VR Controller Hand Retainer and Finger Sensing for Secure Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing VR system controllers face challenges in balancing ease of use, functionality, and design constraints, particularly in maintaining secure grip and facilitating intuitive user interaction.

Innovation Solution

A controller design featuring a hand retainer with an adjustable strap and integrated tracking and proximity sensors, allowing secure grip and enhanced user interaction through capacitive sensing and electromagnetic tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a hand retainer with adjustable strap is provided to attach the controller to the user's hand, then secure grip and retention are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and adjustment mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure gripVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hand retainer strap is made adjustable to accommodate different hand sizes and grip preferences, allowing the retention force and positioning to be dynamically optimized for each user while maintaining secure grip without requiring a completely new design for each hand size

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable strap mechanism allows users to modify the retention parameters (tightness, position) to achieve optimal secure grip, transforming a fixed-design problem into an adjustable-parameter solution that maintains reliability across different users

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If proximity sensors are integrated into the controller handle, then finger motion detection precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensors and processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefinger motion detectionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The proximal sensors serve multiple functions: detecting finger presence, determining grip state, and enabling gesture recognition, allowing a single sensor system to provide comprehensive finger motion detection without requiring separate specialized sensors for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Traditional mechanical switches or physical contact-based detection are replaced with proximity sensors that use electromagnetic fields to detect finger motion, eliminating moving parts and mechanical wear while improving detection precision and enabling more subtle gesture recognition

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 secure handling and intuitive control of VR systems by maintaining grip without dropping, facilitating precise finger motion detection, and enhancing gameplay interactions.

Implementation Method 1

an array of proximal sensors disposed just under its outer surface, the array of proximal sensors being responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outer surface of the handle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

The tracking member 130 includes a plurality of tracking transducers disposed therein... the array of proximal sensors being responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic tracking: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3697509B1Electronic controller with finger sensing and an adjustable hand retainer
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 VALVE CORPORATION
  • EP3697509B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3697509B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3697509B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A controller for an electronic system includes a tracking member fixed to a controller body. The controller body has a head that adjoins a handle at a neck region, and that includes a thumb-operated control. The controller includes a hand retainer that in a closed position is configured to physically bias the user's palm against an outer surface of the handle. The hand retainer includes a resilient member that biases the hand retainer towards an open position. The resilient member is attached to an anchor that is attached to the head by an adjustment mechanism that permits the resilient member to be moved towards or away from the user's purlicue. The tracking member includes transducers coupled to the electronic system by electromagnetic radiation. Proximity sensors, spatially distributed on the handle, are responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outer surface of the handle.