Patent ID: 8217892

Claim:
An input device, comprising: an input device chassis; a plurality of tactile feedback modules coupled to the input device chassis, each of the plurality of tactile feedback modules comprising: a first electromagnet and a second electromagnet located in a spaced apart relationship from the first electromagnet; and a mass comprising a pair of opposing ends and located between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet, wherein a permanent magnet is located on each of the opposing ends of the mass, and wherein the mass is operable to move along an axis between the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet; and at least one controller that is coupled to the plurality of tactile feedback modules and that is operable to receive a tactile feedback signal and, in response, actuate each mass in the plurality of tactile feedback modules to move each mass along the axis in a single direction and then stop movement of each mass for a period of time, wherein the movement of each mass is synchronized and the period of time that the masses are stopped is selected to produce one of a single linear force and a single rotational force on the input device chassis.