DIRECT DRIVE CONTROLLER WITH HAPTIC FEEDBACK
A reliable and cost-efficient direct drive force feedback motor is suitable for joystick applications, allowing multiple degrees of output freedom, requiring no coil commutation, and permitting compact packaging. A multiple degree-of-freedom motor consistent with the invention comprises an output shaft, a stator, and a rotor. The stator comprises first and second lamination stacks, each lamination stack having an interior curved surface and a coil wound thereon, the lamination stacks being disposed adjacent the output shaft. The rotor is fixed to the output shaft and movably supported adjacent the stator with an air gap disposed between the rotor and the stator, the rotor including at least one magnet disposed thereon and being movable along the interior curved surface of the lamination stacks in directions defining at least first and second degrees of freedom. Energization of the coil of the first lamination stack establishes a first magnetic field to urge the output shaft to rotate in a first plane, and energization of the coil of the second lamination stack establishes a second magnetic field to urge the output shaft to rotate in a second plane substantially orthogonal to the first plane.
This application claims priority to copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/401,549, filed on Aug. 6, 2002, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates, generally, to a force feedback motor assembly that provides an output in one or more degrees of freedom for use in joystick and other applications, and more particularly, to an improved force feedback joystick.
Various force feedback motor designs providing multiple degrees of freedom are known in the art for use in a wide variety of applications. For example, multiple degrees of freedom in motor output are particularly useful in linear actuation and positioning applications. Another application in which such motors may be used is in joystick applications for real control of an associated apparatus, e.g., direct control of an aircraft, wheelchair, or other vehicle, or for simulation apparatus control, e.g. video games, flight simulation, virtual reality simulation, etc. In these applications a control system may be provided for sensing a user's manipulation of a joystick, i.e., the motor output shaft, and providing a signal for controlling the application.
Many applications also require force or tactile (“haptic”) feedback to the user. The need for the user to obtain realistic tactile information and experience tactile sensation is extensive in many kinds of simulation and other applications. For example, in medical/surgical simulations, the “feel” of a probe or scalpel simulator is important as the probe is moved within the simulated body. It would be invaluable to a medical trainee to learn how an instrument moves within a body, how much force is required depending on the operation performed, the space available in a body to manipulate an instrument, etc. In simulations of vehicles or equipment, force feedback for controls such as a joystick can be necessary to realistically teach a user the force required to move the joystick when steering in specific situations, such as in a high acceleration environment of an aircraft. Alternatively, when actually operating in a high acceleration vehicle environment, the force feedback can be used to counteract the effect of the acceleration induced forces on the hand and thus improve controllability and safety of the vehicle. In virtual world simulations where the user can manipulate objects, force feedback is necessary to realistically simulate physical objects; for example, if a user touches a pen to a table, the user should feel the impact of the pen on the table. An effective human/computer interface, such as a joystick, not only acts as an input device for tracking motion, but also as an output device for producing realistic tactile sensations. An interface that accurately responds to signals having fast changes and a broad range of frequencies as well as providing such signals accurately to a control system, is therefore desirable in these and other applications.
In addition, there is a desire to provide force feedback to users of computer systems in the entertainment industry. Joysticks and other interface devices can be used to provide force feedback to a user playing a video game or experiencing a simulation for entertainment purposes. Through such an interface device, a computer system can convey to the user the physical sensation of colliding into a wall, moving through a liquid, driving over a bumpy road, and other sensations. The user can thus experience an entire sensory dimension in the gaming experience that was previously absent. Force feedback interfaces can provide a whole new modality for human-computer interaction.
In typical multi-degree of freedom apparatuses that are capable of providing force feedback, there are several disadvantages. Generally conventional devices are cumbersome and complex mechanisms that are difficult and expensive to manufacture. In particular, the use of a transmission between the actuator motor and the joystick reduces the performance of the device and reduces the reliability and life of the device. Many transmission types can fail in a manner that renders the device unusable. For industrial and military applications, reliability and maintenance concerns are sometimes linked to the safety of personnel. If a force feedback device is not reliable or failsafe, then its use in these applications may be restricted or prevented even though the force feedback capability would enhance the performance and safety for that application.
