Analog Input Calibration for Dead Zone Linearity

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Solution Overview

Problem

In analog input devices with a dead zone, maintaining linearity of output values based on user operations is challenging due to the non-linear mapping of correction points.

Innovation Solution

Analog input devices allocate new output values to correction points outside the dead zone range, ensuring the minimum to maximum output values correspond to the movable range excluding the dead zone, thereby maintaining linearity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If correction points are set at manufacturing time for an analog input device, then the linearity of output values can be maintained for normal operations, but the linearity cannot be maintained when a dead zone is set for the device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelinearity of output valuesVSAvoidadaptability to dead zone setting

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the correction points dynamic by allowing them to be updated after manufacturing. The allocation unit dynamically adjusts correction points based on dead zone settings, transitioning from fixed manufacturing-time correction points to adaptive runtime correction points that maintain linearity under various dead zone conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of correction points based on dead zone settings. When a dead zone is configured, the allocation unit modifies the movement amounts and output values of correction points to exclude the dead zone range, thereby maintaining linear output characteristics despite the presence of a dead zone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If a dead zone is set for the analog input device, then dead zone functionality is achieved, but the linearity of output values corresponding to user operations is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedead zone functionalityVSAvoidlinearity of output values

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the movement range of the analog input device into effective regions and dead zone regions. The allocation unit identifies correction points that fall within the dead zone and excludes them from linearity calculations, effectively segmenting the problem to maintain linearity only in the useful operational range

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The correction points are made dynamic by allowing their movement amounts to be adjusted based on dead zone settings. The allocation unit recalculates correction point parameters when dead zones are configured, enabling the system to adapt correction points dynamically to maintain linearity despite the dead zone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20260108803A1Operation apparatus, information processing method, and computer program

Publication Date: 2026.04.23 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

A controller outputs, in a case where an operation is input to an analog input device, an output value that corresponds to the operation input and that is based on a characteristic value measured and a characteristic value and an output value related to at least one of correction points determined at a time of manufacturing to an information processing apparatus. The controller allocates, in a case where a dead zone is set for the analog input device, a new output value to each of the correction points outside a range of the dead zone such that a minimum value to a maximum value of the output value correspond to a movable range of the analog input device excluding the dead zone.