Glove Controller for Immersive Virtual Reality Interaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current gaming technologies lack intuitive and immersive control mechanisms, especially when using head-mounted displays (HMDs), as users cannot see their hands or objects they are holding, limiting interactive experiences in virtual environments.

Innovation Solution

A glove interface object equipped with flex sensors, pressure sensors, and light tracking systems that detect hand movements and gestures, allowing users to interact with virtual objects in real-time, even when wearing HMDs, and can be used in collaborative environments with multiple users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If users wear head-mounted displays (HMDs) for immersive virtual reality experiences, then visual immersion is improved, but users cannot see their hands or objects they are holding, limiting interactive control

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual immersionVSAvoidinteractive control
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device to capture images of the user's hands and objects in the real world, then displays these images on the HMD screen. This allows users to see their hands and objects within the virtual environment, maintaining both visual immersion and interactive control capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a visual copy of the user's hands and objects by capturing images through the camera and displaying them on the HMD. This copy enables users to see and interact with virtual representations of their physical hands, solving the visibility problem while maintaining immersion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If traditional game controllers are used for input, then control functionality is provided, but the interaction lacks intuitiveness and immersion in virtual environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol functionalityVSAvoidinteractive experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical game controllers with a camera-based vision system. Instead of using physical buttons and joysticks, the system captures images of the user's hands and objects, automatically recognizing gestures and actions to control the virtual environment, thereby providing more intuitive and adaptable interaction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The camera-based system serves multiple functions: it captures user hand gestures, identifies objects being held, tracks movement, and translates these into various control commands. This single device replaces multiple traditional controllers and provides versatile interaction capabilities across different game scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3183633B1Glove controller
Publication Date: 2022.05.25 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP3183633B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3183633B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3183633B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A glove interface object (700) is provided, comprising: an index finger portion (706); a resistance circuit including an index resistor (708) defined along a length of the index finger portion, and a power source for applying a current across the index resistor; a thumb portion (702); a probe circuit including a thumb contact (704) defined on the thumb portion, the probe circuit configured to read a voltage, via the thumb contact, at a location along the length of the index resistor at which contact between the thumb contact and the index resistor occurs; a data processing module for processing the voltage read by the probe circuit to generate thumb-index control data that is indicative of the location at which the contact between the thumb contact and the index resistor occurs; a communications module configured to send the thumb-index control data to a computing device for processing to define a setting for a virtual environment.