Patent ID: 6686911
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: A63F,G05G,G06F,H01H,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An interface control device including force feedback and providing rate control and position control modes to control a value used in an electronic device, the interface control device comprising:a user manipulatable object grasped by a user and movable in at least one degree of freedom to adjust said value; an actuator operative to provide forces on said user manipulatable object in said degree of freedom; a sensor operative to detect a position of said user manipulatable object in said at least one degree of freedom and outputs a sensor signal including information representing said position; and at least one microprocessor operative to control said actuator and read values from said sensor, said at least one microprocessor is capable of commanding a position control mode and a rate control mode for said user manipulatable object, wherein one of said position control mode and rate control mode is active for said interface control device at any one time, said commanded mode being based on selection input from said user, wherein said position control mode sets said value directly based on a position of said user manipulatable object in said degree of freedom, and wherein said rate control mode controls a rate of change of said value based on a position of said user manipulatable object in said degree of freedom with respect to an origin position in said degree of freedom.