| 摘要 |
A force feedback wheel or knob is provided on a mouse or other device to be manipulated by a user. In one embodiment, a rotatable wheel is mounted upon a manipulandum, such as a mouse, and rotates about a wheel axis, where a wheel sensor provides a wheel signal to a host computer indicating a rotary positi on of the wheel, and a wheel actuator coupled to the rotatable wheel applies a computer-modulated force to the wheel about the wheel axis. The force applie d to the wheel can correspond with an event or interaction displayed in a host graphical environment. In other embodiments, a knob on a device allows a use r to control functions of the device. The knob is rotatable in a rotary degree of freedom and can be moved in a transverse direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation and/or moved in a linear degree of freedom, allowing the kn ob to be pushed or pulled by the user. Force feedback is preferably provided using an actuator coupled to the knob. The device controlled by the knob can be, for example, an audio device, a video device, etc. Detent forces can be provided for the knob by overlapping and adjusting ranges of closely-spaced detents in the rotary degree of freedom of the knob. |
