Stabilized tactile output mechanism for computer interface devices

• US 6,587,091 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2001
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ThinkLogix, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Michael Lawrence Serpa
• Inventors: Serpa, Michael Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Jimmy H.
• Application Number:
  US09/840,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20020154094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/160, 345/163, 345/167, 345/168, 345/701, 345/702, 463/37, D14/117.2, D14/117.3, D14/117.5
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

A force feedback mechanism designed for use with a mouse, trackball, keyboard, or other interface device manipulated by a user. The mechanism consists of a non-planar surface 11 that is substantially balanced with respect to a rotational axis “A.” An actuator 12 controlled by a computer or microprocessor is connected to the non-planar surface 11. In response to signals from the computer or microprocessor the actuator 12 causes the non-planar surface 11 to rotate about its rotational axis “A”, thus conveying force feedback to the user'"'"'s thumb or fingertip.

Claims

1. A manually-operated device for providing input to a computer, the manually-operated device including one or more mechanisms for providing

force feedback from the computer to a user;

each of the one or more mechanisms for providing force feedback comprising a non-planar surface, the non-planar surface being capable of rotating about a rotational axis and further being substantially balanced with respect to the rotational axis;

an actuator or actuators coupled to the non-planar surface(s), the actuator or actuators being computer modulated;

the actuator or actuators further being responsible for causing a rotational movement of each of the non-planar surface(s) about their respective rotational axes; and

one or more of the non-planar surface(s) including moving mechanical parts intended to reduce friction between the non-planar surface(s) and a thumb or digit of a user.

2. A manually-operated device as recited in claim 1 where one or more of the non-planar surface(s) is/are covered by a membrane or membranes.

3. A mechanism for providing tactile output from an electronic device such as a computer, comprising:

an actuator,

a non-planar surface coupled to the actuator, the actuator configured to cause the non-planar surface to rotate about a rotational axis, the non-planar surface being substantially balanced with respect to the rotational axis and the non-planar surface further being oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis;

the actuator being responsive to a computer and the actuator further being coupled to the non-planar surface and operative to rotate the non-planar surface in one or both directions according to instructions received by the actuator from the computer; and

the non-planar surface including mechanical features for reducing friction between the non-planar surface and a thumb or digit of a user when the tactile output is delivered to said user.

4. The mechanism for providing tactile output from an electronic device such as a computer as recited in claim 3, the non-planar surface being covered by a membrane arranged so that the non-planar surface is free to rotate without causing a corresponding rotational movement of the membrane.

5. The mechanism for providing tactile output from an electronic device such as a computer as recited in claim 3, the non-planar surface being slidably or moveably mounted in a direction substantially parallel with its axis of rotation to allow the non-planar surface to act in combination with a push button or click switch.

6. The mechanism for providing tactile output from an electronic device such as a computer as recited in claim 3, the non-planar surface being slidably or moveably mounted in a direction substantially parallel with its axis of rotation to allow the non-planar surface to act in combination with a push button or click switch;

and

the non-planar surface further being covered by a membrane and arranged so that the non-planar surface is free to rotate without causing a corresponding rotational movement of the membrane.