Patent ID: 7451664

Claim:
A user interface system, comprising: a user interface configured to rotate, from a null position, in first and second directions about a first rotational axis and in first and second directions about a second rotational axis, the second rotational axis perpendicular to the first rotational axis, the user interface adapted to receive an input force and, in response to the input force, to rotate, from the null position to a control position, about one or both of the first and second rotational axes; a plurality of load cells coupled to, and extending in cantilevered manner from, the user interface, each load cell configured to at least selectively sense the input force supplied to the user interface, the plurality of load cells including a first pair of load cells and a second pair of load cells, the first pair of load cells each extending along a respective first load cell axis that intersects the second rotational axis, the second pair of load cells each extending along a respective second load cell axis that intersects the first rotational axis, wherein: the first pair of load cells are disposed such that when the user interface is rotated from the null position about the first rotational axis, the input force sensed by one of the first pair of load cells increases and the input force sensed by another of the first pair of load cells decreases, and the second pair of load cells are disposed such that when the user interface is rotated from the null position about the second rotational axis, the input force sensed by one of the second pair of load cells increases and the input force sensed by another of the second pair of load cells decreases.