Directional Pad with Touch and Force Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional directional pads on handheld controllers are limited by their ability to provide only four directional inputs, which restricts user control and can lead to confusion and incorrect input selections due to their small form factor.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a touch sensor to measure position and a force sensor to measure force exerted on the directional pad's surface, allowing for touch-based and force-based actions that enable more intuitive and precise control, such as movement in multiple directions and dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional buttons are added to provide more user inputs, then the number of commands that can be issued increases, but the controller's form factor becomes more complex and user confusion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The directional pad is designed to perform multiple functions: it can detect four-directional presses (up, down, left, right), positional touches at various locations on its surface, and force magnitude variations. This multi-functionality allows a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate buttons, increasing user input capability without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a new dimension of interaction by incorporating force sensing capability to the traditional four-directional pad. By measuring both the position where a user touches the pad surface and the force magnitude applied, the system transforms a two-dimensional directional indicator into a multi-dimensional input device that can recognize presses at different locations with different force levels, thereby expanding command possibilities without adding physical buttons
2Ease of operation
If the directional pad is kept simple with four directions, then the form factor remains compact, but the control precision and range of commands are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces traditional mechanical switch-based directional detection with sensor-based detection systems. Force sensors and position sensors electronically detect press magnitude and touch location, substituting mechanical segmentation with continuous analog measurement. This allows the simple four-directional pad structure to provide precise input detection across multiple dimensions without adding mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection parameters from simple directional switching to continuous measurement of force magnitude and touch position. By monitoring variations in force strength and contact location on the pad surface, the system extracts multiple commands from a single physical component, thereby increasing measurement precision while maintaining the simplicity of the pad's physical structure
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 combination of touch-based and force-based actions enhances user control, enabling movement in three dimensions and providing a higher degree of precision and learnability, improving user input capabilities in applications like gaming.
Implementation Method 1
a force sensor that is configured to measure a force exerted on the directional pad's upper surface
Implementation Method 2
a touch sensor configured to measure a position at which an electrically-conductive object like a user's finger touches an upper surface of the directional pad
Data Source
AI summary
A directional pad for a controller can comprise an upper surface, a touch sensor, and a force sensor. The touch sensor can be configured to measure a position at which an electrically-conductive object touches the upper surface of the directional pad. The force sensor can be configured to measure a force exerted on the upper surface of the directional pad.