Input device with sector geared feedback trigger

• US 10,226,697 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2017
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Schmitz, Aaron, Gassoway, Gabriel Michael Rask, Robinson, Jonathan Shea
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Laurence J
• Application Number:
  US15/611,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20180345136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/488 with a trigger
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 13/025 comprising haptic means
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/10 Triggers; Trigger mountings
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/02 Controlling members for hand actuation by linear movement, e.g. push buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/03 Means for enhancing the operator's awareness of arrival of the controlling member at a command or datum position; Providing feel, e.g. means for creating a counterforce arrangements for indicating the position of the controlling member G05G1/015
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A user-input device includes a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis, the user-actuatable trigger including a sector gear, a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger about the trigger axis, and a force-feedback motor configured to drive the sector gear based on a force-feedback signal.

Claims

1. A user-input device comprising:

a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis, the user-actuatable trigger including a sector gear;

a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger about the trigger axis; and

a force-feedback motor configured to drive the sector gear based on a force-feedback signal.

2. The user-input device of claim 1, wherein the user-actuatable trigger includes a finger-interface portion and a motor-interface portion that opposes the finger-interface portion, and wherein the sector gear is arranged on the motor-interface portion.

3. The user-input device of claim 2, wherein the finger-interface portion is coupled to the motor-interface portion such that the finger-interface portion and the motor-interface portion pivot together about the trigger axis.

4. The user-input device of claim 2, wherein the motor-interface portion pivots about the trigger axis separately from finger-interface portion.

5. The user-input device of claim 4, further comprising:

a return spring operatively intermediate the finger-interface portion and the motor interface portion and configured to forward bias the user-actuatable trigger toward an extended posture.

6. The user-input device of claim 1, wherein the sector gear includes a plurality of gear teeth arranged on an outer, convex side of the sector gear, wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive one or more intermediate gears, and wherein the one or more intermediate gears mesh with the plurality of gear teeth to drive the sector gear.

7. The user-input device of claim 1, wherein the sector gear includes a plurality of gear teeth arranged on an interior, concave side of the sector gear, wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive one or more intermediate gears, and wherein the one or more intermediate gears mesh with the plurality of gear teeth to drive the sector gear.

8. The user-input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a magnet coupled to the user-actuatable trigger; and

wherein the posture sensor includes a Hall effect sensor configured to determine the posture of the user-actuatable trigger based on a position of the magnet relative to the Hall effect sensor.

9. The user-input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a clutch operatively intermediate the user-actuatable trigger and the force-feedback motor and configured to mechanically change engagement between the user-actuatable trigger and force-feedback the motor.

10. The user-input device of claim 1, wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to provide a hard stop at a designated posture within a pivot range of the user-actuatable trigger.

11. The user-input device of claim 1, further comprising:

a force sensor configured to determine an actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger; and

wherein the force-feedback signal is determined based at least on the actuation force.

12. The user-input device of claim 11, wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger in an outward direction toward an extended posture based on the actuation force becoming less than a threshold force.

13. The user-input device of claim 1, wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger to provide a user-perceived resistance based on the force-feedback signal.

14. The user-input device of claim 13, further comprising:

a communication subsystem communicatively coupled to a computing device, and wherein the force-feedback signal is determined based at least on a parameter of the computing device to dynamically change the user-perceived resistance.

15. A user-input device comprising:

a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis, the user-actuatable trigger including a sector gear;

a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger about the trigger axis;

a force-feedback motor configured to drive the sector gear based on a force-feedback signal; and

a clutch operatively intermediate the user-actuatable trigger and the force-feedback motor and configured to mechanically change engagement between the sector gear and the force-feedback motor.

16. The user-input device of claim 15, wherein the clutch is configured to lessen a drag of the force-feedback motor from the user-actuatable trigger.

17. The user-input device of claim 15, wherein the clutch is a one-way clutch configured to disengage the sector gear from the force-feedback motor when the user-actuatable trigger pivots in a forward direction toward an extended posture.

18. The user-input device of claim 15, further comprising:

a force sensor configured to determine an actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger; and

wherein the force-feedback signal is determined based at least on the actuation force.

19. The user-input device of claim 18, wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger, via the clutch, to provide a user-perceived resistance based on the force-feedback signal.

20. A user-input device comprising:

a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis, the user-actuatable trigger including a finger-interface portion, a motor-interface portion that opposes the finger-interface portion, and a sector gear arranged on the motor-interface portion, the sector gear including a plurality of gear teeth arranged on an exterior, convex side of the sector gear;

a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger about the trigger axis; and

a force-feedback motor configured to drive the sector gear based on a force-feedback signal.