Magnetic manual user interface devices
First Claim
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1. A manual user interface device, comprising:
- a manual actuator having an axis;
an annular magnet having a central bore;
a substantially spherical magnet that can be operatively coupled to the manual actuator, the spherical magnet being positioned in the bore of the annular magnet, the magnetic axes of the magnets being substantially co-axial, and the polarity of the magnets being oppositely oriented such that the interaction of their magnetic fields provides restoring forces that urge the spherical magnet so that its axis is aligned with a neutral axis; and
a three-axis magnetic sensor positioned to detect changes in a magnetic field due to movement of the spherical magnet and generate signals representative of the direction and amount of movement of the spherical magnet relative to the neutral axis.
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Abstract
Various finger tip controlled manual interface devices that can be used as inputs to personal computers, electromechanical systems and video game consoles utilize concentrically arranged magnets. The polarities of the magnets are oriented to provide restoration forces on a one of the magnets to bias it toward a neutral position. A magnetic sensor including a plurality of sensing elements such as Hall effect devices generates output signals representative of direction and amount of movement of the magnet that is biased to the neutral position.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A manual user interface device, comprising:
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a manual actuator having an axis; an annular magnet having a central bore; a substantially spherical magnet that can be operatively coupled to the manual actuator, the spherical magnet being positioned in the bore of the annular magnet, the magnetic axes of the magnets being substantially co-axial, and the polarity of the magnets being oppositely oriented such that the interaction of their magnetic fields provides restoring forces that urge the spherical magnet so that its axis is aligned with a neutral axis; and a three-axis magnetic sensor positioned to detect changes in a magnetic field due to movement of the spherical magnet and generate signals representative of the direction and amount of movement of the spherical magnet relative to the neutral axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13)
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10. A manual user interface device, comprising:
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an annular magnet; a sleeve supporting the annular magnet; a substantially spherical magnet positioned in a bore of the annular magnet, the magnetic axes of the magnets being substantially co-axial, and the polarity of the magnets being oppositely oriented such that the interaction of their magnetic fields provides restoring forces that urge the spherical magnet so that its axis is aligned with a neutral axis; a manual actuator having an axis, the manual actuator including a pliant deformable cup-shaped member with a central section that can be deformed downwardly by manual engagement with a user'"'"'s hand to establish a frictional contact with an upper surface of the spherical magnet, the central section being deformable laterally to allow the spherical magnet to be tilted by moving the central section away from the neutral axis; a mechanically activated switch beneath the spherical magnet which can be activated by depressing the central section of the cup-shaped member;
a low-friction barrier separating the spherical magnet and the switch; anda three-axis magnetic sensor positioned to detect changes in a magnetic field in three-axes at a point in space resulting from movement of the spherical magnet and generate signals representative of the direction and amount of movement of the spherical magnet relative to the neutral axis. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification