Dynamically interactive responsive control device and system

Claim 2

Apparatus comprising: first means for providing an output response for controlling a controllable apparatus, said first means having a moveable portion for effecting said output response and providing a tactually perceivable sensation in response to movement of said moveable portion; second means for providing a status indication; and third means responsive to said status indication for controlling the tactually perceivable sensation provided by said first means in accordance with each of a selected one of a plurality of relations determined by said status indication.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to Claim 1 further comprising: fourth means responsive to movement of said moveable portion for providing an indication : of a parameter of movement of said moveable portion and wherein said third means is additionally responsive to said indication of a parameter of movement for controlling the tactually perceivable sensation provided by said first means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to either Claim 1 or 2 wherein said second means is a controllable apparatus responsive to the output response provided by said first means.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein said status indication is provided by said second means in response to the output response provided by said first means.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to either Claim 1 or 2 wherein said second means is independent of said controllable apparatus.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to Claim 5 wherein said second means is operatively linked to said first means.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to either Claim 1 or 2 wherein said second means is responsive to the controllable apparatus and a fifth means independent of said controllable apparatus indication.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein separate status indications are provided by said controllable apparatus and said fifth means.

Claim 10

A control for the input of information to a utilization device to control at least one parameter associated therewith, comprising: a member positionable over a range and moveable throughout said range for effecting an output response and providing a tactually perceivable sensation in response to movement of said member with resistance to said movement producing a tactually perceivable sensation controllable independent of its position in said range; and means operatively coupled to said member for generating an indication of the position of said member and direction of movement of said member.

Claim 11

A control for the input of information to a utilization device to control at least one parameter associated therewith, comprising: a member positionable over a range and moveable throughout said range for effecting an output response and providing a tactually perceivable sensation in response to movement of said member with resistance to said movement producing a tactually perceivable sensation controllable independent of its position in said range; and means operatively coupled to said member for generating an indication of the position of said member and direction of movement of said member.

Claim 12

A control according to Claim 9 further comprising means operatively coupled to said member for controlling the tactually perceivable sensation provided in response to said movement of said member.

Claim 13

Apparatus for the input of information from a displaceable device to a controlled system to control at least one operating parameter associated therewith, and for the production of information in a tactile format in response to an output therefrom, comprising: first means for translating information from the said displaceable device to a format for communication to the controlled system; control means responsive to said first means for producing a control signal to control an operating parameter associated with the controlled system and for producing an output signal; second means responsive to the output signal for restricting the maximum displacement of the displaceable device between a pre-defined first and second limit; and third means responsive to the output signal for producing resistance to the displacement of the displaceable device.

Claim 14

Apparatus for the input of information from a displaceable device to a controlled system to control at least one operating parameter associated therewith, and for the production of information in a tactile format in response to an output therefrom, comprising: first means for translating information from the said displaceable device to a format for communication to the controlled system; control means responsive to said first means for producing a control signal to control an operating parameter associated with the controlled system and for producing an output signal; second means responsive to the output signal for restricting the maximum displacement of the displaceable device between a pre-defined first and second limit; and third means responsive to the output signal for producing resistance to the displacement of the displaceable device.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the said displaceable device is rotatable and the said displacement is rotational.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the said displaceable device is translatory and the said displacement is translational.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 13, further comprising: fourth means responsive to the output signal for providing tactile indication of a plurality of positions.

Claim 18

Apparatus for the input of information from a motion device to a controlled system to control at least one operating parameter associated therewith, and for the production of information in a tactile format in response to an output therefrom, comprising: first means for translating information from the motion device to a format for communication to the controlled system; control means responsive to said first means for producing a control signal to control an operating parameter associated with the controlled system and for producing an output signal; second means responsive to the output signal for restricting the maximum displacement of the said device between a pre-defined first and second limit; and third means responsive to the output signal for providing tactile indication of a plurality of positions.

Claim 19

Apparatus for the input of information from a motion device to a controlled system to control at least one operating parameter associated therewith, and for the production of information in a tactile format in response to an output therefrom, comprising: first means for translating information from the motion device to a format for communication to the controlled system; control means responsive to said first means for producing a control signal to control an operating parameter associated with the controlled system and for producing an output signal; second means responsive to the output signal for restricting the maximum displacement of the said device between a pre-defined first and second limit; and third means responsive to the output signal for providing tactile indication of a plurality of positions.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to Claim 15, further comprising: fourth means responsive to the output signal for producing resistance to the motion of the motion device.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 15 or claim 16 in which the motion device is rotary.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 15 or 16 in which the motion device is translatory.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 18, further comprising: fifth means for producing a first signal representative-of-amount of displacement of the said device and a second signal representative of direction of displacement of the said device.

Claim 24

Apparatus according to any of claims 11 to 19, further comprising: sixth means responsive to the controlled system for producing a tactile indication.

Claim 25

Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said sixth means further comprises: seventh means responsive to the controlled system for producing resistance to the motion of the said device.

Claim 26

Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said seventh means further comprises: means responsive to the controlled system for inhibiting the displacement of the said device in one direction of its permitted movement.

Claim 27

Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said seventh means further comprises: means responsive to the controlled system for inhibiting displacement of the said device in each of two directions of its permitted movement.

Claim 28

Apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said seventh means further comprises: means responsive to the controlled system for reducing resistance to the permitted motion of the said device.

Claim 29

Apparatus for the input of information in a rotational format to a controlled system to control at least one operating parameter associated therewith, and for the production of information in a tactile format in response to output therefrom, comprising: shaft means; a meter coupled to the shaft means which produces a first signal in response to angular displacement of said shaft means, and a second signal in response to direction of rotation of said shaft means; control means responsive to the first and second signals of the meter for producing a control signal to control the parameter associated with the electrical system and for producing an output signal; and a particle brake coupled to the shaft means responsive to the output signal.

Claim 30

Apparatus for the input of information in a rotational format to a controlled system to control at least one operating parameter associated therewith, and for the production of information in a tactile format in response to output therefrom, comprising: shaft means; a meter coupled to the shaft means which produces a first signal in response to angular displacement of said shaft means, and a second signal in response to direction of rotation of said shaft means; control means responsive to the first and second signals of the meter for producing a control signal to control the parameter associated with the electrical system and for producing an output signal; and a particle brake coupled to the shaft means responsive to the output signal.

Claim 31

Apparatus according to claim 19 or 25 wherein said control means comprises: counter means responsive to the first and second signal for counting in a sequence determined by the second signal, the number of occurrences of the first signal, and producing an output corresponding to the numeric count; comparison means responsive to the numeric count of said counter means for comparing the numeric count with a plurality of pre-defined numeric values, and producing an output signal when the numeric count of said counter means equals one of said pre-defined numeric values; and - conversion means, responsive to the numeric count of said counter means for producing the control signal.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein said conversion means further comprises: analog conversion means, responsive to the numeric count, for producing the control signal in an analog format responsive to the numeric value of said count.

Claim 35

A method according to claim 28 further comprising the steps of: providing tactile indications of a plurality of positions responsive to the output signal.

Claim 38

A method according to claim 30, further comprising the step of: producing resistance to the motion of the motion device responsive to the output signal.