Controller band and battery door for VR head mounted device

Abstract

A lanyard for holding a controller of a head-mounted device is provided. The lanyard includes a strap anchored on a top of a cover of a battery compartment of the controller, and a clip anchored to a cotter pin in a bottom of the cover of the battery compartment of the controller. The strap includes a stretchable fabric and a plurality of adhesive pads on an outer surface that adhere to the stretchable fabric when the strap is looped around the clip. The invention further provides a head-mounted device using the controller comprising the hanging rope and the controller.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to accessories for virtual reality (VR) head-mounted devices (headsets). More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a strap that securely attaches a hand controller to a user for high-mobility immersive applications (e.g., gaming applications, sports applications, or fitness applications). Background Art

[0002] Current applications of VR headsets lack suitable straps for controllers and accessories that can be used in high-mobility immersive applications, where proper fixation to the user's hands and head is critical. In some cases, sturdy straps and lanyards can be added temporarily, but ultimately hinder complex input mechanisms (finger buttons and other controls) and actually block or hinder the user interface of the accessory. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to a first aspect, a lanyard for holding a controller is provided, the lanyard comprising: a strap anchored on the top of a cover of a battery compartment of the controller; and a clip anchored to a cotter pin in the bottom of the cover of the battery compartment of the controller, wherein: the strap comprises a stretchable fabric and a plurality of adhesive pads on an outer surface, the plurality of adhesive pads adhering to the stretchable fabric when the strap is looped around the clip.

[0004] The lanyard may include an end permanently secured to the interior of a cover of the battery compartment.

[0005] The stretchable fabric may include a webbing fabric including a plurality of integrated loops. The plurality of adhesive pads may include polyester fibers hooked within the plurality of integrated loops to securely attach the controller to the user's hand.

[0006] The strap may include an end formed with a hardened edge. A cotter pin may be actuated through the hardened edge to open the lid of the battery compartment.

[0007] The stretchable fabric may include an elastic material including nylon fibers.

[0008] The strap may be configured to secure the controller to the user's hand, allowing the user to freely activate one or more buttons in the controller without otherwise holding the controller.

[0009] According to a second aspect, a controller for a head-mounted device is provided, the controller comprising: a handle portion configured to be grasped by a hand of a user of the head-mounted device; one or more buttons actuated by one or more fingers of the hand of the user of the head-mounted device; a battery box enclosed by a cover in the handle portion; and a lanyard according to the first aspect, the lanyard configured to secure the controller to the hand of the user of the head-mounted device.

[0010] The controller may also include a communication module, a memory storing multiple instructions, and a processor configured to execute the multiple instructions to communicate with an immersive application running in the head-mounted device and provide trigger actions from the one or more buttons when the one or more buttons are actuated by a finger of a user of the head-mounted device.

[0011] The lanyard may secure the controller to the hand of the head mounted device user while the head mounted device user moves in accordance with a fitness application running in the head mounted device and / or may communicate with the fitness application via the one or more buttons.

[0012] According to a third aspect, there is provided a device for virtual reality applications, the device comprising: a head mounted device, the head mounted device comprising a display, the display being configured to provide an immersive reality environment to a user; a left hand controller and a right hand controller, the left hand controller and the right hand controller each comprising: a handle portion, the handle portion being configured to be grasped by a hand of a user of the head mounted device; one or more buttons, the one or more buttons being actuated by one or more fingers of the hand of the user of the head mounted device; a battery box, the battery box being closed by a cover in the handle portion; and a lanyard according to the first aspect, the lanyard securing the left hand controller and / or the right hand controller to the hand of the user of the head mounted device. A single lanyard may be provided for both the left hand controller and the right hand controller. Alternatively, two such lanyards may be provided, one for the left hand controller and the other for the right hand controller.

[0013] The strap can be configured to secure the left-hand controller or the right-hand controller to the user's hand, so that the user can freely activate one or more buttons in the left-hand controller or the right-hand controller without having to additionally hold the left-hand controller or the right-hand controller.

[0014] The immersive reality environment may include a fitness application. When the head mounted device user moves according to the fitness application, the lanyard may secure the left hand controller or the right hand controller to the hand of the head mounted device user.

[0015] The following disclosure will describe these and other embodiments with respect to the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 An architecture is shown having a VR headset including controllers strapped to a user's hands and paired with a mobile device and a remote server via a network.

