Magnetically coupled input device
First Claim
1. A control input device, comprising:
- a housing having an aperture;
a substantially spherical body having a first portion disposed within the housing so as to have a portion of the body disposed within the aperture, the spherical body operable to rotate within the housing;
a first permanent magnet disposed within the spherical body, the first magnet operable to emit a first magnetic field;
a second permanent magnet disposed within the spherical body, the second magnet operable to emit a second magnetic field;
a first magnetic sensing device disposed within the housing, the first magnetic sensing device operable to detect the first and second magnetic fields and to generate a first output signal as a function of the strength of the first and second magnetic fields; and
a first conductive path coupled with the sensor and operable to transmit the first output signal out of the housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for transmitting a signal corresponding to a rotation of a spherical body. The apparatus includes a housing having an aperture, and a substantially spherical body having a first portion disposed within the housing so as to have a portion of the body disposed within the aperture, the spherical body operable to rotate within the housing. A first and second permanent magnets are disposed within the spherical body, and are operable to emit a magnetic field. A first magnetic sensing device is disposed within the housing, the first magnetic sensing device being operable to detect the magnetic fields and to generate a first output signal as a function of the strength of the magnetic fields. The first output signal is transmitted via a first conductive path coupled with the sensor.
101 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A control input device, comprising:
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a housing having an aperture;
a substantially spherical body having a first portion disposed within the housing so as to have a portion of the body disposed within the aperture, the spherical body operable to rotate within the housing;
a first permanent magnet disposed within the spherical body, the first magnet operable to emit a first magnetic field;
a second permanent magnet disposed within the spherical body, the second magnet operable to emit a second magnetic field;
a first magnetic sensing device disposed within the housing, the first magnetic sensing device operable to detect the first and second magnetic fields and to generate a first output signal as a function of the strength of the first and second magnetic fields; and
a first conductive path coupled with the sensor and operable to transmit the first output signal out of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
a first portion operable to exert a compressive force on a first part of the spherical body; and
a second portion coupled with the first portion, the second portion operable to exert a compressive force on a second part of the spherical body, the second compressive force being exerted in an approximately diametrically opposed direction to the first compressive force.
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5. The control input device of claim 1, further comprising a shaft coupled with the spherical body, the shaft protruding from the housing and extending in a direction approximately normal to a surface of the spherical body.
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6. The control input device of claim 1, further comprising a centering device coupled with the spherical body, the centering device operable to bias the spherical body to a first position.
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7. The control input device of claim 6 wherein the centering device comprises a spring.
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8. The control input device of claim 6, further comprising a rod coupled with the spherical body and wherein the centering device comprises an elastic material coupled with the housing and the rod, the elastic material operable to deform as a function of movement of the rod, and to rebound substantially back to its original form.
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9. The control input device of claim 8 wherein the centering device comprises the elastic material in the approximate shape of a toroid, the rod being disposed within an aperture of the toroid and the housing being coupled with an outer perimeter of the toroid.
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10. The control input device of claim 1 wherein the portion of the spherical body disposed within the aperture includes a recess.
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11. The control input device of claim 1, further comprising a bearing disposed within the housing, the bearing operable to exert a biasing force on the spherical body.
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12. The control input device of claim 11 wherein the bearing is slidably disposed within the housing, and further comprising a wave washer disposed between the bearing and the housing, the wave washer operable to exert the biasing force on the bearing.
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13. The control input device of claim 11 wherein the bearing is slidably disposed within the housing, and further comprising a spring disposed between the bearing and the housing, the spring operable to exert the biasing force on the bearing.
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14. The control input device of claim 1 wherein the first and second magnets are disposed within the spherical body in a direction approximately normal with a surface of the spherical body, one of the first and second magnets having a north pole disposed substantially flush with the surface and a south pole a predetermined distance from the surface, and the other of the first and second magnets having a south pole disposed substantially flush with the surface and a north pole a predetermined distance from the surface.
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15. The control input device of claim 1 further comprising:
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a third permanent magnet disposed within the spherical body, the third magnet operable to emit a third magnetic field;
a fourth permanent magnet disposed within the spherical body, the fourth magnet operable to emit a fourth magnetic field;
a second magnetic sensing device disposed within the housing, the second magnetic sensing device operable to detect the third and fourth magnetic fields and to generate a second output signal as a function of the strength of the third and fourth magnetic fields; and
a second conductive path coupled with the sensor and operable to transmit the second output signal out of the housing.
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16. The control input device of claim 15 wherein the third and fourth magnets are disposed within the spherical body approximately 90 degrees from the first and second magnets.
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17. The control input device of claim 15 wherein the third and fourth magnets are disposed within the spherical body in a direction approximately normal with a surface of the spherical body, one of the third and fourth magnets having a north pole disposed substantially flush with the surface and a south pole a predetermined distance from the surface, and the other of the third and fourth magnets having a south pole disposed substantially flush with the surface and a north pole a predetermined distance from the surface.
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18. The control input device of claim 1, further comprising a pin having a first part disposed within the spherical body and a second part slidably disposed within a slot, the slot operable to prevent rotation of the pin about a predetermined axis.
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19. The control input device of claim 18, further comprising a bearing disposed within the housing, the bearing operable to contact the spherical body and to exert a biasing force on the spherical body, and the slot being disposed within the bearing.
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20. A control input device, comprising:
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a two-piece housing having an aperture;
a substantially spherical body having a first portion disposed within the housing so as to have a portion of the body disposed within the aperture, the spherical body operable to rotate within the housing;
a first rod magnet disposed within the spherical body, the first magnet operable to emit a first magnetic field;
a second rod magnet disposed within the spherical body, the second magnet operable to emit a second magnetic field;
a first magnetic sensing device disposed within the housing, the magnetic sensing device operable to detect the first and second magnetic fields and to generate an output signal as a function of the strength of the first and second magnetic fields;
a conductive path coupled with the sensor and operable to transmit the output signal out of the housing; and
a shaft coupled with the spherical body, the shaft protruding from the housing and extending in a direction approximately normal to a surface of the spherical body.
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21. A work machine, comprising:
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a control input device, comprising;
a housing having an aperture;
a substantially spherical body having a first portion disposed within the housing so as to have a portion of the body disposed within the aperture, the spherical body operable to rotate within the housing;
a first permanent magnet disposed within the spherical body, the first magnet operable to emit a magnetic field;
a second permanent magnet disposed within the spherical body, the second magnet operable to emit a magnetic field;
a first magnetic sensing device disposed within the housing, the first magnetic sensing device operable to detect the magnetic fields and to generate a first output signal as a function of the strength of the magnetic fields; and
a first conductive path coupled with the sensor and operable to transmit the first output signal out of the housing;
a frame;
a work tool coupled with the frame; and
an actuator coupled with the control input device to receive the output signal and with the work tool, the actuator operable to control a function of the work machine as a function of the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification