Patent ID: 7570254
Filing Date: 2009-08-04
Classification: B60K,G05G,G06F,H02N

Abstract:
1. A haptic feedback controller for controlling a controlled appliance, comprising: a base; a cap to be operated by a user of the haptic feedback controller, said cap being rotatable with respect to the base; a piezoelectric motor including a stator that is fixed to the base and a rotor that is fixed to the cap; a rotational state detecting device for detecting a rotational state of the cap with respect to the base, or a rotational state of the piezoelectric motor, caused by the user's operation of the cap; and a rotation control device for controlling, based on the detected rotational state, a rotation of the piezoelectric motor to provide haptic feedback to the user; wherein the rotor is pressed onto the stator with a pressing force that is changed directly by changing the force with which the user presses the cap onto the base so that strong haptic feedback is obtained when the cap is pressed by the user with a strong force and weak haptic feedback is obtained when the cap is pressed by the user with a weak force.