[0017] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Different perspective views of a controller are shown, the controller including a lanyard for strapping to a user's hand.

[0018] Figure 3 Shown is a push pin for opening the battery cover using the hardened end of the lanyard in the hand controller.

[0019] Figure 4 A plurality of controllers for VR applications including lanyards for securely strapping to a user's hand are shown.

[0020] In the drawings, elements and steps having the same or similar reference numerals are associated with the same or similar attributes and descriptions unless explicitly stated otherwise. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Users who vigorously move their hands and arms while playing fitness games in VR often lose their grip on their controllers and injure themselves in the process. Embodiments disclosed herein address the above-mentioned problem by providing a comfortable and secure strap for hand controllers in a VR headset that allows seamless operation of input using the user's fingers. Thus, the user can free their hands and fingers from having to grasp the controller, thereby enhancing the user's immersive experience.

[0022] In some embodiments, the lanyard designed for fitness includes a hand controller strap that is connected to the top of the cover of the battery housing and to an anchor at the bottom of the battery door. The strap forms a loop around the metal clip and is attached to the outside of the metal clip by interlocking the fibers that make up the strap fabric. The fabric includes loops that allow stretching and comfortable air circulation, thereby providing ergonomically pleasant and practical functions. Simply press the sticky pad on one side of the strap to the outside to lock the strap around the user's hand, and simply peel the strap from itself to pull it out from the hardened end and separate. The stretchable fabric of the lanyard can include sweat-proof material (e.g., nylon). When the strap is put in place (e.g., with an adjustable length), it locks the controller in the user's hand. In some embodiments, a button mechanism at the bottom of the cover of the battery housing locks the battery and holds the clip to wrap the strap around the bottom portion of the lanyard. The hardened end of the strap (e.g., made of plastic) is used to press the button and release the cover to access the battery compartment. In some embodiments, a lanyard accessory may be included in a controller of a head mounted device for an immersive fitness application.

[0023] Materials used in the lanyard (including the strap, clip, buttons, hardened end of the controller handle, and cover of the battery compartment) can be selected to resist cracking caused by chemical or radiation exposure (e.g., UV rays from sunlight).

[0024] Figure 1 An architecture 50 with a VR head mounted device 10 is shown, according to some embodiments, the VR head mounted device 10 including controllers 100R and 100L (right-handed and left-handed, collectively referred to as "controllers 100"), which are strapped to the hands of a user 11 and paired with a mobile device 110 and a remote server 130 via a network 150. The VR head mounted device 10 may include a memory circuit 120 storing a plurality of instructions and a processor circuit 112 configured to execute the plurality of instructions to cause the VR head mounted device 10 to perform a plurality of operations as disclosed herein. For example, some of the plurality of operations may include providing an immersive view of a fitness application or a virtual game to the user 11 in the display 15, wherein the user 11 performs fast movements and triggers actions through the controller 100. According to the embodiments disclosed herein, the controller 100 is securely strapped to the hands of the user 11, thereby enabling the user to focus on activities triggered by the immersive application running in the VR head mounted device 10. The communication module 118 may include circuits, software, and firmware (e.g., RF hardware (e.g., antenna), radio, digital circuit processing, digital-to-analog converters, analog-to-digital converters, and phase-locked loops, etc.) that are configured to enable the head-mounted device to communicate wirelessly or otherwise with the mobile device 110 and the network 150.

[0025] The above application can be partially obtained via the mobile device 110 and remotely hosted by the server 130. A first data set 103-1 can be transmitted between the controller 100, the VR head mounted device 10, and the mobile device 110. A second data set 103-2 can be transmitted between the mobile device 110 and the network 150, and a third data set 103-3 can be transmitted between the server 130 and the database 152. Data sets 103-1, 103-2, and 103-3 will be collectively referred to as "data sets 103" hereinafter.

[0026] Figure 2A and Figure 2B Different stereoscopic views of a controller 200 according to some embodiments are shown, the controller including a lanyard 201 for tying to a user's hand. The controller 200 includes a handle portion 210 configured to be grasped by a hand of a head-mounted device user, and a three-dimensional (3D) tracking ring 215. The handle portion 210 may include one or more buttons 222-1 and a trigger button 222-2 (hereinafter collectively referred to as "trigger buttons 222"), which are actuated by one or more fingers of a hand of a head-mounted device user. The handle portion 210 also includes a battery compartment enclosed by a cover 235.

