Magnetic Manual Interface Device with Spherical Magnet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manual user interface devices for electronic computing systems lack compactness, durability, and high resolution, particularly in providing tactile feedback, and often rely on mechanical elements like springs or flexible membranes for centering and feedback.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic manual user interface device featuring a manual actuator with a spherical magnet suspended within an annular magnet, utilizing magnetic fields to provide restoring forces and tactile feedback without mechanical elements, allowing for precise measurement of user input in multiple degrees of freedom.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical elements like springs or flexible membranes are used for centering and feedback, then tactile feedback is provided, but device complexity and durability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical centering elements (springs, flexible membranes) with a magnetic field system. Magnets are positioned to create magnetic restoring forces that center the actuator, eliminating the need for mechanical components while providing tactile feedback through magnetic field interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state from mechanical to magnetic by using magnetic field strength and polarity as the controlling parameter. The magnets are arranged with specific polarities to generate restoring forces, and the system measures magnetic field changes to detect actuator position, replacing mechanical parameter measurement with magnetic field sensing.
2Volume of moving object
If mechanical centering elements are used, then restoring forces are provided, but device compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes mechanical spring elements with magnetic field-based restoring forces. The magnets are positioned and oriented to create magnetic attraction and repulsion forces that provide the centering effect, allowing for a more compact design without sacrificing restoring force capability.
3Measurement precision
If magnetic fields are used instead of mechanical elements, then device compactness and durability are improved, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical position detection mechanisms with magnetic field sensing. Magnetic sensors detect changes in the magnetic field caused by actuator movement, providing high-resolution position information without mechanical contact or wear.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device offers a compact, durable, and high-resolution input solution with tactile feedback, enabling precise user input detection and eliminating the need for mechanical centering elements, thus enhancing user interaction with electronic systems.
Implementation Method 1
The polarity of the magnets is oriented such that the interaction of their magnetic fields provides restoring forces that urge the coupled magnet so that its magnetic axis is aligned with a neutral axis
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of magnetic sensing elements are positioned to detect changes in a magnetic field due to movement of the operatively coupled magnet and generate signals representative of the movement
Data Source
AI summary
Various finger tip controlled manual interface devices that can be used as inputs to personal computers, electromechanical systems and video game consoles utilize concentrically arranged magnets. The polarities of the magnets are oriented to provide restoration forces on a one of the magnets to bias it toward a neutral position. A magnetic sensor including a plurality of sensing elements such as Hall effect devices generates output signals representative of direction and amount of movement of the magnet that is biased to the neutral position.