Interface apparatus with cable-driven force feedback and four grounded actuators

• Main Authors: GREGORIO PEDRO, VASSALLO STEVEN P, BAILEY DAVID W, OLIEN NEIL T
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 29.07.2008
• Subjects: ADVERTISING; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND,DEAF OR MUTE; CALCULATING; COMPUTING; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; COUNTING; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS OR METHODS, SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORYOR FORECASTING PURPOSES; DIAGNOSIS; DIAGRAMS; DISPLAY; EDUCATION; EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; GLOBES; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; IDENTIFICATION; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PHYSICS; PLANETARIA; REGULATING; SEALS; SURGERY; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE,COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL, SUPERVISORY OR FORECASTINGPURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

A system for providing realistic sensation within a simulation system by providing tactile (haptic) feedback to a user. The system includes an engageable practice tool that the user engages and a mechanical simulation apparatus coupled to the practice tool. The mechanical simulation apparatus includes a ground member, a mechanical linkage rotatably coupled to the ground member, a linear axis member coupled to the practice tool and the mechanical linkage, at least four actuators coupled to the ground member, sensors for sensing movement of the actuators, and at least three cables in contact with the at least four actuators and coupled to the mechanical linkage. An interface device is coupled to the simulation apparatus and a host computer is coupled to the interface device for implementing an application program. The application program provides signals for the actuators to move the cables and thereby move the mechanical linkage.