Magnetic Thumbstick Assembly for VR Controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Controller devices in artificial reality systems face challenges in integrating gimbals with small ergonomic form factors and substantial motion lag, impacting user experience.
Innovation Solution
A user input assembly with a thumbstick comprising a spherical magnet and ring magnet, providing restoring torque and capacitive sensing for precise input detection, integrated with sensors to minimize lag and enhance ergonomic design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a gimbal mechanism is used to enable several degrees of freedom for input features, then the controller device achieves multi-axis motion capability, but the device size increases and motion lag occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical gimbal system with a magnetic field-based sensing system. Instead of using physical gimbals with moving parts to achieve multi-axis motion, the invention uses magnets attached to the thumbstick in combination with magnetic sensors to detect motion in multiple degrees of freedom. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical gimbal structures, significantly reducing device volume while maintaining full multi-axis motion capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the gimbal mechanism from the controller device entirely. By using a magnet-sensor system instead of mechanical gimbals, the patent eliminates the bulky gimbal components while preserving the essential function of detecting multi-axis thumbstick motion. This extraction of the mechanical gimbal system directly addresses the volume problem while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a gimbal mechanism is used to enable several degrees of freedom, then multi-axis motion capability is achieved, but substantial motion lag occurs between desired and actual motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical gimbal system with a magnetic field-based sensing system that has no moving parts. The magnets attached to the thumbstick create magnetic fields that are detected by magnetic sensors, providing direct digital measurement of thumbstick position and orientation. This eliminates the mechanical inertia, friction, and backlash inherent in gimbal mechanisms, thereby eliminating motion lag and providing instantaneous response between desired and actual motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic thumbstick assembly serves its own sensing function without requiring separate mechanical sensing mechanisms. The magnets on the thumbstick directly interact with the magnetic sensors to provide real-time feedback on thumbstick position and orientation. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional sensing components that would introduce delays, achieving instantaneous motion detection across all axes.
3Volume of moving object
If a magnetic thumbstick assembly is used instead of a gimbal, then device volume is reduced and motion lag is minimized, but precise input detection must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses magnetic sensors to detect the position and orientation of magnets on the thumbstick. Magnetic field sensing provides high-resolution measurement capability that can detect subtle changes in thumbstick position and orientation. The magnetic field data can be processed to determine precise three-dimensional position, orientation angles, and even rotational information, maintaining or exceeding the precision of traditional mechanical systems while enabling a more compact design.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic sensor system provides continuous feedback on the position and orientation of the thumbstick magnets. This feedback mechanism allows for real-time detection of thumbstick movement with high precision. The system can detect small changes in magnetic field strength and direction, translating these into accurate measurements of thumbstick position and orientation, thereby maintaining measurement precision despite the reduced mechanical complexity.
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 solution enables seamless user input with reduced lag and improved ergonomic integration, enhancing the user experience in artificial reality systems by providing precise motion detection and restoring torque for stable thumbstick movement.
Implementation Method 1
The ring magnet is configured to provide a restoring torque to the movement of the spherical magnet
Implementation Method 2
The capacitive sensing assembly may be integrated with the user input assembly, wherein the first surface, the rod, and the spherical magnet are composed of conductive materials. The capacitive sensing assembly may be configured to detect a proximity of the user's skin to the first surface of the thumbstick.
Data Source
AI summary
A thumbstick assembly is configured to receive user input. The thumbstick assembly receives input through depression of a thumbstick, lateral rotation of the thumbstick, or some combination thereof. The thumbstick comprises a first surface, a rod, a spherical magnet. The first surface receives contact with a user's skin. The rod comprises a first end coupled to the first surface and a second end coupled to the spherical magnet. The thumbstick assembly further comprises a cup and a ring magnet. The cup is configured to receive the spherical magnet, wherein the spherical magnet is configured to move about a pivot point within the cup. The ring magnet is positioned about an outer surface of the cup and is configured to provide a restoring torque to the movement of the spherical magnet. The thumbstick assembly comprises one or more sensors that detect movement of the thumbstick relative to the cup.