Controller Vibration Noise Suppression via Localized Haptic Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Controller apparatuses with vibration mechanisms often generate unintended vibration noise when the push-in button is moved to its second position, causing unwanted vibrations in other components.

Innovation Solution

A controller apparatus with a vibrating body that includes an actuator and arm, controlled by a processor to selectively vibrate the push-in button within a predetermined range, adjusting vibration strength based on the button's position to minimize noise propagation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the vibration mechanism is activated when the push-in button is moved to the second position, then haptic feedback is provided to the user, but unintended vibration noise is generated and propagated to other components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehaptic feedbackVSAvoidunintended vibration noise
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration mechanism is designed to vibrate only the push-in button locally rather than the entire controller body. The vibration motor is positioned to contact the back side of the push-in button, creating localized vibration that provides haptic feedback to the user while preventing vibration propagation to other components of the controller apparatus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The push-in button itself serves as an intermediary element between the vibration motor and the user's finger. The vibration motor vibrates the button, which then transmits the vibration to the user's finger, while the button's physical presence acts as a barrier that prevents vibration from propagating to other components of the controller.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Power

If the vibration mechanism is designed to contact the back side of the push-in button, then vibration is effectively transmitted to the user, but the vibration can still propagate to other components generating noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidvibration noise propagation
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The push-in button is designed as a thin, flexible component that can be effectively vibrated by the vibration motor while its thin structure does not provide a rigid pathway for vibration propagation to other components. The button's flexibility allows it to vibrate strongly for haptic feedback while limiting the transmission of vibration energy to surrounding structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Effectively suppresses unintended vibration noise by dynamically controlling the vibration amplitude and range, ensuring the user experiences intended haptic feedback without unnecessary noise.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration mechanism (14) that contacts a back side of the push-in button (131) in order to vibrate the push-in button (131)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3825818B1Controller apparatus, controller apparatus controlling method, and program
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP3825818B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3825818B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3825818B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a controller apparatus including a vibrating body movable within a predetermined movable range thereof, an operating member operated by a user, the operating member being movably operable within a movable range thereof overlapping partially with the movable range of the vibrating body, a reception section configured to receive a vibration instruction designating generation of vibration, a detection section configured to detect a position of the operating member within the movable range thereof, and a control section configured to give vibration to the operating member by controlling a position and vibration of the vibrating body in accordance with the received vibration instruction and the detected position of the operating member. When predetermined conditions are satisfied, the control section controls the vibration of the vibrating body in a manner correcting the vibration designated by the vibration instruction.