Wireless Controller Gyroscope Drift Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional wheel controllers for gaming are bulky and require external support, limiting their portability and user experience, as they are typically configured with a fixed base that constrains rotation to a single axis, leading to inaccuracies in rotation measurement over time due to gyroscope drift.
Innovation Solution
A wireless controller equipped with a gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer that determines rotation angle by filtering sensor data, allowing for orientation-independent rotation measurement and eliminating the need for external support, using acceleration information when vertical and magnetic bearing information when horizontal to correct gyroscope drift.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed base is used to constrain rotation to a single axis, then rotation measurement stability is improved, but device portability and user experience deteriorate due to bulkiness and external support requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the fixed base from the controller design, extracting the external support requirement entirely. The controller now operates wirelessly without needing to be mounted on a table or other surface, making it portable while using sensor fusion algorithms to maintain rotation measurement accuracy that would traditionally require a fixed mounting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical constraint system (fixed base physically constraining rotation) with an electronic sensor fusion system. Instead of using a mechanical structure to define the rotation axis, the system uses gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer data processed through filtering algorithms to determine controller orientation and rotation angle software-definedly.
2Speed
If gyroscope data is used for rotation measurement, then response speed is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to gyroscope drift over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data from multiple sensors (gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer) into a unified rotation measurement system. The gyroscope provides high-speed rotation data, while the accelerometer and magnetometer provide absolute orientation references that correct for drift. This combination allows the system to maintain both the fast response of gyroscopic measurement and the long-term accuracy of absolute sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously comparing gyroscope-derived orientation with absolute orientation from accelerometer and magnetometer sensors. When drift is detected in the gyroscope data, the system uses the other sensors to provide corrective feedback, adjusting the rotation measurement to maintain accuracy over time while preserving the fast response characteristics of the gyroscope.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used for orientation-independent rotation measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the sensor system multi-functional by using the same gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer for multiple purposes: determining controller orientation, calculating rotation angle, detecting orientation changes (vertical/horizontal), and providing drift correction. This universal use of sensors achieves high measurement precision without proportionally increasing system complexity, as each sensor serves multiple functions within the integrated 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 a portable, orientation-independent gaming experience with accurate rotation measurement, reducing user calibration requirements and maintaining performance comparable to fixed-mount wheels without the need for external support.
Implementation Method 1
A computing device receives acceleration information from an accelerometer mechanically coupled to a wireless controller
Implementation Method 2
magnetic bearing information from a magnetometer mechanically coupled to the wireless controller
Implementation Method 3
rotation information from a gyroscope mechanically coupled to the wireless controller
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device receives acceleration information from an accelerometer mechanically coupled to a wireless controller, magnetic bearing information from a magnetometer mechanically coupled to the wireless controller, and rotation information from a gyroscope mechanically coupled to the wireless controller. When the wireless controller is primarily vertical, the computing device determines a rotation angle of the wireless controller by filtering the rotation information using the acceleration information. When the wireless controller is primarily horizontal, the computing device determines the rotation angle of the wireless controller by filtering the rotation information using the magnetic bearing information.