Patent ID: 6697048
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: A61B,A63F,B25J,G01B,G05B,G05G,G06F,G09B,H01H

Abstract:
An interface apparatus for interfacing motion of a user with a computer system, said interface apparatus comprising:a user manipulatable object physically contacted by said user and moveable by said user in at least two rotary degrees of freedom; a linkage coupled to said user manipulatable object and providing said at least two rotary degrees of freedom to said user manipulatable object, each rotary degree of freedom being about an axis of rotation, said linkage including a plurality of members, wherein a selected number of said plurality of members have been formed as a unitary member in which flex is provided between said selected number of members, said flex permitting motion between said selected number of members that allows motion of said user manipulatable object in at least one of said rotary degrees of freedom, wherein said plurality of members of said linkage are formed as a closed-loop linkage in which said members are flexibly coupled to each other as segments of said unitary member; and at least one sensor able to detect a position or motion of said user manipulatable object along said at least two degrees of freedom and outputting sensor signals, wherein said sensor signals, or a representation thereof, are received by said computer system.