Calibration bias control in user input devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11058944-B2
Application number	US-202016735941-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2020
Priority date	Oct 25, 2017
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

User input devices, such as gaming controllers, are provided herein. In one example, a system includes a movement calibration system configured to determine qualification zones that qualify peak excursions in movement data associated with manipulation of a control mechanism in one or more axes. The movement calibration system is configured to establish updates to the qualification zones based on changes in the movement data, where the updates bias drift of the qualification zones outward in the one or more axes. The movement calibration system is configured to determine calibrated movement data based at least on the updates to the qualification zones. The calibrated movement data can be provided for use in controlling one or more user interface elements with the control mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a movement calibration system configured to determine qualification zones that qualify peak excursions in movement data associated with manipulation of a control mechanism in one or more axes;
the movement calibration system configured to establish updates to the qualification zones based on changes in the movement data, wherein the updates bias drift of the qualification zones outward in the one or more axes;
the movement calibration system configured to determine calibrated movement data based at least on the updates to the qualification zones; and
a communication interface configured to provide the calibrated movement data for use in controlling one or more user interface elements with the control mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the movement calibration system is further configured to:
monitor transit events in the qualification zones indicated by the movement data to maintain peak hold values in the one or more axes and resultant values of at least an averaging function applied to each of the qualification zones; and
establish the updates to the qualification zones based at least on performing comparisons among the peak hold values and the resultant values.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the peak hold values for the qualification zones are updated in accordance with the peak excursions in associated qualification zones based on the peak excursions exceeding current peak hold values for the associated qualification zones; and
wherein the peak hold values are reduced by a predetermined amount based on the peak excursions in the associated qualification zones falling below the current peak hold values for the associated qualification zones.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the resultant values of the qualification zones comprise mean values among movement events in the qualification zones along a corresponding axis of the qualification zones.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the movement calibration system is further configured to:
perform the comparisons by at least determining outermost values in the one or more axes among the peak hold values and the resultant values for each of the qualification zones; and
establish the updates by at least positioning the qualification zones based on associated ones of the outermost values.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein positioning the qualification zones comprises centering the qualification zones on the associated ones of the outermost values.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the movement calibration system is further configured to:
further establish the updates by at least updating on-axis sizing of the qualification zones based on the associated ones of the outermost values, wherein the on-axis sizing of outward-facing sides of the qualification zones are determined according to a predetermined amount beyond the associated ones of the outermost values, and wherein the on-axis sizing of inward-facing sides of the qualification zones are determined to ensure the resultant values are included in the qualification zones.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the movement calibration system is further configured to:
qualify the peak excursions of the control mechanism by at least monitoring transits of the control mechanism indicated by the movement data that occur within the qualification zones and determining transit extremes with respect to the one or more axes occurring in the qualification zones.

9. A method comprising:
determining qualification zones that qualify peak excursions in movement data associated with manipulation of a control mechanism in one or more axes;
establishing updates to the qualification zones based on changes in the movement data, wherein the updates bias drift of the qualification zones outward in the one or more axes;
determining calibrated movement data based at least on the updates to the qualification zones; and
providing the calibrated movement data for use in controlling one or more user interface elements with the control mechanism.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
monitoring transit events in the qualification zones indicated by the movement data to maintain peak hold values in the one or more axes and resultant values of at least an averaging function applied to each of the qualification zones; and
establishing the updates to the qualification zones based at least on performing comparisons among the peak hold values and the resultant values.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
updating the peak hold values for the qualification zones to in accordance with the peak excursions in associated qualification zones based on the peak excursions exceeding current peak hold values for the associated qualification zones; and
reducing the peak hold values by a predetermined amount based on the peak excursions in the associated qualification zones falling below the current peak hold values for the associated qualification zones.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the resultant values of the qualification zones comprise mean values among movement events in the qualification zones along a corresponding axis of the qualification zones.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
performing the comparisons by at least determining outermost values in the one or more axes among the peak hold values and the resultant values for each of the qualification zones; and
establishing the updates by at least positioning the qualification zones based on associated ones of the outermost values.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein positioning the qualification zones comprises centering the qualification zones on the associated ones of the outermost values.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
further establishing the updates by at least updating on-axis sizing of the qualification zones based on the associated ones of the outermost values, wherein the on-axis sizing of outward-facing sides of the qualification zones are determined according to a predetermined amount beyond the associated ones of the outermost values, and wherein the on-axis sizing of inward-facing sides of the qualification zones are determined to ensure the resultant values are included in the qualification zones.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
qualifying the peak excursions of the control mechanism by at least monitoring transits of the control mechanism indicated by the movement data that occur within the qualification zones and determining transit extremes with respect to the one or more axes occurring in the qualification zones.

17. A calibration apparatus, comprising:
one or more computer readable storage media;
a processing system operatively coupled with the one or more computer readable storage media; and
program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media that, based on being read and executed by the processing system, direct the processing system to at least:
determine qualification zones that qualify peak excursions in movement data associated with manipulation of a control mechanism in one or more axes;
establish updates to the qualification zones based on changes in the movement data, wherein the updates bias drift of the qualification zones outward in the one or more axes;
determine calibrated movement data based at least on the updates to the qualification zones; and
provide the calibrated movement data for use in controlling one or more user interface elements with the control mechanism.

18. The calibration apparatus of claim 1

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Nelson Ross Anthony
• Schmitz Aaron
• Mcclive Curtis F

Classifications

• A63F13/22 Primary

  Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment · 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

• A63F13/42

  by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle · CPC title

• G06F3/0383

  Signal control means within the pointing device · CPC title

• 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