초록 ▼

A control device including a support and multiple cylinders. A first cylinder may be rotated and translated, and a first sensor senses the rotation of the first cylinder and outputs a first control signal representative of the rotation. A second cylinder is positioned parallel to the first cylinder

A control device including a support and multiple cylinders. A first cylinder may be rotated and translated, and a first sensor senses the rotation of the first cylinder and outputs a first control signal representative of the rotation. A second cylinder is positioned parallel to the first cylinder and also may be rotated and translated. A second sensor senses the translation of the first cylinder and outputs a second control signal representative of that translation. Optionally, a third sensor can sense the independent rotation of the second cylinder and can output a second control signal representative of the rotation, and/or a fourth sensor may be used to sense translation similarly for the second cylinder. The first and said second cylinders provide a greater number of contact points for the user than a single cylinder and thus greater stability and accuracy when controlling a cursor or other entity. Additional embodiments include force feedback by coupling one or more actuators to one or both cylinders and outputting forces in one or more degrees of freedom of the cylinders.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A control device comprising:a support;a first cylinder coupled to said support and operative to rotate with respect to said support in a first rotary degree of freedom and to translate with respect to said support in a linear degree of freedom;a second cylinder coupled

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A control device comprising:a support;a first cylinder coupled to said support and operative to rotate with respect to said support in a first rotary degree of freedom and to translate with respect to said support in a linear degree of freedom;a second cylinder coupled to at least one of said support and said first cylinder and positioned parallel to said first cylinder, said second cylinder rotatable with respect to said support in a second rotary degree of freedom and to translate with respect to said support in said linear degree of freedom; anda first sensor coupled to at least one of said support, said first cylinder, and said second cylinder and operative to sense said rotation of at least one of said first cylinder and said second cylinder, said first sensor outputting a first control signal representative of said rotation;a second sensor coupled to at least one of said support, said first cylinder, and said second cylinder and operative to sense said translation of at least one of said first cylinder and said second cylinder, said second sensor outputting a second control signal, wherein said first cylinder and said second cylinder can be rotated and translated by a finger or hand of a user.