Back to results
US 7,124,648 B2Granted
Force feedback input device
AssigneeAlps Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorsKen Shibazaki, Ayumu Kobayashi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
When a knob is turned by a predetermined turning angle α and this angle is detected by a rotary encoder, an electromagnetic brake is activated by a controller and the rotation of the knob is locked. Then, while the knob is locked by the electromagnetic brake, the controller determines whether an operating force was applied to the knob in direction A in which the turning angle of the knob is increased. If the controller determines that the operating force was not applied to the knob in direction A (if the operating force was applied in direction B), the locking of the knob is released.
Claims22
An input device comprising:
- a knob to be operated by turning;
- turning angle detecting means for detecting a turning angle and for outputting a turning angle signal corresponding to the turning angle of the knob;
- locking means for locking the knob and for stopping rotation of the knob;
- a controller for driving the locking means in accordance with the turning angle signal and for determining whether an operating force is applied to the knob in a predetermined turning direction while the knob is locked;
- and
- turning direction detecting means for detecting a turning direction of an operating force applied to the knob when the knob is locked and the rotation of the knob is stopped by the locking means;
- wherein the controller drives the locking means to continue locking the knob if the controller determines that the operating force is applied in the predetermined turning direction, and the controller drives the locking means to release the locking of the knob if the controller determines that the operating force is not applied in the predetermined turning direction.
4 more elements
An input device comprising:
- a driving shaft;
- a knob attached to the driving shaft, wherein turning of the knob defines a turning angle and a turning direction;
- a rotary encoder configured to detect the turning angle;
- a controller configured to receive a turning angle signal from the rotary encoder and to determine whether an operating force is applied to the knob in a predetermined turning direction while the knob is locked;
- an electromagnetic brake configured to lock the knob and to stop rotation of the knob when the knob is turned in a predetermined turning direction at a predetermined turning angle;
- and
- a turning direction detector configured to detect a turning direction of the operating force applied to the knob when the knob is locked and rotation of the knob is stopped by the electromagnetic brake;
- wherein the controller drives the electromagnetic brake to keep the knob locked if the operating force is applied in the predetermined direction and drives the electromagnetic brake to unlock the knob if the operating force is not applied in the predetermined direction.
5 more elements
A force feedback input device comprising:
- a knob to be operated by turning;
- turning angle detecting means for detecting a turning angle and for outputting a turning angle signal corresponding to the turning angle and the turning direction of the knob;
- turning force applying means for applying a turning force to the knob;
- locking means for stopping rotation of the knob;
- a controller for driving the locking means in accordance with the turning angle signal;
- and
- turning direction detecting means for detecting a direction of an operating force applied to the knob when the rotation of the knob is locked by the locking means;
- wherein the controller determines whether the operating force is applied to the knob in a predetermined direction while the knob is locked, the controller drives the locking means to continue locking the knob if the controller determines that the operating force is applied in the predetermined direction, and the controller drives the locking means to release the locking of the knob if the controller determines that the operating force is not applied in the predetermined direction;
- and
- wherein the turning direction detecting means includes an elastic member that bends when the knob is turned.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.