Electronic controller with finger sensing and an adjustable hand retainer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10898796-B2
Application number	US-201916377058-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 5, 2019
Priority date	Oct 11, 2016
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A controller for an electronic system includes a tracking member fixed to a controller body. The controller body has a head that adjoins a handle at a neck region, and that includes at least one thumb-operated control. The controller includes a hand retainer that in a closed position is configured to physically bias the user's palm against an outer surface of the handle. The hand retainer includes a resilient member that biases the hand retainer towards an open position. The resilient member is attached to an anchor that is attached to the head by an adjustment mechanism that permits the resilient member to be moved towards or away from the user's purlicue. The tracking member includes transducers that are coupled to the electronic system by electromagnetic radiation. Proximity sensors, spatially distributed on the handle, are responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outer surface of the handle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A controller for an electronic system, for operation by a user having a hand with a palm, the controller comprising:
a controller body having a head and a handle, the head adjoining the handle at a neck region, the head including at least one thumb-operated control;
a tracking member that is fixed to the controller body; and
a hand retainer that in a closed position is configured to physically bias the palm against an outer surface of the handle, the hand retainer including a resilient member that is adjustably attached to the head by an adjustment mechanism that permits an end of the resilient member to be adjusted about a periphery of the head along an arcuate path.

2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member biases the hand retainer towards an open position.

3. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member is at least partially internal to the hand retainer.

4. The controller of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of tracking transducers disposed in the tracking member, the plurality of tracking transducers being coupled with the electronic system via electromagnetic radiation.

5. The controller of claim 1 , further comprising one or more tracking transducers disposed in the head.

6. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the hand further includes fingers, the controller further comprising an array of proximity sensors that are spatially distributed on the handle, the array of proximity sensors being responsive to a proximity of the fingers to the outer surface of the handle.

7. The controller of claim 6 , wherein the array of proximity sensors comprises a grid of proximity sensors that are embedded under the outer surface of the handle and are spatially distributed in a plurality of rows of proximity sensors.

8. A controller for an electronic system, for operation by a user having a hand with fingers and a palm, the controller comprising:
a controller body having a head and a handle, the head coupled to the handle at a neck region, the head including at least one thumb-operated control;
a hand retainer that in a closed position is configured to physically bias the palm against an outer surface of the handle, the hand retainer including a resilient member;
an adjustment mechanism that couples the resilient member to the head and permits an end of the resilient member to be adjusted about a periphery of the head along an arcuate path; and
an array of proximity sensors that are spatially distributed on the handle, the array of proximity sensors being responsive to a proximity of the fingers to the outer surface of the handle.

9. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the resilient member is curved and biases the hand retainer towards an open position.

10. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the hand retainer further includes a hand-retention strap that is adjustable in length by a second adjustment mechanism to transition the hand retainer from an open position to the closed position.

11. The controller of claim 10 , wherein the hand-retention strap includes a draw cord, wherein the second adjustment mechanism includes a cord lock disposed adjacent a distal end of the handle, the cord lock selectively preventing sliding motion by the draw cord at the cord lock.

12. The controller of claim 8 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a channel in the controller body that is disposed adjacent the neck region, the resilient member including a projection that extends into and can be moved within the channel.

13. The controller of claim 12 , wherein the channel is oriented so that movement of the projection within the channel adjusts the projection about the periphery of the head along the arcuate path.

14. The controller of claim 12 , wherein the projection is pivotably attached to the resilient member by a pivot joint.

15. A controller for an electronic system, for operation by a user having a hand with a palm, the controller comprising:
a controller body having a head and a handle, the head coupled to the handle at a neck region, the head including at least one thumb-operated control;
one or more tracking transducers disposed in the head;
a hand retainer that in a closed position is configured to physically bias the palm against an outer surface of the handle, the hand retainer including a resilient member; and
an adjustment mechanism that couples the resilient member of the hand retainer to the head and permits an end of the resilient member to be adjusted about a periphery of the head along an arcuate path.

16. The controller of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises an anchor that is movable about the periphery of the head along the arcuate path.

17. The controller of claim 16 , wherein the anchor is pivotably attached to the resilient member.

18. The controller of claim 16 , further comprising a lockable collar portion that is selectively lockable to prevent further movement of the anchor along the arcuate path.

19. The controller of claim 15 , further comprising a tracking member, a first end of the tracking member coupled to the head, and a second end of the tracking member coupled to the handle at a distal end of the handle.

20. The controller of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a channel in the controller body that is disposed adjacent the neck region, the resilient member including a projection that:
extends into and is movable within the channel; and
includes a cam that increases friction with an interior surface of the channel when the hand retainer is in the closed position.

Assignees

• Valve Corp

Inventors

• Hope Eric James
• Nietfeld Scott
• Conlee Carl
• Britt Scott Richard
• Mucha Jeffrey Walter
• Leinbaugh Jeffrey George
• Slocum Jeremy

Classifications

• A63F13/428

  involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes · CPC title

• A63F13/218 Primary

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

• A63F13/213

  comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A63F13/24 Primary

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

• G06F3/014

  Hand-worn input/output arrangements, e.g. data gloves · CPC title