Thumb Stick Pressure Input at Displacement Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld controllers with thumb sticks are limited in providing continuous input sensitivity due to displacement limits, leading to reduced functionality and user frustration when the thumb stick reaches its displacement limit, as the force applied by the user varies without corresponding changes in displacement output.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating pressure sensors, such as capacitance, resistance, piezoresistive, piezoelectric, or optical sensors, into the controller to detect pressure applied to the thumb stick beyond its displacement limit, allowing for additional input data beyond traditional displacement measurements, which is transmitted to the entertainment device to update the game state accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If pressure sensors are incorporated into the controller to detect pressure applied to the thumb stick, then input sensitivity and functionality are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing capabilities (displacement sensing via potentiometers and pressure sensing via pressure sensors) into a single integrated controller system. The pressure sensors are integrated into the controller body to detect pressure applied to the thumb stick, while displacement is simultaneously measured by potentiometers. This merging of multiple sensing functions into one device enhances input sensitivity without requiring separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed to provide multiple input modalities through a single device: it can detect both the displacement position of the thumb stick (via potentiometers) and the pressure force applied (via pressure sensors). This multi-functionality allows the same controller to offer continuous positional input and discrete pressure-based input, enhancing versatility and input sensitivity while avoiding the need for multiple separate input devices.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the thumb stick displacement limit is reached, then mechanical stability is maintained, but input functionality is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a new dimension of input detection by incorporating pressure sensing capability alongside the existing displacement detection. When the thumb stick reaches its displacement limit, the system can still gather input information through the pressure dimension detected by the pressure sensors. This allows the controller to maintain mechanical stability (displacement limit) while expanding input functionality by utilizing pressure as an alternative input dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from relying solely on displacement as the input parameter to utilizing both displacement and pressure parameters. When displacement reaches its limit, the controller can interpret pressure variations as distinct input signals, effectively changing the active input parameter from positional to force-based. This parameter change enables continued input functionality even when mechanical displacement is constrained.
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
Enhances input sensitivity and functionality by interpreting pressure variations as distinct inputs, providing new control options and improving user experience by supplementing existing button inputs with pressure-sensitive data, even when the thumb stick is at its displacement limit.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating pressure sensors, such as capacitance, resistance, piezoresistive, piezoelectric, or optical sensors, into the controller to detect pressure applied to the thumb stick
Implementation Method 2
Incorporating pressure sensors, such as capacitance, resistance, piezoresistive, piezoelectric, or optical sensors, into the controller to detect pressure applied to the thumb stick
Implementation Method 3
Incorporating pressure sensors, such as capacitance, resistance, piezoresistive, piezoelectric, or optical sensors, into the controller to detect pressure applied to the thumb stick
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for determining a displacement of a control stick and an applied pressure on the control stick comprises at least a first control stick, one or more sensors configured to sense a pressure applied to at least one control stick and to generate corresponding pressure information, first circuitry configured to receive displacement information associated with a physical displacement of the control stick, second circuitry configured to receive from one or more of the sensors pressure information associated with the pressure applied to the control stick, and third circuitry configured to determine the displacement of the control stick and the applied pressure on the control stick; wherein at least a first sensor is configured to sense the pressure applied when the physical displacement of the control stick reaches a displacement limit.