Valve Corporation

Cheang Tad Yoo

Ian Campbell

Lawrence Yuan Yang

Jeffrey Peter Bellinghausen

Scott Dalton

Jeffrey Walter Mucha

Scott Douglas Nietfeld

Jeffrey George Leinbaugh

Michael Jacob Goerz

Brian David Hensley

Austin Palmer

Christopher Lee Bjordhal

A force sensing resistor (FSR) that is constructed with a first substrate made of polyimide disposed underneath a second substrate that is resistive and flexible. A handheld controller for an electronic system may include the FSR having a first substrate made of polyimide. The FSR may be mounted on a planar surface of a structure within the controller body, such as a structure mounted within a handle of the controller body, and/or a structure that is mounted underneath at least one thumb-operated control that is included on a head of the controller body. The FSR may be configured to measure a resistance value that corresponds to an amount of force applied to an outer surface of the handle and/or an amount of force applied to the at least one thumb-operated control.

Force sensing resistor (FSR) with polyimide substrate, systems, and methods thereof

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.

Sensor fusion algorithms for a handheld controller that includes a force sensing resistor (FSR)

Described herein are, among other things, handheld controllers that include one or more touchpads (i.e., touch-sensitive controls) configured to detachably couple to one or more overlays that effectively transform the respective touchpad into a different control. For instance, one example handheld controller may include a circular trackpad that is configured to detect a position of a finger on a top surface of the trackpad. This position may be used to control a cursor or avatar, for scrolling, or for any other type of command. In general, most or all of the top surface may be usable by a user for providing input to the controller and/or a remote system coupled to the controller. As described herein, however, one or more different overlays may detachably couple to a housing of the controller and/or the trackpad itself to effectively change the use of the trackpad.

Handheld controllers with detachable overlays

Described herein are, among other things, handheld controllers having touch-sensitive controls, as well as methods for use of the touch-sensitive controls and methods for assembling the handheld controllers. An example handheld controller may include a top-surface control (e.g., a 'trigger button') that includes a switch, a pressure sensor, and a touch sensor for detecting a presence, location, and/or gesture of a finger on the top-surface control.

Handheld controllers with touch-sensitive controls

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Bothell, WA, United States of America

Cheang Tad Yoo