Asymmetric Haptic Feedback for Game Controller Directional Turns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing game systems fail to provide a nuanced and immersive experience by not effectively utilizing vibration feedback in both hands of the user, limiting the realism and engagement of virtual space interactions.
Innovation Solution
A game system with a first vibration portion in one hand and a second vibration portion in the other, controlled to provide stronger vibration to one hand when the virtual object turns left and stronger to the other when it turns right, while maintaining equal vibration before direction changes, enhancing the tactile feedback during operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If vibration feedback is provided uniformly to both hands, then the system structure is simple and easy to control, but the user experience lacks immersion and differentiation for directional feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different vibration strengths to different hands based on the direction of turn. When the vehicle turns left, the left hand receives stronger vibration feedback while the right hand receives weaker feedback, and vice versa for right turns. This localized differentiation enhances directional awareness without requiring complex system-wide changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements asymmetry by intentionally creating unequal vibration feedback between the left and right hands during directional turns. The vibration control unit generates asymmetric vibration patterns where one hand experiences stronger vibration than the other, mirroring the asymmetric nature of directional movement and providing intuitive tactile cues for turn direction.
2Reliability
If vibration strength is increased during direction changes, then the tactile feedback becomes more pronounced and immersive, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by providing vibration feedback only during specific events (directional turns) rather than continuously. The vibration control unit activates strong vibration temporarily when a turn is detected, then returns to normal operation, creating a periodic pattern of high-energy and low-energy states that reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining immersive feedback when needed.
3Reliability
If separate vibration portions are provided for each hand, then the directional feedback capability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the vibration feedback system into separate left and right vibration portions, each independently controllable. This segmentation allows the system to provide differentiated vibration feedback to each hand based on turn direction, enhancing directional feedback capability through modular, independent control of each vibration portion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach provides a more immersive experience by differentiating the tactile feedback between hands, allowing users to intuitively feel the direction changes of virtual objects, thereby enhancing the realism and engagement of the game.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration portion generating vibration based on a control signal from an information processing apparatus
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A game system (1) includes a first vibration portion (108, 118) arranged in a portion held with one hand of a user and a second vibration portion (118, 108) arranged in a portion held with the other hand of the user, an operation portion (3, 4; 32, 52, 103, 113) which accepts an operation input by the user, a representation control unit (814) which provides such a screen representation that an object moving in a virtual space turns left in accordance with a first operation input by the user onto the operation portion and such a screen representation that an object (302) moving in the virtual space turns right in accordance with a second operation input by the user onto the operation portion, and a vibration control unit (818) which vibrates the first vibration portion more strongly than the second vibration portion when the screen representation control unit provides the screen representation that the object turns left and vibrates the second vibration portion more strongly than the first vibration portion when the representation control unit provides the screen representation that the object turns right.