Patent ID: 6348911
Filing Date: 2002-02-19
Classification: A63F,G05G,G06F,H01H,H04L

Abstract:
A force feedback interface device for safe use by a user, said interface device comprising:a sensor capable of sensing the position of a user manipulatable object along a degree of freedom and capable of providing a sensor signal indicating said position of said user manipulatable object to a host computer coupled to said interface device; an actuator capable of applying a force to said user manipulatable object along said degree of freedom; a safety switch coupled to said user manipulatable object and capable of disabling said actuator when said user is not using said interface device and for enabling said actuator when said user is using said interface device, wherein said force cannot be output by said actuator when said actuator is disabled; and a device coupled to said safety switch capable of executing a force ramping process when said safety switch enables said actuator, said force ramping process preventing said force from being applied to said user manipulatable object at a high initial magnitude, said force ramping process causing said force to be produced at a reduced magnitude and slowly increased to a desired magnitude over a period of time.