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Force feedback device including flexure member between actuator and user object

  • US 6,437,771 B1
  • Filed: 03/22/2000
  • Issued: 08/20/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An interface device used in conjunction with a host computer for monitoring user manipulations and for enabling the simulation of feel sensations in response to said user manipulations, said feel sensations generated in accordance with application software running on said host computer and in accordance with images output on a computer display device by said host computer, said interface device comprising:

  • a user object being physically contacted by a user and movable in at least two degrees of freedom by said user;

    at least one sensor that detects motion of said user object along said degrees of freedom with respect to a ground surface, wherein said at least one sensor outputs output sensor signals representative of said motion of said user object;

    an actuator coupled to said user object and generating at least one of a plurality of feel sensations by outputting a force that is transmitted to said user object;

    a flexure member coupled and providing torsional flex between said user object and said actuator in at least one of said degrees of freedom, said flexure member flexing to allow said user object to move with respect to said actuator;

    a local microprocessor separate from said host computer system for enabling communication with said host computer, for receiving commands from said host computer, for controlling said feel sensations in accordance with one or more of said commands, for reading said sensor signals, and for reporting sensor data based on said sensor signals to said host computer, said local microprocessor controlling feel sensations simultaneously with said software running on said host computer; and

    a communication interface for transmitting signals from said host computer to said local microprocessor and from said local microprocessor to said host computer.

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