초록 ▼

Control apparatus comprising a lever, foot pedal or other operating member which is coupled to an electrical stepper motor operable, under the control of a computer say, to generate detents and feel forces resisting the movement of the member and thereby impart information to the operator. For examp

Control apparatus comprising a lever, foot pedal or other operating member which is coupled to an electrical stepper motor operable, under the control of a computer say, to generate detents and feel forces resisting the movement of the member and thereby impart information to the operator. For example, a detent or position of marked resistance can be introduced into the movement range of say a car throttle pedal to indicate to the driver a pedal position giving optimum economy of fuel. The detent position can be changed within the overall range of pedal movement in dependence upon instant driving parameters such as speed. As well as detents, programmed and/or external condition dependent feel forces can be generated.

대표청구항 ▼

A control device for enabling an operator to control associated apparatus to which, in use, the control device is connected, the control device comprising: a fixed support member; a control member supported by the support member and movable with respect thereto by said operator; output means connect

A control device for enabling an operator to control associated apparatus to which, in use, the control device is connected, the control device comprising: a fixed support member; a control member supported by the support member and movable with respect thereto by said operator; output means connected to the control member and operable for transmitting to said associated apparatus control signals indicative of the position of said control member relative to the support member; an electrical stepper motor of which the stator part is connected to said support member and the mover part is connected to said control member; motor energization means which is connected to said stepper motor and which is operable for energizing said motor to generate, at least while said control member is at one or more discrete positions in its range of movement relative to the support member, an attractive force between the stator and mover parts of the motor tending to resist manual movement of the control member; and transducer means connected to said motor energization means and operable to sense at least one physical parameter affecting said associated apparatus and for causing said motor energization means to change said attractive force in depedence upon said at least one parameter.