Embodiments of a work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system include a joystick device having a base housing, a joystick movably mounted to the base housing, and a joystick position sensor configured to monitor joystick movement. An MRF joystick resistance mechanism is controllable to vary a joystick stiffness resisting movement of the joystick relative to the base housing, while a controller architecture is coupled to the joystick position sensor and to the MRF joystick resistance mechanism. The controller architecture is configured to: (i) selectively place the work vehicle MRF joystick system in a modified joystick stiffness mode during operation of the work vehicle; and (ii) when the work vehicle MRF joystick system is placed in the modified joystick stiffness mode, command the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to vary the joystick stiffness based, at least in part, on the movement of the joystick relative to the base housing.

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.

A linking structure including an interlocking member pivotable in a second direction, and a lever tiltably linked to the interlocking member. The interlocking member includes a blind elongated hole extending in a first direction; first to fourth edges of the elongated hole; a bottom closing the elongated hole and being contiguous with the edges; and first and second shaft holes in the first and second edges to extend communicatingly from the elongated hole to opposite sides in the second direction. The lever includes a base in the elongated hole; first and second juts extending from the base, being swingably received in the elongated hole, and being in abutment with, or opposed with a narrow clearance to, the first and second edges; and first and second rotation shafts extending from the base and being supported in the first and second shaft holes such as to be rotatable in the first direction.

A joystick for controlling a machine comprising; a handle assembly allowed to rotate around a central axis extending along a longitudinal direction of the joystick, a control portion having a casing in which a lower circuit with a lower sensor is provided and a control lever attached to the said casing so as to move pivotally about at a pivot axis which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the control lever. Advantageously, said control lever having at least one embedded lower magnet is manufactured from plastic by the injection molding; said control lever comprises: at least one pivotal protrusion extending outwardly from the control lever for bearing in a housing of a casing; said pivotal protrusion forming a monolithic structure with the control lever by said injection molding and in that said lower magnet is embedded within the pivotal protrusion to be in the proximity of said lower circuit.

A haptic interface with at least two degrees of freedom including at least one element for interacting with a user, at least two passive brakes each extending along an axis, each of the brakes being capable of exerting a resistive force about its axis, the forces being controllable, measurement means for measuring a position of the element for interacting with a user, detection means for detecting the force applied on the element for interacting with the user, a control unit 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 for interacting with the user, such that said passive brakes generate resistive forces according to at least one given haptic pattern.

A device includes a lever associated with a body carrying a plate that is connected to the body by a pivot connection for pivoting about a first axis, the lever being connected to the plate by a pivot connection for pivoting about a second axis, a first transmission shaft and a first connection mechanism for connecting the lever to the first transmission shaft, a second transmission shaft and a second connection mechanism for connecting the control lever to the second shaft. The first shaft and the first connection mechanism are connected together by a pivot connection for pivoting about a fifth axis that is inclined relative to the first axis and to the third axis, and the second shaft and the second connection mechanism are connected together by a pivot connection for pivoting about a sixth axis that is inclined relative to the second axis and to the fourth axis.

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 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 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.

An active human-machine interface feedback system includes a user interface, a pitch angle sensor, a roll angle sensor, a spherical motor, and a control circuit. The user interface adapted to receive user input and is configured, upon receipt of the user input, to move, about one or both of a pitch axis and a roll axis, to a user interface position. The pitch angle sensor is configured to sense the pitch angle component of the user interface position. The roll angle sensor is configured to sense the roll angle component of the user interface position. The spherical motor is coupled to the user interface and is symmetrically disposed about the origin. The control circuit determines a polar angle () of the user interface relative to the origin, determine an azimuthal angle () of the user interface relative to the origin, and supply current to the first, second, and third coils.