[0027] The lanyard 201 secures the controller 200 to the hand of the head mounted device user. The lanyard 201 includes a strap 211 anchored at the top of the cover 235; and a clip 213 anchored at a split pin 217 located in the bottom of the cover 235. In some embodiments, the strap 211 is made of a stretchable fabric 221 and a plurality of adhesive pads 227-1, 227-2, 227-3, 227-4, 227-5, and 227-6 (hereinafter collectively referred to as "adhesive pads 227") located on the outer surface, and when the strap 211 is looped around the clip 213, the plurality of adhesive pads adhere to the stretchable fabric 221.

[0028] The controller 200 also includes a communication module 218, a memory 220 storing a plurality of instructions, and a processor 212 executing the plurality of instructions. When the button 222 is actuated by a finger of a head mounted device user, the communication module 218 provides a trigger action from the button 222 to an immersive application running in the head mounted device. The lanyard 201 fixes the controller 200 to the hand of the head mounted device user, and the head mounted device user moves according to the fitness application running in the head mounted device and communicates with the fitness application through one or more buttons 222. The stretchable fabric 221 includes a ribbon fabric with a plurality of integrated loops, and the adhesive pad 227 includes a polyester fiber hooked in the integrated loop to firmly attach the controller 200 to the user's hand. In some embodiments, the stretchable fabric 221 includes an elastic material including nylon fibers.

[0029] In some embodiments, the strap 211 includes an end 251 formed with a hardened edge, and wherein the hardened edge is used to actuate the cotter pin 217 to open the battery compartment cover 235. In some embodiments, the strap 211 is configured to secure the controller 200 to the user's hand so that the user can freely activate the button 222 in the controller 200 without having to hold the controller 200 separately.

[0030] Figure 3 A push pin 317 is shown for opening the cover 335 of the battery compartment 337 using the hardened end of the tip 351 in the hand controller 300 according to some embodiments. The lanyard 301 ties the handle portion 310 to the hand of the user of the controller 300. The user presses the tip 351 onto the cotter pin 317, which releases the cover 335. The housing 319 includes a spring-loaded mechanism that holds the cotter pin 317 in a locked configuration of the cover 335. In some embodiments, the housing 319 and the strap on the clip 313 are formed as one metal piece.

[0031] Figure 4 A plurality of controllers 400-1, 400-2, and 400-3 (hereinafter collectively referred to as "controllers 400") including lanyards 401-1, 401-2, and 401-3 (hereinafter collectively referred to as "lanyards 401") for securely strapping to a user's hand are shown for use in VR applications according to some embodiments. Controllers 400 may include simulated toys such as a bow 400-1 (e.g., for bow hunting or combat VR applications), a toy gun 400-2 (e.g., for zombie apocalypse game applications), or a tennis racket 400-3 (e.g., for tennis applications). VR applications may be run in a VR headset 40. In some embodiments, the VR headset 40 may also be securely attached to the user's head with a strap 411, wherein the strap 411 is looped around a clip 413-4, as disclosed herein.

[0032] As disclosed herein, lanyard 401 and strap 411 may include straps made of stretchable fabric configured to be looped around a user's hand through clips 413 - 1 , 413 - 2 , 413 - 3 , and 413 - 4 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “clip 413 ”).

[0033] To illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, multiple items (e.g., various illustrative blocks, modules, components, methods, operations, instructions, and algorithms) have been generally described in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software depends on the specific application and the design constraints imposed on the overall system. Those skilled in the art may implement the described functionality in different ways for each specific application.

[0034] As used herein, the phrase "at least one of," following a list of items, together with the terms "and" or "or" used to separate any of the items, modifies the list as a whole, rather than modifying each member of the list (i.e., each item). The phrase "at least one of" does not require selection of at least one item; rather, the phrase is meant to include at least one of any of the items, and / or at least one of any combination of the items, and / or at least one of each of the items. As examples, the phrases "at least one of A, B, and C" or "at least one of A, B, or C" both refer to: only A, only B, or only C; any combination of A, B, and C; and / or, at least one of each of A, B, and C.

[0035] When the terms "including," "having," and the like are used in the specification or claims, the terms are intended to be open ended in a manner similar to the term "comprising," as interpreted when "comprising" is used as a transitional word in a claim. The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0036] Unless otherwise specified, reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one", but rather "one or more". All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various configurations described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the subject technology. In addition, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public, regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recorded in the above description.

