A user interface apparatus for controlling a marine vessel. The apparatus includes concentric positioned mechanical stick, block and ring for setting a control parameter, electric motors, and electric visual elements. The apparatus also includes one or more processors configured to operate the user interface apparatus in a plurality of operation modes, each operation mode with a distinct configuration, retrieve distinct settings for the tactile feedback and/or the visual feedback, and control the tactile feedback given by the one or more electric motors and/or the visual feedback given by the one or more electric visual elements based on the retrieved distinct settings during setting a selected control parameter mapped to the mechanical stick, block or ring.

A shifter simulator system comprising a frame with a gear stick hinge, a gear stick that is hingedly connected to the frame via the gear stick hinge, and a moveable frame part configured for moving relative to the frame and provided with a first contact surface and a second contact surface. The shifter simulator system also includes a magnetic contact and a tilting element configured for tilting around a tilting axis via a tilting connection in response to a movement of the gear stick and providing a first lever, and wherein the tilting element is provided with a first contact element and a second contact element configured for engaging the respective first and second contact surfaces of the moveable frame part providing a second lever, and by moving the moveable frame part defining a shifter movement with the magnetic contact. The first and/or second levers are adjustable.

The invention relates to a force application device for a control stick of an aircraft, said stick comprising a control lever that is connected to a motor comprising a drive shaft, said device having: a first pin connected to the drive shaft, a housing, a second pin secured to the housing, an electromagnet secured in relation to the housing, a movable actuator which comprises a magnetic material such that said actuator can be displaced depending on a supply of current of the electromagnet, and means for clamping the first pin and the second pin which comprise a first tooth and a second tooth, said device having an operating configuration in which the electromagnet is active and the actuator separates the teeth away from the first pin and the second pin, and a blocking configuration in which the electromagnet is inactive, with the first tooth and the second tooth coming into contact with the first pin and the second pin.

A joystick device 10 disclosed herein provides a return function for urging a lever 20 to its initial position. The device includes a first spring 30 and a second spring 40, each of which extends along the lever 20 and is disposed between an upper spring seat 32 and a lower spring seat 34. The springs 30 and 40 are subjected to compression to provide an urging force as the lever 20 is tilted from the initial position.

A multidirectional input device includes a frame, a plate-shaped base below the frame, a load detector provided on the frame or the base, and circuitry. The frame stores part of a tiltable operation stick and a tilt detector. The circuitry is configured to output an output signal representing the direction and the magnitude of an operation on the operation stick, based on the angle detection value of the tilt of the operation stick detected by the tilt detector and the load detection value of a load applied to the frame detected by the load detector. The circuitry is configured not to output the output signal or to output the output signal that sets the magnitude of the operation to zero, when the load detection value detected by the load detector is less than a predetermined threshold.

A joystick device including a hollow housing having an endless boundary structure and a ceiling structure with an opening; a control-stick having a head portion and a stem portion, the hollow housing surrounding the stem portion with the head portion outside the hollow housing; and a plurality of biasing curved arm members extending outwardly from the stem portion and movable with the control-stick as a whole relative to the hollow housing along a plane at least substantially perpendicular to the stem portion. Each of the plurality of biasing curved arm members having a curved segment with a convex side directed towards a respective corresponding portion of the endless boundary structure so as to bias the stem portion when the control-stick is being moved towards said portion. The plurality of biasing curved arm members being distributed around the stem portion so as to cooperate with each other to centre the control-stick.

A handle-type integrated control device includes: a steering lever disposed to be movable in a width direction of a vehicle by a driver's operation; a handle housing disposed at an upper end of the steering lever and configured to rotate, in a front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, about one end of the steering lever by the driver's operation; a speed value receiver disposed at one end of the handle housing to receive an acceleration or deceleration change value; and a speed controller connected to the speed value receiver to receive the acceleration or deceleration change value from the speed value receiver.

An inductive joystick may include a control structure including an elongate member movable along at least one direction substantially perpendicular to its length; and a position sensing assembly including a printed circuit board having at least one surface arranged adjacent to the control structure and at least one metal dial arranged over the at least one surface. The at least one surface may be substantially parallel with the elongate member's length and with the at least one direction, and may be provided with at least one transmitter coil and at least one receiver coil. In use, the transmitter coil(s) may induce signal(s) in the receiver coil(s) and the metal dial(s) may interfere with the induction. Moving the elongate member may cause relative movement between the surface(s) and the metal dial(s) which may vary the induced signal(s) based on a position of the metal dial(s).

In embodiments, a work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system includes a joystick device, an MRF joystick resistance mechanism, and a controller architecture. The joystick device includes, in turn, a base housing, a joystick movably mounted to the base housing, and a joystick bias mechanism coupled to the joystick and exerting a centering force urging the joystick to return to the centered position when moved therefrom. The controller architecture is operable in a modified centering mode in which the controller architecture: (i) determines when the joystick begins return toward the centered position due to the centering force applied by the joystick bias mechanism; and (ii) when so determining, commands the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to modify a rate at which the joystick returns to the centered position by varying the MRF resistance force applied to the joystick.

In embodiments, a work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system includes a joystick device, an MRF joystick resistance mechanism, and a controller architecture. The joystick device includes, in turn, a base housing, a joystick movably mounted to the base housing, and a joystick position sensor configured to monitor movement of the joystick relative to the base housing. The MRF joystick resistance mechanism is controllable to vary a first joystick stiffness resisting movement of the joystick relative to the base housing in at least one degree of freedom. The controller architecture is configured to: (i) detect when unintended joystick motion conditions occur during operation of the work vehicle; and (ii) when detecting unintended joystick motion conditions, command the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to increase the first joystick stiffness in a manner reducing susceptibility of the joystick device to unintended joystick motions.