In consumer markets, low-cost is highly desirable. For example, personal computers for the home consumer are becoming powerful and fast enough to provide force feedback to the typical mass-market consumer. A need is thus arising to be able to manufacture and market force feedback interfaces as cheaply and as efficiently as possible. The cost, complexity, reliability, and size of a force feedback interface for home use should be practical enough to mass-produce the devices. In addition, aesthetic concerns such as compactness and operating noise level of a force feedback device are of concern in the home market. Since the prior art feedback interfaces are mainly addressed to specific applications in industry, most force feedback mechanisms are costly, large, heavy, are easily broken, have significant power requirements, and are difficult to program for applications. The prior art devices require high-speed control signals from a controlling computer for stability, which usually requires more expensive and complex electronics. In addition, the prior art devices are typically large and noisy. These factors provide many obstacles to the would-be manufacturer of force-feedback interfaces to the home computer market.
Moreover, DC (direct current) motors, which are commonly used in prior art devices, suffer from several disadvantages that make them unsuitable for many applications. For example, DC motors do not have inherent positional control and require additional sensors (e.g., optical) to determine the position of the rotor. Such sensors may malfunction because of dust or wear particles created by the mechanical braking system. This can have a negative effect on achieving the accuracy and precision of movement required in certain applications. DC motors also lack braking control and must incorporate additional mechanisms, such as gearing, clutches, and a solenoid brake to control speed and/or stop the rotor in desired positions. These additional components increase the mechanical complexity of the system and are susceptible to wear and tear. Thus, the reliability of a DC motor system is frequently an issue.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a reliable motor allowing output in multiple degrees of freedom and capable of providing force feedback that may be efficiently and cost-effectively produced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a reliable and cost-efficient direct drive (i.e., no transmission subsystem) force feedback motor suitable for joystick applications, allowing multiple degrees of output freedom, requiring no coil commutation, and permitting compact packaging.
In one aspect, a multiple degree-of-freedom motor consistent with the invention comprises an output shaft, a stator, and a rotor. The stator comprises first and second lamination stacks, each lamination stack having an interior curved surface and a coil wound thereon, the lamination stacks being disposed adjacent the output shaft. The rotor is fixed to the output shaft and movably supported adjacent the stator with an air gap disposed between the rotor and the stator, the rotor including at least one magnet disposed thereon and being movable along the interior curved surface of the lamination stacks in directions defining at least first and second degrees of freedom. Energization of the coil of the first lamination stack establishes a first magnetic field to urge the output shaft to rotate in a first plane, and energization of the coil of the second lamination stack establishes a second magnetic field to urge the output shaft to rotate in a second plane substantially orthogonal to the first plane. The first degree of freedom may be substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of wires of one of the coils associated with the first degree of freedom, and the second degree of freedom may be substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of wires of the other of the coils. The interior curved surface may substantially define at least a portion of a sphere or may be uniformly curved, and may have a plurality of slots formed therein. The slots may lie in planes substantially parallel to one another. At least one lamination stack may comprise a plurality of laminations radially disposed about a center point, with a plane of each lamination extending through the center point. At least one lamination stack may have an interior curved surface with no slots formed therein. At least one magnet may be a permanent magnet, and the magnet may be faceted. The output shaft may also be an input shaft, and the motor may further comprise at least one sensor for detecting movement of the input shaft. A cooling fan may Other be provided. A universal serial bus communications interface may be included for providing input and/or output signals to detect and/or control the position of the output shaft. The stator may further comprise a third lamination stack having an interior curved surface and a coil wound thereon, wherein the rotor includes at least one magnet disposed thereon and is movable along the interior curved surface of the third lamination stack in a direction defining a third degree of freedom. In this configuration, energization of the coil of the third lamination stack establishes a third magnetic field to urge the output shaft to rotate in a third plane substantially orthogonal to each of the first and second planes.
In another aspect, a multiple degree-of-freedom motor consistent with the invention comprises an output shaft, first and second stator coils disposed adjacent the output shaft, and a rotor fixed to the output shaft and movably supported adjacent the stator coils with an air gap disposed between the rotor and the stator coils. The rotor includes at least one magnet disposed thereon and is movable in directions defining at least first and second degrees of freedom. Energization of the first stator coil establishes a first magnetic field to urge the output shaft to rotate in a first plane, and energization of the second stator coil establishes a second magnetic field to urge the output shaft to rotate in a second plane substantially orthogonal to the first plane. The first degree of freedom may be substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of wires of the first stator coil associated with the first degree of freedom, and the second degree of freedom may be substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of wires of the second stator coil. At least one magnet may be a permanent magnet, and the magnet may be faceted. The output shaft may also be an input shaft, and at least one sensor may be provided for detecting movement of the input shaft. The stator may further comprise a third coil. In this configuration, the rotor includes at least one magnet disposed thereon and is movable in a direction defining a third degree of freedom, and energization of the third stator coil establishes a third magnetic field to urge the output shaft to rotate in a third plane substantially orthogonal to each of the first and second planes.
