Electronic controller with finger detection and adjustable hand restraint

Abstract

The electronic controller includes a controller body having a head adjacent to the handle at a neck region and including at least one thumb-operated control. The controller includes a hand restraint configured to physically bias a user's palm against an outer surface of the handle in a closed position. The hand restraint includes a resilient member that biases the hand restraint toward an open position. An adjustment mechanism couples the resilient member to the head and allows the resilient member to be adjusted between a plurality of discrete positions to adjust the resilient member toward or away from the user's first interdigital space. The adjustment mechanism may include an anchor, the anchor being movable about its circumference around the head between the plurality of discrete positions and pivotally attached to the resilient member with a two-part fastener, with a friction member interposed between the resilient member and the anchor.

Description

Cross - reference to related applications

[0001] This is a PCT application claiming priority from U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 392,497, filed on April 23, 2019, entitled "ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER WITH FINGER SENSING AND AN ADJUSTABLE HAND RETAINER". This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation - in - part of U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 834,372, filed on December 7, 2017, entitled "ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER WITH FINGER SENSING AND AN ADJUSTABLE HAND RETAINER", which is owned by the same assignee. U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 834,372 itself claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 as a continuation - in - part of U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 679,521, filed on August 17, 2017, entitled "ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER WITH HAND RETAINER AND FINGER MOTION SENSING". U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 679,521 itself claims priority as a continuation - in - part of U.S. Patent Application No. 29 / 580,635, filed on October 11, 2016, now Patent No. D806,173, and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 520,958, filed on June 16, 2017. Application Nos. 16 / 392,497, 15 / 834,372, 15 / 679,521, 29 / 580,635, and 62 / 520,958 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The video game industry has grown large and significant, giving rise to many inventions in both software and related hardware. A variety of handheld video game controllers have been designed, manufactured, and sold for various game applications. Some of these inventions have applicability beyond the video game industry, such as in industrial machinery, defense systems, and controllers for robotics. Virtual reality (VR) systems are applications that have seen significant modern interest and rapid technological advancement both within and outside the video game industry. Controllers for VR systems often need to perform several different functions while optimizing certain desired characteristics such as ease of use, and meet strict (and sometimes competing) design constraints. Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved controller designs that can improve VR systems and / or make user operation easier.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a controller 100 for an electronic system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The controller 100 can be utilized by an electronic system such as a VR video game system, a robot, a weapon, or a medical device. The controller 100 may include a controller body 110 having a handle 112 and a hand holder 120 for holding the controller 100 in a user's hand (e.g., the user's left hand). The handle 112 optionally comprises a tubular housing that can be substantially cylindrical. In this context, a substantially cylindrical shape need not have a constant diameter or a perfectly circular cross-section.

[0026] In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the controller body 110 may optionally include one or more thumb operation control units 114, 115, 116 and may include a head (between the handle 112 and the distal end 111). For example, a tilt button or any other button, knob, wheel, joystick, or trackball can be considered a thumb operation control unit if it can be easily manipulated by the user's thumb during normal operation while the controller 100 is held in the user's hand.

[0027] The controller 100 preferably includes a tracking member 130 that is fixed to the controller body 110 and optionally includes two noses 132, 134, each of the noses 132, 134 protruding from a corresponding one of two opposing distal ends of the tracking member 130. In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the tracking member 130 is preferably a tracking arc having an arc shape, but this is not essential. The tracking member 130 includes a plurality of tracking transducers disposed therein, and preferably at least one tracking transducer is disposed within each protruding nose 132, 134. Additional tracking transducers may also be disposed within the controller body 110, and preferably at least one distal tracking transducer is disposed adjacent to the distal end 111.

[0028] The above tracking transducers may be tracking sensors that respond to electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared) emitted by an electronic system, or alternatively, they may be tracking beacons that emit electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared) received by the electronic system. For example, the electronic system may be a VR game system that broadly broadcasts, i.e., depicts, infrared pulses towards the controller 100, and the plurality of tracking transducers of the tracking member 130 are infrared sensors that can receive or be blocked by the broadcast infrared pulses. The tracking transducers (e.g., three sensors in each nose) within each of the noses 132, 134 preferably protrude beyond the user's hand on each distal end of the tracking member 130 and are thus better exposed (around the user's hand) to receive the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electronic system at a wider angle or transmit electromagnetic radiation to the electronic system without an unacceptable amount of shadowing.

[0029] Preferably, the tracking member 130 and the controller body 110 are made of a substantially rigid material such as hard plastic and are firmly fixed together so that they do not translate or rotate perceptibly relative to each other. In this way, it is preferred that the tracking of the translation and rotation of the arrangement of the tracking transducers in space is not complicated by the movement of the tracking transducers relative to each other. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, the tracking member 130 may be fixed to the controller body 110 by being joined to the controller body 110 at two locations. The hand retainer 120 is attached to the controller 100 (either the controller body 110 or the tracking member 130) adjacent to those two locations and can bias the palm of the user's hand against the outer surface of the handle 112 between the two positions.

[0030] In certain embodiments, the tracking member 130 and the controller body 110 may include integral monolithic components having material continuity rather than being assembled together. For example, the tracking member 130 and the controller body 110 may be molded together by a single injection molding process step, resulting in one integral rigid plastic component including both the tracking member 130 and the controller body 110. Alternatively, the tracking member 130 and the controller body 110 may be fabricated separately first and then assembled together. In any case, the tracking member 130 may be considered to be fixed to the controller body 110.

