A flexure mechanism for an interface device that interfaces a user with a
computer system. An interface device includes a manipulandum physically
contacted by the user. A five-bar closed-loop mechanism is coupled to the
manipulandum to provide two rotary degrees of freedom to the
manipulandum. The mechanism includes members coupled to each other by
flexible couplings allowing rotation of the members. In preferred
embodiments, four or five of the members are coupled together by flexible
couplings that allow bending, thereby forming a unitary piece, where the
couplings are oriented along axes of rotation of the mechanism. A senor
senses a position of the manipulandum outputs a sensor signal, and in
some embodiments actuators are coupled to the mechanism to output a force
to the manipulandum in particular degrees of freedom. The manipulandum
can be a joystick handle or portion of a sphere, where the device in one
embodiment can be a handheld gamepad or similar controller.