HANDHELD CONTROLLER WITH HAND DETECTION SENSORS

• US 20170189798A1
• Filed: 06/02/2016
• Published: 07/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: META Platforms Technologies LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC (Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.))
• Inventors: Rogoza, Benjamin Elliott Tunberg, Talati, Sharvil Shailesh, Chen, Yi-yaun, Higgins, Jason Andrew, Johnson, Bradley Morris, Bristol, Peter Wesley, Webb, James Stocker
• Granted Patent: US 11,857,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/014 Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• 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 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A handheld controller configured to be held by a user'"'"'s hand. The handheld controller comprising a main body, and a handle extending from the main body, wherein the handle has a palm side and a finger side. A control button is positioned on the main body or handle, and a detection sensor is on the handle. The detection sensor is positioned to detect the presence of the finger or palm of a user'"'"'s hand engaging the handle. The detection sensor can be a capacitive touch sensor, a proximity sensor or other detection sensor operative to detect the touch or spatial presence of the user'"'"'s hand or fingers.

Claims

1. A handheld controller configured to be held by a user'"'"'s hand, comprising:

a main body;

a handle extending from the main body, wherein the handle has a palm side and a finger side;

a control button positioned on the main body or handle; and

a detection sensor on the handle and positioned to detect the presence of the finger or palm of a user'"'"'s hand engaging the handle.

2. The handheld controller of claim 1 wherein the detection sensor is on the finger side of the handle and positioned to detect a finger of the user'"'"'s hand holding the handle.

3. The handheld controller of claim 1 wherein the control button is on the handle, and the detection sensor is adjacent to the control button.

4. The handheld controller of claim 1 wherein the detection sensor is a capacitive touch sensor.

5. The handheld controller of claim 1 wherein the detection sensor is a proximity sensor.

6. The handheld controller of claim 1 wherein the detection sensor is a first detection sensor positioned to detect a first one of the user'"'"'s fingers relative to the handle, and further comprising a second detection sensor on the handle positioned to detect a second one of the user'"'"'s fingers relative to the handle.

7. The handheld controller of claim 1, further comprising a detection sensor connected to the third-finger button and configured to a presence of the user'"'"'s fingers relative to the third-finger button.

8. The handheld controller of claim 1 wherein the detection sensor is a capacitive touch sensor or a proximity sensor, and further comprising a pressure sensor on the handle.

9. The handheld controller of claim 1, further comprising a second detection sensor on the main body.

10. A handheld controller, comprising:

a main body having a thumb surface;

a thumbstick extending from the thumb surface;

a surrounding ring portion extending from the main body;

a handle extending from the main body, wherein the handle has a palm side and a finger side;

a trigger button positioned on the main body or handle;

a third-finger button positioned on the finger side of the handle; and

a detection sensor on the handle and positioned to detect the presence of the finger or palm of a user'"'"'s hand engaging the handle and operative to output a signal corresponding to a presence of the user'"'"'s hand relative to the handle.

11. The handheld controller of claim 10 wherein the detection sensor is a capacitive touch sensor.

12. The handheld controller of claim 10 wherein the detection sensor is a proximity sensor.

13. The handheld controller of claim 10 wherein the detection sensor is adjacent to the third finger button.

14. The handheld controller of claim 10 wherein the detection sensor is on the finger side of the handle.

15. The handheld controller of claim 10 wherein the detection sensor is a first detection sensor positioned to detect a first one of the user'"'"'s fingers relative to the handle, and further comprising a second detection sensor on the handle positioned to detect a second one of the user'"'"'s fingers relative to the handle.

16. The handheld controller of claim 10 wherein the detection sensor is a capacitive touch sensor or a proximity sensor, and further comprising a pressure sensor on the handle.

17. The handheld controller of claim 10, further comprising a second detection sensor on the main body.

18. A handheld controller, comprising:

a main body;

a handle extending from the main body, wherein the handle has a palm side and a finger side;

a trigger button positioned on the main body or handle;

a first detection sensor on the finger side of the handle and positioned to detect the presence of a first one of the user'"'"'s fingers relative to the handle;

a second detection sensor on the finger side of the handle adjacent to the first detection sensor and positioned to detect the presence of a second one of the user'"'"'s fingers relative to the handle; and

a third detection sensor on the handle and positioned to detect the presence of a a portion of the user'"'"'s hand relative to the handle.

19. The handheld controller of claim 18, wherein the first detection sensor is a proximity sensor.

20. The handheld controller of claim 18, further comprising a detection sensor on the main body and positioned to detect the presence of the user'"'"'s thumb relative to the main body.