Direct drive rotational sensor adapted to withstand off-axis loading
First Claim
1. A computer peripheral device comprising:
- a housing;
an input shaft;
a rotational sensor having a sensor body and a sensor shaft, the sensor shaft being attached to the input shaft, the rotational sensor comprising a protrusion connected to the sensor body; and
a mounting assembly on said housing coupled to said protrusion of said rotational sensor, said mounting assembly having a plurality of surfaces positioned to contact said protrusion with an interference fit to prevent motion of the sensor body in only one degree of freedom such that the sensor body is movable with said input shaft except in said one degree of freedom, said protrusion being slidable relative to said mounting assembly.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods are provided to withstand various off-axis displacements and radial forces which degrade the accuracy of conventional rotational position sensors after repeated use. Specifically, a device is provided having a mounting assembly which reduces the internal bending forces which cause early failure in rotational sensors. In one embodiment, a computer peripheral device includes an input shaft attached to a rotational sensor. The mounting assembly coupled to the rotational sensor prevents motion of the sensor body in only one degree of freedom. Preferably, the mounting assembly allows the sensor body to move with the input shaft in five degrees of freedom, thus minimizing bending forces caused when the sensor body is rigidly secured in one position. The ability to move the sensor body in many degrees of freedom allows forces to be transferred through the device, instead of being absorbed by the sensor mechanisms. Optimally, the rotational sensor will only resist those forces required to rotate the shaft.
16 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A computer peripheral device comprising:
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a housing;
an input shaft;
a rotational sensor having a sensor body and a sensor shaft, the sensor shaft being attached to the input shaft, the rotational sensor comprising a protrusion connected to the sensor body; and
a mounting assembly on said housing coupled to said protrusion of said rotational sensor, said mounting assembly having a plurality of surfaces positioned to contact said protrusion with an interference fit to prevent motion of the sensor body in only one degree of freedom such that the sensor body is movable with said input shaft except in said one degree of freedom, said protrusion being slidable relative to said mounting assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
said protrusion unconstrained by the mounting assembly to move in the channel between the two opposing surfaces.
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15. A device as in claim 13 wherein said opposing surfaces are in contact with said first surface and second surface of the protrusion and prevent the rotation of the rotational sensor body about a longitudinal axis of the input shaft.
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16. A device as in claim 13 wherein said mounting assembly comprises a U-shaped bracket.
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17. A device as in claim 13 wherein the mounting assembly is integrated onto said housing, said mounting assembly comprising an upper rib on the housing defining a first contact point with said protrusion and a lower rib on the housing defining a second contact point,
wherein said contact points prevent body portion rotation about a longitudinal axis of the shaft and allow relative motion of the rotational sensor body portion in at least three of the remaining degrees of freedom.
- 10. A device as in clam 1 wherein said protrusion comprises an elongate member having a spherical distal end contacting said surfaces of the mounting assembly.
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18. A computer peripheral device comprising:
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a housing;
an input shaft;
a rotational sensor having a sensor body and a sensor shaft, the sensor being attached to the input shaft, the rotational sensor comprising a protusion connected to the sensor body; and
sensor mounting means on said housing contacting said protrusion with an interference fit for substantially constraining said sensor body from rotating about a longitudinal axis of the input shaft while allowing relative motion of the sensor body with respect to said housing in at least three other degrees of freedom including sliding therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A sensor mountable on a mounting assembly for measuring a rotational output of a user input, said sensor comprising:
a sensor body connected to a protrusion and a sensor shaft wherein said sensor body is adapted to define an interface with said mounting assembly forming an interference fit between said protrusion and said mounting assembly to prevent rotational movement of the sensor body in only one axis of rotation of said sensor shaft while allowing relative motion of the sensor body with respect to said mounting assembly in at least three other degrees of freedom including sliding therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method for manufacturing a computer peripheral device, the method comprising:
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coupling a rotational sensor mounting assembly to a housing;
providing a rotational sensor having a sensor body and a sensor shaft, the rotational sensor comprising a protrusion connected to the sensor body; and
securing the sensor shaft of the rotational sensor to an input shaft and mounting the sensor body with the mounting assembly, wherein said mounting assembly has a plurality of surfaces positioned to contact said protusion with an interference fit to substantially prevent motion of the sensor body in only one degree of freedom relative to the housing such that the sensor body is movable with the input shaft except in said one degree of freedom.
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Specification