Adaptive Virtual Control Sticks for Touchscreen Gaming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Players using touch input gaming applications with virtual control sticks often lose control due to thumb drift from fixed positions, leading to reduced accuracy and satisfaction, as they must repeatedly reset their thumbs on the sticks.

Innovation Solution

Adaptive virtual control sticks that move with the player's touch input, allowing the zero point to translate when the input exceeds a defined radius, enabling continuous control and use of the entire touch screen surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If fixed position virtual control sticks are used, then the control scheme is simple and easy to implement, but the player loses control when thumbs drift from fixed positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidcontrol reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual control sticks are transformed from fixed static positions to dynamic positions that automatically track and follow the player's thumb movements. The zero point of each virtual control stick is dynamically updated to match the current touch input position, ensuring the control mechanism adapts continuously to player movement while maintaining simple operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual control stick system automatically adjusts its zero point position based on detected touch input without requiring player intervention. The system self-corrects by continuously updating the reference position to match the player's current thumb location, eliminating the need for players to manually reset control positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If fixed position virtual control sticks are used, then the device structure is simple, but control accuracy decreases due to repeated thumb readjustment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol structure complexityVSAvoidcontrol accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual control stick zero points are made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing them to automatically track thumb position. This dynamic adjustment maintains simple device structure while significantly improving control accuracy by eliminating the need for players to repeatedly realign their thumbs with fixed control positions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If the radial maximum of virtual control sticks is limited, then the control area is compact and manageable, but the player cannot utilize the entire touch screen surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol areaVSAvoidtouch screen utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The entire touch screen surface becomes functional for control input. By making the virtual control stick zero points dynamic and allowing them to be established at any touch position, the system enables players to utilize the full screen area for control, transforming the touch screen from a display-only surface to a fully functional control interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3007787B1Adaptive touch input controls

Publication Date: 2019.03.20 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

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AI summary

Various embodiments relating to providing touch input control of a computing device are disclosed. In one example, responsive to detecting a touch input on a display, a zero point of an adaptive virtual control may be established at a display location of the touch input. Responsive to a translation of the touch input on the display away from the zero point being greater than a radius of the adaptive virtual control, the zero point may be translated.