Control knob with control modes and force feedback

A control knob device for providing output input to a vehicular processor provided in a vehicle, said knob device comprising:

• a control knob coupled to a grounded surface, said knob rotatable in a rotary degree of freedom about an axis extending through said knob, said knob also movable in a plurality of transverse directions approximately perpendicular to said axis;
• a transverse sensor operative to detect a transverse position of said knob in any of said transverse directions, said position of said knob in said transverse direction provided to said vehicular processor to select a mode of a vehicular system;
• a rotational sensor operative to detect a rotary position of said knob in said rotary degree of freedom, said position of said knob provided in said vehicular processor to control a function within said selected mode of said vehicular system;
• and
• an actuator coupled to said knob and operative to output a computer-modulated force in said rotary degree of freedom about said axis.

An interface control device including force feedback and providing rate control and position control modes, the interface control device comprising:

• a user manipulatable object grasped by a user and movable in a degree of freedom;
• an actuator coupled to said user manipulatable object and operative to provide forces on said user manipulatable object in said degree of freedom;
• a sensor operative to detect a position of said user manipulatable object in said degree of freedom and outputs a sensor signal including information representing said position;
• and
• one or more microprocessors operative to control said forces provided by said actuator and receive said sensor signal from said sensor, wherein said one or more microprocessors are capable of commanding a position control mode and a rate control mode for said user manipulatable object, wherein one of said position control mode and rate control mode is active for said interface control device at any one time, wherein said position control mode controls a value based on a position of said user manipulatable object in said degree of freedom, and wherein said rate control mode controls a rate of change of said value based on a position of said user manipulatable object in said degree of freedom, and wherein said one or more microprocessors control said actuator to output at least one force detent during movement of said user manipulatable object in said position control mode.

A programmable tactile interface comprising:

• a rotary wheel to be manipulated by a user;
• a sensor able to detect the rotary motion of said wheel;
• an actuator coupled to said rotary wheel and able to apply tactile sensations to said wheel;
• and
• a processor electrically coupled to said sensor and to said actuator, said processor controlling said actuator to enable both isometric and isotonic interface modes for said rotary wheel, such that when said wheel is in isometric mode, a spring return sensation is felt by said user when rotating said wheel, and when said wheel is in isotonic mode, spatial detents are felt by said user when rotating said wheel.

A method for providing a programmable tactile interface that enables scrolling of a graphical list, said method comprising:

• providing a rotary wheel to be implemented by a user;
• providing a sensor for detecting the rotary motion of said wheel;
• providing an actuator for applying tactile sensations to said wheel;
• enabling an isometric control mode for said rotary wheel such that a user can displace said wheel against a simulated spring return generated by said actuator, said displacement of said wheel affecting a speed of scrolling of said graphical list;
• and
• enabling temporal tactile sensations to be imparted in conjunction with said simulated spring return, said temporal tactile sensations indicating items scrolling by.

A programmable tactile interface comprising:

• providing a rotary wheel to be manipulated by a user;
• providing a sensor able to detect the rotary motion of said wheel;
• providing an actuator coupled to said rotary wheel and able to apply tactile sensations to said wheel;
• and
• enabling a processor electrically coupled to said sensor and to said actuator, said processor controlling said actuator to enable both isometric and isometric interface modes for said rotary wheel, such that when said wheel is in isometric mode, a spring return sensation is felt by said user when rotating said wheel, and when said wheel is in isotonic mode, spatial detents are felt by said user when rotating said wheel.

A device comprising:

• a manipulandum;
• an actuator operable to output a force to said manipulandum;
• a sensor operable to detect a position of said manipulandum and output a sensor signal, said sensor signal comprising information associated with said position;
• and
• at least one microprocessor operable to control said actuator and receive said signal from said sensor, said at least one microprocessor operable to associate a value with said position of said manipulandum in a position control mode and to control a rate of change of said value in a rate control mode.

A device comprising:

• a manipulandum operable to be displaced in a first degree of freedom and a second degree of freedom;
• means for sensing a displacement of said manipulandum in said first and second degrees of freedom;
• means for selecting a mode associated with said displacement of said manipulandum in said second degree of freedom, said mode comprising at least one of a position control mode and a rate control mode;
• an actuator operable to output a processor-controlled force sensation to said manipulandum, said force sensation associated with said mode;
• and
• a first microprocessor operable to control said force sensation output from said actuator and to receive a signal from said sensing means, said first microprocessor operable to associate a value with a position of said manipulandum in said position control mode and to control a rate of change of said value in said rate control mode.