Controller Usage State Determination via Vibration Flag

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Controllers with motion sensors and vibrators can incorrectly determine usage state due to vibration, leading to failure in turning off power during periods of inactivity, as the motion detected by the sensor may be misinterpreted as user input.

Innovation Solution

A usage state determination apparatus and method that includes a vibration control section, a detection result acceptance section, and a usage state determination section, which causes the vibrator to vibrate and accepts motion detection results, restricting the determination of controller usage based on motion during vibration events, and includes a power control section to turn off power when the controller is deemed inactive for a specified duration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the usage state determination technique uses motion sensor detection results to determine controller usage, then the controller can detect user input through motion, but the vibrator's motion is misinterpreted as user input causing incorrect usage state determination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveusage state determination accuracyVSAvoidpower saving function reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a vibration state flag as an intermediary variable to mediate between the motion sensor detection and the usage state determination. When the vibrator is activated, this flag is set to prevent motion detection results from influencing the usage state determination, thereby resolving the conflict between motion-based input detection and vibration-induced false positives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by setting the vibration state flag before the motion sensor detection can be misinterpreted. The vibration state is determined based on vibrator activation status, and this predetermined state is used to restrict the influence of motion detection results on usage state determination during vibration periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of energy

If the system restricts usage state determination based on motion during vibration, then power can be turned off during inactivity, but the system complexity increases due to additional control logic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidusage state determination logic complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The usage state determination logic is segmented into distinct pathways: one for when the vibrator is active (using non-motion detection results and restricting motion-based determination) and another for when the vibrator is inactive (using full motion sensor detection). This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by creating clear, conditional logic branches rather than a single complex determination process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3477435B1Use state determination device, use state determination method, and program
Publication Date: 2025.03.26 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP3477435B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3477435B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3477435B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Provided are a usage state determination apparatus, a usage state determination method, and a program that prevent a determination from being made that a controller is in use due to vibration of a vibrator. A vibration control section (48) causes a vibrator of the controller to vibrate. A detection result acceptance section (42) accepts a detection result of a controller motion. A usage state determination section (44) determines that the controller is in use on the basis of the detection result of the controller motion. When the vibrator vibrates, the usage state determination section (44) places a restriction on the making of a determination that the controller is in use on the basis of the detection result of the controller motion.