Active feedback user interface system and gimbal assembly therefor

An active gimbal assembly for a vehicle that is controllable about at least a roll axis and a pitch axis, the gimbal assembly comprising:

• a first motor configured, when energized, to supply a first motor torque about the roll axis;
• a second motor configured, when energized, to supply a second motor torque about the roll axis, the second motor identical to the first motor;
• a first input mechanism configured to rotate about the roll axis, the first input mechanism coupled to receive the first motor torque and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply a first output torque,
• a second input mechanism spaced apart from the first input mechanism and configured to rotate about the roll axis, the second input mechanism coupled to receive the second motor torque and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply a second output torque;
• a user interface drive mechanism configured to rotate about the pitch axis, the user interface drive mechanism coupled to receive the first and second output torques from the first and second input mechanisms, respectively;
• and
• an idler mechanism spaced apart from the user interface drive idler mechanism and configured to rotate about the pitch axis,
• wherein the gimbal assembly is configured to implement an N:1 reduction ratio from the first and second input mechanisms to the user interface drive mechanism.

An active feedback user interface system, comprising:

• a user interface adapted to receive a user input force and configured, in response to the user input force, to rotate in a rotational direction about one or both of a roll axis and a pitch axis, the roll and pitch axes being perpendicular;
• a first motor configured to selectively supply a first motor torque along the roll axis;
• a second motor configured to selectively supply a second motor torque along the roll axis;
• and
• a gimbal assembly coupled to the user interface and to the first and second motors, the gimbal assembly configured, upon receipt of the first and second motor torques, to sum the first and second motor torques and supply a feedback force to the user interface that opposes the rotational direction thereof, the gimbal assembly comprising:
• a first input mechanism having a first effective diameter and configured to rotate about the roll axis, the first input mechanism coupled to receive the first motor torque from the first motor and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply a first output torque,
• a second input mechanism spaced apart from the first input mechanism, the second input mechanism having the first effective diameter and configured to rotate about the roll axis, the second input mechanism coupled to receive the second motor torque from the second motor and configured, upon receipt thereof, to supply a second output torque,
• a user interface drive mechanism having a second effective diameter and configured to rotate about the pitch axis, the user interface drive mechanism coupled to the user interface and further coupled to receive the first and second output torques from the first and second input mechanisms, respectively, the user interface drive mechanism configured, upon receipt of the first and second output torques, to supply the feedback force to the user interface, and
• an idler mechanism spaced apart from the user interface drive mechanism, the idler mechanism having the second effective diameter and configured to rotate, with the user interface drive mechanism and relative to the user interface, about the pitch axis,
• wherein the first effective diameter is less than the second effective diameter, whereby maximum feedback force about the pitch axis is greater than maximum feedback force about the roll axis.