Tactile Touchscreen Overlay for Virtual Gamepad Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication devices lack ergonomic game controls, limiting the gaming experience when used for mobile gaming, and existing solutions fail to provide tactile feedback comparable to traditional gamepad controllers.
Innovation Solution
A communication device with a touch display that overlays a display cover featuring raised contours to simulate physical gamepad controls, providing tactile feedback and enhancing the gaming experience by presenting a virtual gamepad on an external display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a virtual gamepad controller is presented on a touch screen, then the device can provide game control functionality, but it lacks tactile feedback and ergonomic controls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a physical copy of the virtual gamepad controller by forming a three-dimensional structure on the touch screen surface. This physical replica includes raised contours and recessed areas that mirror the button layout of traditional gamepads, providing users with tactile feedback without requiring additional external devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional flat touch screen to a three-dimensional surface by forming raised contours and recessed areas. This dimensional change enables users to feel the physical structure of gamepad controls through their fingers, adding tactile feedback to the visual interface.
2Ease of operation
If a physical gamepad controller is used, then ergonomic controls and tactile feedback are provided, but the device cannot be easily transported and used in various locations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the virtual gamepad interface with the physical touch screen surface, creating an integrated system where the three-dimensional structure is formed directly on the device surface. This combination eliminates the need for separate physical controllers while maintaining tactile feedback and ergonomic controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a physical copy of the virtual gamepad controller by forming a three-dimensional structure on the touch screen surface. This physical replica includes raised contours and recessed areas that mirror the button layout of traditional gamepads, providing users with tactile feedback without requiring additional external devices.
3Ease of operation
If a flat touch screen is used, then the device maintains a simple and compact form factor, but it cannot provide tactile feedback for virtual controls
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional flat touch screen to a three-dimensional surface by forming raised contours and recessed areas. This dimensional change enables users to feel the physical structure of gamepad controls through their fingers, adding tactile feedback to the visual interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different surface properties to different regions of the touch screen. Specific areas are formed with raised contours and recessed areas to correspond with virtual control elements, while other areas remain flat. This localized modification provides tactile feedback only where needed for control interaction.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device, method, and computer program product combine the mobility and flexibility of presenting a virtual gamepad on a touch display with tactile feedback associated with physical gamepad controllers. The electronic device connects to an external display. A controller of the electronic device executes a game application to present, via the external display, a game screen. The controller detects a first display cover configured to overlay a touch display of the electronic device and having raised contour(s). The controller identifies a virtual gamepad configuration having virtual control(s) associated with the game application. The controller presents the virtual gamepad configuration on the touch display. The raised contour of the display cover is positioned to provide tactile feedback to guide interaction with the virtual control(s). Identification and/or orientation of the virtual gamepad configuration is based at least in part on detecting the display cover.