[0031] The handgrip 120 is shown in the open position in FIG. 1. The handgrip 120 is optionally biased in the open position by a curved elastic member 122 to facilitate insertion of the user's left hand between the handgrip 120 and the controller body 110 when the user grasps the controller in the field of view blocked by the VR goggles. For example, the curved elastic member 122 may optionally be a flexible metal piece that elastically bends, or may include an alternative plastic material such as nylon that can bend substantially elastically. The curved elastic member 122 may optionally be partially or completely internal to or covered by a cushion or fabric material 124 (e.g., a neoprene sheath) for the comfort of the user. Alternatively, the cushion or fabric material 124 may be disposed (e.g., adhered) only on the side of the curved elastic member 122 facing the user's hand.

[0032] The hand restraint 120 can optionally be adjustable in length by including, for example, a drawstring 126 tightened by a spring-biased retainer 128. The drawstring 126 can optionally have an extra length that can be used as a lanyard. The sheath 124 can optionally be attached to the drawstring. In certain embodiments, the curved elastic member 122 can be preloaded by the tension of the tightened drawstring 126. In such embodiments, the tension that the curved elastic member 122 exerts on the hand restraint 120 (to bias the hand restraint 120 in the open position) causes the hand restraint to automatically open when the drawstring 126 is not tightened. The present disclosure also contemplates alternative conventional techniques for adjusting the length of the hand restraint 120, such as fasteners, elastic bands (which apply elastic tension against the back of the hand and temporarily stretch when the hand is inserted), hook & loop strap attachments that allow length adjustment, etc.

[0033] The hand restraint 120 can be disposed between the handle 112 and the tracking member 130 and configured to contact the back of the user's hand. FIG. 2 shows the controller 100 during operation with the user's left hand inserted into the controller 100 but not grasping the controller body 110. In FIG. 2, the hand restraint 120 is closed and tightened over the hand so as to physically bias the palm of the user's hand against the outer surface of the handle 112. In this way, the hand restraint 120 can secure the controller 100 to the hand even when the hand is not grasping the controller body 110 when closed. FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the controller 100 during operation when the hand restraint 120 is closed, the hand is grasping the controller body 110, and the thumb is operating one or more of the thumb-operated control portions (e.g., the trackpad 116).

[0034] The handle 112 of the controller body 110 preferably includes an array of proximity sensors that are partially or completely spatially distributed around its outer surface. The proximity sensors of the array are not necessarily of equal size and do not necessarily have equal spacing between them, but the array may include a grid. The array of proximity sensors preferably responds to the proximity of the user's finger to the outer surface of the handle 112. For example, the array of proximity sensors can be a plurality of capacitance sensors embedded under the outer surface of the handle 112, the outer surface of which includes an electrically insulating material. The capacitance between such an array of capacitance sensors and a part of the user's hand is inversely correlated with the distance between them. The capacitance can be detected by noting that an RC oscillator circuit is connected to the elements of the capacitance sensor array and the time constant of the circuit (and thus the period and frequency of oscillation) will vary depending on the capacitance. In this way, the circuit can detect the release of the user's finger from the outer surface of the handle 112.

[0035] When the hand holder 120 (e.g., a hand holding strap) is firmly closed, it not only prevents the controller 100 from falling out of the hand, but also functions to more reliably detect finger movement by avoiding excessive translation of the finger with respect to the proximity sensor array of the handle 112. The electronic system may include an algorithm that embodies anatomically possible finger movements to better utilize the detection from the proximity sensor array in order to render the opening of a controlled character's hand, the orientation of the finger, or other movements of the finger with respect to the controller or to each other. In this way, the movement of the user's controller 100 and / or fingers can help control a VR game system, a defense system, a medical system, an industrial robot or machine, or another device. In a VR system application (e.g., a game, training, etc.), the system can render the movement of a thrown object based on the movement of a tracking transducer, and can render the release of the thrown object based on the detected release of the user's finger from the outer surface of the handle of the controller.

[0036] Therefore, the function of the hand restraint 120 (for enabling the user to "release" the controller 100 without the controller 100 actually being separated from the hand, or being thrown or dropped onto the floor) may enable additional functions of a controlled electronic system. For example, if the release and return of the user's grip on the handle 112 of the controller body 110 are detected, such release or grip may be incorporated into the game to display a thrown or gripped object (e.g., within VR). With the hand restraint 120, such functions may be repeatedly and safely achieved. For example, the location of the hand restraint 120 in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 - 4 may assist the tracking member 130 in protecting the back of the user's hand from impacts in the real world when the user moves in response to a detected prompt within the VR environment (e.g., while being substantially blinded by VR goggles).

[0037] In certain embodiments, the controller 100 may include a rechargeable battery disposed within the controller body 110, and the hand restraint 120 (e.g., the hand restraint strap) may include conductive charging wiring electrically connected to the rechargeable battery. The controller 100 may also preferably include a radio frequency (RF) transmitter for communicating with the rest of the electronic system. Such an RF transmitter may be powered by the rechargeable battery and may respond to the thumb-operated control units 114, 115, 116, a proximity sensor within the handle 112 of the controller body 110, and / or a tracking sensor within the tracking member 130.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5, in certain embodiments, the controller 100 may be the left controller of a pair of controllers that includes a similar right controller 200. In certain embodiments, the controllers 100 and 200 may track the movements and grips of both of the user's hands simultaneously (together), for example, to enhance the VR experience.