[0037] Although this specification contains many details, these details should not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of the content that may be claimed, but should be interpreted as descriptions of specific embodiments of the subject matter. Certain features described in the context of different embodiments in this specification may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. On the contrary, the various features described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented separately or in any suitable sub-combination in multiple embodiments. In addition, although features may be described above as working in certain combinations, and even initially claimed as such, in some cases, one or more features from the claimed combination may be removed from the combination, and the claimed combination may involve a sub-combination or a variation of a sub-combination.

[0038] The subject matter of this specification has been described in particular aspects, but other aspects can be implemented and are within the scope of the appended claims. For example, although each operation is depicted in a particular order in the accompanying drawings, this should not be understood as requiring the execution of these operations in the particular order shown or in a continuous order, nor should it be understood as requiring the execution of all the operations shown to achieve the desired result. The actions described in the claims can be performed in different orders and still achieve the desired result. As an example, the process depicted in the accompanying drawings does not necessarily require the particular order shown, or the continuous order to achieve the desired result. In some cases, multi-task parallel processing may be advantageous. In addition, the separation of each system component in the above-mentioned multiple aspects should not be understood as requiring such separation in all aspects, but it should be understood that the described program components and systems can usually be integrated together or packaged in multiple software products in a single software product. Other variations are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A lanyard for holding a controller, the lanyard comprising: a strap anchored to a top portion of a cover of a battery compartment of the controller; as well as a clip anchored to a cotter pin in a bottom portion of the cover of the battery compartment of the controller, wherein: The strap includes a stretchable fabric and a plurality of adhesive pads on an outer surface that adhere to the stretchable fabric when the strap is looped around the clip.

2. The lanyard according to claim 1, comprising: An end portion permanently secured to the interior of the cover of the battery compartment.

3. The lanyard according to claim 1, wherein: The stretchable fabric includes a webbing fabric including a plurality of integrated loops, and the plurality of adhesive pads include polyester fibers that hook within the plurality of integrated loops to securely attach the controller to a user's hand.

4. The lanyard according to claim 1, wherein: The strap includes an end formed with a hardened edge, and wherein the cotter pin is actuated through the hardened edge to open the lid of the battery compartment.

5. The lanyard according to claim 1, wherein: The stretchable fabric includes an elastic material including nylon fibers.

6. The lanyard according to claim 1, wherein: The strap is configured to secure the controller to a user's hand such that the user is free to activate one or more buttons in the controller without otherwise holding the controller.

7. A controller for a head mounted device, the controller comprising: a handle portion configured to be grasped by a hand of a user of the head mounted device; one or more buttons that are actuated by one or more fingers of a hand of a user of the head mounted device; a battery compartment, said battery compartment being closed by a cover in said handle portion; as well as A lanyard as claimed in any preceding claim, configured to secure the controller to a hand of a user of the head mounted device.

8. The controller according to claim 7 further includes a communication module, a memory storing instructions, and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to communicate with an immersive application running in the head-mounted device and provide a trigger action from the one or more buttons when the one or more buttons are actuated by a finger of a user of the head-mounted device.

9. The controller according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: The lanyard secures the controller to the hand of the head mounted device user as the head mounted device user moves in accordance with a fitness application running in the head mounted device and communicates with the fitness application via the one or more buttons.

10. A device for virtual reality applications, the device comprising: A head mounted device comprising a display configured to provide an immersive reality environment to a user; A left-hand controller and a right-hand controller, each of the left-hand controller and the right-hand controller comprising: a handle portion configured to be grasped by a hand of a user of the head mounted device; one or more buttons that are actuated by one or more fingers of a hand of a user of the head mounted device; a battery compartment enclosed by a cover in the handle portion; and The lanyard according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lanyard is used to fix the left-hand controller and / or the right-hand controller to the hand of the head-mounted device user.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein: The strap is configured to secure the left-hand controller or the right-hand controller to the user's hand so that the user can freely activate one or more buttons in the left-hand controller or the right-hand controller without having to additionally hold the left-hand controller or the right-hand controller.

12. The device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein: The immersive reality environment includes a fitness application, and the lanyard secures the left-hand controller or the right-hand controller to a hand of the head mounted device user when the head mounted device user moves according to the fitness application.

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