Input device for improving man-machine interface

Abstract

An input device for improving man-machine interface is disclosed. The input device provides a more direct and natural relationship between the control movements of an operator and the output from the data processing system. One embodiment of the input device includes a fluid medium sealed inside a chamber, a control movement transmission mechanism connected to the chamber, a control data generating device monitoring and converting the operation of the inflow and outflow control mechanism into electrical signals, a transmission circuit for transmitting the signals to a computer, a fluid flow variable restriction device to variably control the volume of fluid flowing through the restrictor pipe, and a receiver circuit for driving the fluid flow variable restriction device based on control response signals output from the computer. The fluid medium flows into and out of the chamber through the restrictor pipe under control of the various mechanisms.

1 . An input device for providing information with a data processing system, comprising: 
 an input section that is operable by an operator and that is movable along two axes; and    two movement-transmission/feedback mechanisms arranged along and corresponding to said two axes, respectively, each mechanism including:    two fluid containers, each containing fluid medium in a hermetically sealed manner;    communicating means that connects said two fluid containers for communicating said fluid medium between said two fluid containers;    restricting means for restricting flow of said fluid medium passing through said communicating means;    a link that is linked to said input section and that moves in accordance with said input section, wherein a portion of said link is linked to one of said fluid containers and another portion of said link is linked to the other fluid container, and wherein when said input section is operated and moved along the axis to which the relevant movement-transmission/feedback mechanism corresponds, said link directly or indirectly applies force to either one of said fluid containers in accordance with the amount and the direction in which said input section was moved so as to change volume of said fluid medium contained in that fluid container, thereby said fluid medium is passed through said communicating means toward the other one of said fluid containers;    control information generating means for generating control information responsive to the movement of said link and for transmitting, to said data processing system, said control information generated by said control information generating means; and    receiver means for receiving, from said data processing system, feedback control information responsive to said control information input from said control information generating means, said feedback control information being fed to said restricting means;    wherein said restricting means restricts the flow of said fluid medium through said communicating means responsive to said feedback control information received from said data processing system.    
   
   
       2 . An input device for providing information with a data processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said communicating means comprises a conduit for conveying said fluid medium.  
   
   
       3 . An input device for providing information with a data processing system as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein said restricting means comprises a voltage driven actuator arranged in said conduit for varying a cross-section of said conduit to restrict the flow of said fluid medium therethrough.  
   
   
       4 . An input device for providing information with a data processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said fluid medium is an electroviscous fluid.  
   
   
       5 . An input device for providing information with a data processing system as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said restricting means comprises a set of electrodes for applying a regulating voltage so as to vary viscosity of said electroviscous fluid as passing through said communicating means.  
   
   
       6 . An input device for providing information with a data processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each pair of said fluid container and said portion of said link comprises a cylinder containing said fluid medium and a piston fit thereinto respectively, said piston enabled to be urged by the input section.  
   
   
       7 . An input device for providing information with a data processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said fluid container is made of an elastic membrane that elastically deforms in accordance with the movement of the link.  
   
   
       8 . An input device for providing information with a data processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said control information generating means comprises means for detecting a position and/or a displacement provided by the operator mechanically.  
   
   
       9 . An input device for providing information with a data processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said control information generating means comprises a pressure sensor for said fluid medium contained in said fluid containers and a circuitry for transmitting an electrical signal generated by said pressure sensor to said data processing system, thereby operation of the operator is input to said data processing system as an electrical signal representing change of pressure of the fluid medium in said fluid containers  
   
   
       10 . An input device for providing information with a data processing system as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said receiver means comprises a circuitry for transmitting an electrical signal representing the feedback information to said restricting means.  
   
   
       11 . An input device for improving man-machine interface comprising: 
 a lever that is operable by an operator and that is movable along two axes; and    two movement-transmission/feedback mechanisms arranged along and corresponding to said two axes, respectively, each mechanism including:    two sealed chambers, each containing fluid medium in a hermetically sealed manner;    a restrictor pipe that connects said two chambers for communicating said fluid medium between said two chambers;    a link that is linked to said lever and that moves in accordance with said lever, wherein a portion of said link is linked to one of said chambers and another portion of said link is linked to the other chamber, and wherein when said lever is operated and moved along the axis to which the relevant movement-transmission/feedback mechanism corresponds, said link directly or indirectly applies force to either one of said chambers in accordance with the amount and the direction in which said lever was moved so as to change volume of said fluid medium contained in that chamber, thereby said fluid medium is passed through said communicating means toward the other one of said chambers;    a control data generation means capable of physically monitoring the movement of the link and converting that movement into corresponding electrical signals;    a transmission circuit through which the signals generated by said control data generation means are fed to a host device;    a fluid flow variable restriction means capable of electrically and variably controlling the fluid flow status in said restrictor pipe; and    a receiver circuit capable of driving said fluid flow variable restriction means through the application of a control response signal that is applied to said restriction means and that has been received from said host device.    
   
   
       12 . An input device as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein an electrical voltage driven actuator is installed to a part of said restrictor pipe, electrical displacement changes of said voltage driven actuator being used by said fluid flow variable restriction means to control the volume of fluid flowing through said restrictor pipe.  
   
   
       13 . An input device as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein an electroviscous substance is utilized as said fluid, and wherein said fluid flow variable restriction means applies an electrical voltage within said restrictor pipe in a manner to induce a viscosity change in said electroviscous substance.  
   
   
       14 . An input device as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein each pair of said chamber and said portion of said link is structured as a cylinder and piston assembly, and said lever changes the displacement of said piston through movement of said lever.  
   
   
       15 . An input device as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein an outer surface of said chamber comprises an elastic member, the surface of said elastic member being operable by said lever in a manner as to induce volumetric changes in said chamber.  
   
   
       16 . An input device as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said control data generation means is capable of monitoring the mechanically moving parts of said link or the displacement changes caused thereby.  
   
   
       17 . An input device as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said control data generation means is capable of monitoring the pressure within said chamber.  
   
   
       18 . An input device as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising means for returning said lever to a base point position, and for returning the fluid volume in said chamber to an initial volume, at a time when control pressure from the operator is not being applied to the lever.  
   
   
       19 . A pointing device for inputting data to a computer, comprising: 
 a lever that is operable by an operator and that is movable along two axes; and    two movement-transmission/feedback mechanisms arranged along and corresponding to said two axes, respectively, each mechanism including:    two sealed chambers, each containing fluid medium in a hermetically sealed manner;    a restrictor pipe that connects said two chambers for communicating said fluid medium between said two chambers;    a link that is linked to said lever and that moves in accordance with said lever, wherein a portion of said link is linked to one of said chambers and another portion of said link is linked to the other chamber, and wherein when said lever is operated and moved along the axis to which the relevant movement-transmission/feedback mechanism corresponds, said link directly or indirectly applies force to either one of said chambers in accordance with the amount and the direction in which said lever was moved so as to change volume of said fluid medium contained in that chamber, thereby said fluid medium is passed through said communicating means toward the other one of said chambers;    a monitoring device capable of physically monitoring the movement of the link and converting that movement into corresponding electrical signals;    a transmission circuit through which the signals generated by said monitoring device are fed to the computer;    a fluid flow variable restriction device capable of electrically and variably controlling the fluid flow status in said restrictor pipe; and    a receiver circuit capable of driving said fluid flow variable restriction device through the application of a control response signal that is applied to said restriction device and that has been received from said computer.    
   
   
       20 . A video game controller incorporating the pointing device claimed in  claim 19.