Motor-driven adjustable-tension trigger

• US 10,384,123 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2017
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Luo, David
• Application Number:
  US15/611,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20180345135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 318 3, 318 34
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• 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 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: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• 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 3/044 by capacitive means

Abstract

A user-input device includes a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis, a rack gear, a return spring operatively intermediate the user-actuatable trigger and the rack gear, a force-feedback motor and a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger about the trigger axis. The return spring is configured to forward bias the user-actuatable trigger toward an extended posture. The force-feedback motor is configured to drive the rack gear based on a force-feedback signal and thereby adjust a spring force applied by the return spring to the user-actuatable trigger.

Claims

1. A user-input device comprising:

a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis;

a rack gear;

a return spring operatively intermediate the user-actuatable trigger and the rack gear, the return spring configured to forward bias the user-actuatable trigger toward an extended posture;

a force-feedback motor configured to drive the rack gear based on a force-feedback signal and thereby adjust a spring force applied by the return spring to the user-actuatable trigger; and

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

2. The user-input device of claim 1, wherein the user-actuatable trigger interfaces with the return spring via a guided connection that allows the user-actuatable trigger to move relative to the return spring.

3. The user-input device of claim 2, wherein the user-actuatable trigger and the return spring collectively include a pin-in-slot mechanism that forms the guided connection.

4. The user-input device of claim 3, wherein the pin-in-slot mechanism includes a slot formed by the user-actuatable trigger and a pin coupled to the return spring and extending from the return spring into the slot.

5. The user-input device of claim 4, wherein the slot is positioned on a portion of the user-actuatable trigger that is spaced apart from the trigger axis.

6. The user-input device of claim 1, wherein the force-feedback signal is determined based at least on the posture of the user-actuatable trigger.

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

a communication subsystem communicatively coupled to a computing device and configured to;

send the posture of the user-actuatable trigger to the computing device; and

receive from the computing device the force-feedback signal.

8. The user-input device of claim 7, wherein the force-feedback signal is determined based at least on a parameter of the computing device.

9. The user-input device of claim 8, wherein the parameter of the computing device is user-adjustable.

10. The user-input device of claim 8, wherein the parameter of the computing device includes a parameter of a video game executed by the computing device.

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

one or more reduction gears operatively intermediate the rack gear and the force-feedback motor.

12. A user-input device comprising:

a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis;

a rack gear;

a return spring operatively intermediate the user-actuatable trigger and the rack gear, the return spring interfacing with the user-actuatable trigger via a guided connection that allows the user-actuatable trigger to move relative to the return spring, the return spring configured to forward bias the user-actuatable trigger toward an extended posture;

a force-feedback motor configured to drive the rack gear based on a force-feedback signal and thereby adjust a spring force applied by the return spring to the user-actuatable trigger; and

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

13. The user-input device of claim 12, wherein the-user-actuatable trigger and the return spring collectively include a pin-in-slot mechanism that forms the guided connection.

14. The user-input device of claim 13, wherein the pin-in-slot mechanism includes a slot formed by the user-actuatable trigger and a pin coupled to the return spring and extending from the return spring into the slot.

15. The user-input device of claim 13, wherein the slot is positioned on a portion of the user-actuatable trigger that is spaced apart from the trigger axis.

16. The user-input device of claim 12, further comprising:

a communication subsystem communicatively coupled to a computing device and configured to;

send the posture of the user-actuatable trigger to the computing device; and

receive from the computing device the force-feedback signal.

17. The user-input device of claim 16, wherein the force-feedback signal is determined based at least on a parameter of the computing device to provide a dynamic change in the spring force.

18. The user-input device of claim 17, wherein the parameter of the computing device is user-adjustable.

19. The user-input device of claim 17, wherein the parameter of the computing device includes a parameter of a video game executed by the computing device.

20. A user-input device comprising:

a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis;

a rack gear;

a return spring operatively intermediate the user-actuatable trigger and the rack gear, the return spring configured to forward bias the user-actuatable trigger toward an extended posture;

a force-feedback motor configured to drive the rack gear based on a force-feedback signal and thereby adjust a spring force applied by the return spring to the user-actuatable trigger;

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

a communication subsystem communicatively coupled to a computing device and configured to;

send the posture of the user-actuatable trigger to the computing device; and

receive from the computing device the force-feedback signal, wherein the force-feedback signal is determined based at least on a parameter of the computing device to provide a dynamic change in the spring force.