Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Gabriel Michael Rask Gassoway

Aaron Schmitz

Jonathan Shea Robinson

Jason Victor Tsai

Christopher H Kujawski

Dustin John Tiffany

Joshua P Weiher

Kenneth Jasinski

Tsitsi Kolawole

Elliott Hsu

Gregory Kim Justice

Eph John Evans

Benjamin Michael Finney

Dan Thorstenson

Andrew McKinley Schroeder

Mohammad Sakeri

Kenneth Dennis Jasinski

A user-input device includes a user-actuatable trigger, a trigger axle about which the user-actuatable trigger pivots, a motor including a worm gear, and a reduction gear operatively intermediate the user-actuatable trigger and the worm gear of the motor.

Motor-driven adjustable-tension trigger

Game controller

Controller

A user-input device includes a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis, a rack gear, a return spring operatively intermediate the user-actuatable trigger and the rack gear, a force-feedback motor and a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger about the trigger axis. The return spring is configured to forward bias the user-actuatable trigger toward an extended posture. The force-feedback motor is configured to drive the rack gear based on a force-feedback signal and thereby adjust a spring force applied by the return spring to the user-actuatable trigger.

A user-input device includes a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis, a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger about the trigger axis, a force-feedback motor configured to activate based on a force-feedback signal, and a clutch operatively intermediate the user-actuatable trigger and the force-feedback motor and configured to mechanically change engagement between the user-actuatable trigger and the force-feedback motor.

Input device with clutched force-feedback trigger

A game controller includes a grip, one or more finger-actuatable controls on the grip, and a rim located on the grip. The rim defines an aperture. The game controller further includes a paddle-actuatable sensor accessible through the aperture and a pivot spaced apart from the aperture. The pivot is configured to removably affix a selected paddle accessory to the game controller and to translate a touch applied to the selected paddle accessory outside of the aperture to an actuation of the paddle-actuatable sensor inside the aperture.

Game controller with removable paddle accessory

A paddle accessory includes a blade, a sensor-activation feature extending from the blade, and a mounting interface spaced apart from the sensor-activation feature. The blade is sized and shaped for manual manipulation by a finger. The mounting interface is configured to selectively mate with a pivot of a game controller to removably affix the paddle accessory to the game controller. The paddle accessory is configured to rotate relative to the pivot to translate a touch force applied to the blade into an actuation force applied by the sensor-activation feature to a paddle-actuatable sensor interior an aperture of the game controller.

Paddle accessory for a game controller

A user-input device includes a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis, a rack gear interfacing with the user-actuatable trigger, a force-feedback motor including a drive gear interfacing with the rack gear, and a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger about the trigger axis. The force-feedback motor is configured to drive the rack gear based on a force-feedback signal.

Input device with linear geared feedback trigger

A user-input device includes a user-actuatable trigger configured to pivot about a trigger axis, a posture sensor configured to determine a posture of the user-actuatable trigger about the trigger axis, a force sensor configured to determine an actuation force applied to the user-actuatable trigger, and a force-feedback motor operatively coupled to the user-actuatable trigger. The force-feedback motor is configured to activate based on a force-feedback signal and adjust a user-perceived state of the user-actuatable trigger.

Input device with force sensor feedback trigger

Examples are disclosed that relate to handheld input devices having pressable user input mechanisms configured to move in a manner that adapts to different hands. One disclosed example provides a handheld input device comprising a body configured to be held by a hand such that one or more fingers of the hand are curved at least partially toward a palm of the hand, a pressable user input mechanism positioned on the body at such a location as to be in contact with a palm-side surface of a finger when the handheld input device is held, and a hinge coupling between the body and the pressable user input mechanism, the hinge coupling comprising an axis of rotation that varies based upon a characteristic of force applied to the pressable user input mechanism.

Mechanically adaptable pressable user input device

Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for a user input device, such as a game controller. The user input device includes a finger depressible trigger button, a trigger travel path adjustment assembly that resides in an internal cavity of a housing of the user input device, and a finger switch configured to be switched between a plurality of selectable positions in real-time (e.g., during game play). A first selectable position of the finger switch enables the trigger button to be depressed a first distance. A second selectable position of the finger switch enables the trigger button to be depressed a second distance that is greater than the first distance.

Hair trigger travel stop with on-demand switching

A game controller includes a trigger-activation sensor, a sensor-activation feature, and a trigger-retention feature. The sensor-activation feature is moveable relative to the trigger-activation sensor. The trigger-activation sensor outputs a control signal based on a relative position of the sensor-activation feature and the trigger-activation sensor. The trigger-retention feature is configured to removably affix a selected removable trigger accessory to the game controller. The selected removable trigger accessory is one of a plurality of differently configured removable trigger accessories removably affixable to the game controller. The selected removable trigger accessory is configured to change the relative position of the sensor-activation feature and the trigger-activation sensor based on finger manipulation of the selected removable trigger accessory when the selected removable trigger accessory is removably affixed to the game controller.

Growing community of inventors

Issaquah, WA, United States of America

Gabriel Michael Rask Gassoway