Position sensor with resistive element

• US 6,937,033 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2001
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Schena, Bruce M., Hasser, Christopher J., Boronkay, Allen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): He, Amy
• Application Number:
  US09/894,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001592A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 324/662, 324/678, 324/714, 324/713, 324/716, 324/691, 324/695, 324/699
• US Class Current: 324/714
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/165 by relative movement of a point of contact or actuation and a resistive track
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/1655 more than one point of contact or actuation on one or more tracks

Abstract

A position sensor includes a resistive element positionable on a first surface. A pair of leads are on the resistive element, the pair of leads adapted to supply a first voltage, such as by being grounded. An intermediate lead is positioned on the resistive element between the pair of leads, the intermediate lead being adapted to provide a second voltage. A contact element is positionable on a second surface, the contact element adapted to contact at least a portion of the resistive element to detect a voltage at a contact position, the detected voltage being related to the position or movement of the second surface relative to the first surface. In another version, a position sensor includes a resistive element comprising first and second resistive strips. A plurality of leads are positioned on each resistive strip to provide a voltage to each resistive strip.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a resistive element positionable on a first surface, the resistive element formed from a plurality or portions;

a plurality of leads configured to provide a voltage to each of the plurality of portions of the resistive element;

a contact element positionable on a second surface, the contact element configured to contact the resistive element to detect a voltage at a contact position, the detected voltage being associated with a position of the second surface relative to the first surface; and

a voltage controller configured to selectively provide a voltage to each of the plurality of portions of the resistive element according to a position of the contact element relative to the resistive element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage controller includes a plurality of electrical switches.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage controller is configured to provide substantially no power to at least one portion of the resistive element for at least a time period.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage controller is configured to provide power substantially only to the portion of the resistive element being contacted by the contact element.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a resistive element positionable on a first surface;

a pair of leads electrically connected to the resistive element, the pair of leads configured to supply a first voltage;

a contact element positionable on a second surface, the contact element configured to contact at least a portion of the resistive element and to provide a second voltage to the resistive element; and

an intermediate lead electrically connected to the resistive element between the pair of leads, the intermediate lead configured to detect a voltage, the detected voltage being associated with a position of the second surface relative to the first surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the pair of leads are electrically connected to ground and the contact element provides the second voltage from a voltage supply.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a second resistive element positionable on the first surface.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

a manipulandum configured to be in communication with a computer, the manipulandum being configured to control a graphical object associated with an application, the application being associated with the computer; and

a sensor having a resistive element on a first surface and a contact element on a second surface, the resistive element being electrically connected to a first plurality of leads configured to provide a first voltage, the resistive element being electrically connected to a second plurality of leads at locations intermediate to the first plurality of leads configured to provide a second voltage, the contact element being configured to contact at least a portion of the resistive element to detect a voltage at a contact position, the detected voltage being associated with a manipulation of the manipulandum and control of the graphical object.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising an actuator adapted to provide a haptic output in relation to an interaction between a graphical image displayed on the computer and the graphical object.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the detected voltage is configured to control a slave device.