Force feedback mouse wheel and other control wheels

Patent 6128006 Issued on October 3, 2000. Estimated Expiration Date:

March 26, 2018. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3919691

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Inventors

Application

No. 049155 filed on 03/26/1998

US Classes:

345/163, Mouse345/161, Joystick345/168, Including keyboard345/184Mechanical control (e.g., rotatable knob, slider)

Examiners

Primary: Saras, Steven
Assistant: Nelson, Alecia D.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Riegel; James R.

Foreign Patent References

626634A2 EP. 05/24/1994
875819A1 EP. 02/24/1998
WO9520788 WO. 08/24/1995
WO9532459 WO. 11/24/1995
WO9721160 WO. 06/24/1997
WO9731333 WO. 08/24/1997

International Class

G09G 005/08

Abstract

A force feedback wheel is provided on a mouse or other interface device manipulated by a user. A sensor detects a position of the mouse in a workspace and sends a position signal to a connected host computer indicating that position. A rotatable wheel is mounted upon the manipulandum and rotates about a wheel axis, where a wheel sensor provides a wheel signal to the host computer indicating a rotary position of the wheel. A wheel actuator coupled to the rotatable wheel applies a computer-modulated force to the wheel about the wheel axis. The mouse can be a standard mouse or a force-feedback mouse, where forces are applied in the mouse workspace. The host computer is preferably running a graphical environment, where the force applied to the wheel can correspond with an event or interaction displayed in the graphical environment. The wheel can also be included on other devices such as remote controls and radios.

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