Controller Having Lights Disposed Along a Loop of the Controller

• US 20180311571A1
• Filed: 07/03/2018
• Published: 11/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Huang, Ennin
• Granted Patent: US 10,709,968 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/497 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• 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 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0308 comprising a plurality of distinctive and separately oriented light emitters or reflectors associated to the pointing device, e.g. remote cursor controller with distinct and separately oriented LEDs at the tip whose radiations are captured by a photo-detector associated to the screen
• 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

Abstract

A controller for use in interfacing with a virtual reality system is provided. The controller having a body with a proximate end and a distal end, and the distal end is opposite the proximate end. A handgrip portion of the body is disposed at the proximate end of the body. An extension portion of the body is coupled at the distal end of the body. The extension portion has a loop shape. A plurality of lights is disposed on surfaces of the extension portion, such that lights illuminate on an inside of the loop shape and on an outside of the loop shape.

Claims

1. A controller for use in interfacing with a virtual reality system, comprising,

a body including a proximate end and a distal end, the distal end being opposite from the proximate end;

a handgrip portion of the body disposed at the proximate end of the body;

an extension portion of the body coupled at the distal end of the body, the extension portion having a loop shape; and

a plurality of lights disposed on surfaces of the extension portion, such that lights illuminate on an inside of the loop shape and on an outside of the loop shape.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein a plurality of buttons are integrated with the body between the handgrip portion and the extension portion.

3. The controller of claim 1, further comprising,

an inertial sensor disposed in the body, the inertial sensor configured for detecting motion of the controller.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lights is illuminate using one or more light emitting diodes disposed in the extension portion.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein a joystick is integrated in the body near the distal end, the joystick is configured to be reached by a thumb of a user'"'"'s hand when using the controller.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein a button and a joystick is integrated with the body near the distal end, the button and the joystick are configured to be reached and interfaced with by a finger of a user'"'"'s hand when the user'"'"'s hand is holding the controller by the handgrip.

7. The controller of claim 1, further comprising,

a communications module for exchanging data with a computing device, the data includes motion data detected by an inertial sensor disposed in the body of the controller.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lights are configured to be detected by a camera, the camera producing image data that is analyzed to determine changes in position of controller in 3D space, the changes in position of the controller being used to determine an input or inputs provided to an application.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the application is configured to produce virtual reality content that is provided to a head mounted display, and said input or inputs are configured to enable interactivity with the virtual reality content when the application is executed by a computing device for interfacing with the head mounted display.

10. The controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lights disposed on surfaces of the extension portion enable tracking of the controller by a camera that produces image data, the image data being analyzed to track one or more of the plurality of lights for detecting position, movement or orientation of the controller.

11. The controller of claim 10, further comprising,

an inertial sensor disposed in the body of the controller, the inertial sensor is configured to produce motion data used to additionally track the controller.

12. The controller of claim 1, further comprising,

an inertial sensor disposed in the body of the controller;

a plurality of buttons located proximate to the handgrip;

a communications circuit disposed in the body of the controller and in communication with the inertial sensor and the plurality of buttons.

13. The controller of claim 12, wherein the communication circuit is configured to communicate with a computer to provide the computer with data regarding movement from the inertial sensor and presses of one or more of said plurality of buttons.

14. The controller of claim 13, wherein the computer is coupled to a camera that is configured to capture the plurality of lights of the controller, the computer is further configured to provide virtual reality content to a head mounted display and use data from the controller to interact with the virtual reality content.

15. A controller for use in interfacing with a virtual reality system, comprising,

a body of the controller, including,

a handle portion of the body;

an extension portion extending from a top end of the handle, the extension portion having a loop shape; and

a plurality of lights disposed on surfaces of the extension portion, such that lights illuminate on an inside of the loop shape and on an outside of the loop shape.

16. The controller of claim 15, further comprising,

an inertial sensor disposed in the body of the controller;

a plurality of buttons located proximate to the handle;

a communications circuit disposed in the body of the controller and in communication with the inertial sensor and the plurality of buttons.

17. The controller of claim 16, wherein the communication circuit is configured to communicate with a computer to provide the computer with data regarding movement from the inertial sensor and presses of one or more of said plurality of buttons.

18. The controller of claim 17, wherein the computer is coupled to a camera that is configured to capture one or more of the plurality of lights of the controller, the computer is further configured to provide virtual reality content to a head mounted display and use data from the controller to interact with the virtual reality content.

19. The controller of claim 15, wherein a button and a joystick is integrated with the body, the button and the joystick are configured to be reached and interfaced with by a finger of a user'"'"'s hand when the user'"'"'s hand is holding the controller by the handle.

20. The controller of claim 15, wherein one or more of the plurality of lights are configured to be detected by a camera, the camera producing image data that is configured to be analyzed to determine changes in position of controller in 3D space, the changes in position of the controller being used to determine an input or inputs provided to an application executed to render a virtual reality scene on a head mounted display.