Magnetic spring inceptor
First Claim
1. An input device, comprising:
- a manual input structure movably coupled to a base assembly;
a non-stationary magnet fixedly coupled to the manual input structure;
a stationary magnet coupled to the base assembly in a manner that is fixed with respect to at least a first input axis of the input device, the stationary magnet being coupled to the base assembly with a first magnetic pole having a first magnetic polarity is oriented opposite a corresponding magnetic pole of the non-stationary magnet having the first magnetic polarity, in a position that is adjacent to but offset from the non-stationary magnet when the manual input structure is in a neutral position;
an upper axial shaft connected to an end of a universal joint opposite an lower axial shaft, the upper axial shaft being coupled fixedly to a hand grip; and
wherein the non-stationary magnet is coupled to the manual input structure in a position such that movement of the manual input structure about or along the first input axis of the input device brings said poles have said first magnetic polarity within sufficient proximity to generate a repulsive magnetic force;
wherein the manual input structure comprises the hand grip;
wherein the first input axis comprises an x axis associated with an x-y plane of the base assembly;
wherein the hand grip is coupled to the base assembly via the universal joint;
wherein the universal joint enables the hand grip to be rotated with respect to the x axis and a y axis of the x-y plane;
wherein the non-stationary magnet comprises a first ring-shaped magnet having an upper face and a lower face having the first magnetic polarity;
wherein the stationary magnet comprises a second ring-shaped magnet having an outer radius smaller than an inner radius of the non-stationary magnet and an upper face with the first magnetic polarity; and
wherein the non-stationary magnet is coupled fixedly to the lower axial shaft that extends through a middle cavity of the hand grip and a center hole of the non-stationary magnet, the lower axial shaft being connected to the universal joint at an upper end.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic spring input device is disclosed. In various embodiments, an input device as disclosed includes a manual input structure movably coupled to a base assembly; and a non-stationary magnet fixedly coupled to the manual input structure; a stationary magnet coupled to the base assembly in a manner that is fixed with respect to at least a first input axis of the input device, the stationary magnet being coupled to the base assembly with a first magnetic pole having a first magnetic polarity is oriented opposite a corresponding magnetic pole of the non-stationary magnet having the first magnetic polarity, in a position that is adjacent to but offset from the non-stationary magnet when the manual input structure is in a neutral position. The non-stationary magnet is coupled to the manual input structure in a position such that movement of the manual input structure about or along the first input axis of the input device brings said poles have said first magnetic polarity within sufficient proximity to generate a repulsive magnetic force.
-
Citations
9 Claims
-
1. An input device, comprising:
-
a manual input structure movably coupled to a base assembly; a non-stationary magnet fixedly coupled to the manual input structure; a stationary magnet coupled to the base assembly in a manner that is fixed with respect to at least a first input axis of the input device, the stationary magnet being coupled to the base assembly with a first magnetic pole having a first magnetic polarity is oriented opposite a corresponding magnetic pole of the non-stationary magnet having the first magnetic polarity, in a position that is adjacent to but offset from the non-stationary magnet when the manual input structure is in a neutral position; an upper axial shaft connected to an end of a universal joint opposite an lower axial shaft, the upper axial shaft being coupled fixedly to a hand grip; and wherein the non-stationary magnet is coupled to the manual input structure in a position such that movement of the manual input structure about or along the first input axis of the input device brings said poles have said first magnetic polarity within sufficient proximity to generate a repulsive magnetic force; wherein the manual input structure comprises the hand grip; wherein the first input axis comprises an x axis associated with an x-y plane of the base assembly; wherein the hand grip is coupled to the base assembly via the universal joint; wherein the universal joint enables the hand grip to be rotated with respect to the x axis and a y axis of the x-y plane; wherein the non-stationary magnet comprises a first ring-shaped magnet having an upper face and a lower face having the first magnetic polarity; wherein the stationary magnet comprises a second ring-shaped magnet having an outer radius smaller than an inner radius of the non-stationary magnet and an upper face with the first magnetic polarity; and wherein the non-stationary magnet is coupled fixedly to the lower axial shaft that extends through a middle cavity of the hand grip and a center hole of the non-stationary magnet, the lower axial shaft being connected to the universal joint at an upper end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An input device, comprising:
-
a manual input structure movably coupled to a base assembly; a non-stationary magnet fixedly coupled to the manual input structure; a stationary magnet coupled to the base assembly in a manner that is fixed with respect to at least a first input axis of the input device, the stationary magnet being coupled to the base assembly with a first magnetic pole having a first magnetic polarity is oriented opposite a corresponding magnetic pole of the non-stationary magnet having the first magnetic polarity, in a position that is adjacent to but offset from the non-stationary magnet when the manual input structure is in a neutral position; and wherein the stationary magnet comprises a set of stationary magnets arranged in a complementary arrangement opposite a set of non-stationary magnets, the complementary arrangement resulting the stationary magnets being offset from corresponding adjacent ones of said non-stationary magnets when the manual input structure is in a neutral position; wherein the non-stationary magnet is coupled to the manual input structure in a position such that movement of the manual input structure about or along the first input axis of the input device brings said poles have said first magnetic polarity within sufficient proximity to generate a repulsive magnetic force; wherein the first input axis comprises an axis associated with a vertical, longitudinal axis of the manual input structure; wherein rotation of the manual input structure about the first input axis causes the non-stationary magnets to be moved into closer proximity to said corresponding adjacent ones of said non-stationary magnets, resulting in said repulsive magnetic force being generated; and wherein the non-stationary magnet comprises a set of magnets arranged in a symmetrical array in a plane substantially parallel to an x-y plane of the input device, said non-stationary magnets being mounted on a base plate mounted fixedly to an axial shaft to which the manual input structure is coupled in a manner such that rotation of the manual input structure with respect to the first input axis causes the base plate and said non-stationary magnets to be rotated about the first input axis.
-
Specification