Haptic interface with increased braking force

• US 8,493,190 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (AES Corporation)
• Inventors: Periquet, Florian, Roselier, Samuel, Lozada, Jose, Hafez, Moustapha
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US12/989,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20110128135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 340/407.2, 340/573.1, 340/407.1, 340/686.1, 340/691.1, 340/693.5, 434/45, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/161, 345/163, 345/167, 345/168, 345/184, 463/38, 463/37, 188/1.11 E, 188/164, 188/161, 200/6.A, 200/5.R, 200176-178
• US Class Current: 340/407.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/126 Rotatable input devices for instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/126 Rotatable input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/158 Haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/25 using haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/535 Magnetorheological [MR] fluid dampers springs comprising magnetorheological [MR] elastomers F16F1/361
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015

Abstract

A haptic interface including an element that interacts with a user; a rotation shaft with a longitudinal axis to which the user interaction element is fixed in rotation; a fluid interaction element, the fluid interaction element being fixed in rotation to the shaft, the fluid being of magneto-rheological type, a system generating magnetic field in the fluid; and a control unit capable of generating orders to magnetic field generation system so as to modify the magnetic field. The interaction element includes a cylindrical wall of revolution with a longitudinal axis, including through openings and/or patterns in relief.

Claims

1. A haptic interface comprising:

an element that interacts with a user;

a rotation shaft with a longitudinal axis to which the user interaction element is fixed in rotation;

an element that interacts with a fluid, the fluid interaction element being fixed in rotation to the shaft, the fluid being of magneto-rheological type;

a system that generates a magnetic field in the fluid; and

a control unit configured to generate orders to the magnetic field generation system so as to modify the magnetic field;

the fluid interaction element comprising at least one cylindrical wall with a longitudinal axis, in which through openings are formed and/or on which patterns in relief and/or recessed patterns are formed.

2. A haptic interface according to claim 1, in which the openings and/or relief patterns and/or recessed patterns extend along the longitudinal axis.

3. A haptic interface according to claim 1, in which the fluid interaction element comprises plural concentric sidewalls at a spacing from each other and fixed to a head.

4. A haptic interface according to claim 1, in which the cylindrical wall of the interaction element is made of a non-magnetic material.

5. A haptic interface according to the claim 1, in which the magnetic field generation system is configured to generate a radial magnetic field.

6. A haptic interface according to claim 1, further comprising at least one angular position, angular velocity, and/or angular acceleration sensor for the shaft, the control unit generating orders as a function of information provided by the at least one position, velocity, and/or angular acceleration sensor.

7. A haptic interface according to claim 1, in which the control unit generates orders to the magnetic field generation system at given time intervals.

8. A haptic interface according to claim 1, in which the magnetic field generation system comprises means for generating a variable magnetic field and means for generating a permanent magnetic field.

9. A haptic interface according to claim 8, in which the means for generating a permanent magnetic field comprises at least one permanent magnet.

10. A haptic interface according to claim 8, in which the means for generating a variable magnetic field comprises at least one electromagnetic coil.

11. A haptic interface according to claim 8, in which the means for generating a permanent magnetic field is arranged inside the fluid interaction element, immobile relative to it and in which the means for generating a variable magnetic field is arranged inside the fluid interaction element, immobile relative to it.

12. A haptic interface according to claim 11, in which the means for generating a permanent magnetic field comprises at least one permanent magnet and the means for generating a variable magnetic field comprises at least one electromagnetic coil, the coil surrounding the permanent magnet.

13. A haptic interface according to claim 11, in which the means for generating a permanent magnetic field comprises at least one permanent magnet and the means for generating a variable magnetic field comprises at least one electromagnetic coil, the permanent magnet being formed from at least one sleeve surrounding the coil.

14. A haptic interface according to claim 3, in which the magnetic field generation system comprises means for generating a variable magnetic field and means for generating a permanent magnetic field, and in which the means for generating a permanent magnetic field is arranged between two concentric sidewalls of a bell and is immobile relative to them.

15. A haptic interface according to claim 1, in which the shaft passes through the magnetic field generation system.

16. A haptic interface according to claim 1, further comprising at least one angular position, angular velocity, and/or angular acceleration sensor for the shaft, the control unit generating orders as a function of information provided by the at least one position, velocity and/or angular acceleration sensor, in which the angular position, angular velocity, and/or angular acceleration sensor is provided at one longitudinal end of the shaft and comprises a part fixed to the shaft in rotation and with respect to the shaft.

17. A haptic interface according to claim 16, in which the part fixed to the shaft is an optical wheel and the immobile part is an optical fork.

18. A haptic interface according to claim 1, further comprising a rod passing through the shaft from one side to the other, the rod configured to move longitudinally, and a device for detecting displacement of the rod.

19. A haptic interface according to claim 1, further comprising a thermal device configured to modify temperature of the user interaction element.

20. A haptic interface according to claim 19, in which the thermal device comprises at least one Peltier cell.

21. A haptic interface according to claim 1, further comprising a device capable of vibrating the user interaction element.

22. A haptic assembly comprising:

a frame, and

the interface according to claim 1 mounted on this frame, the interface being free to move along the axis of the shaft.

23. A haptic assembly according to claim 22, in which the interface is free to move in translation along at least one direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

24. A haptic assembly according to claim 22, in which the interface is free to rotate about at least one direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

25. A haptic assembly according to claim 23, further comprising force feedback devices to oppose resistance during a movement along at least one axis orthogonal to or about the longitudinal axis.

26. A haptic assembly according to claim 24, further comprising force feedback devices to oppose resistance during a movement along at least one axis orthogonal to or about the longitudinal axis.