Intuitive Surgical. has been granted a patent for a method controlling click events via a hand-actuated selector. The method involves varying haptic forces based on the selector’s displacement from a neutral position, enhancing user interaction with a display system through distinct control states. GlobalData’s report on Intuitive Surgical gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Intuitive Surgical, Surgical robots was a key innovation area identified from patents. Intuitive Surgical's grant share as of July 2024 was 59%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Haptic feedback control for hand-actuated selector click events
The patent US12073013B2 outlines a method and apparatus for controlling the actuation of a click event through a hand-actuated selector that is moveably mounted. The method involves utilizing one or more sensors to detect the displacement of the selector from a neutral position. Depending on the displacement distance, the system can control motors to apply varying forces: a maintaining force when the selector is close to the neutral position, a haptic force that increases with further displacement, and a click event signal once a second threshold is reached. After the click event, the system reduces the haptic force to a lower magnitude, ensuring a responsive and tactile user experience.
Additionally, the claims detail various configurations for the maintaining force, which can be zero or less than the haptic force. The apparatus includes sensors, motors, processing circuitry, and a memory system that executes instructions for the described operations. It also encompasses features such as a resilient member to return the selector to the neutral position and a stop surface to halt the selector's motion at specific thresholds. This innovative approach aims to enhance user interaction with devices by providing a nuanced feedback mechanism that responds dynamically to user input.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
