Foot Operated Spherical Controller for VR Input
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current VR and AR control methods are limited by room size for room-scale movement and are unnatural or imprecise for users, especially those with mobility issues, as they rely on hand-held controllers or application-specific foot pedals, which are not general-purpose and lack intuitive control options.
Innovation Solution
A foot-operated controller with a spherical ball that allows users to control applications with intuitive foot movements, using rotary motion encoders or image-based motion encoders, providing a compact and versatile control solution that can mimic mouse or trackball inputs, and offering force feedback for enhanced interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If room scale movement control is used, then movement freedom is improved, but room size limitations worsen control precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a foot-operated controller as an intermediary device between the user and the virtual environment. This mediator captures foot movements and translates them into precise digital inputs, resolving the contradiction by providing both movement freedom (through natural foot motion) and control precision (through encoder-based measurement) independently of physical room constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical room-scale movement system with a foot-operated controller using rotary motion encoders or image-based motion encoders. This substitution allows users to achieve precise control without physically moving through space, eliminating room size limitations while maintaining intuitive control through foot-based mechanical input.
2Measurement precision
If hand-held controllers are used, then control precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens for users with mobility issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional control paradigm by switching from hand-based controllers to foot-based controllers. This inversion allows users with hand mobility issues to operate the system with their feet, maintaining control precision through encoder technology while dramatically improving ease of operation for those with limited hand function.
Solution Approach 2:
The foot-operated controller serves as a universal input device that can be used by users with various mobility limitations. By designing the controller to be operable with feet rather than hands, it becomes a multi-functional solution that accommodates different user needs while maintaining precise control capabilities through encoder-based measurement.
3Ease of operation
If application-specific foot pedals are used, then ease of operation is improved for specific applications, but adaptability worsens for general use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs a universal foot-operated controller that can be used across multiple applications including VR, AR, and general computer control. The controller incorporates multiple input mechanisms (rotary motion encoders, image-based motion encoders, touch-sensitive surfaces) that can simulate various input types (mouse, trackball, directional control), making it adaptable to different applications while maintaining ease of foot-based operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic controller design where the functional characteristics can be changed through software configuration. The controller can adapt its behavior to match different application requirements (e.g., simulating mouse movements, directional control, or trackball input) while maintaining the same physical foot-operated interface, thus achieving both ease of operation and broad adaptability.
4Ease of operation
If compact controller design is used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases to achieve versatility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control functions and input mechanisms into a single foot-operated controller unit. By merging rotary motion encoders, image-based motion encoders, and touch-sensitive surfaces into one compact device, the patent achieves space efficiency while managing complexity through integrated design rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The compact foot-operated controller achieves versatility through software-based functionality rather than multiple physical components. The same physical device can simulate different input types (mouse, trackball, directional control) through software configuration, reducing hardware complexity while maintaining broad adaptability across applications.
Data Source
AI summary
A foot operated controller apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a ball large enough for a human to manipulate with two feet, and a support apparatus configured to support the ball from below, restrict translation of the ball and permit rotation of the ball about its center with respect to at least two axes. One or more position encoders are disposed proximate a surface of the ball. The encoder(s) are configured to determine a rotational displacement of the ball with respect to two or more axes.