Input device with linear geared feedback trigger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10773159-B2
Application number	US-201715611666-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2017
Priority date	Jun 1, 2017
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

A user-input device includes a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis, a rack gear interfacing with the user-actuatable trigger, a force-feedback motor including a drive gear interfacing with the rack gear, and a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger about the trigger axis. The force-feedback motor is configured to drive the rack gear based on a force-feedback signal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A user-input device comprising:
a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis and including an externally-oriented finger-interface portion and an internally-oriented motor-interface portion that opposes the externally-oriented finger-interface portion;
a rack gear interfacing with the internally-oriented motor-interface portion of the user-actuatable trigger below the trigger axis; and
a force-feedback motor including a drive gear interfacing with the rack gear, the force-feedback motor configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger via the rack gear.

2. The user-input device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger about the trigger axis; and
a communication subsystem communicatively coupled to a computing device and configured to:
send the posture of the user-actuatable trigger to the computing device; and
receive from the computing device a force-feedback signal determined based on the posture, and wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger via the rack gear based on the force-feedback signal.

3. The user-input device of claim 1 , wherein the user-actuatable trigger interfaces with the rack gear via a guided connection that allows the user-actuatable trigger to move relative to the rack gear.

4. The user-input device of claim 3 , wherein the user-actuatable trigger and the rack gear collectively include a pin-in-slot mechanism that forms the guided connection.

5. The user-input device of claim 1 , wherein the rack gear directly physically connects to the internally oriented motor-interface portion of the user-actuatable trigger.

6. The user-input device of claim 5 , wherein the rack gear directly physically connects to the internally oriented motor-interface portion of the user-actuatable trigger behind the externally-oriented finger interface portion inside the user-input device.

7. The user-input device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a trigger return spring configured to forward bias the user-actuatable trigger toward an extended posture.

8. The user-input device of claim 7 , wherein the trigger return spring is operatively intermediate the user-actuatable trigger and the rack gear.

9. The user-input device of claim 7 , wherein the trigger return spring is operatively intermediate the user-actuatable trigger and a frame.

10. The user-input device of claim 1 , wherein the rack gear includes a plurality of gear teeth meshing with gear teeth of the drive gear, and wherein force-feedback motor activation causes drive gear rotation that laterally translates the rack gear and thereby adjusts the trigger.

11. A user-input device comprising:
a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis;
a rack gear interfacing with the user-actuatable trigger;
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 including a drive gear interfacing with the rack gear, the force-feedback motor configured to drive the rack gear based on the posture of the user-actuatable trigger determined by the posture sensor and the force applied to the user actuatable trigger determined by the force sensor.

12. The user-input device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a communication subsystem communicatively coupled to a computing device and configured to:
send the posture of the user-actuatable trigger to the computing device;
send the actuation force to the computing device; and
receive from the computing device a force-feedback signal determined based on the posture, the force, and a parameter of the computing device, and wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger via the rack gear based on the force-feedback signal.

13. The user-input device of claim 11 , wherein the user-actuatable trigger interfaces with the rack gear via a guided connection that allows the user-actuatable trigger to move relative to the rack gear.

14. The user-input device of claim 13 , wherein the user-actuatable trigger and the rack gear collectively include a pin-in-slot mechanism that forms the guided connection.

15. The user-input device of claim 11 , wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger to provide a hard stop at a designated posture within a pivot range of the user-actuatable trigger.

16. The user-input device of claim 11 , wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger to provide a user-perceived resistance.

17. The user-input device of claim 16 , wherein the force-feedback signal is determined based at least on a parameter of the computing device to dynamically change the user-perceived resistance.

18. The user-input device of claim 11 , wherein the force-feedback motor is configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger in an outward direction toward an extended posture based on the actuation force becoming less than a threshold force.

19. A user-input device comprising:
a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis and including an externally-oriented finger-interface portion and an internally-oriented motor-interface portion that opposes the externally-oriented finger-interface portion,
a rack gear guidedly connected with the internally-oriented motor-interface portion of the user-actuatable trigger below the trigger axis via a pin-in-slot mechanism collectively formed by the rack gear and the user-actuatable trigger that allows the user-actuatable trigger to move relative to the rack gear; and
a force-feedback motor including a drive gear interfacing with the rack gear, the force-feedback motor configured to drive the user-actuatable trigger via the rack gear.

20. The user-input device of claim 19 , wherein the rack gear directly physically connects to the internally-oriented motor-interface portion of the user-actuatable trigger behind the externally-oriented finger-interface portion inside the user-input device.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A63F13/24

  Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles · CPC title

• A63F13/285 Primary

  Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback · CPC title

• A63F2300/1037

  being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback · CPC title