LED Tracking Ring for Hand-Held VR Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current VR controllers lack the ability to accurately track hand motion, position, and natural gestures, limiting the realism and tactile experience in virtual environments.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held VR controller with a handle and an LED tracking ring that emits light for capture by an imaging device, allowing precise tracking of hand movements and finger actions, combined with a button for user input and wireless communication for intuitive interaction in virtual spaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional VR controllers are used, then the device structure is simple, but the ability to track hand motion, position, and gestures is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an LED tracking ring as an intermediary element that emits light detectable by external cameras. This ring acts as a mediator between the physical controller and the virtual environment, enabling precise tracking of hand position, orientation, and gestures without requiring complex internal sensors throughout the controller body.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical tracking systems with an optical solution. Instead of using numerous mechanical sensors, gyroscopes, and accelerometers to track controller movement, the system uses LED lights emitted by the tracking ring that are captured by external imaging devices, substituting mechanical measurement with optical detection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If basic controller design is used, then the device is simple to manufacture, but the tactile experience and hand presence in VR is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The tracking ring serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the controller, enables optical tracking of position and orientation, and allows detection of various hand gestures. This multi-functionality increases adaptability without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity, as the same component performs multiple roles.
Solution Approach 2:
The LED tracking ring utilizes light emission (color changes) to communicate controller state and position information to the external imaging system. By varying the light properties, the system can encode multiple types of information including position, orientation, and potentially gesture states, enhancing versatility through optical signaling.
3Measurement precision
If no tracking ring is used, then the controller design is simple, but the ability to capture natural gestures and finger movements is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The LED tracking ring serves as an intermediary that makes invisible hand movements visible to the tracking system. By placing LEDs on the ring, the system can detect subtle changes in hand position, orientation, and gesture that would otherwise be difficult to capture, enabling precise gesture recognition without complex internal sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The tracking ring adds a new dimension to tracking by providing a reference frame that can be observed from multiple angles by external cameras. The ring's circular geometry and light emission create a detectable signature in three-dimensional space, enabling the system to track hand position, orientation, and gesture in multiple dimensions simultaneously.
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
Enables realistic and tactile hand presence in VR environments, allowing users to perform natural gestures and manipulate objects with precision, enhancing the overall VR experience.
Implementation Method 1
Light sources are mounted on the curved outer surface and configured to emit light to be captured by an imaging device for tracking a position or orientation of the hand-held controller. The light is emitted in a direction normal to the curved outer surface.
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held controller includes a handle extending in a longitudinal direction. The handle is shaped and dimensioned to be grasped by a user's hand. A ring is attached to an end of the handle and surrounds a thumb of the user when the handle is grasped by the user's hand. The ring has an annular surface that defines a plane that forms a predetermined angle with respect to the longitudinal direction, and a curved outer surface. Light sources are mounted on the curved outer surface and configured to emit light to be captured by an imaging device for tracking a position or orientation of the hand-held controller. The light is emitted in a direction normal to the curved outer surface.