Patent ID: 6704001
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: G05G,G06F,G09B

Abstract:
A force feedback interface device in communication with a host computer, said host computer displaying a graphical environment, said force feedback interface device comprising:a user manipulatable object physically contacted by a user and moveable in a degree of freedom; at least one sensor operative to detect a position of said user manipulatable object in said degree of freedom and provide a sensor signal to said host computer, said sensor signal including information representative of said position; and an actuator coupled to said force feedback device which operative to output a force transmitted to said user, said force correlated with an event or interaction within said graphical environment, wherein said actuator includes a magnet and a grounded coil, said magnet moving approximately within a plane with respect to said coil, said coil lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said magnet and wherein a current is provided in said coil to generate said force.