Interactive devices configured for producing haptic effects through structural modification are provided. The interactive devices include a modifiable structure configured with one or more actuators to generate internal forces within the modifiable structure. The generated internal forces provide haptic effects to a user through the modifiable structure, including expansion and compression effects, resistance and assistance effects, vibration effects, and kinesthetic effects. The interactive devices are further configured to receive user inputs applied to the interactive device through tensile or compressive forces.

A pressure detection apparatus includes: a drive power supply, a differential circuit, a pressure calculation unit, and at least one pressure sensor. Each pressure sensor includes a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, a third electrode plate, a first elastic dielectric layer, and a second elastic dielectric layer. One detection capacitor is formed between the first electrode plate and the second electrode plate, and one detection capacitor is formed between the first electrode plate and the third electrode plate. The pressure sensor is connected between the drive power supply and an input terminal of the differential circuit, and an output terminal of the differential circuit is connected to the pressure calculation unit.

A haptic interface with at least two degrees of freedom, comprising: at least one element (4) for interacting with a user, at least two passive brakes (6, 8) each extending along an axis (X, Y), each of the brakes (6, 8) being capable of exerting a resistive force about its axis (X, Y), the forces being controllable, measurement means (14, 16) for measuring a position of the element (4) for interacting with a user, detection means (11, 13) for detecting the force applied on the element (4) for interacting with the user, a control unit (UC) capable of sending commands to the brakes depending on information on the position of the element for interacting with the user and on the force applied on the element (4) for interacting with the user, such that said passive brakes (6, 8) generate resistive forces according to at least one given haptic pattern.

The invention preferably relates to an apparatus for measuring deformations, stresses, forces and/or torques of an object comprising a spring body and a sensor chip, which comprises one or more sensor elements for measuring a deformation, stress, force and/or a torque as well as an electronic circuit on a substrate. The spring body comprises a base plate on the front side of which a force conductor, preferably in the form of a pin, is installed, the sensor chip being positioned on the rear side of the base plate below the force conductor. The invention further relates to a system comprising a described apparatus and a data processing unit, wherein the data processing unit is configured for reading out measured data detected by the sensor chip and preferably detects the forces and/or torques acting on the force conductor based thereon.

An operation lever includes: a pair of rods disposed at point-symmetrical positions with respect to an operation axis; magnets disposed on the respective rods; and a pair of magnetic sensors disposed at line-symmetrical positions with respect to a second straight line perpendicular to a first straight line connecting centers of one of the rods and the other rod, on a plane perpendicular to the operation axis.

The disclosure addresses a force sensor that is scalable in size and adaptable to a variety of form factors, including those suitable for use in an input device for a computer or other processing system, and in some cases including those of the configuration normally referred to as a computer mouse. The force sensor will include at least two structural members that are cooperatively attached one another as to be displaced from one another in response to a force acting upon one of the structural members. In some examples, the engagement between the two structural members will be specifically configured to allow such displacement in response to forces acting laterally on the force sensor. The force sensor will also include one or more sensing mechanisms to provide a measurement of the sensed deflection.

A controller may be provided for use with electronic equipment. The electronic equipment may include a head-mounted device that uses user input to control displayed images, a computer stylus or other accessory, a handheld device such as a remote control, and/or other electronic devices. The controller may have a nub-shaped housing. The housing may be formed from a flexible housing wall that has an elongated dome shape extending along an axis. User finger input may be provided to the controller during operation. Sensor circuitry in the flexible housing may be used in detecting user finger input such as multitouch touch input, force input in which a user's finger presses against the flexible housing, and deformation input in which the flexible housing is bent away from the axis or otherwise deformed by a user's finger.

An optical pressure sensor including an optical radiation source and an optical guide that may be optically coupled to the radiation source and may be configured to obtain a total internal reflection condition. The optical guide may define an interface wall. The sensor may also include an element elastically deformable and transparent to optical radiation that has a face facing said interface wall and configured so that a pressure exerted on the deformable element changes a contact area with the interface wall so that the optical guide assumes a frustrated total internal reflection condition with emission of an output optical radiation towards the first face of the deformable element dependent on the exerted pressure. The sensor may further include a photoresistor optically coupled to the second face of the deformable element and configured to provide an electrical signal dependent on the output optical radiation.

A work vehicle includes a hydraulic actuator, a control valve, a pressure sensing unit, a force imparting component, and a controller. The hydraulic actuator varies a steering angle. The control valve controls flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator. The operation member is configured to be operated by an operator and to control the control valve when varying the steering angle. The pressure sensing unit senses a pressure produced by the hydraulic actuator. The force imparting component imparts an assisting force or a counterforce to operation of the operation member. The controller controls the force imparting component so as to generate resistance to operation of the operation member based on a pressure value sensed by the pressure sensing unit.

An articulated work vehicle in which front and rear frames are linked includes a joystick lever configured to be operated by an operator, a hydraulic actuator driven by hydraulic pressure, a control valve, a force imparting component, and a controller. The joystick lever is usable to set a target steering angle. The hydraulic actuator performs an articulation to change an actual steering angle of the front frame with respect to the rear frame in response to operation of the joystick lever. The control valve controls flow of fluid supplied to the hydraulic actuator so as to make the actual steering angle coincide with the target steering angle. The force imparting component applies an assisting force or a counterforce to operation of the joystick lever. The controller controls the force imparting component so as to generate resistance to operation of the joystick lever based on a start timing of an articulation.