Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

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.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim