Capacitive Touch Sensors for Virtual Reality Controllers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional gaming controllers require significant user effort to actuate buttons, leading to ergonomic issues and limited functionality, as they cannot detect finger hovering or light touching for different functions.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating capacitive touch sensors with multiple layers of conductive electrodes and insulating layers to detect finger position and movement above user-input keys and surfaces, allowing for activation with minimal effort and enabling multiple functions based on hovering, touching, or pressing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional buttons or knobs are used for user input, then the controller structure is simple, but the user must exert significant force to actuate the buttons, causing ergonomic issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebutton actuation effortVSAvoidcontroller structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical button actuation with capacitive touch sensing. Instead of requiring physical pressing force, the system uses capacitive sensors to detect finger proximity and contact, thereby eliminating the need for mechanical force while adding electronic sensing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameter from mechanical force to electrical capacitance. By measuring capacitance changes when a finger approaches or contacts the button, the system can detect user input without requiring physical pressing, thus reducing actuation effort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional buttons are used, then the device complexity is low, but the number of functions that can be associated with each button is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of functions per buttonVSAvoidsensor system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes each button capable of multiple functions by detecting different interaction modes (hovering vs. pressing) through capacitive sensing. A single button can trigger different actions based on whether the finger is merely approaching or making contact, thereby increasing functional versatility without adding more physical buttons

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces capacitive touch sensors as an intermediary between the user and the button functions. This intermediary layer detects subtle differences in finger interaction (proximity vs. contact) and translates them into different command signals, enabling one button to serve multiple purposes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If capacitive touch sensors with multiple layers are implemented, then the detection precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefinger position detection precisionVSAvoidsensor layer structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adds a vertical dimension to button detection by implementing multi-layer capacitive sensors. Instead of single-plane detection, the stacked layers enable three-dimensional finger position tracking, allowing the system to distinguish between fingers at different heights above the button surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a nested structure where multiple capacitive electrode layers are stacked within each other. Each layer is embedded in insulating material, creating a compact nested arrangement that enables sophisticated detection while maintaining a thin overall profile

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enables ergonomic-friendly operation with reduced strain by allowing activation of user-input keys and surfaces with minimal effort, enhancing user experience through precise detection and varied functionality.

Implementation Method 1

a first capacitive touch sensor to detect a finger of a user hovering above the first user-input key and contacting the first user-input key

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS9999833B2Hand-held controllers with capacitive touch sensors for virtual-reality systems

Publication Date: 2018.06.19 META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

There is provided a hand-held controller for a virtual-reality system. The hand-held controller includes a user-input surface and a grip coupled to the user-input surface. The user-input surface includes a first user-input key situated on the user-input surface. The first user-input key includes a first capacitive touch sensor to detect a finger of a user hovering above the first user-input key and contacting the first user-input key.