Patent ID: 6587091
Filing Date: 2003-07-01
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A manually-operated device for providing input to a computer, the manually-operated device including one or more mechanisms for providingforce feedback from the computer to a user; each of the one or more mechanisms for providing force feedback comprising a non-planar surface, the non-planar surface being capable of rotating about a rotational axis and further being substantially balanced with respect to the rotational axis; an actuator or actuators coupled to the non-planar surface(s), the actuator or actuators being computer modulated; the actuator or actuators further being responsible for causing a rotational movement of each of the non-planar surface(s) about their respective rotational axes; and one or more of the non-planar surface(s) including moving mechanical parts intended to reduce friction between the non-planar surface(s) and a thumb or digit of a user.