Illuminated Control Stick With Annular Light Guide Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional gaming controllers primarily focus on tactile feedback and lack visual stimulation, failing to fully enhance the gaming experience beyond mere input functionality.
Innovation Solution
A control stick with an integrated annular light guide structure and light sources that emit light through a transparent or translucent material, providing RGB lighting effects and enhancing the sensory experience by adding visual feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If traditional gaming controllers use only tactile feedback mechanisms, then the controller maintains simple functional design, but the sensory experience remains limited and lacks visual stimulation
Solution Approach 1:
The annular light guide structure is disposed inside the outer tube-like opaque wall in a concentric manner, with the elongated central axial member fitted inside the annular light guide structure. This nested arrangement integrates multiple functional components (light guide, light sources, central axis) within a compact cylindrical form factor, adding visual feedback capability without significantly increasing external dimensions or structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines haptic feedback mechanisms with visual feedback through the annular light guide structure and light sources. The control stick assembly integrates both tactile (haptic) and visual stimulation systems into a single unified controller component, allowing simultaneous multi-sensory gaming experience while maintaining functional consolidation rather than separate systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If gaming controllers add multiple sensory feedback mechanisms, then the sensory experience is enhanced, but the controller complexity increases beyond mere input device functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The control stick assembly serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical input control through the control stick mechanism, tactile feedback through haptic mechanisms, and visual feedback through the annular light guide structure with light sources. This multi-functional design allows a single component to deliver diverse sensory experiences (tactile and visual) and control capabilities, enhancing versatility without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function
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
The control stick enhances user engagement by providing aesthetically distinct lighting effects, such as breathing lights and spectrum cycling, which can be synchronized with game situations, combining with haptic feedback for a more immersive gaming experience.
Implementation Method 1
an annular light guide structure disposed inside the outer tube-like opaque wall in a concentric manner so as to be lined against the interior wall surface of the outer tube-like opaque wall... at least one light source disposed to transmit light to the annular light guide structure in a manner such that the annular light guide structure directs the light to the annular end surface
Data Source
AI summary
A control stick including a stick assembly including: an outer tube-like opaque wall; an annular light guide structure disposed inside the outer tube-like opaque wall in a concentric manner wherein an annular end surface of the annular light guide structure is flushed with a first end of the outer tube-like opaque wall; and an elongated central axial member fitted inside the annular light guide structure and held by the annular light guide structure. A first axial end of the elongated central axial member is directed in a same first direction as the first end of the outer tube-like opaque wall. A second axial end of the elongated central axial member includes a control-engagement-element for engaging with a control stick mechanism. The control stick further including at least one light source disposed to transmit light to the annular light guide structure which is directed to the annular end surface thereof.