Rear Controller Actuator for Thumb Stick Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional game controllers require players to remove their thumbs from thumb sticks to operate additional actions, leading to loss of control, particularly in precision games like combat, where this can cause issues with aiming or using the direction pad.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of actuators on the rear of the controller, accessible by the middle, ring, or little fingers, allowing for additional control functions without needing to remove thumbs from the thumb sticks, featuring multiple degrees of freedom and specific actuation gestures to activate control functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional control buttons are added to the front of the controller, then the quantity of control functions increases, but the ease of operation deteriorates because the user must remove their thumbs from the thumb sticks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces actuators on the rear surface of the controller, utilizing the third dimension (depth/rear surface) rather than adding controls only on the front surface. This allows the user's middle, ring, or little fingers to access additional controls without interfering with thumb operation of the front controls, effectively adding control functions while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If actuators are placed on the rear of the controller, then the ease of operation improves by allowing finger operation without removing thumbs, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases because the actuators are hidden from view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual indicators (such as LED lights or color-coded markings) on or near the rear actuators to make them detectable. These indicators allow users to locate and identify the actuators through color or light signals, overcoming the visibility issue of placing controls on the hidden rear surface while maintaining the ergonomic benefit of finger operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control functions are assigned to a single actuator, then the adaptability increases, but the device complexity increases due to multiple degrees of freedom and actuation gestures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs each rear actuator to perform multiple functions through different actuation gestures (e.g., push, pull, rotate, or press different portions). This multi-functionality approach allows a single actuator to control multiple game functions, increasing adaptability while managing complexity by consolidating controls rather than adding separate actuators for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a controller and an actuator for mounting to a controller, enables a user with access to a plurality (two or more) of control functions from a single actuator. In particular, the present disclosure provides an actuator which in normal use is hidden from view for example, but not limited to, by being mounted to the rear of a controller. It is therefore desirable that the actuator can be readily found by touch and that the user can readily find a desired control function. The actuator comprises a plurality of distinct or distinguishable degrees of freedom of movement, when mounted to the controller, the actuator requires specific actuation gestures, manipulations or actions to activate a desired one of a plurality of control functions associated with the actuator.