Virtual Touch Controller Layout With Haptic Feedback Cues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Touch-enabled control schemes for computer controllers lack the tactile feel and responsiveness of physical controllers, making it difficult for users to determine button presses without looking at the screen and requiring reliance on peripheral vision for input accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A virtualized physical controller system that provides haptic, audio, and visual feedback for button presses on a touchscreen, allowing users to intuitively interact with input mechanisms by associating regions on the screen with input mechanisms and adjusting layouts based on user preferences, application context, and character selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch-enabled control schemes are used on flat screen devices, then device portability and accessibility are improved, but tactile feedback and input accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements visual feedback mechanisms including highlighted button regions, press confirmation indicators, and layout adjustments that provide real-time visual confirmation of input actions. This compensates for the lack of tactile feedback in touch-enabled devices, allowing users to accurately determine which buttons are pressed without relying on peripheral vision alone.
2Adaptability or versatility
If physical controller buttons are replaced with touchscreen buttons, then device integration is improved, but tactile feel and button identification deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual differentiation techniques where button regions are highlighted with distinct colors or visual indicators when pressed. This allows users to easily identify which virtual buttons correspond to physical controller buttons, maintaining intuitive control mapping without tactile feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a visual dimension to button identification by displaying highlighted regions and press confirmations on the touchscreen. This compensates for the removed tactile dimension, providing another sensory channel for button identification and press confirmation.
3Loss of information
If virtual controller buttons are made visible on screen, then button identification is improved, but immersion and peripheral vision reliance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective visibility where button highlights and press confirmations are displayed only in specific contexts or temporarily during input actions. This provides necessary visual information for accurate input while minimizing continuous visual distractions that would break game immersion.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are techniques for implementing a virtualized physical controller. The techniques may include receiving user input(s) on a touchscreen display of a user device, including a first touch from which can define a primary input region and one or more secondary touches offset from the first which can define or more secondary input regions arranged adjacent to the primary input region. The input regions are associated with respective input mechanisms or commands in the configuration data. While the configuration data is implemented, the touchscreen display can monitor for touches, detect touch input in the configured regions, and generate activation data for each input mechanism or command in response to touch. The positions and shapes of the input regions may be iteratively redefined as touch input is monitored on the touchscreen display.