公开(公告)号：US11294485B2

公开(公告)日：2022-04-05

申请号：US16826800

申请日：2020-03-23

Applicant: Valve Corporation

Inventor： Scott Dalton ,  Jeffrey Peter Bellinghausen ,  Scott Douglas Nietfeld ,  Jeffrey George Leinbaugh ,  Ian Campbell ,  Cheang Tad Yoo ,  Lawrence Yang ,  Jeffrey Walter Mucha

IPC: A63F13/24 ,  G06F3/041 ,  A63F13/218 ,  G06F3/038 ,  A63F13/214 ,  A63F13/44 ,  A63F13/22

Abstract: Logic of a handheld controller can implement sensor fusion algorithms based on force data provided by a force sensing resistor (FSR) in combination with touch data or proximity data provided by a touch sensor or an array of proximity sensors, respectively. An example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to re-calibrate the FSR when an object contacts an associated control, as detected by the touch sensor. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to ignore spurious inputs detected by the FSR when an object is in contact with an adjacent control. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to detect a hand size of a hand grasping a handle of the controller, as detected by the array of proximity sensors, and to adjust the threshold force to register a FSR input event at the FSR according to the hand size.

公开(公告)号：US11167213B2

公开(公告)日：2021-11-09

申请号：US16520201

申请日：2019-07-23

Applicant: Valve Corporation

Inventor： Jeffrey Walter Mucha ,  Jeffrey George Leinbaugh ,  Eric James Hope ,  Philip Bryan ,  Scott Richard Britt ,  Scott Nietfeld ,  Claire Michelle Gottschalk ,  Jeremy Slocum

IPC: A63F13/24 ,  A63F13/428 ,  G06F3/01 ,  A63F9/24

Abstract: A controller for an electronic system includes a controller body having a handle portion, a tracking arc that is fixed to the controller body, and a hand retainer configured to physically bias a user's palm against an outside surface of the handle portion. A plurality of tracking sensors is disposed in the tracking arc, and are responsive to electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electronic system. An array of proximity sensors are spatially distributed around the outer surface of the handle portion, and are responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outside surface of the handle portion.

公开(公告)号：US20210252388A1

公开(公告)日：2021-08-19

申请号：US17174167

申请日：2021-02-11

Applicant: Valve Corporation

Inventor： Eric Judson VanWyk ,  Lucas Allen Whipple ,  Walter Petersen ,  Jeffrey Walter Mucha ,  Scott Dalton ,  Pierre-Loup Miguel Griffais

IPC: A63F13/24 ,  G06F3/0354 ,  G06F3/01 ,  G06F3/0338 ,  A63F13/214 ,  A63F13/218 ,  A63F13/285

Abstract: Described herein are controllers with sensor-rich controls for enhanced controller functionality. An example control may include a pressure sensor that is configured to detect an amount of a force of a press on a cover of the control based at least in part on a proximity of a metal layer to the pressure sensor. This control may further include a touch sensor for detecting an object contacting the cover of the control. Additional embodiments disclose, among other things, integrated trackpads and D-pads, as well as backlighting features that indicate a functional state of the controller.

公开(公告)号：US10898796B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-26

申请号：US16377058

申请日：2019-04-05

Applicant: Valve Corporation

Inventor： Eric James Hope ,  Scott Nietfeld ,  Carl Conlee ,  Scott Richard Britt ,  Jeffrey Walter Mucha ,  Jeffrey George Leinbaugh ,  Jeremy Slocum

IPC: A63F13/24 ,  A63F13/218 ,  A63F13/213 ,  A63F13/428 ,  G06F3/01

Abstract: 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 at least one 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 that are 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.

公开(公告)号：US20200218377A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-09

申请号：US16826800

申请日：2020-03-23

Applicant: Valve Corporation

Inventor： Scott Dalton ,  Jeffrey Peter Bellinghausen ,  Scott Douglas Nietfeld ,  Jeffrey George Leinbaugh ,  Ian Campbell ,  Cheang Tad Yoo ,  Lawrence Yang ,  Jeffrey Walter Mucha

IPC: G06F3/041 ,  A63F13/24 ,  A63F13/218 ,  G06F3/038 ,  A63F13/214 ,  A63F13/44

Abstract: Logic of a handheld controller can implement sensor fusion algorithms based on force data provided by a force sensing resistor (FSR) in combination with touch data or proximity data provided by a touch sensor or an array of proximity sensors, respectively. An example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to re-calibrate the FSR when an object contacts an associated control, as detected by the touch sensor. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to ignore spurious inputs detected by the FSR when an object is in contact with an adjacent control. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to detect a hand size of a hand grasping a handle of the controller, as detected by the array of proximity sensors, and to adjust the threshold force to register a FSR input event at the FSR according to the hand size.

公开(公告)号：US10549183B2

公开(公告)日：2020-02-04

申请号：US15834425

申请日：2017-12-07

Applicant: VALVE CORPORATION

Inventor： Eric James Hope ,  Scott Nietfeld ,  Carl Conlee ,  Scott Richard Britt ,  Jeffrey Walter Mucha ,  Jeffrey George Leinbaugh ,  Jeremy Slocum

IPC: A63F13/24 ,  A63F13/214

Abstract: A controller for an electronic system includes a controller body having a head and a handle, and a tracking member that is fixed to the controller body. The head includes at least one thumb-operated control, and the handle has a tubular housing that is partially wrapped by an outer shell. The controller includes a hand retainer configured to physically bias the user's palm against the outer shell. A first plurality of tracking transducers is disposed in the tracking member, the first plurality of tracking sensors being coupled with the electronic system via electromagnetic radiation. An array of proximity sensors is spatially distributed on the outer shell, the array of proximity sensors being responsive to a proximity of the user's fingers to the outer shell.

公开(公告)号：US20180361234A1

公开(公告)日：2018-12-20

申请号：US16010385

申请日：2018-06-15

Applicant: VALVE CORPORATION

Inventor： Scott Nietfeld ,  Jeffrey George Leinbaugh ,  Eric James Hope ,  Philip Bryan ,  Scott Richard Britt ,  Jeffrey Walter Mucha ,  Claire Michelle Gottschalk ,  Jeremy Slocum

IPC: A63F13/245 ,  A63F13/21 ,  A63F13/42

Abstract: A controller includes a body having a handle, and an array of proximity sensors spatially distributed on, in, beneath, or near the outer surface of the handle, responsive to a proximity of a user's fingers to that outer surface. A finger tracker converts the output of the array of proximity sensors to a set of joint angles corresponding to a plurality of the user's fingers. The controller may include a renderer for processing the joint angles to deform a hand mesh that is rendered for display. Values may be calculated to facilitate normalization of the output of the proximity sensor array and thereby generate a set of normalized finger detection data. This data may be processed through curl logic to produce a linear estimate of gross finger curl with respect to the user and thereby generate a set of estimates for a plurality of finger joint angles for the user.