In a further aspect a method of moving an output shaft in multiple degrees of freedom comprises: disposing first and second stator coils adjacent the output shaft; fixing a rotor to the output shaft, the rotor being movably supported adjacent the stator coils with an air gap disposed between the rotor and the stator coils, the rotor including at least one magnet disposed thereon and being movable in directions defining at least first and second degrees of freedom; and urging the output shaft to rotate in one of a first and second plane by respectively energizing the first or second stator coil, wherein the energization of the respective stator coils establishes magnetic fields to urge the output shaft to rotate in planes substantially orthogonal to one another. The method may further comprise: disposing a third stator coil adjacent the output shaft; fixing the rotor so as to include at least one magnet disposed thereon and being movable in a direction defining a third degree of freedom; and urging the output shaft to rotate in a third plane by energizing the third stator coil, wherein the energization of the third stator coil establishes a third magnetic field to urge the output shaft to rotate in a third plane substantially orthogonal to each of the first and second planes.
In still another aspect, a lamination stack for use in a stator of a motor having an output shaft comprises a plurality of laminations stacked flat against one another and parallel to one another, wherein the laminations near the edge of the stack are disposed slightly closer to the output shaft to form a stepped concave surface about the longitudinal axis of the output shaft in a plane orthogonal to a side surface of the plurality of laminations. The shape of the stepped concave surface of the plurality of laminations about an equator of the plurality of laminations may approximate an arc having a constant radius in a plane orthogonal to a side surface of the plurality of laminations.
In yet another aspect, a multiple degree-of-freedom motor comprises an output shaft, a rotor coupled to the output shaft, and a stator comprising a first lamination stack and a second lamination stack, the lamination stacks disposed perpendicular to one another, each lamination stack having a curved interior surface and a coil wound thereon. The laminations of the first lamination stack and second lamination stack may be substantially parallel to one another. Energization of the coil of the first lamination stack may establish a first magnetic field to urge the output shaft to rotate in a first plane, and energization of the coil of the second lamination stack may establish a second magnetic field to urge the output shaft to rotate in a second plane. The stator may further comprise a third lamination stack having an interior curved surface and a coil wound thereon, wherein the laminations of the first and second lamination stacks are substantially perpendicular to the laminations of the third lamination stack, and wherein energization of the coil of the third lamination stack establishes a third magnetic field to urge the output shaft to rotate in a third plane substantially orthogonal to the first and second planes.
With reference now to
As shown in
The Joystick handle 20 preferably has a grip as low as possible (i.e., as close to the housing 17 as possible), as it is anticipated that motor assemblies consistent with the invention may be utilized in physically small spaces and/or may be disposed at both the left- and right-hand sides of a user.
With reference now to
The lamination stacks may have spherical or pseudo-spherical inner surfaces (i.e., the surfaces facing the handle 20) with parallel horizontal slots 37, as shown in
As illustrated in the exemplary lamination stack of
As illustrated in
Returning now to the illustrated embodiment of
In a joystick application, as shown, the moving joystick handle 20 has a shaft 22 extending from a bottom thereof. The shaft 22 is attached to the housing 17 at a joint 26 so that the shaft may pivot within an opening 29 (shown in
Also inside the housing 17 are a plurality of control circuits, e.g., a circuit 31 for controlling and/or detecting a first degree of freedom movement, a circuit 33 for controlling and/or detecting a second degree of freedom movement, and a circuit 35 for interfacing with a computer via a communications port 21, e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB). The position of the shaft 22 can be sensed by, e.g., potentiometers (not shown) for sensing the displacement of the shaft 22 along each degree of freedom. A variety of means for sensing the rotational position of these elements, and therefore determining the position of the shaft 22 may be employed. However, for cost and simplicity considerations, however, it has been found that potentiometers may be coupled to the shafts to provide varying resistance depending on the position of the shaft. A control application can provide an output signal that varies according to the resistance provided by the potentiometers so that the output of the application is related in a known manner to the position of the shaft. It is to be understood, however, that a variety of means for providing shaft position information may be employed.
The end of the shaft distal from the handle 20 has a plurality of magnets affixed thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, linkage backiron 38 having an “L” shape with its two arms turned down is arranged so that magnets 40 and 42 are disposed on the downward sloping arms of linkage backiron 38. This two-arm rocker design results in a low rotation moment of inertia, thereby being advantageous relative to prior art four-arm rockers or other designs employing transmission systems which magnify the rotational inertia by the transmission ratio squared (raised to the second power). Low mechanical inertia is desirable for high frequency responsiveness. In addition, this feature provides uniform rotational inertia in each degree of freedom thereby attaining uniformity of response.
