The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 02, 1993
Filed:
Dec. 15, 1990
Michael T MacKay, Vallejo, CA (US);
Sony Corporation of America, Park Ridge, NJ (US);
Abstract
A variable scale device for providing signals indicating selection of an input value from a program controlled range of permissible values is disclosed. The device comprises of a belt, a first and second rollers, a rotary encoder, an interface for sending and receiving signals, a metering module having a plurality of visual displays and a forced feedback motor/clutch. Signals corresponding to the movement of the belt are encoded for sending through the interface to a processor coupled to the device. Based on the programmed responses received from the processor, visual and tactile feedback are provided to the user through the visual displays and the forced feedback motor/clutch. The program controlled range of permissible input values available for selection and the resolution of the selectable values may be dynamically set or reset by the user using the device. Furthermore, the program controlled range of permissible values supported may be increased without sacrificing the device resolution. Thus, the device provides functional and usability improvements over the traditional scaled input devices.