Controller capable of changing volume based on linear motor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11439899-B2
Application number	US-202017104228-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 25, 2020
Priority date	Jun 30, 2020
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

Disclosed is a controller capable of changing volume. The controller according to the present invention includes a housing; a volume changing unit installed outside the housing and having one end and the other end movable with respect to the housing, respectively; a driving unit for moving at least one of one end and the other end of the volume changing unit; and a control unit for controlling the driving unit. According to the present invention, it is possible to improve a user's feeling of use and to enhance satisfaction and fun by variously changing the volume, shape, etc. of a controller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A controller capable of changing volume comprising:
a housing:
a first moving block and a second moving block installed inside the housing;
a volume changing unit comprising at least one flexible plate, wherein at least a part of the flexible plate is exposed to outside of the housing, and an upper end of the flexible plate is coupled to the first moving block and a lower end of the flexible plate is coupled to the second moving block;
a driving unit for moving the first moving block and the second moving block linearly; and
a processor configured to control the driving unit.

2. The controller capable of changing volume of claim 1 , wherein the volume changing unit comprises a plurality of flexible plates symmetrically arranged along a circumference of the housing.

3. The controller capable of changing volume of claim 1 , wherein the driving unit comprises a first driving unit and a second driving unit, and
wherein the first moving block is linearly moved by the first driving unit and the second moving block is linearly moved by the second driving unit.

4. The controller capable of changing volume of claim 1 , wherein the volume changing unit comprises a plurality of flexible plates,
the driving unit comprises a plurality of upper driving units connected to upper ends of the plurality of flexible plates, respectively, and a plurality of lower driving units connected to lower ends of the plurality of flexible plates, respectively, and
the processor is further configured to individually control shapes and positions of the plurality of flexible plates by independently controlling the plurality of upper driving units and the plurality of lower driving units.

5. The controller capable of changing volume of claim 1 , further comprising:
a motion sensor that detects movement of the controller,
wherein the processor is further configured to control the driving unit to operate the volume changing unit only when a detection value of the motion sensor satisfies a predetermined condition.

6. The controller capable of changing volume of claim 5 , further comprising:
a pressure sensor installed on the housing,
wherein the processor is further configured to switch a mode of the controller from a standby mode to a motion monitoring mode when a detection value of the pressure sensor is greater than a predetermined value, and determine whether the detection value of the motion sensor satisfies the predetermined condition only after switching the mode to the motion monitoring mode.

7. The controller capable of changing volume of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pressure sensor installed on the housing,
wherein the processor is further configured to control the driving unit to operate the volume changing unit only when a detection value of the pressure sensor satisfies a predetermined condition.

8. The controller capable of changing volume of claim 7 , wherein
the processor is further configured to adjust a gap between the first moving block and the second moving block, to a first distance when the detection value of the pressure sensor is within a predetermined value, and adjust the gap between the first moving block and the second moving block to a second distance different from the first distance when the detection value is greater than the predetermined value.

Assignees

• Univ Korea Ind Univ Coop Found

Inventors

• Choi Dong Soo
• Kim Tae Hoon
• Kim Sang Youn

Classifications

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title

• A63F13/211 Primary

  using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes · CPC title

• G06F3/0346

  with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a three-dimensional [3D] space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors · CPC title

• A63F13/24 Primary

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

• A63F13/218 Primary

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