Operator controlled electrical output signal device with variable feel and hold feedback and automated calibration and learnable performance optimization
An output signal device and method that provides the operator force feedback similar to a pilot control joystick. These force feedback regions include free play, dead-band start of modulation, modulation, fore-warning bumper and hold near max angle. This output signal device may also vary the fore-warning feel and hold positions to be at any angle. This output signal device uses force sensing as the signal and has force slope changes used as auto-calibration of the output signal. This improves signal accuracy and provides a service prognostic signal. The prognostic signal may be used to activate redundant sensor. The variable force feedback may improve operation on rough terrain. The force feedback, may allow more productive operating positions to be learned. This enables productivity and other important job site criteria such as fuel usage to be optimized by interactive communication with this output signal device.
1. A Joystick Electronic System (JSE) including:
a handle assembly attached to a pivot assembly and rotating about a pivot point; and
a spherical cup attached to and disposed around said handle assembly, wherein said spherical cup is angularly displaced when said handle assembly is angularly displaced by an operator,
wherein said spherical cup is composed of a magnetic material; and
a magnetic assembly composed of one or more electro-magnets attached to the base of said pivot assembly by a bracket, wherein said bracket is not attached to said handle assembly, wherein said bracket also positions said magnetic assembly proximal to said spherical cup, wherein said spherical cup includes an inside surface disposed toward said handle assembly,
wherein said bracket positions said magnetic assembly proximal to said inside surface of said spherical cup, wherein said magnetic assembly is energized to induce a magnetic attraction between said magnetic assembly and said spherical cup,
wherein said magnetic attraction alters the force required to angularly displace said handle assembly,
wherein said magnetic assembly positioned by said bracket remains stationary when said spherical cup is angularly displaced,
wherein another magnetic assembly composed of one or more electro-magnets are positioned ninety degrees to the said first magnetic assembly wherein this second magnetic assembly is also attached to the base of the said pivot assembly by a bracket in like manor as the first said magnetic assembly, wherein said second magnetic assembly is energized to induce a magnetic attraction between said second magnetic assembly and said spherical cup, and wherein said magnetic attraction alters the force to angularly displace said handle assembly in the direction orthogonal to said first magnetic assembly resulting in a torque that can be felt by said handle operator in that said orthogonal direction.
2. The system of claim 1 further including, wherein one and or both of the orthogonal handle actuation positions are electronically measured and wherein said magnetic attraction between said magnetic assembly and said spherical cup differs when said handle assembly is angularly displaced at a plurality of angular displacements, resulting in different forces required to angularly displace said handle assembly at said different angles in the predetermined direction and or directions.
3. The system of claim 1 further including, wherein one and or both of the orthogonal handle actuation positions are electronically measured and wherein said magnetic attraction between said magnetic assembly and said spherical cup differs when said handle assembly is angularly displaced at a plurality of angular displacements, resulting in different forces required to angularly displace said handle assembly at said different angles in the predetermined direction and or directions.
4. The system of claim 3 further including, wherein one and or both of the orthogonal handle actuation positions are electronically measured wherein said magnetic attraction between said magnetic assembly and said spherical cup differs when said handle assembly is angularly displaced at a plurality of angular displacements, resulting in different forces required to angularly displace said handle assembly at said different angles in the predetermined direction and or directions.
5. The system of claim 3 further including, wherein the level of the magnetic attraction at a given displacement angle increases by at least 20 percent in 2 degrees or less of angular displacement and additional and significant operator handle input torque is required to actuate the handle beyond said angle thus producing a forewarning handle torque feedback.
6. The system of claim 5 further including, wherein the level of the magnetic attraction in one or more directions at a predetermined angle is equal to or greater than the handle return force to hold said handle at that angle in that direction of motion.
7. The system of claim 5 further including, wherein the operator, the vehicle or the jobsite computer system has determined that a direction of control that is held by the electromagnetic system at a reduced angle of handle actuation in a control direction and then allows the magnetic force to be reduced slightly wherein the handle angle slides to a new lesser position of hold angle.
8. The system of claim 5 further including, wherein the operator, the vehicle or the jobsite computer system has determined a limit to one or more joystick actuation directions and then sets the electromagnetic system to have a forewarning force feel feedback at an angle in a direction of handle actuation to assist the operator from pushing beyond said angle but not blocking the operator from pushing the handle beyond said angle.
9. The system of claim 1 further including, wherein said magnetic attraction is adjusted based at least in part on sensed movements of a vehicle in which said JSE is positioned.
10. A Joystick Electronic System (JSE) including:
a handle assembly attached to a pivot assembly and rotating about a pivot point; and
a spherical cup attached to and disposed around said handle assembly, wherein said spherical cup is angularly displaced when said handle assembly is angularly displaced by an operator,
wherein said spherical cup is composed of a magnetic material; and a magnetic assembly composed of one or more electro-magnets attached to the base of said pivot assembly by a bracket, wherein said bracket also positions said magnetic assembly proximal to said spherical cup, wherein said spherical cup includes an inside surface disposed toward said handle assembly,
wherein said bracket positions said magnetic assembly proximal to said inside surface of said spherical cup, wherein said magnetic assembly is energized to induce a magnetic attraction between said magnetic assembly and said spherical cup,
wherein said magnetic attraction alters the force required to angularly displace said handle assembly, and
wherein the operator can vary the amount that one or more magnetic assembly are energized by the said handle operator by actuating a button or toggle switch, wherein the said magnetic attraction alters the force to angularly displace said handle assembly in a predetermined direction.
11. The system of claim 10 further including, wherein said magnetic attraction is adjusted based at least in part on sensed movements of a vehicle in which said JSE is positioned.
12. A Joystick Electronic System (JSE) including:
a handle assembly attached to a pivot assembly and rotating about a pivot point; and
a spherical cup attached to and disposed around said handle assembly, wherein said spherical cup is angularly displaced when said handle assembly is angularly displaced by an operator,
wherein said spherical cup is composed of a magnetic material; and a magnetic assembly composed of one or more electro-magnets attached to the base of said pivot assembly by a bracket, wherein said bracket also positions said magnetic assembly proximal to said spherical cup, wherein said spherical cup includes an inside surface disposed toward said handle assembly,
wherein said bracket positions said magnetic assembly proximal to said inside surface of said spherical cup, wherein said magnetic assembly is energized to induce a magnetic attraction between said magnetic assembly and said spherical cup,
wherein said magnetic attraction alters the force required to angularly displace said handle assembly,
wherein another magnetic assembly composed of one or more electro-magnets are positioned ninety degrees to the said first magnetic assembly, wherein this second magnetic assembly is also attached to the base of the said pivot assembly by a bracket in like manor as the first said magnetic assembly, wherein said second magnetic assembly is energized to induce a magnetic attraction between said second magnetic assembly and said spherical cup, wherein said magnetic attraction alters the force to angularly displace said handle assembly in the direction orthogonal to said first magnetic assembly resulting in a torque that can be felt by said handle operator in that said orthogonal direction, and
wherein the operator can vary the amount that one or more magnetic assembly are energized by the said handle operator by actuating a button or toggle switch, wherein the said magnetic attraction alters the force to angularly displace said handle assembly in a predetermined direction.