Patent ID: 7884565

Claim:
A human-machine interface assembly, comprising: a user interface configured, upon receipt of an input force that exceeds a null breakout force, to move from a null position, in either a first direction or a second direction, to a first control position and, upon receipt of an input force that exceeds a soft stop force, to move beyond the first control position; and a passive force feedback mechanism coupled to the user interface and configured to supply (i) the null breakout force to the user interface when the user interface is in the null position and (ii) the soft stop force to the user interface when the user interface is in the first control position, the soft stop force exceeding the null breakout force and not supplied to the user interface unless the user interface is in the first control position, the passive force feedback mechanism comprising a first spring configured to supply the null break out force to the user interface when the user interface is in the null position, and a second spring configured to supply the soft stop force to the user interface when the user interface is in the first control position, wherein: the user interface is further configured, upon receipt of an input force having a vector component in the first direction that exceeds the null breakout force, to move from the null position to the first control position in the first direction and, upon receipt of an input force having a vector component in the first direction that exceeds the soft stop force, to move beyond the first control position in the first direction, the user interface is further configured, upon receipt of an input force having a vector component in the second direction that exceeds a second null breakout force, to move from the null position to a third control position in the second direction and, upon receipt of an input force having a vector component in the second direction that exceeds a second soft stop force, to move beyond the third control position in the second direction, and the passive force feedback mechanism is further configured to supply (i) the second null breakout force to the user interface when the user interface is in the null position and (ii) the second soft stop force to the user interface when the user interface is in the third control position, the second soft stop force exceeding the second null breakout force.