A method for generating haptic sensations from a haptic interface including: a rotatable button; an element for interacting with a fluid with a viscosity that varies as a function of an exterior stimulus, the element for interacting with the fluid moving with the button; a fluid with an apparent viscosity that varies as a function of a magnetic field and that surrounds the element for interacting with the fluid; and a system for generating a magnetic field on command in the fluid. The method includes: evaluating a current position of the button; determining a direction of rotation of the button; altering the value of the current position when the current position is in a haptic stop zone and the direction of rotation of the button is associated with the haptic stop, and as long as the direction of rotation of the button is not modified.

The present invention provides a magneto rheological fluid composition for use in a vehicle mount having a flexible body and a diaphragm. The magneto rheological fluid composition consists of a carrier fluid, a plurality of magnetic responsive particles dispersed in the carrier fluid and an anti-settling agent of fumed silica dispersed in the carrier fluid forming a thixotropic network with the carrier fluid suspending the magnetic responsive particles in the thixotropic network for preventing the magnetic responsive particles from settling. The magneto rheological fluid composition of the present invention contains no additional additives providing stability to the thixotropic network and to the magneto rheological fluid and preventing the flexible body and the diaphragm from reacting with the composition to prolong the life of the composition.

A suspension device interposed between a vehicle body and a wheel, including a magnetic viscous fluid shock absorber in which a magnetic viscous fluid is sealed, a tube member composed of an outer tube connected to the vehicle body side and an inner tube connected to the wheel side and going into/out of the outer tube and accommodating the magnetic viscous fluid shock absorber, a lubricant liquid stored in the tube member, and a seal member closing a space between the inner tube and the magnetic viscous fluid shock absorber and preventing intrusion of the lubricant liquid to the wheel side.

The present invention relates to a movement-dependent stabilisation support system (100) for stabilising a moving body (200), which comprises a plurality of sensors (110), a plurality of actuators (120) and a control unit (130). The plurality of sensors (110) continuously detects movement parameters of the body (200), on which basis the control unit (130) determines whether there is an instability of the body (200). If it is determined that there is an instability, the control unit (130) selects a stabilisation strategy, according to which the actuators (120) are controlled. When controlled, the actuators (120) attached to the body (200) stiffen and limit the freedom of movement of the body (200), such that a movement in the direction of the imminent unstable state is prevented or suppressed. In this way, the body (200) is supported in its stabilisation and an imminent fall is prevented.

The invention relates to a rotary control device for a vehicle comprising a user interface surface, in particular a knob, that is embodied to rotate with respect to a housing of the device around a rotational axis of the device, further comprising a sensor unit for monitoring the orientation and/or rotational movement of the user interface surface with respect to the housing, a processing unit, and a communications interface for transmitting control signals according to an output from the processing unit, said output being generated by the processing unit on the basis of sensor data from the sensor unit.

Provided is a magnetorheological fluid having excellent long-term dispersion stability of magnetic particles and a large maximum change of yield stress under magnetic field application conditions. Also provided is a device having excellent long-term stable drivability and mechanism reliability. The magnetorheological fluid contains magnetic particles, resin particles, and a dispersion medium, wherein the proportion constituted by the mass of the magnetic particles relative to the total mass of the magnetorheological fluid is 35 mass % to 95 mass %, the proportion constituted by the mass of the resin particles relative to the total mass of the magnetorheological fluid is 0.3 mass % to 20 mass %, and the average particle diameter of the resin particles is 20 nm to 1,500 nm. This magnetorheological fluid is used in the device.

A torque generation device includes a rotor connected to a shaft and rotatable about a rotary axis of the shaft; an external member disposed outside the rotor and rotatable about the rotary axis relative to the rotor; a magnetically responsive material in a gap between the rotor and external member; a magnetic field generating unit generating a magnetic field passing the magnetically responsive material; and an adjusting unit between the shaft and external member along an outer circumference of the shaft, wherein the adjusting unit has a containing space where an adjusting sealing member is provided, the magnetically responsive material is sealed in the gap, containing space, and path connecting these and in an adjustment space from a position where the adjusting sealing member is provided to the path, and a capacity of the adjustment space is changeable according to a change in volume of the magnetically responsive material.

An assembly for absorbing energy in an overload event has an energy absorber for reducing the load on an object being transported on a loading unit. The energy absorber, in the case of a one-off overload event with an energy input that is sufficiently high that damage to the object would be possible or highly likely in the absence of the energy absorber, to absorb energy in order to reduce the load on the object. Measured values relating to the current state of the loading unit are periodically acquired by a sensor device. A control device identifies an overload event from the acquired measured values. A weight of the object to be transported and a limit value for a load on the object are determined. Following identification of the overload event, damping by the energy absorber is controlled to keep the load on the object below the limit value.

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for variable fluid damping. The apparatus comprises a mount. The apparatus also comprises a damper coupled to the mount to apply a damping force in response to movement of the mount. The apparatus further comprises an electrical element positioned to correspond to the damper. The apparatus additionally comprises a rheological fluid disposed in the damper. The rheological fluid changes viscosity in response to a change in an output of the electrical element to change the damping force of the damper. The apparatus also comprises a controller to provide input to the electrical element in response to a normal operating condition or an emergency operating condition.

A variable stiffness bushing includes: inner and outer tubular members; an elastic member connecting these tubular members. At least one pair of circumferentially separated liquid chambers is defined in the elastic member such that first axial ends and second axial ends of the liquid chambers are defined by first and second end walls of the elastic member, respectively. The liquid chambers of each pair communicate with each other by a corresponding communication passage including a circumferential passage provided in one of the tubular members, which includes a coil wound coaxially therewith and a yoke provided with at least one gap constituting the circumferential passage. A magnetic fluid fills the liquid chambers and the communication passage(s). The first and second end walls are configured such that when the tubular members are axially displaced relative to each other, a difference is created between volumes of the liquid chambers of each pair.