Patent ID: 8619031

Claim:
A device comprising: a manipulandum; a haptic effect generator coupled to the manipulandum and operable to provide a first haptic profile associated with first mechanical configuration and a second haptic profile associated with a second mechanical configuration, wherein the haptic effect generator is operable to alter a surface of the manipulandum; and an actuator in communication with the haptic effect generator and operable to switch the haptic effect generator between the first haptic profile and the second haptic profile by moving a follower from a first cam to a second cam, wherein the actuator comprises a core coupled to the follower and configured to position the follower based in part on a magnetic field output by one of a first coil associated with the first mechanical configuration or a second coil associated with the second mechanical configuration, wherein the first haptic profile comprises a first detent profile associated with the first cam and the second haptic profile comprises a second detent profile associated with the second cam.