[0039] FIG. 6A illustrates a front view of a right - hand controller 600 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6B illustrates a rear view of the right - hand controller 600. The controller 600 has a controller body including a head 610 and a handle 612. In the embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the head 610 includes at least one thumb operation control part A, B, 608 and may also include a control part (e.g., trigger 609) configured to be operated by an index finger. The handle 612 includes a tubular housing partially wrapped by an outer shell 640.

[0040] In the embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the tracking member 630 is fixed to the controller body at the head 610 and at one end of the handle 612. The hand holder 620 is configured to physically bias the palm of the user's hand against the outer shell 640 between the head 610 and one end of the handle 612. The hand holder 620 may preferably comprise a hand - holding strap disposed between the handle 612 and the tracking member 630, having an adjustable length and configured to contact the back of the user's hand. In the embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the hand holder 620 optionally includes a drawstring 628 and can optionally adjust the length by a cord locking part 626 (adjacent to the distal end of the handle 612), and the cord locking part 626 selectively prevents the sliding movement of the drawstring 628 at the location of the cord locking part 626.

[0041] In the embodiments of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the tracking transducers 632, 633 are disposed on the tracking member 630, and the tracking transducer 633 is disposed on the protruding nose at the opposite distal end of the tracking member 630. An additional tracking transducer 634 is optionally disposed on the distal region of the head 610. The tracking transducers 632, 633, and 634 may be tracking sensors that respond to electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared) emitted by an electronic system (e.g., a virtual reality game system), or may be tracking beacons that emit electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared) received by the electronic system. For example, the electronic system may be a VR game system that broadly broadcasts, i.e., depicts, infrared pulses directed towards the controller 600, and the tracking transducers 632, 633, and 634 may be infrared sensors that can receive the broadcast pulsed infrared. The response of such tracking sensors can be returned to the electronic system, and the system can interpret such responses to effectively track the location and orientation of the controller 600.

[0042] One or more of the tracking transducers 632, 633, 634 may optionally be structured in the manner shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7A, or alternatively as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7B, or alternatively, in a conventional manner not shown. The lower portion of FIG. 7A illustrates an exploded perspective view of an infrared sensor 750 electrically connected to a flexible circuit 751, shown below a rectangular portion of a windowed housing wall 755 provided above and including an infrared-impermeable plastic. The windowed housing wall 755 includes a window 756. The window 756 preferably includes an infrared-transmissive polycarbonate plastic and may include a lower recess for accommodating the thickness of the infrared sensor 750.

[0043] According to the embodiment of FIG. 7A, the windowed housing wall (e.g., the outer structure of the tracking member 630, or the head 610 of FIG. 6A) can be fabricated in a so-called "two-shot" injection molding process such that most of the housing wall is fabricated from an infrared-impermeable plastic, but the infrared-transmissive plastic is disposed within the window 756 over the infrared sensor 750.

[0044] The upper part of FIG. 7A shows a cross-sectional view of the assembled infrared sensor 750, flexible circuit 751, and windowed housing wall 755. The infrared rays shown in FIG. 7A as three downward arrows incident on the window 756 from above pass through the window 756 to be received by the infrared sensor 750 below. Since the housing wall 755 includes infrared-impermeable plastic, the infrared rays hitting it do not pass through, and a part of them is reflected back to the window and received by the infrared sensor 750. In this way, the window 756 enables infrared rays to affect the infrared sensor 750 despite the fact that most of the housing wall 755 includes infrared-impermeable plastic. Therefore, the infrared sensor 750 receives infrared rays only from a preferred angular range.

[0045] Alternatively, one or more of the tracking transducers 632, 633, 634 can optionally be structured as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 7B. The lower part of FIG. 7B shows an exploded perspective view of the infrared sensor 750 electrically connected to the flexible circuit 751, shown below a rectangular portion of the housing wall 758 provided above and including IR-transmissive plastic. The housing wall 758 is coated with an infrared-impermeable film 757 patterned to include a window 759 (in the absence of the infrared-impermeable film 757).

[0046] The upper portion of FIG. 7B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the assembled infrared sensor 750, flexible circuit 751, housing wall 758, and IR-impermeable film 757. The infrared rays shown in FIG. 7B as three downward arrows incident on the housing wall 758 from above pass through the window 759 in the IR-impermeable film 757, where they pass through the housing wall 758 and are received by the underlying infrared sensor 750. Since the housing wall 758 includes infrared-transmissive plastic, the infrared rays hitting it can pass through it and be lost, and perhaps, unintentionally and undesirably, reach nearby sensors via internal reflection. In this way, the window 759 in the IR-impermeable film 757 enables the infrared rays to mainly affect the infrared sensor 750.

[0047] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the right hand controller 600, with the outer shell 640 that partially wraps the tubular housing of the handle 612 disassembled to reveal the devices on its inner surface. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the devices may include an array 800 of proximity sensors spatially distributed on the inner surface of the outer shell 640, and the array 800 of proximity sensors responds to the proximity of the user's finger to the outer shell 640. The proximity sensors 800 of the array are not necessarily of equal size and do not necessarily have regular or equal spacing from each other. In a particular embodiment, the array 800 of proximity sensors may preferably be a plurality of capacitance sensors that can be connected to a flexible circuit coupled to the inner surface of the outer shell 640. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the outer shell 640 includes a first electrical connector portion 805 that can be connected to a mating second electrical connector portion of the handle 612 (as shown in more detail by FIGS. 9A and 9B).

