Haptic feedback joystick

Abstract

A haptic feedback joystick provides input signals for controlling computer programs in response to a pivotal displacement of a joystick control handle about a plurality of orthogonal axes. Haptic feedback force effects are applied to the joystick control handle about “X” and “Y” axes in response to haptic feedback command signals generated by the computer program. The control handle is mounted on a control handle shaft that is pivotally coupled to a full-gimbal assembly driven by two electric motors to produce the haptic feedback force. The full-gimbal assembly includes an upper and lower gimbal operatively coupled to a corresponding electric motor. One side of each gimbal includes a support shaft mounted in a corresponding bearing a frame, while the opposite sides of each gimbal include two drive pins that couple with a sector gear. Each sector gear is rotatably mounted on the frame and is coupled to the drive shaft of a different one of the electric motors. Each of the upper and lower gimbals enable the control handle to be displaced about a respective one of said X and Y axes, while the electric motors impart a torque to the control handle about these axes in response to electrical drive currents generated by a motor controller. Potentiometers are coupled to the upper and lower gimbals to produce proportional output signals indicative of the angular displacement of the control handle about the X and Y axes. The output signals are transmitted to a computer running the software program.