Combining electropermanent magnets and magnetorheological fluid to modify an operation of an input device
AssigneeLogitech Europe S.A.
InventorsCyril Drezet, Jan Stoeckli, Nicolas Ramond
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Abstract
Aspects of the invention include a computer peripheral device comprising an input element that operates based on a performance characteristic, an electropermanent magnet (EPM) assembly including a permanent magnet configured to generate a magnetic field and a magnetizing assembly configured to set an intensity of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet, and a magnetorheological (MR) material coupled to the input element. The MR material has a viscosity that changes based on the magnetic field and affects the performance characteristic of the input element.
Claims20
A clutch assembly for an input device, the clutch assembly comprising:
- an input shaft;
- an output shaft,
- wherein the input shaft and output shaft are in coaxial alignment, and
- wherein the input shaft is coupled to the output shaft such that the input shaft and output shaft are configured for a rotational translation therebetween;
- an electropermanent magnet (EPM) assembly including:
- a permanent magnet configured to generate a magnetic field;
- and
- a magnetizing assembly configured to set the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet;
- a chamber formed between the input shaft and output shaft;
- magnetorheological (MR) material contained within the chamber,
- wherein the MR material has a viscosity that changes based on the magnetic field, and
- wherein the MR material is configured to provide a frictional resistance to the rotational translation between the input shaft and output shaft, the resistance based on the viscosity of the MR material.
A method of operating a clutch assembly, the method comprising:
- receiving input data corresponding to a mode of operation of the clutch assembly, the mode of operation corresponding to a control of a frictional resistance between an input shaft and an output shaft of the clutch assembly that are in coaxial alignment, wherein the input shaft and output shaft are configured for a rotational translation therebetween;
- determining a selection of the mode of operation based on the input data;
- in response to the input data corresponding to a first mode of operation:
- causing a magnetizing assembly to set a first magnetic field intensity of a permanent magnet that controls a viscosity of MR material configured between the input shaft and output shaft, the MR material under the first magnetic field intensity providing a first frictional resistance to the rotational translation between the input shaft and output shaft;
- and
- in response to the input data corresponding to a second mode of operation:
- causing a magnetizing assembly to set a second magnetic field intensity of the permanent magnet, the MR material under the second magnetic field intensity providing a second frictional resistance to the rotational translation between the input shaft and output shaft, the first and second resistance based on the viscosity of the MR material, wherein the second magnetic field intensity is higher than the first magnetic field intensity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.