[0048] Figures 9A and 9B illustrate a cross-section of the right hand controller 600 of FIG. 6A, showing that the handle of the controller includes tubular housing portions 612a, 612b that are optionally longitudinally divided by a seam 613, and that the tubular housing portions 612a and 612b are adjacent. In FIG. 9A, the outer shell 640 is shown disassembled from the remainder of the handle. FIG. 9B illustrates the cross-section of FIG. 9A, differing in that the outer shell 640 is installed in its normal operating position. In the embodiments of FIGS. 9A and 9B, the first electrical connector portion 805 of the outer shell 640 is shown to be engageable and connectable to the second electrical connector portion 905 of the controller handle.

[0049] In the embodiments of FIGS. 9A and 9B, the outer shell 640 preferably partially wraps the tubular housings 612a, 612b so as to overlap the longitudinal seam 613, such that the longitudinal seam 613 can be positioned to optimize the manufacturing process rather than to accommodate a desired circumferential location of the proximity sensor array 800. In certain embodiments, the outer shell 640 overlaps a circumferential portion C of the tubular housings 612a, 612b of the handle, and the circumferential portion C angularly extends at least 100 degrees but not more than 170 degrees of the entire circumference of the tubular housings 612a, 612b of the handle. Such a circumferential overlap can, in certain embodiments, enable the proximity sensor array 800 to detect the proximity of a desired portion of the user's finger or palm, e.g., the area of the hand that best indicates grasping.

[0050] The tubular housings 612a, 612b of the handle need not have a circular cross-section, and the word "circumferential" is used herein regardless of whether the tubular housings 612a, 612b of the handle have a circular cross-section. As used herein, the term "circumferential" means the entire circumference centered on the tubular housings 612a, 612b of the handle, which can be circular if the tubular housings 612a, 612b are right circular cylinders, but can be a closed shape other than a circle if the tubular housing is formed as a non-cylindrical or hollow prism.

[0051] In the embodiments of FIGS. 9A and 9B, a printed circuit board (PCB) 920 may be mounted within the tubular housings 612a, 612b of the handle, and a second electrical connector portion 905 is electrically coupled to the PCB 920. The PCB 920 optionally includes a force sensing resistor (FSR) 922, and the controller may further include a plunger 924 that transmits the compressive force applied through the outer shell 640 inwardly to the FSR 922 toward the outside of the tubular housings 612a, 612b of the handle. In certain embodiments, the FSR 922, in conjunction with the proximity sensor array 800, may facilitate detection of both the initiation of a grasp by the user and the relative strength of such a grasp by the user, which may facilitate certain game play features.

[0052] In certain embodiments, the outer shell 640 has a shell thickness (measured radially in FIGS. 9A and 9B) that is less than one-third of the housing wall thickness of the tubular housing portion 612a or 612b of the handle. In these embodiments, such thickness non-uniformity may improve the sensitivity of the proximity sensor array 800 as compared to alternative embodiments where the proximity sensor array 800 is disposed over or within the tubular housings 612a, 612b of the handle.

[0053] FIG. 10A illustrates a front view of a right-handed controller 200 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention with a partially closed hand fixture 220 (e.g., a hand retention strap). FIG. 10B illustrates a front view of the controller 200 that differs in that the hand fixture 220 is fully open. In the embodiments of FIGS. 10A and 10B, the controller 200 includes a controller body having a head 210 and a handle 212. The head 210 abuts the handle 212 at the neck region 211 of the controller 200. The handle 212 preferably includes an array of proximity sensors that are spatially distributed immediately below its outer surface and preferably respond to the proximity of the user's fingers to the outer surface of the handle 212.

[0054] In the embodiments of FIGS. 10A and 10B, the head 210 includes thumb operation control units A, B, and 208. The controller 200 also includes a tracking member 230 that is preferably fixed to the controller body at the head 210 and at one end of the handle 212. The tracking member 230 preferably includes a plurality of tracking transducers that can be sensors responsive to electromagnetic radiation emitted by an electronic system (e.g., pulsed infrared radiation emitted by a virtual reality game system) or tracking beacons that emit electromagnetic radiation received by the electronic system. In the embodiments of FIGS. 10A and 10B, the tracking member 230 is preferably a tracking arc having an arc shape, but this is not essential. The hand holder 220 is preferably disposed between the handle 212 and the tracking member 230.

[0055] In the embodiments of FIGS. 10A and 10B, the controller 200 includes a drawstring 228 and a cord locking portion 226 adjacent to the distal end of the handle 212. The cord locking portion 226 can selectively prevent the sliding movement of the drawstring 228 at the cord locking portion 226. In the embodiment of FIG. 10A, when the drawstring 228 is gradually pulled further beyond the cord locking portion 226, the hand holder 220 is pulled more strongly into the closed position (as indicated by the arrow of the movement shown in FIG. 10A). The closed position physically biases the palm of the user's hand against the outer surface of the handle 212.

[0056] In the embodiments of FIGS. 10A and 10B, the hand holder 220 preferably includes an elastic member (e.g., an internal or external elastically deformable piece such as a metal piece) that biases the hand holder 220 toward the open position shown in FIG. 10B. In the embodiment of FIG. 10B, when the user selectively releases and allows the relative sliding of the drawstring 228 at the cord locking portion 226, the preload bias toward the straightening of the elastically deformed elastic member causes the hand holder 220 to open naturally (as indicated by the arrow of the movement shown in FIG. 10B). The open position can facilitate inserting or removing the user's hand from the controller 200, particularly when the user's vision can be obstructed by wearing virtual reality goggles.

