Input device with force sensor feedback trigger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10737172-B2
Application number	US-201715611591-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2017
Priority date	Jun 1, 2017
Publication date	Aug 11, 2020
Grant date	Aug 11, 2020

Abstract

A user-input device includes a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis, a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger about the trigger axis, a force sensor configured to determine an actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger, and a force-feedback motor operatively coupled to the user-actuatable trigger. The force-feedback motor is configured to activate based on a force-feedback signal and adjust a user-perceived state of the user-actuatable trigger.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A user-input device comprising:
a user-actuatable trigger;
a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger;
a force sensor configured to determine a magnitude of an actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger; and
a force-feedback motor operatively coupled to the user-actuatable trigger and configured to adjust a user-perceived state of the user-actuatable trigger based on at least the determined posture of the user-actuatable trigger and the determined magnitude of the actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger.

2. The user-input device of claim 1 , wherein the user-actuatable trigger includes a finger-interface portion and a motor-interface portion, and wherein the force sensor is operatively intermediate the finger-interface portion and the motor-interface portion, and wherein the magnitude of the actuation force that the force sensor is configured to determine is a magnitude of a finger actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger via finger manipulation.

3. The user-input device of claim 1 , wherein the force sensor includes a pair of capacitive plates configured to determine the magnitude of the actuation force based on a capacitance between the pair of capacitive plates.

4. The user-input device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a touch sensor configured to detect a finger touch on the user-actuatable trigger, wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to adjust the user-perceived state of the user-actuatable trigger based at least on the detected finger touch.

5. The user-input device of claim 1 , wherein the force sensor includes a torque gauge operatively intermediate the force-feedback motor and the user-actuatable trigger.

6. The user-input device of claim 1 , wherein the force sensor includes a current monitoring device configured to determine the magnitude of the actuation force based on a motor current of the force-feedback motor.

7. The user-input device of claim 1 , wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger in a forward direction toward an extended posture based on the magnitude of the actuation force becoming less than a threshold force.

8. The user-input device of claim 1 , wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger to provide a user-perceived resistance based on the determined posture of the user-actuatable trigger and the determined magnitude of the actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger.

9. The user-input device of claim 8 , wherein the user-perceived resistance includes a hard stop at a designated posture within a pivot range of the user-actuatable trigger.

10. The user-input device of claim 8 , wherein the user-perceived resistance is configured to change according to a resistance profile for a pivot range of the user-actuatable trigger.

11. The user-input device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a communication subsystem communicatively coupled to a computing device, and wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to adjust the user-perceived state of the user-actuatable trigger based at least on a parameter of the computing device.

12. A user-input device comprising:
a user-actuatable trigger;
a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger;
a force sensor configured to determine a magnitude of an actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger;
a communication subsystem communicatively coupled to a computing device and configured to:
send the determined posture of the user-actuatable trigger to the computing device;
send the determined magnitude of the actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger to the computing device;
receive from the computing device a force feedback signal determined based at least on the determined posture of the user-actuatable trigger and the determined magnitude of the actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger; and

a force-feedback motor operatively coupled to the user-actuatable trigger and configured to adjust a user-perceived resistance of the user-actuatable trigger based on at least the force feedback signal and a resistance profile.

13. The user-input device of claim 12 , wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger in a forward direction toward an extended posture based on the magnitude of the actuation force becoming less than a threshold magnitude.

14. The user-input device of claim 12 , wherein the user-perceived resistance includes a hard stop designated by the resistance profile.

15. The user-input device of claim 12 , wherein the force-feedback signal is determined based at least on a parameter of the computing device to dynamically change the user-perceived resistance.

16. The user-input device of claim 15 , wherein the parameter of the computing device is user-adjustable.

17. The user-input device of claim 15 , wherein the parameter of the computing device includes a parameter of a video game executed by the computing device.

18. A user-input device comprising:
a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis, the user-actuatable trigger including a finger-interface portion and a motor-interface portion;
a force sensor operatively intermediate the finger-interface portion and the motor-interface portion and configured to determine a magnitude of an actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger;
a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger; and
a force-feedback motor operatively coupled to the user-actuatable trigger and configured to adjust a user-perceived state of the user-actuatable trigger based at least on the determined posture of the user-actuatable trigger and the determined magnitude of the actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Schmitz Aaron
• Gassoway Gabriel Michael Rask
• Robinson Jonathan Shea

Classifications

• A63F13/214

  for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads · CPC title

• A63F13/218

  using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player · CPC title

• G06F3/0354

  with detection of two-dimensional [2D] relative movements between the device, or an operating part thereof, and a plane or surface, e.g. 2D mice, trackballs, pens or pucks · CPC title

• G06F3/0362

  with detection of one-dimensional [1D] translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts · CPC title

• G06F3/0338

  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 title