Magnetically-controllable, active haptic interface system and apparatus

A haptic interface system for providing force feedback to an operator, comprising:

• a computer system for receiving a variable input signal and providing a variable output signal corresponding to a feedback force, said computer system adapted for running an interactive program that processes said variable input signal and in response derives said variable output signal;
• a motor for providing actuating energy:
• a device including an absorbent element containing a magnetically-controllable medium that provides variable resistance, said device in communication with said computer system for receiving said variable output signal and providing a variable, active, feedback force from said actuating energy by varying the resistance of said magnetically-controllable medium based upon said variable output signal;
• and
• a haptic interface device adapted to be in operative contact with said operator for controlling and responding to said interactive program, said haptic interface device in communication with said device and having a plurality of positions, said haptic interface device receiving said feedback force.

A haptic interface system for providing force feedback to an operator, comprising:

• a host computer for receiving a variable input signal and providing a variable output signal and a video signal, said computer system adapted for running an interactive program that processes said variable input signal and in response derives said variable output signal;
• a device including a magnetically-controllable medium, said device receives said variable output signal and provides a variable, active, force feedback based upon said variable output signal;
• a haptic interface device adapted to be in operable contact with said operator for controlling and responding to said interactive program, said haptic interface device in communication with said device and having a plurality of positions, said haptic interface device receiving said force feedback;
• a sensor for identifying a detected position within said plurality of positions of said haptic interface device, said sensor providing said variable input signal based on said detected position;
• and
• a control unit having a microprocessor and firmware, said control unit in communication with said host computer, said sensor and said device, said control unit modifying said variable input signal into a format recognizable by said host computer, said control unit further modifying said variable output signal into a format recognizable by said device.

A haptic interface system for providing force feedback to an operator, comprising:

• a computer system for receiving a variable input signal and providing a variable output signal corresponding to a feedback force, said computer system adapted for running an interactive program that processes said variable input signal and in response derives said variable output signal;
• a motor for providing actuating energy;
• a magnetically-controllable device including an absorbent element containing a magnetically-controllable medium that provides variable resistance, said magnetically-controllable device in communication with said computer system for receiving said variable output signal and providing a variable, active, feedback force from said actuating energy by varying the resistance of said magnetically-controllable medium based upon said variable output signal;
• and
• a haptic interface device adapted to be in operative contact with said operator for controlling and responding to said interactive program, said haptic interface device in communication with said magnetically-controllable device and having a plurality of positions, said haptic interface device receiving said feedback force;
• a magnetic field generating device energizable by said variable output signal to provide a variable strength magnetic field;
• a first member adjacent to said magnetic field generating device, said first member adapted to receive said actuating energy;
• a second member adjacent to said magnetic field generating device and in communication with said haptic interface device;
• said magnetically-controllable medium located between said first and said second member, said magnetically-controllable medium providing variable resistance forces in response to said variable strength magnetic field between said first member and said second member for controlling said force feedback applied to said haptic interface device.

A haptic interface system for providing force feedback to an operator, comprising:

• a host computer for receiving a variable input signal and providing a variable output signal and a video signal, said computer system adapted for running am interactive program that processes said variable input signal and in response derives said variable output signal;
• a magnetically-controllable device including a magnetically-controllable medium, said device receives said variable output signal and provides a variable, active, force feedback based upon said variable output signal;
• a haptic interface device adapted to be in operable contact with said operator for controlling and responding to said interactive program, said haptic interface device in communication with said magnetically-controllable device and having a plurality of positions, said haptic interface device receiving said force feedback;
• a sensor for identifying a detected position within said plurality of positions of said haptic interface device, said sensor providing said variable input signal based on said detected position;
• and
• a control unit having a microprocessor and firmware, said control unit in communication with said host computer, said sensor and said magnetically-controllable device, said control unit modifying said variable input signal into a format recognizable by said host computer, said control unit further modifying said variable output signal into a format recognizable by said magnetically-controllable device
• a magnetic field generating device energizable by said variable output signal to provide a variable strength magnetic field;
• a first member adjacent to said magnetic field generating device, said first member adapted to receive said actuating energy;
• a second member adjacent to said magnetic field generating device and in communication with said haptic interface device;
• said magnetically-controllable medium located between said first and said second member, said magnetically-controllable medium providing variable resistance forces in response to said variable strength magnetic field between said first member and said second member for controlling said force feedback applied to said haptic interface device.

A force feedback control system, comprising:

• a computer system for receiving a variable input signal and providing a variable output signal, said computer system adapted for running an interactive program that processes said variable input signal and in response derives said variable output signal corresponding to a level of rotational force feedback;
• a rotatable shaft for transferring said level of rotational force feedback;
• a rotor fixedly attached to said shaft, said rotor having a first side and a second side;
• a sensor device in communication with said rotatable shaft and said computer system, said sensor device providing said variable input signal representative of a rotational position of said rotatable shaft to said computer system;
• a first rotatable member adjacent to said first side of said rotor;
• a second rotatable member adjacent to said second side of said rotor;
• a first coil disposed between said first rotatable member and said rotor, said first coil energizable in response to said variable output signal to produce a first, variable-strength magnetic field;
• a second coil disposed between said second rotatable member and said rotor, said second coil energizable in response to said variable output signal to produce a second, variable-strength magnetic field;
• a first absorbent matrix comprising a magnetically-controllable medium disposed between said first rotatable member and said rotor, said first absorbent matrix providing variable resistance between said first rotatable member and said rotor in proportion to the strength of said first magnetic field;
• a second absorbent matrix comprising said magnetically-controllable medium disposed between said second rotatable member and said rotor, said second absorbent matrix providing variable resistance between said second rotatable member and said rotor in proportion to the strength of said second magnetic field;
• and
• a motor for providing said rotational force feedback energy in communication with said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member, said motor adapted for rotating said shaft in a first direction by transferring energy through said first rotatable member to said rotor and said motor adapted for rotating said shaft in a second direction by transferring energy through said second rotatable member to said rotor through the selective energization of said first coil and said second coil.

A device for providing active force feedback to an operator, comprising:

• a rotatable shaft;
• a rotor in communication with said shaft, said rotor having a first side and a second side;
• a first rotatable member on said first side of said rotor;
• a second rotatable member on said second side of said rotor;
• a magnetically-controllable medium disposed between said first rotatable, member and said rotor and disposed between said second rotatable member and said rotor, said magnetically-controllable medium having a shear rate that varies in response to the strength of an applied magnetic field for providing variable resistance between each of said first rotatable member and said rotor and said second rotatable member and said rotor;
• and
• a motor in communication with said first rotatable member and said second rotatable member, said motor adapted for bi-directionally rotating said shaft through the selective application of said magnetic field to said magnetically-controllable medium.