An output signal device and method that provides the operator force feedback similar to a pilot control joystick. These force feedback regions include free play, dead-band start of modulation, modulation, fore-warning bumper and hold near max angle. This output signal device may also vary the fore-warning feel and hold positions to be at any angle. This output signal device uses force sensing as the signal and has force slope changes used as auto-calibration of the output signal. This improves signal accuracy and provides a service prognostic signal. The prognostic signal may be used to activate redundant sensor. The variable force feedback may improve operation on rough terrain. The force feedback, may allow more productive operating positions to be learned. This enables productivity and other important job site criteria such as fuel usage to be optimized by interactive communication with this output signal device.

Noise is prevented from occurring in voice data acquired by a microphone due to an operation of an input stick. An input device (10) includes an upper cabinet section (41) having an opening formed therein, an input button (35) that is positioned inside the opening and is movable in an upward-downward direction, an elastic member that biases the input button (35) toward an initial position of the input button (35), and a buffer member (37). The input button (35) has a stopped portion (35b, 35c) for preventing the input button (35) from popping out of the opening. The buffer member (37) is made of a material different from a material of the upper cabinet section (41) and from a material of the input button (35) and has a stopper portion (37a, 37b) positioned between an inner edge of the opening of the upper cabinet section (51) and the stopped portion (35b, 35c) of the input button (35).

A haptic output device is configured to generate a deformation-based haptic effect and a vibration-based haptic effect. The haptic output device includes a shape memory material configured to change a shape thereof when heated and generate the deformation-based haptic effect, and a cooling device configured to cool the shape memory material and generate the vibration-based haptic effect.

A haptic feedback device including a dual coil linear solenoid is provided. The dual coil linear solenoid construction provides a sense of a pulling force in an opposite direction from a pushing force sensed in the player's hand. A dynamic current source for each coil is disposed to generate dynamic magnetic flux in each coil, whereby a dynamic bi-directional force is exerted on the plunger. A plunger position controller controls the position of the plunger, whereby the plunger position controller applies a dynamic bi-directional force on the plunger to move the plunger to a target position based on the current position of the plunger detected by a plunger position sensor. The haptic feedback device is incorporated into a game controller. Video or arcade games incorporating the feedback device are also disclosed.

A modular peripheral device assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a handheld controller and an assembly base. The handheld controller includes a first haptic actuator configured to generate a haptic effect at the handheld controller. The assembly base includes an attachment component that is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the handheld controller, and a second haptic actuator configured to generate haptic a effect at the assembly base or at the handheld controller when it is attached to the attachment component. The assembly further includes a control unit configured to select, based on whether the handheld controller is attached to or detached from the assembly base, at least one of the first and second haptic actuators to generate a haptic effect.

A haptic feedback planar touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch notice that inputs a position signal to a processor of the computer based on a location of user contact on the touch surface. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphic environment based at least in part on the position signal, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user contacting the touch surface. The touch input device can be a touchpad separate from the computer's display screen, or can be a touch screen. Output haptic sensations on the touch input device can include pulses vibrations, and spatial textures. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.

An arcade game with that allows a player to control the game using a video feedback plus a tactile response is provided. A player must use the video feed for controlling the game, and the video feed can be altered to vary the difficulty of the game. The tactile response can also be controlled to provide a more realistic game experience to the player.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a slip simulation apparatus, a controlled robot, a game handle, a virtual game console, and a control system. The slip simulation apparatus includes a base; at least one motor arranged on the base; a slip simulation controller, configured to: receive slip data, and generate a rotating speed control signal used for controlling the at least one motor; and at least one synchronous wheel, at least one synchronous belt, and at least one limit apparatus associated with the motor, the synchronous wheel being sleeved on the synchronous belt and the limit apparatus, the motor being drivingly connected to the at least one synchronous wheel to drive, according to the rotating speed control signal, the at least one synchronous wheel and the at least one synchronous belt to rotate.

Methods and apparatus provide for causing a device to present a sense of force against depressing of a button in response to receiving an input initiated by the user of a sense-of-force presentation start position in said predetermined movable range, and to store the sense-of-force presentation start position in a memory in response to the input initiated by the user; acquiring a depress amount of said button; receiving the sense-of-force presentation start position from the memory; and instructing the presentation of the sense of force against depressing of said button when said depress amount reaches said sense-of-force presentation start position.

A gimbal support that senses rotational displacement and provides haptic feedback in one, two or three dimensions of a manually-operated control member used to generate control inputs using a single hand while also limiting cross-coupling.