Barometric Altitude Correction for Gaming Controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-held controllers, such as game controllers, face inaccuracies in positional information due to reliance on accelerometers, which suffer from integration errors, particularly in altitude measurement, making them unreliable for precise control in applications like gaming systems.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a pressure sensor to provide relative altitude information, either through a calibration process or differential barometric pressure measurement between a remote control and a reference pressure sensor, to enhance positional accuracy, combined with conventional acceleration sensors for comprehensive movement detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If accelerometers are used to determine position changes and orientation changes, then the controller can provide control functions, but the positional information becomes unreliable due to integration errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing technologies (accelerometers, gyroscopes, and barometric pressure sensors) into a single controller system. The barometric pressure sensor provides absolute altitude reference that compensates for the integration errors in accelerometer-based position tracking, while all sensors work together to provide comprehensive control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The barometric pressure sensor acts as an intermediary reference that provides absolute altitude information. This intermediary measurement corrects the drift and integration errors accumulated by the accelerometers, serving as a reference point that resets the positional accuracy without disrupting the continuous control function.
2Measurement precision
If barometric pressure measurement is used to determine altitude, then absolute positional information is obtained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions using a single integrated sensor system. The same controller that handles button inputs and accelerometer data also processes barometric pressure measurements for altitude determination, eliminating the need for separate dedicated altitude measurement devices.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple sensing functions (motion detection via accelerometers, orientation via gyroscopes, and altitude via barometric pressure) are merged into a single controller unit. This integration reduces the overall system complexity by consolidating multiple separate devices into one unified control system.
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 allows for precise determination of altitude, improving control accuracy in software applications by supplementing existing positional information with reliable altitude data, enabling more intuitive and precise control in gaming and other software applications.
Implementation Method 1
uses an absolute pressure measurement to derive relative altitude information
Implementation Method 2
The pressure sensor in the remote control can comprise a capacitive pressure sensor, such as a MEMS capacitive pressure sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming system has a pressure measurement in the remote control (which may be the complete gaming apparatus) and this is used to derive a height of the remote control. In this way, barometric pressure measurement allows precise determination of the altitude of the game controller. The altitude information is then used to control the game.