Smart Trigger-Stop Adjusts Signal Mapping for Faster Response
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Videogame controllers with traditional triggers face inefficiencies in fast-paced games due to the need to pull the trigger fully to activate functions, leading to wasted time and potential missed opportunities, as the gradient signal mapping can result in insufficient signal strength for activation thresholds, especially when using trigger-stops that limit travel distance.
Innovation Solution
A smart trigger-stop system that allows manual adjustment of the trigger's travel path and signal mapping, enabling a switch between different signal profiles based on the trigger-stop's position, allowing for quicker activation and sufficient signal strength by altering the signal mapping scheme when the trigger-stop is engaged.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a trigger-stop is used to limit trigger travel distance for faster activation, then response time is improved, but signal strength becomes insufficient to meet activation thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the signal mapping parameters dynamically based on trigger-stop position. When the trigger-stop is engaged, the system adjusts the mapping profile to amplify or shift the signal gradient, ensuring that the reduced trigger travel distance still produces sufficient signal strength to meet activation thresholds. This resolves the contradiction by modifying the electrical signal characteristics rather than the mechanical trigger travel.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different signal mapping profiles depending on whether the trigger-stop is engaged or disengaged. This dynamic adaptation allows the controller to optimize signal output for each operational mode, ensuring reliable activation whether the trigger travels the full distance or is limited by the trigger-stop.
2Speed
If traditional gradient signal mapping is used with limited trigger travel, then trigger activation speed is improved, but the signal gradient fails to reach activation threshold
Solution Approach 1:
The system modifies the signal mapping parameters based on trigger-stop engagement status. When engaged, it applies a different mapping profile that compensates for the reduced trigger travel distance, ensuring the signal still reaches the required activation threshold while maintaining fast response times.
3Device complexity
If trigger-stop position is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different gaming scenarios is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic signal mapping that automatically adapts to the trigger-stop position. The controller can switch between different mapping profiles based on whether the trigger-stop is engaged, providing versatility for different gaming scenarios without adding mechanical complexity to the trigger-stop mechanism itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The signal mapping system serves multiple functions: it handles both full-trigger-travel scenarios and trigger-stop-engaged scenarios using the same hardware. This multi-functionality allows a single trigger-stop mechanism to work across various gaming contexts without requiring separate systems for each mode.
Data Source
AI summary
Videogame controllers with smart trigger stops may include: a housing including a trigger, the trigger movable along a path of travel; a sensor configured to detect the position of the trigger and to generate a signal representing trigger position; a processor configured to interpret signals generated by the sensor and cause an output signal to be transmitted to a gaming console; a trigger-stop that is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the trigger-stop in the disengaged position allowing the trigger to move along the entire path of travel, the trigger-stop in the engaged position blocking the trigger from moving along the entire path of travel; and a switch coupled with the housing and the trigger-stop, wherein movement of the trigger-stop from the disengaged position to the engaged position flips the switch and causes the processor to map received signals to generated signals in a different manner.