Motion-Sensed Button Input for Analog Press Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional controller devices are expensive and require complex calibration to accurately detect analog inputs, as they need a detector element for each control, making them insensitive to quick button presses and prone to individual differences and aging.

Innovation Solution

An information processing device with a motion sensor, such as an acceleration or gyro sensor, generates motion data to calculate the magnitude of housing movement when a control button is pressed, allowing for analog detection without separate detector elements for each button, enabling sensitive detection of quick presses and reducing calibration complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If detector elements are provided for each control button to detect analog input, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalog detection accuracyVSAvoidnumber of detector elements

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single motion sensor serves multiple control buttons simultaneously by detecting housing movement caused by any button press, eliminating the need for separate detector elements for each button while maintaining analog detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The housing acts as an intermediary that transmits the mechanical force from any pressed button to the motion sensor, allowing indirect detection of button press magnitude without direct contact between the sensor and each button

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If detector elements are used for analog detection, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to calibration requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalog detection accuracyVSAvoidcalibration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The motion sensor automatically detects housing movement characteristics without requiring external calibration, as the sensor naturally responds to the physical displacement caused by button presses in a straightforward manner

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If detector elements are provided for each control, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalog input detection accuracyVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A single motion sensor is designed to detect presses on multiple different buttons, reducing the total component count and manufacturing cost while maintaining the ability to detect analog input magnitude for each button

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The detection function for multiple buttons is merged into a single motion sensor system, combining what would have been separate detector elements into one unified sensing mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Measurement precision

If detector elements are used for analog detection, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to aging and individual differences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalog detection accuracyVSAvoidstability over time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The motion sensor is designed as a robust, simple device without fragile detector elements that are prone to aging, prioritizing long-term reliability and stability over extreme precision requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 cost-effective, accurate analog detection of control button operations, improving sensitivity to quick presses and reducing calibration needs, while providing a novel control environment that adjusts press-down load and accompanying jerk, enhancing gameplay experiences in devices like video game controllers and mobile telephones.

Implementation Method 1

a motion sensor (701), preferably an acceleration sensor, for generating motion data (Da4) according to movement of housing (71)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration detection: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

a motion sensor (701), preferably a gyro sensor, for generating motion data (Da4) according to rotation of housing (71)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGyroscopic effect: Gyroscope

Data Source

PatentEP1884869B1Information processing device and storage medium storing information processing program

Publication Date: 2017.11.29 NINTENDO CO LTD

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AI summary

An information processing device of the present invention includes a housing, a plurality of control buttons provided on a surface of the housing, button data generation means for, when one of the control buttons is operated, generating the control button data according to a kind of the control button, and a motion sensor for generating the motion data according to movement of housing. The motion data is stored in the memory as necessary. The magnitude of housing movement at a point in time when the control button is operated is calculated, by using motion data already stored in the memory upon obtaining the control button data generated at the point in time and/or motion data stored in the memory after obtaining the control button data. A process determined according to the kind of the control button data is performed based on the magnitude.