Multi-stage variable resistance trigger

• US 8,894,491 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Grant, Anthony John, Strowe, Gary, Rubio, Vasco, Tennison, Glen E., Evans, Eph John
• Primary Examiner(s): PIERCE, DAMON JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US13/315,734
• Publication Number:
  US 20130147610A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/39, 124/31, 124/38
• US Class Current: 463/39
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons

Abstract

A multi-stage variable resistance triggers includes an input device comprising a communicative output configured to send control information to a computing device for controlling the computing device. The input device further comprises a multi-stage variable resistance trigger assembly configured to provide a first trigger resistance sub-profile throughout a first stage of a trigger pull and a second trigger resistance sub-profile throughout a second stage of the trigger pull.

Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a communicative output configured to wirelessly send control information to a computing device for controlling the computing device;

a communicative input configured to receive trigger resistance information from the computing device; and

a multi-stage variable resistance trigger assembly configured to provide a first trigger resistance sub-profile throughout a first stage of a trigger pull and a second trigger resistance sub-profile throughout a second stage of the trigger pull, the first trigger resistance sub-profile being different from the second trigger resistance sub-profile and each trigger resistance sub-profile being specified by the trigger resistance information received from the computing device, the multi-stage variable resistance trigger assembly including a first subassembly providing a first subassembly resistance profile and a second subassembly providing a second subassembly resistance profile, the first trigger resistance sub-profile being changeable to the second trigger resistance sub-profile responsive to trigger resistance information received from the computing device by selecting a different one or combination of the first subassembly and the second subassembly to provide trigger resistance.

2. An input device comprising:

a communicative output configured to wirelessly send control information to a computing device for controlling the computing device;

a communicative input configured to receive trigger resistance information from the computing device; and

a multi-stage variable resistance trigger assembly comprising a first subassembly providing a first subassembly resistance profile and a second subassembly providing a second subassembly resistance profile, the multi-stage variable resistance trigger assembly configured to provide a first trigger resistance sub-profile throughout a first stage of a trigger pull including resistance provided by at least the first subassembly and a second trigger resistance sub-profile throughout a second stage of the trigger pull including resistance provided by at least the second subassembly, the first trigger resistance sub-profile being different than the second trigger resistance sub-profile and each trigger resistance sub-profile being specified by the trigger resistance information received from the computing device.

3. The input device of claim 2, wherein the first trigger resistance sub-profile includes both the first subassembly resistance profile and the second subassembly resistance profile, and wherein the second trigger resistance sub-profile includes the second subassembly resistance profile without the first subassembly resistance profile.

4. The input device of claim 3, wherein the first subassembly includes a magnet, and wherein the second subassembly includes a trigger spring.

5. The input device of claim 3, wherein the first subassembly includes a load cog, and wherein the second subassembly includes a torsion spring.

6. The input device of claim 2, wherein the first trigger resistance sub-profile includes the first subassembly resistance profile without the second subassembly resistance profile, and wherein the second trigger resistance sub-profile includes both the first subassembly resistance profile and the second subassembly resistance profile.

7. The input device of claim 6, wherein the first subassembly comprises a trigger spring, and wherein the second subassembly comprises a flat spring.

8. The input device of claim 2, wherein the variable resistance trigger assembly includes a resistance selection mechanism to adjust one or more of the first trigger resistance sub-profile and the second trigger resistance sub-profile.

9. The input device of claim 8, wherein the resistance selection mechanism includes an electrically-actuatable device.

10. The input device of claim 9, wherein the electrically-actuatable device includes a motor.

11. The input device of claim 9, wherein the electrically-actuatable device includes a solenoid.

12. The input device of claim 8, wherein the resistance selection mechanism includes a user-actuatable device.

13. The input device of claim 12, wherein the user-actuatable device is a rotatable knob.

14. The input device of claim 2, wherein a transition between the first trigger resistance sub-profile and the second resistance sub-profile is substantially discontinuous.

15. The input device of claim 2, wherein the trigger resistance information is consistent during a single use of the computing device.

16. The input device of claim 2, wherein the trigger resistance information varies throughout a single use of the computing device.

17. The input device of claim 2, wherein the multi-stage variable resistance trigger assembly includes an electrically-actuatable device configured to provide both the first resistance sub-profile and the second resistance sub-profile.

18. An input device comprising:

a communicative output configured to wirelessly send control information to a computing device for controlling the computing device;

a multi-stage variable resistance trigger assembly changeable between a first configuration and a second configuration;

the first configuration providing a first trigger resistance sub-profile throughout a first stage of a trigger pull and a second trigger resistance sub-profile throughout a second stage of the trigger pull, the first trigger resistance sub-profile being different than the second trigger resistance sub-profile and the trigger pull being performed by actuation of a trigger;

the second configuration providing a third trigger resistance sub-profile throughout the first stage of the trigger pull and a fourth trigger resistance sub-profile throughout the second stage of the trigger pull, the third trigger resistance sub-profile being different than the fourth trigger resistance sub-profile; and

a communicative input configured to receive trigger resistance information from the computing device, the trigger resistance information configured to select the first configuration or the second configuration by selectively changing the multi-stage variable resistance trigger assembly between the first configuration and the second configuration, each of the first configuration and the second configuration providing multi-stage resistance to the trigger via one or more different subassemblies or different combinations of subassemblies.