Magnets 40 and 42 have arcuate outer surfaces substantially parallel to and matching the contours of the respective coils 16, 18 beside which the magnets 40, 42 are disposed. (As used in this specification, an arcuate surface may or may not have a fixed/constant radius.) Thus, an air gap is maintained between the magnets 40, 42 and the respective coils 16, 18, and uniform torque may be provided at all joystick positions if the magnets 40, 42 are constructed so as to have spherical outer surfaces (i.e., the surfaces facing the coils 16, 18). Alternatively, as illustrated in
Energization of one or more of the coils 16, 18 produces a force upon corresponding ones of the magnets 40, 42 in either of the two axes perpendicular to the wires in the coils 16, 18. Torque control can then be established for each respective axis by selecting and providing a given polarity (to control direction) and magnitude of current through the coils 16, 18. Advantageously, therefore, the coils 16, 18 may be selectively energized, e.g. in dependence of a control algorithm provided by a user application such as a video game or simulation device or based on the position of the joystick, to provide a force output to the user through the handle 20 via its shaft 22.
In prior art motors, the individual coils are often wound in layers and are commutated so that only those coils most suited to producing the desired forces are selectively activated. In the present invention, there are only two coils 16, 18, and both coils may remain activated full-time, thereby providing slightly less efficiency. However, less supporting circuitry is required than in the prior art, as commutation of the coils as a function of joystick rotor position is not necessary, thereby reducing the cost of fabrication and providing a more compact design.
Thus configured, the assembly 10 can be considered to include a stator defined by the coils 16, 18 and lamination stacks 25, 27, and a rotor defined by the linkage backiron 38 and the magnets 40, 42 positioned on the shaft 22. Ferromagnetic backiron (iron used to complete the flux path and increase the air gap field strength) may be used in one or both of the rotor and the stator in order to assure high performance of the motor by maximizing the magnet coupling between the stator and the rotor. Although the use of backiron is not necessary for motor operation, the use of backiron in the rotor and/or stator efficiently couples the magnetic flux through the magnetic circuit and creates a high force in the motor.
In the embodiment illustrated in
While in the embodiment illustrated in
The coils can be wound using standard winding techniques for copper coils. The coils may be wound on a flat surface or may be press-fit, or heated then press-fit to the desired shape. The windings may also be wound between curved forming plates (not shown), or wound directly onto a form. Also, the windings may be wound so that their positions are adjustable to allow for user adjustment or re-mapping of the motor degrees of freedom. If desired, the stator iron could be formed with teeth in the form of pins and the coils could be laid in the notches between the teeth. This is useful for reducing the magnet size required, but makes manufacturing more complex.
Backiron used in the invention may be fabricated using laminations in order to achieve improved frequency response operation and reduced eddy current heating losses. Lamination stock of suitable thickness for high frequency response is commercially available from numerous commercial vendors. Also, any of the magnets described herein may be provided as electromagnets, or, as shown, permanent magnets, due to cost and performance considerations.
In operation, the permanent magnets create magnetic flux, B, which couples through the current, I, in the stator windings (or coils) of active length, L. This creates a force F (or torque T, if a rotational geometry is used) according to the Lorentz force law, F=I×L×B, T=r×F.
For use as a joystick, the motor may be used, e.g., in a simulator application (in which the user controls a simulated device such as a computer game or a flight simulator) or a real control application, wherein the user is either controlling a machine, vehicle or other such device. In addition, it will be recognized that the motor can be used for a variety of positioning tasks, for example, the motor could be used as a mirror control for precise control about the x- and y-axes. The control for these two exemplary applications can be arranged as conceptually described below and illustrated in block diagram form in
With reference to
The modified position of the apparatus may be sensed by a sensor 64, processed by the controlling application 62 and provided to a feedback control 66 for providing control of the motor 60 in dependence of the new position. Power supply 68 provides power to the entire system.