[0057] FIG. 11A illustrates a front view of components of the head 210 and handle 212 of the controller 200, including a hand brace anchor 302 that can be adjusted to move around the head 210. FIG. 11B illustrates components of the head 210 and handle 212, different in that the faceplate has been removed from the head 210 to expose a lockable collar portion 311 that can facilitate selective adjustment of the hand brace anchor 302 around the head 210.

[0058] In the embodiment of FIG. 11B, the lockable collar portion 311 can translate along an arcuate path defined by an internal arcuate guide 315. The lockable collar portion 311 can be selectively locked by the user to prevent further movement of the anchor 302 around the head 210. Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 10A - 11B, the elastic member of the hand brace 220 is attached to the hand brace anchor 302 of the head 210, whereby the hand brace 220 can be adjusted towards or away from the user's first interdigital space (purlicue, between the user's thumb and other fingers). In certain embodiments, the elastic member of the hand brace 220 is preferably attached to the hand brace anchor 302 of the head 210 by a pivoting or rotatable attachment, whereby the hand brace 220 can pivot relative to the hand brace anchor 302 at the location of the attachment. Such degrees of freedom are additional to the adjustability of the position of the hand brace anchor 302 around the head 210.

[0059] Figures 12A, 12B, and 12C illustrate an alternative embodiment of a partially assembled controller 400 having a controller body including a head 410 and a handle 412 joined to the head within a neck region 411. In the alternative embodiments of FIGS. 12A - 12C, the controller body includes a channel 414 disposed adjacent to the neck region 411. A hand retainer (not shown in FIG. 12A so that the channel 414 is not partially obscured) includes an elastic member 420 that terminates within a protrusion 425 extending into the channel 414.

[0060] In the embodiments of FIGS. 12B and 12C, the protrusion 425 includes a catch 427 that prevents longitudinal movement of the protrusion within the channel 414 when the hand retainer is in the closed position. For example, in the embodiment of FIG. 12C, the catch 427 is a cam that increases friction with the inner surface of the channel 414 when the relative angle of the protrusion 425 of the hand retainer corresponds to the closed position of the hand retainer, i.e., when the closed position of the hand retainer results in tension on the elastic member 420 (e.g., in the downward direction shown in the cross - section of FIG. 12C).

[0061] In contrast, when the protrusion 425 of the hand retainer is rotated to a relative angle corresponding to the open position of the hand retainer (e.g., in the upward direction shown in the cross - section of FIG. 12C), the friction between the catch 427 and the channel 414 is reduced and the protrusion 425 of the hand retainer can translate within the channel 414 (as indicated by the arrow of the movement shown in FIG. 12B). The channel 414 is preferably oriented such that the translation of the protrusion of the hand retainer along the channel 414 preferably adjusts the relative position of the protrusion 425 of the hand retainer towards or away from the first interdigital space of the user's hand, e.g., so that the controller 400 can accommodate different hand sizes or finger lengths. In an alternative embodiment, the protrusion 425 of the hand retainer can be pivotally attached to the remainder of the hand retainer by a conventional pivot joint. Such rotational freedom is additional to the adjustable translation of the hand - holding protrusion 425 along the channel 414.

[0062] FIG. 13A illustrates a front view of components of the controller 200, the head 210 and the handle 212. The head 210 is adjacent to the handle 212 in the neck region 211 of the controller 200. The head 210 includes a thumb operation control section (e.g., A, B, and 208). The controller 200 may further include a hand fixture anchor 1302 (which may also be referred to herein as the "radial arm 1302" and / or may also be abbreviated herein as the "anchor 1302") that is adjustable to move around the head 210. FIG. 13B illustrates the same components of the head 210 and the handle 212, which is different in that the face plate is removed from the head 210 to expose a color portion 1311 having a plurality of internally defined detents. The detents defined within the color portion 1311 may be defined by a plurality of teeth within the color portion 1311. As used herein, a "tooth" of the color portion 1311 is a protrusion that protrudes radially inwardly toward the center of the head 210, and a "detent" of the color portion 1311 is a notch or groove intervening between a pair of adjacent teeth of the color portion 1311. The color portion 1311 may be made of metal, plastic (e.g., hard and durable plastic), or another suitable material.

[0063] The anchor 1302 may have a protrusion located below the anchor 1302 or may be attached to the protrusion. This protrusion (e.g., a tooth) may be oriented radially outward from the center of the head 210 to engage a specific detent of the collar portion 1311. That is, the protrusion located below or attached to the anchor 1302 can be selectively positioned between a pair of adjacent teeth of the collar portion 1311 to lock the anchor 1302 in a specific position, so that the anchor 1302 cannot move around the head 210 while being locked in place. A biasing member 1304, such as a torsion spring, can physically bias the anchor 1302 in a radially outward direction from the center of the head 210, thereby keeping the protrusion located below or attached to the anchor 1302 engaged with the collar portion 1311 at a specific detent. Thus, the hand-held tool anchor 1302 is not only movable around the head 210 (as indicated by the radially oriented movement arrow shown in FIG. 13B), but also movable in the radially inward and outward directions, toward and away from the center of the head 210. For example, a user of the controller 200 can push the anchor 1302 radially inward and, while doing so, move the anchor 1302 to different positions among a plurality of individual positions corresponding to a plurality of detents of the collar portion 1311 around the head 210. This is because pushing the anchor 1302 radially inward sweeps the teeth of the collar portion 1311 by the protrusion located below or attached to the anchor 1302, thereby enabling the circumferential movement of the anchor 1302 around the head 210. This circumferential movement of the anchor 1302 is indicated by the circumferentially oriented movement arrow shown in FIG. 13B.

