaft perpendicular to the plane of movement of the proximal member coupled thereto.

8. The haptic pointing device of claim 1, wherein:

the end-effector is coupled to a user-graspable element having a preferred orientation in space; and

the arrangement of the members and joints is such that the element retains the preferred orientation as the end effector is moved by the actuators.

9. The haptic pointing device of claim 8 wherein the user-graspable element is a stylus.

10. The haptic pointing device of claim 8, wherein:

the user-graspable element includes a user control; and

at least one pair of the interconnected proximal and distal members is substantially hollow to carry electrical wiring to the control.

11. The haptic pointing device of claim 1, wherein the end-effector is coupled to a user-graspable element, the haptic pointing device further including one or more actuators associated with the articulating joint interconnecting the end-effector to the second ends of the distal members, providing one or more degrees of freedom associated with roll, pitch and yaw.

12. The haptic pointing device of claim 1, including:

a pair of base platforms; and

at least two sets of proximal and distal members, each set members being associated with one of the base platforms.

13. The haptic pointing device of claim 12, including:

six sets of proximal and distal members, three sets associated with each of the two platforms.

14. The haptic pointing device of claim 1, further including a docking point to receive the end effector so as to calibrate the end effector in space.

15. A haptic pointing device, comprising:

a plurality of rigid, elongated proximal members, each with a first end and a second end;

a position sensor associated with each proximal member;

an actuator coupled to the first end of each proximal member, causing each member to swing within a separate plane in response to a control signal;

a plurality of rigid, elongated distal members, each distal member having a first end interconnected to the second end of a proximal member through an articulating joint;

an end-effector interconnected to the second end of each distal member through an articulating joint; and

haptic processing means operative to;

a) output an electronic signal indicative of the position of the end-effector in space, and

b) receive an electronic signal causing the actuators to the end-effector at a pointing space.

16. The haptic pointing device of claim 15, including three proximal members and three distal members.

17. The haptic pointing device of claim 15, wherein the actuator is a motor having a shaft perpendicular to the plane of movement of the proximal member coupled thereto.

18. The haptic pointing device of claim 15, wherein:

the end-effector is coupled to a user-graspable element having a preferred orientation in space; and

the arrangement of the members and joints is such that the element retains the preferred orientation as the end effector is moved by the actuators.

19. The haptic pointing device of claim 18, wherein the user-graspable element is a stylus.

20. The haptic pointing device of claim 18, wherein:

the user-graspable element includes a user control; and

at least one pair of the interconnected proximal and distal members is substantially hollow to carry electrical wiring to the control.

21. The haptic pointing device of claim 15, wherein the end-effector is coupled to a user-graspable element, the haptic pointing device further including one or more actuators associated with the articulating joint interconnecting the end-effector to the second ends of the distal members, providing one or more degrees of freedom associated with roll, pitch and yaw.

22. The haptic pointing device of claim 15, including:

a pair of base platforms; and

at least two sets of proximal and distal members, each set members being associated with one of the base platforms.

23. The haptic pointing device of claim 22, including:

six sets of proximal and distal members, three sets associated with each of the two platforms.

24. The haptic pointing device of claim 15, wherein the haptic processing means is interfaced to a virtual reality system including descriptions of virtual objects enabling a user to interact with the objects through the end effector.

25. The haptic pointing device of claim 15, wherein the haptic processing means is interfaced to a slave system including a separate set of actuators and encoders, enabling a user to interact with the objects through the end effector.