ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER WITH A HAND RETAINER, OUTER SHELL, AND FINGER SENSING

• US 20180104576A1
• Filed: 12/07/2017
• Published: 04/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valve Corporation
• Original Assignee: Valve Corporation
• Inventors: HOPE, ERIC JAMES, NIETFELD, SCOTT, CONLEE, CARL, BRITT, SCOTT RICHARD, MUCHA, JEFFREY WALTER, LEINBAUGH, JEFFREY GEORGE, SLOCUM, JEREMY
• Granted Patent: US 10,549,183 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes

Abstract

A controller for an electronic system includes a controller body having a head and a handle, and a tracking member that is fixed to the controller body. The head includes at least one thumb-operated control, and the handle has a tubular housing that is partially wrapped by an outer shell. The controller includes a hand retainer configured to physically bias the user'"'"'s palm against the outer shell. A first plurality of tracking transducers is disposed in the tracking member, the first plurality of tracking sensors being coupled with the electronic system via electromagnetic radiation. An array of proximity sensors is spatially distributed on the outer shell, the array of proximity sensors being responsive to a proximity of the user'"'"'s fingers to the outer shell.

Claims

1. A controller for an electronic system, for operation by a user having a hand with a thumb, fingers, and a palm, the controller comprising:

a controller body having a head and a handle, the head including at least one thumb-operated control, and the handle having a tubular housing that is partially wrapped by an outer shell;

a tracking member that is fixed to the controller body;

a hand retainer configured to physically bias the user'"'"'s palm against the outer shell;

a first plurality of tracking transducers disposed in the tracking member, the first plurality of tracking transducers being coupled with the electronic system via electromagnetic radiation; and

an array of proximity sensors that are spatially distributed on the outer shell, the array of proximity sensors being responsive to a proximity of the user'"'"'s fingers to the outer shell.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of tracking transducers comprises a plurality of tracking sensors that are responsive to electromagnetic radiation that is emitted by the electronic system.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein the plurality of tracking sensors are infrared light sensors that are responsive to pulsed infrared light emitted by the electronic system.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein each of the infrared light sensors is covered by infrared-transmissive polycarbonate plastic.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of tracking transducers comprises a plurality of tracking beacons that emit electromagnetic radiation for reception by the electronic system.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the tracking member is a tracking arc having an arcuate shape.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the tracking member is fixed to the controller body by being joined to the controller body at two locations, and the hand retainer biases the user'"'"'s palm against the outer shell between the two locations.

8. The controller of claim 7, wherein the hand retainer comprises a hand-retention strap that is disposed between the handle and the tracking member.

9. The controller of claim 7, wherein the hand retainer comprises a hand-retention strap that is adjustable in length and is configured to contact a back of the user'"'"'s hand.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein the hand-retention strap includes an internal curved resilient member.

11. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a second plurality of tracking transducers disposed in the controller body, the second plurality of tracking transducers including at least one distal tracking transducer that is disposed adjacent a distal end of the head.

12. The controller of claim 1, wherein the tracking member includes two noses, each protruding from a corresponding one of two opposing distal ends of the tracking member, each nose including at least one of the first plurality of tracking transducers.

13. The controller of claim 1, wherein the array of proximity sensors is a plurality of capacitive sensors that are attached to an inner surface of the outer shell.

14. The controller of claim 13, wherein the plurality of capacitive sensors are disposed on a flex circuit, the flex circuit being attached to an inner surface of the outer shell.

15. The controller of claim 1, wherein the outer shell angularly spans at least 100 degrees but not more than 170 degrees of the full circumference of the tubular housing of the handle.

16. The controller of claim 1, wherein the outer shell includes a first electrical connector portion, and the tubular housing of the handle includes a second electrical connector portion, and the first and second electrical connector portions are mating and connectable.

17. The controller of claim 16, further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted within the tubular housing of the handle, the second electrical connector portion being electrically coupled to the PCB.

18. The controller of claim 17, wherein the PCB includes a force sensing resistor (FSR), and the controller further comprises a plunger that conveys a compressive force applied to the outside of the tubular housing of the handle inward to the FSR.

19. The controller of claim 1, wherein the tubular housing of the handle is split longitudinally by a seam, and the outer shell spans the seam.

20. The controller of claim 1, wherein the outer shell has a shell thickness, and the tubular housing has a housing wall thickness, and the shell thickness is less than one-third of the housing wall thickness.

21. A controller for an electronic system, for operation by a user having a hand with a thumb, fingers, and a palm, the controller comprising:

a controller body having a head and a handle, the head including at least one thumb-operated control;

a tracking member that is fixed to the controller body;

a hand retainer configured to physically bias the user'"'"'s palm against an outer surface of the handle;

a first plurality of tracking transducers disposed in the tracking member, the first plurality of tracking transducers being coupled with the electronic system via electromagnetic radiation; and

an array of proximity sensors that are spatially distributed on the handle, the array of proximity sensors being responsive to a proximity of the user'"'"'s fingers to the outer surface of the handle.