[0064] The number of detents defined within the color portion 1311 is configurable and may depend on the desired range of adjustment. In some embodiments, the number of detents in the color portion 1311 is within the range of about 2 to 6 detents. In some embodiments, the color portion 1311 includes 5 detents that may enable adjustment of the anchor 1302 between 5 individual positions. However, any suitable number of detents can be defined within the color portion 1311 to enable the user to adjust the anchor 1302 to any one of a plurality of individual positions around the head 210 about its center. In some embodiments, these individual positions are marked on the outer surface of the housing of the controller 200 by a plurality of dashed lines or the like on the outer surface of the head 210 near the neck region 211 that indicate to the user that the handgrip 220 is adjustable towards or away from the user's first interdigital space in order to optimize hand comfort while holding the controller 200. The plurality of individual positions at which the anchor 1302 is adjustable may include a first position that is closest to the user's first interdigital space while the user is holding the controller 200, a second position that is farthest from the first interdigital space while the user is holding the controller 200, and optionally, one or more intermediate positions between the first and second positions. It should be understood that the color portion 1311 and the handgrip anchor 1302 (including the protrusions / teeth below or attached to the anchor 1302 that engage the detents of the color portion 1311) constitute an assembly of components that are considered herein to be the "adjustment mechanism" of the controller 200. This adjustment mechanism allows the user to adjust the elastic member 122 of the handgrip 220 between a plurality of individual positions towards or away from the user's first interdigital space while the user is holding the controller 200.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 13B, the hand restraint anchor 1302 can be coupled to the head 210 at the first end of the anchor 1302. For example, the anchor 1302 can be coupled to a pivot point located at or near the center of the head 210, and there can be one or more intermediate components coupled between the pivot point and the anchor 1302. The anchor 1302 can extend through a channel defined within the head 210 of the controller 200 adjacent to the neck region 211. Such a channel may be similar to the channel 414 shown in FIG. 12A. The collar portion 1311 can be positioned along this channel, immediately below the channel, such that the anchor 1302 can move freely within the channel when the anchor 1302 is not locked in an individual position by engagement with the collar portion 1311. Since the hand restraint anchor 1302 is movable within the channel while being disengaged from the collar portion 1311, the hand restraint anchor 1302 can be translated along an arcuate path about the perimeter of the head 210. To do this, the user grasps a portion of the anchor 1302 extending from the head 210 through the channel, presses the anchor 1302 radially inward, and while pressing the anchor 1302 radially inward, the anchor 1302 can be translated to a specific position among a plurality of individual positions along an arcuate path about the perimeter of the head 210. When the anchor 1302 is released or the radially inward pressure on the anchor 1302 is relaxed, the biasing member 1304 biases the anchor 1302 radially outward from the center of the head 210. The anchor 1302 is finally locked in a position via the collar portion 1311 by this radially outward biasing force. Specifically, when the biasing force from the biasing member 1304 causes a protrusion located below or attached to the anchor 1302 to engage the collar portion 1311 at a specific detent of the collar portion 1311, the hand restraint anchor 1302, and thus the hand restraint 220 attached thereto, is locked in place to prevent further movement of the anchor 1302 about the perimeter of the head 210.Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B and 13C, the elastic member of the hand fixture 220 is attached to the hand fixture anchor 1302 of the head 210, whereby the hand fixture 220 itself can be adjusted by the corresponding movement of the anchor 1302 towards or away from the user's first interdigital space (between the user's thumb and the other fingers).

[0066] In certain embodiments, the elastic member 122 of the hand fixture 220 is attached to the hand fixture anchor 1302 by a pivotal or rotatable attachment (e.g., at the second end of the anchor 1302). In this way, the hand fixture 220 can pivot relative to the hand fixture anchor 1302 about a pivot point at the location of the attachment. Such a degree of freedom is additional to the adjustability of the position of the hand fixture anchor 1302 about the perimeter of the head 210. FIG. 13C illustrates an example of such a pivotal or rotatable attachment between the elastic member 122 of the hand fixture 220 and the hand fixture anchor 1302 of the head 210 that pivots the hand fixture 220 relative to the hand fixture anchor 1302.

[0067] FIG. 13C illustrates a two-piece fastener 1306 consisting of a top portion 1306(1) and a bottom portion 1306(2). An example of such a two-piece fastener 1306 is a snap rivet fastener having two parts 1306(1) and 1306(2) that are pushed together until they snap fit into a locking engagement to create a fastener 1306 that cannot be easily disassembled by the user. Other types of fasteners 1306 are contemplated herein, such as locking nut fasteners, or any other type of fastener that allows for pivotal and / or rotational movement of the hand fixture 220 about a pivot point located in an opening defined within the anchor 1302.

[0068] Where the elastic member 122 is connected to the anchor 1302, a friction member 1308 may be interposed between the elastic member 122 of the hand holder 220 and the hand holder anchor 1302. For example, the friction member 1308 may be disposed on the elastic member 122 of the hand holder 220 and below the hand holder anchor 1302 at the point of attachment, at least when the controller 200 is in an upright orientation. The friction member 1308 increases the friction with the distal end of the elastic member 122, thereby holding the hand holder 220 in the desired position. In another method described above, the increase in the frictional force applied by the friction member 1308 on the elastic member 122 inhibits the free rotational or pivotal movement of the hand holder 220 unless and until a force (e.g., by the user rotating the hand holder 200 about the pivot point) is applied to the hand holder 220 to overcome this frictional force.

