Game Controller Vibration Noise Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Game controllers equipped with vibrators and motion sensors face issues where the vibrating motion of the vibrator is misinterpreted by the motion sensor, leading to unintended game character movements, causing an unpleasant experience for the user.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a low pass filter with a cutoff frequency set lower than the natural frequency of the game controller to isolate and remove the vibration component attributed to the vibrator's motion from the sensor data, ensuring accurate detection of user-intended movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a motion sensor is installed in the game controller to detect user movement, then the game operation data becomes more realistic and diverse, but the motion sensor detects vibration-induced motion from the vibrator, causing unintended game character movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegame operation data input methodsVSAvoidmotion detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the vibration-induced motion component from the sensor output data through signal processing. By identifying the characteristic frequency of vibrator-induced motion and filtering it out, the system separates the harmful vibration signal from the useful user movement signal, allowing the motion sensor to continue functioning while eliminating the interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary signal processing mechanism between the motion sensor and the game operation data generation. This intermediary layer analyzes the sensor output, identifies vibration-induced motion through frequency analysis, and selectively removes these components before generating game operation data, thus mediating between the sensor's comprehensive detection and the game's precise control requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a vibrator is mounted on the game controller to provide tactile feedback, then the user experiences a sense of reality during gameplay, but the vibrator generates motion that is misinterpreted by the motion sensor as user input

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetactile feedback effectivenessVSAvoidvibration-induced false motion signals
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful vibration-induced motion signals into a detectable pattern by analyzing the characteristic frequency and timing of vibrator-induced motion. By identifying this pattern, the system can selectively filter out these signals while preserving legitimate user movements, thus converting what was previously harmful interference into a recognizable signature that enables precise signal separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the periodic nature of vibrator-induced motion to identify and filter these signals. By detecting the regular frequency and timing patterns characteristic of vibrator operation, the system can distinguish periodic vibration-induced motion from more irregular user movements, enabling selective removal of the harmful periodic signals while preserving aperiodic user inputs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 solution effectively filters out the vibration-induced noise, providing a more realistic and intended game experience by accurately reflecting the user's intended movements without unwanted character behavior.

Implementation Method 1

a low pass filter installed at the output of the motion sensor... The cutoff frequency of the low pass filter is set lower than the natural frequency (natural vibration frequency) of the game controller... at least a part of the vibration component of the housing attributed to the vibrating motion of the vibrator can be removed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLow pass filter: Filter (electronic)

Implementation Method 2

at least one vibrator... The at least one vibrator being fixed to the housing... the vibration component of the housing attributed to the vibrating motion of the vibrator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2014341B8Game Controller
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

A technique which easily removes the motion element of the game controller which is attributed to the vibrating motion of a vibrator from the output data of an acceleration sensor or reduces the element can be achieved by the present invention. In a game controller, an acceleration sensor detects the movement of the game controller. LPF is installed at the output of the acceleration sensor. Vibrators are installed inside of a housing. The cutoff frequency of LPF is set lower than the peak value of the natural frequency of the game controller. The cutoff frequency of LPF may be set to two thirds or less of the peak value of the natural frequency of the game controller.