| CPC B60K 35/10 (2024.01) [B60K 35/00 (2013.01); G05G 1/015 (2013.01); G05G 1/04 (2013.01); G05G 5/03 (2013.01); G05G 5/04 (2013.01); G05G 5/05 (2013.01); G06F 3/016 (2013.01); G06F 3/0383 (2013.01); G06F 3/0487 (2013.01); B60K 35/22 (2024.01); B60K 2360/126 (2024.01); G05G 2505/00 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
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1. A rotary control device comprising:
a user interface surface configured to rotate with respect to a housing of the device around a rotational axis of the device;
a sensor unit configured to monitor at least one of an orientation or a rotational movement of the user interface surface with respect to the housing;
a processing unit configured to generate an output on a basis of sensor data from the sensor unit;
a communications interface configured to transmit control signals according to the output from the processing unit;
a magnetorheological actuator comprising:
a chamber containing magnetorheological fluid;
a rotational element that is mechanically connected to the user interface surface and comprising a member extending horizontally within the chamber such that the member contacts the magnetorheological fluid on a first surface of the member and a second surface of the member, wherein the first surface and second surface are substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation; and
an assembly configured to at least one of generate or manipulate properties of a magnetic field acting on the magnetorheological fluid such that the magnetorheological actuator serves to modulate torque transmission between the user interface surface and the housing; and
a servo actuator that is separate from the magnetorheological actuator and that is_configured to apply torque to the user interface surface in accordance with governing signals output by the processing unit.
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