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US 2004/0164960 A1Published application
Force feedback system and actuator power management
AssigneeImmersion Corporation
InventorsCharles J. Jacobus, Alan J. Riggs, Mark J. Taylor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method for providing a tactile virtual reality to a user is present. The position and orientation of the user is utilized to generate a virtual reality force field. Forces are in turn generated on the user as a function of this force field. A six-axis manipulator is presented for providing a user interface to such a system. This manipulator provides a unique kinematic structure with two constant force springs, which provide gravity compensation so that the manipulator effectively floats.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- an actuator coupled to a manipulandum;
- and
- a controller coupled to the actuator, the controller operable to determine a stored force feedback effect to contribute to a force output by the actuator on the manipulandum.
A method comprising:
- outputting a maximum peak force from an actuator on a manipulandum, the maximum peak force associated with a maximum power that the actuator can utilize instantaneously;
- and
- reducing the output of the maximum peak force to an output of a nominal peak force from the actuator when the power utilized by the actuator exceeds an average power level over a predetermined period of time, the nominal peak force associated with a maximum power that the actuator can utilize in continuous steady-state operation.
A method comprising:
- receiving an input signal comprising a position of a manipulandum;
- determining a stored force feedback effect to contribute to a force output by an actuator on the manipulandum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.