[0069] The friction member 1308 may be a rubber gasket or any similar component made of any suitable material having a relatively high coefficient of friction. When the two - part fastener 1306 is assembled, a compressive (or clamping) force is applied to the friction member 1308 by the top portion 1306(1) of the fastener being pushed downward toward the friction member 1308 on the anchor 1302 and the bottom portion 1308(2) of the fastener being pushed upward toward the friction member 1308 on the elastic member 122. This compressive force applied to the component interposed between the two parts 1306(1) and 1306(2) of the fastener increases the frictional force that must be overcome to rotate the hand holder 220 about the pivot point of attachment. This friction member 1308, in combination with the compressive (or clamping) force applied by the two - part fastener 1306, helps to hold the hand holder 220 in the desired position and inhibits movement away from that desired position. Thereby, the hand holder 220 is kept in a comfortable position optimized for the user throughout the game play. In the absence of the friction member 1308, the hand holder 220 may otherwise be more strongly inclined to deviate from the desired position under the influence of relatively small forces such as gravity.

[0070] Although the present invention is described herein with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is not limited to these exemplary embodiments. It is contemplated that the various features and aspects of the present invention can be used individually, jointly, and in some cases in different environments or applications. For example, features shown with respect to a right-handed controller can be implemented on a left-handed controller as well, and vice versa. Accordingly, the present specification and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative and exemplary rather than restrictive. For example, the words "preferably" and the phrase "preferred but not essential" are used herein as synonyms that consistently include the meaning of "not essential" or optional. "Comprising", "including", and "having" are intended to be open-ended terms. The invention described in the original claims of the present application is appended below. [Appendix 1] A controller for an electronic system operated by a user having a hand including a thumb, an index finger, a first interdigital space (purlicue) between the thumb and the index finger, and a palm, the controller comprising: A controller body having a head and a handle, the head being adjacent to the handle in a neck region, the head including at least one thumb operation control part, a controller body; A tracking member fixed to the controller body; A hand holder, the hand holder being configured to physically bias the palm against the outer surface of the handle in a closed position, the hand holder including an elastic member, the elastic member being adjustably attached to the head by an adjustment mechanism that enables adjustment of the elastic member between a plurality of individual positions, the plurality of individual positions including at least a first position closest to the first interdigital space when the user is holding the controller and a second position farthest from the first interdigital space when the user is holding the controller, a controller. [Appendix 2] The adjustment mechanism includes an anchor, the anchor being: Connected to the head at a first end of the anchor; Extending through a channel defined in the head; Attached to the elastic member at a second end of the anchor; The controller according to Appendix 1, which is movable around the head between the plurality of individual positions. [Appendix 3] The adjustment mechanism further includes a collar portion disposed on the head; A plurality of detents are defined in the collar portion, the plurality of detents corresponding to the plurality of individual positions; A protrusion, which is below or attached to the anchor, engages the collar portion at one of the plurality of detents to lock the anchor at one of the plurality of individual positions, the controller according to Appendix 2. [Appendix 4] The controller according to appended note 3, wherein the adjusting mechanism further comprises a biasing member for physically biasing the anchor in a radially outward direction from the center of the head, and the protrusion is physically biased to engage the collar portion based at least in part on the biasing member. [Appended note 5] The controller according to appended note 1, wherein the plurality of individual positions include one or more intermediate positions between the first position and the second position. [Appended note 6] The controller according to appended note 2, wherein the anchor is pivotally attached to the elastic member by a two-piece fastener, and a friction member is interposed between the elastic member and the anchor. [Appended note 7] The controller according to appended note 6, wherein the two-piece fastener applies a compressive force to the friction member when assembled. [Appended note 8] The controller according to appended note 6, wherein the friction member is a rubber gasket. [Appended note 9] A controller for an electronic system operated by a user having a hand including a thumb, at least an index finger, a first interdigital space between the thumb and the index finger, and a palm, the controller comprising: A controller body having a head and a handle, the head being connected to the handle in a neck region, the head including at least one thumb-operated control portion, and a controller body; A hand retainer configured to physically bias the palm against an outer surface of the handle in a closed position, the hand retainer including an elastic member, and a hand retainer; An adjusting mechanism, the adjusting mechanism connecting the elastic member to the head and enabling adjustment of the elastic member between a plurality of individual positions, the plurality of individual positions including at least a first position closest to the first interdigital space when the user is holding the controller, and a second position farthest from the first interdigital space when the user is holding the controller. [Appended note 10] The adjusting mechanism comprises a radial arm, the radial arm being connected to the head at a first end of the radial arm, extending through a channel defined within the head, being attached to the elastic member at a second end of the radial arm, and being movable around the head between the plurality of individual positions. The controller according to appended note 9. [Appended note 11] The adjusting mechanism is A plurality of detents on the head, wherein the plurality of detents correspond to the plurality of individual positions, and a protrusion that is below or attached to the lower side of the radial arm, wherein the protrusion engages with one of the plurality of detents to lock the radial arm at one of the plurality of individual positions, the controller according to Appendix 10. [Appendix 12] The adjustment mechanism further includes a biasing member for physically biasing the radial arm in a radially outward direction from the center of the head, whereby the protrusion is engaged with the detent, the controller according to Appendix 11. [Appendix 13] The controller according to Appendix 9, wherein the plurality of individual positions include one or more intermediate positions between the first position and the second position. [Appendix 14] The radial arm is pivotally attached to the elastic member by a two-piece fastener, and a friction member is interposed between the elastic member and the radial arm, the controller according to Appendix 10. [Appendix 15] A controller for an electronic system operated by a user having a hand including a thumb, at least an index finger, a first interdigital space between the thumb and the index finger, and a palm, the controller comprising a controller body having a head and a handle, wherein the head is connected to the handle in a neck region, and the head includes at least one thumb-operated control portion, the controller body; a hand retainer configured to physically bias the palm against an outer surface of the handle in a closed position, the hand retainer including an elastic member, the hand retainer; an anchor attached to the elastic member, wherein the anchor is movable around the head centered thereon between a plurality of individual positions so as to adjust the elastic member toward or away from the first interdigital space, the plurality of individual positions including at least a first position closest to the first interdigital space when the user holds the controller and a second position farthest from the first interdigital space when the user holds the controller, the controller. [Appendix 16] The anchor is connected to the head at a first end of the anchor Extending through a channel defined within the head, The controller according to appendix 15, which is attached to the elastic member at the second end of the anchor. [Appendix 17] Further comprising a collar portion disposed on the head under the faceplate of the head, A plurality of detents are defined within the collar portion, and the plurality of detents correspond to the plurality of individual positions, The protrusion, which is below or attached to the anchor, engages the collar portion at one of the plurality of detents to lock the anchor at one of the plurality of individual positions, the controller according to appendix 15. [Appendix 18] The adjusting mechanism further comprises a biasing member for physically biasing the anchor in a radially outward direction from the center of the head, and the protrusion is physically biased to engage the collar portion at least partially based on the biasing member, the controller according to appendix 17. [Appendix 19] The plurality of detents defined within the collar portion include a first detent corresponding to the first position, a second detent corresponding to the second position, and one or more intermediate detents corresponding to one or more intermediate positions between the first position and the second position, the controller according to appendix 17. [Appendix 20] The anchor is pivotally attached to the elastic member by a two-piece fastener, and a friction member is interposed between the elastic member and the anchor, the controller according to appendix 15.

