Interconnectable handheld controllers

• US 9,839,840 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2015
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2015
• 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: Long, Clare Regimbal
• Primary Examiner(s): Skaarup, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/934,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20170128828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• 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

Abstract

A pair of interconnectable handheld controllers is disclosed. The pair of controllers includes a right-hand controller and a left-hand controller. The right-hand controller includes a right-hand handle portion, a surrounding right-hand ring portion, and a first connector disposed on the right-hand ring portion. The left-hand controller includes a left-hand handle portion, a surrounding left-hand ring portion, and a second connector disposed on the left-hand ring portion. The first connector and the second connector are cooperative to releasably attach the right-hand controller and the left-hand controller together. The first connector and the second connector can be magnets, cooperative hook and loop material, or a ball and socket arrangement.

Claims

1. A pair of handheld controllers, comprising:

a right-hand controller, including;

a right-hand handle portion;

a right-hand ring-shaped tracking frame extending from opposite sides of and surrounding the right-hand handle portion;

a plurality of right-hand light sources disposed on the right-hand tracking frame; and

a first connector disposed on the right-hand tracking frame; and

a left-hand controller, including;

a left-hand handle portion;

a left-hand ring-shaped tracking frame extending from opposite sides of and surrounding the left-hand handle portion;

a plurality of left-hand light sources disposed on the left-hand tracking frame; and

a second connector disposed on the left-hand tracking frame;

wherein the first connector and the second connector are cooperative to releasably attach the right-hand controller and the left-hand controller together.

2. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 1, wherein the first connector and the second connector are magnets.

3. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 1, wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is loop material, and the other of the first connector and the second connector is hook material.

4. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 1, wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is a ball, and the other of the first connector and the second connector is a socket configured to releasably receive the ball therein.

5. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 1, wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is a tee shaped member, and the other of the first connector and the second connector is a slotted receptacle configured to releasably receive the tee shaped member therein.

6. A pair of handheld controllers, comprising:

a right-hand controller, including;

a right-hand handle portion;

a surrounding right-hand ring portion extending from opposite sides of and surrounding the right-hand handle portion;

a plurality of right-hand light sources disposed on the surrounding right-hand ring portion; and

a first connector disposed on the surrounding right-hand ring portion; and

a left-hand controller, including;

a left-hand handle portion;

a surrounding left-hand ring portion extending from opposite sides of and surrounding the left-hand handle portion;

a plurality of left-hand light sources disposed on the surrounding left-hand ring portion; and

a second connector disposed on the surrounding left-hand ring portion;

wherein the first connector and the second connector are cooperative to releasably attach the right-hand controller and the left-hand controller together.

7. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 6, wherein the right-hand controller and the left-hand controller are substantially symmetric with respect to each other.

8. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 6, wherein the first connector and the second connector are magnets.

9. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 8, wherein at least one of the magnets is positioned substantially flush with an outer surface of one of the surrounding right-hand ring portion or the surrounding left-hand ring portion.

10. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 8, wherein the magnets include a first magnet positioned underneath a first outer surface of each of the surrounding right-hand ring portion and a second magnet positioned underneath a second outer surface of the surrounding left-hand ring portion.

11. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 6, wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is loop material, and the other of the first connector and the second connector is hook material.

12. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 6, wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is a ball, and the other of the first connector and the second connector is a socket configured to releasably receive the ball therein.

13. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 6, wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is a tee shaped member, and the other of the first connector and the second connector is a slotted receptacle configured to releasably receive the tee therein.

14. A pair of handheld controllers, comprising:

a first controller, including;

a first handle portion;

a first ring-shaped frame portion extending from opposite sides of and surrounding the first handle portion; and

a plurality of first light sources disposed on the first ring-shaped frame portion; and

a second controller, including;

a second handle portion;

a second ring-shaped frame portion extending from opposite sides of and surrounding the second handle portion; and

a plurality of second light sources disposed on the second ring-shaped frame portion;

wherein the second ring-shaped frame portion includes a gap formed in the second ring-shaped frame portion, whereby the first ring-shaped frame portion and the second ring-shaped frame portion can be linked together.

15. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 14, wherein the first ring-shaped frame portion includes a gap formed in the first ring-shaped frame portion, whereby the first ring-shaped frame portion and the second ring-shaped frame portion can be linked together.

16. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 14, wherein the first controller and the second controller are substantially symmetric with respect to each other.