Patent ID: 8072418

Claim:
An apparatus for providing tactile feedback to a user, comprising: a first magnetic assembly comprising a first magnet with a pole generating a magnetic field; a second magnetic assembly comprising a second magnet with a pole generating a magnetic field, wherein the first and second magnets are permanent magnets; a user input device connected to at least one of the first and second magnet assemblies operable to position the first magnet proximate to the second magnet such that interaction between the magnetic fields generates a force that is exerted on the user input device, wherein the second magnetic assembly is linked to the user input device and, by movement of the user input device, is positionable relative to the first magnet assembly; and a housing with a chamber receiving the second magnetic assembly and defining a travel path for the second magnet relative to the first magnet, the travel path being defined to include an interaction region in which the second magnet is positioned in a range of spaced apart positions relative to the first magnet during positioning of the second magnet assembly in response to an input force applied to the user input device, wherein the exerted force includes an initial force opposing the input force and a secondary force that is additive to the input force as the second magnet travels in a single direction through the interaction region.