Claims

1. 1. A controller for an electronic system for operation by a user having a hand including a palm, the controller comprising: a controller body having a head and a handle, the head adjacent the handle at a neck region, the head including at least one thumb control; A tracking member fixed to the controller body; a hand restraint configured to physically bias the palm of the hand against an exterior surface of the handle in a closed position, the hand restraint including a resilient member adjustably attached to the head by an adjustment mechanism that allows the resilient member to be adjusted between a plurality of discrete positions while the user is holding the controller, the plurality of discrete positions corresponding to positions of a plurality of portions of the head along a circumference of the head; The adjustment mechanism includes an anchor, the anchor comprising: a first end of the anchor connected to the head; extending through a channel defined in the head; a second end of the anchor attached to the elastic member; a head movable about the circumference between the plurality of discrete positions; the adjustment mechanism further comprising a collar portion disposed on the head; a plurality of detents defined within the collar portion, the plurality of detents corresponding to the plurality of discrete positions; A controller, wherein a protrusion on or attached to the underside of the anchor engages the collar portion at a detent of the plurality of detents to lock the anchor in a discrete position of the plurality of discrete positions.

2. 2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises a biasing member for physically biasing the anchor in a radially outward direction from a center of the head, the protrusion being physically biased into engagement with the collar portion based at least in part on the biasing member.

3. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the anchor is pivotally attached to the resilient member with a two-part fastener, and a friction member is interposed between the resilient member and the anchor.

4. The controller of claim 3 , wherein the two-part fastener, when assembled, applies a compressive force to the friction member.

5. The controller of claim 3 , wherein the friction member is a rubber gasket.

6. 1. A controller for an electronic system for operation by a user having a hand including a palm, the controller comprising: a controller body having a head and a handle, the head being coupled to the handle at a neck region, the head including at least one thumb control; a hand restraint configured to physically bias the palm of the hand against an exterior surface of the handle in a closed position, the hand restraint including a resilient member; an adjustment mechanism that couples the elastic member to the head while the user is holding the controller and allows the elastic member to be adjusted between a plurality of discrete positions, the plurality of discrete positions corresponding to positions of a plurality of portions of the head along a circumference of the head; The adjustment mechanism includes a radial arm, the radial arm having: a first end of the radial arm connected to the head; extending through a channel defined in the head; a second end of the radial arm attached to the resilient member; movable about the head between the plurality of discrete positions; controller.

7. The adjustment mechanism comprises: a plurality of detents on the head, the plurality of detents corresponding to the plurality of discrete positions; and 7. The controller of claim 6, further comprising a protrusion on an underside or attached to the radial arm, the protrusion engaging a detent of the plurality of detents to lock the radial arm in a discrete position of the plurality of discrete positions.

8. 8. The controller of claim 7, wherein the adjustment mechanism further comprises a biasing member for physically biasing the radial arms in a radially outward direction from a center of the head, thereby engaging the protrusions with the detents.

9. 7. The controller of claim 6, wherein the radial arm is pivotally attached to the resilient member with a two-part fastener, and a friction member is interposed between the resilient member and the radial arm.

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