Valve Corporation

Eric Judson VanWyk

Walter Petersen

John K Ikeda

Jeffrey Walter Mucha

Lucas Allen Whipple

Scott Dalton

Pierre-Loup Miguel Griffais

Benoit Francois Collette

Richard Karstens

Staci Jane Elaan

Lawrence Yuan Yang

Michael Baseflug

Scott Douglas Nietfeld

Jeffrey George Leinbaugh

Jeremy Slocum

Carl Samuel Conlee, Iv

Philip Bryan

Benoit Collette

Montgomery Vincent Goodson

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.

Controller with sensor-rich controls

A handheld controller may include controls that are actuatable by a user. The handheld controller may further include one or more sensors that are configured to detect an object in proximity to certain controls, and/or that sense a grip or position of a hand on a handle portion of the controller. Based on data from a sensor(s), certain controls may be enabled and/or disabled. The sensors may therefore be used to determine which controls are being used or are intended to be used, and/or which controls are likely accessible or inaccessible to the user based on sensor data, and to cause one or more controls of the handheld controller to be enabled and/or disabled accordingly.

Dynamically enabling or disabling controls of a controller

Controllers that allow for adjusting various features of the controller are disclosed. The controller may include may include one or more speakers for outputting sound or audio content. A user may contact one or more of the speakers with a finger(s) to adjust a characteristic of the audio content and/or to adjust audio settings. For example, a user may touch a speaker with his/her finger to change (e.g., increase or decrease) the volume or to mute the sound. In some instances, the speakers may be located on the controller body of the handheld controller for convenient and quick access by the user.

Controller with adjustable features

Systems and methods for providing low latency and high bandwidth wireless data transport for various applications, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, or video applications. A wireless data transport system is provided that includes an electrically steerable antenna, such as a phased-array antenna, that is operative to selectively steer its beam based on control input. The wireless data transport system includes a tracking subsystem that is operative to track a mobile wireless device (e.g., head-mounted display (HMD), tablet computer, smart phone) as the mobile wireless device moves around in a tracked volume. The wireless data transport system utilizes the known position, orientation, or movement of the mobile wireless device receiving the data (e.g., video data) from the tracking subsystem and compensates for movement of the mobile wireless device by selectively adjusting the beamforming pattern of the steerable antenna based at least in part on the tracking data received from the tracking subsystem.

Wireless data transport system for head-mounted displays

Systems and methods for distributing power over a relatively long distance by sending high frequency alternating current (AC) over a transmission subsystem between a sender subsystem and a receiver subsystem. Power may be sent from the sender subsystem to the receiver subsystem over a transmission subsystem that includes first and second conductors, such as pair of shielded or unshielded wires twisted together. The sender subsystem may utilize a resonant converter to provide sinusoidal oscillation, which greatly reduces the radio emissions normally caused in DC systems due to high frequency current draws by a load. The receiver system may include a resonant converter or discontinuous conduction mode flyback converter, which provides DC power to a load.

Systems and methods for long reach high efficiency power distribution

An electronic controller includes a controller body having 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. An adjustment mechanism couples the resilient member to the head and permits the resilient member to be adjusted betweena plurality of discrete positions to adjust the resilient member towards or away from the user's purlicue. The adjustment mechanism may include an anchor that is movable peripherally about the head between the plurality of discrete positions and is pivotably attached to the resilient member with a two-part fastener, with a friction member interposed between the resilient member and the anchor.

Electronic controller with finger sensing and an adjustable hand retainer

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Eric Judson VanWyk