Turning now to
With reference now to
There is thus provided a motor assembly that is capable of providing output in two or more degrees of freedom. The motor is simple and efficient in design and can be adapted for a variety of applications including joystick applications. The direct drive configuration eliminates the requirement for a transmission subsystem. A control handle or joystick can easily be disposed in a corner of the housing, rather than in its center, which may be advantageous in certain applications. The small minimum grip height of the handle or joystick is suitable when the assembly is used in physically small spaces and/or is disposed at both the left- and right-hand sides of a user. The two-arm rocker design provides low effective rotor inertia. Three degrees of freedom may be provided with only a slight elongation of the housing. The coil winding technique eliminates the need for coil commutation, thus saving both space and cost of materials. The elimination of several elements required in the prior art (e.g., the reduction in the number of control circuits, lamination stacks, and coils required) permits a compact packaging for a motor assembly consistent with the invention. In a joystick application, the motor assembly provides the input characteristics of an ordinary DC motor, without any of the disadvantages of a DC motor.
The embodiments described herein, however, are but some of the several which utilize this invention and are set forth here by way of illustration but not of limitation. For example, although a motor consistent with the invention can provide output in multiple degrees of freedom, it would be possible to operate the motor in only one degree of freedom by providing or energizing only a single coil. Another example of use of the invention is replacement of the joystick with a mirror; the mirror can then be tilted in two degrees of freedom for scanning or alignment purposes. Also, a wide variety of gimbal arrangements may be provided for pivotally supporting the stick to maintain an air gap between the stator and rotor. Yet other embodiments may be made without departing materially from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1-26. (canceled)
27: A lamination stack for use in a stator of a motor having an output shaft, comprising:
- a plurality of laminations stacked flat against one another and parallel to one another;
- wherein the laminations near the edge of the stack are disposed slightly closer to the output shaft to form a stepped concave surface about the longitudinal axis of the output shaft in a plane orthogonal to a side surface of the plurality of laminations.
28: The lamination stack of claim 27, wherein the shape of the stepped concave surface of the plurality of laminations about an equator of the plurality of laminations approximates an arc having a constant radius in a plane orthogonal to a side surface of the plurality of laminations.
29-31. (canceled)
32: A stator coil winding for use in a motor comprising an output shaft having a rotor coupled thereto and a longitudinal axis, said winding comprising:
- a spiral coil having a plurality of turns therein, wherein said coil is disposed adjacent said output shaft and is wound around an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said output shaft.
33: The stator coil winding of claim 32, wherein said spiral coil is disposed relative to said rotor such that torque control over said output shaft in a degree of freedom is exerted by selective provision of a current having a predetermined direction and magnitude to said spiral coil.
34: The stator coil winding of claim 32, wherein said spiral coil is wound around a lamination stack.
35: The stator coil winding of claim 34, wherein said lamination stack has an interior curved surface.
36: The stator coil winding of claim 34, wherein said lamination stack has a plurality of slots formed therein.
37: The stator coil winding of claim 36, wherein said slots lie in planes substantially parallel to one another.
38: The stator coil winding of claim 36, wherein said lamination stack comprises a plurality of laminations radially disposed about a center point, with a plane of each lamination extending through said center point.
39: The stator coil winding of claim 36, wherein said lamination stack has no slots formed therein.
40: The stator coil winding of claim 36, wherein said spiral coil is wound around a single solid ferrite mass.
41: The stator coil winding of claim 32, wherein said coil has a substantially rectangular cross-section.
42: A stator coil winding method for use in a motor comprising an output shaft having a rotor coupled thereto and a longitudinal axis, said method comprising:
- winding a spiral coil having a plurality of turns therein around an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of said output shaft; and
- disposing said coil adjacent said output shaft.
43: The method of claim 42, further comprising:
- selectively providing controlling a current having a predetermined direction and magnitude to said coil to control the torque of said output shaft in a degree of freedom.
44-46. (canceled)
47: A rotor for use in a motor having an output shaft, comprising:
- a linkage member adapted for coupling to the output shaft of said motor, said linkage member having only two arms extending therefrom, each said arm coupled to a magnet.
48: The rotor of claim 47, wherein said linkage member is a magnet.
49: The rotor of claim 47, wherein at least one said magnet coupled to the arm of said linkage member is faceted.
50: The rotor of claim 47, wherein at least one said magnet coupled to the arm of said linkage member has a spherical exterior surface.
51: The rotor of claim 47, wherein said arms extend in substantially orthogonal directions relative to one another.
52: The rotor of claim 47, wherein each arm comprises a downward turned portion.
53: The rotor of claim 52, wherein the downward turned portions of said arms lie in planes substantially orthogonal to one another.
54. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 27, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 20, 2008
Inventors: David Cope (Medfield, MA), Andrew Wright (Boston, MA), Neil Tischler (Acton, MA)
Application Number: 12/163,805
International Classification: G06F 3/033 (20060101); H02K 1/27 (20060101); H02K 3/04 (20060101); H02K 1/18 (20060101);