Patent ID: 12186655

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.

Various exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The following description of at least one exemplary embodiment is only illustrative and in no way constitutes any limitation on the implementation solutions, use and application.

It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters indicate similar items in the following drawings. Therefore, once an item is defined in a drawing, it does not need to be further discussed in subsequent drawings.

With the development of technology, the requirements for the user experience of gamepads from the game users are constantly increasing. Therefore, different feelings need to be fed back to the game players according to different game scenes, so as to increase the realisticity of the game and enhance the interest of the game.

In view of this, it is proposed herein to add a force feedback mechanism to the gamepad, so that different functions such as pushback and vibration can be provided when the user operates.

Here, the force feedback module of the gamepad may comprise: a drive mechanism, which generates a feedback force; a gamepad trigger; and a unidirectional transmission mechanism, which is coupled between the drive mechanism and the gamepad trigger and transmits the feedback force from the drive mechanism to the gamepad trigger in one direction.

Here, the force feedback module has a simple structure and is suitable for gamepads. For gamepads, especially single handed gamepads, this simple structure can greatly save space, so that the force feedback module can be effectively applied to gamepads, especially small gamepads.

In addition, by transmitting the feedback force through the unidirectional transmission structure, it can be combined with the gamepad trigger to generate the feedback force when the drive mechanism is working, and can be separated from the gamepad trigger without affecting the movement of the gamepad trigger when the drive mechanism is working. In this way, on the one hand, the gamepad can be compatible with force feedback mode and non-force feedback mode; on the other hand, for the frequently used gamepad, the force feedback module will not make the gamepad completely unusable.

In an embodiment, the force feedback module may also comprise a reset mechanism. The reset mechanism drives the gamepad trigger to reset after the external force for pressing the gamepad trigger is released.

In the gamepad comprising the force feedback function, the reset mechanism is independent of the force feedback part and is closer to the gamepad in terms of setting. In this way, on the one hand, the force feedback part does not need to consider the issue of reset, so the design of the force feedback part can be independent from the design of the gamepad; on the other hand, for the gamepad that game users often use heavily, this design can ensure that the basic working performance of the gamepad can still be guaranteed when the force feedback part does not work or fails.

The different embodiments and examples of the force feedback module of the gamepad will be described below with reference toFIGS.1-9.

FIG.1is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a force feedback module according to an embodiment,FIG.2is a schematic block diagram of the position of a force feedback module in a gamepad according to an embodiment, andFIG.3is a schematic exploded view of components of a force feedback module according to an embodiment.

InFIG.1, an upper housing1, a gamepad trigger6, a torsion spring7, a trigger shaft8and a trigger gear9of the force feedback module can be seen. The trigger gear9is disposed on the trigger shaft8. The torsion spring7is also disposed on the trigger shaft8.

In the exemplary embodiment ofFIG.2, the force feedback module is located in the gamepad100, and is located below an upper button of the gamepad100. When the game user grips the gamepad100, the gamepad trigger at the back of the gamepad produces a force feedback effect when the user operates.

The exploded view ofFIG.3shows the upper housing1, a driving ratchet gear2, a motor gear3, a motor4, a lower housing5, the gamepad trigger6, the torsion spring7, the trigger shaft8, the trigger gear9, a driven ratchet gear10, a ratchet gear shaft11and a silicone pad12.

FIG.4is a schematic diagram of component engagement relationship in a force feedback module according to an embodiment.

In this embodiment, the drive mechanism comprises a motor4and a motor gear3. The motor gear3is fixed on the output shaft of the motor4. Thus, when the output shaft of the motor4rotates, the motor gear3also follows to rotate. The unidirectional transmission mechanism comprises a driving ratchet gear2and a driven ratchet gear10engaged by ratchet teeth. Both the driving ratchet gear2and the driven ratchet gear10are mounted on the ratchet gear shaft11. The ratchet gear shaft11may be fixed between the upper housing1and the lower housing5.

As shown inFIG.4, the motor gear3is meshed with the driving ratchet gear2. The driving ratchet gear2can drive the driven ratchet gear10in the feedback force transmission direction.

Since the motor4is meshed with the driving ratchet gear2of the unidirectional transmission mechanism through the motor gear3, the position of the motor4has a large degree of freedom relative to the position of the unidirectional transmission mechanism. For example, the motor4may also be located on the upper or lower side of the driving ratchet gear2; alternatively, the motor4may also be located on a side opposite to the driven ratchet gear10with respect to the motor gear3inFIG.4. In the embodiment ofFIG.4, the motor4is located on the same side as the driven ratchet gear10with respect to the motor gear3and the driving ratchet gear2. In this way, the force feedback module has a folded structure, so that the force feedback module has a compact contour. Using such a structure in the gamepad can further improve the utilization of the internal space of gamepad.

As shown inFIG.4, the trigger gear9is meshed with the driven ratchet gear10. In this way, the feedback force can be transmitted to the gamepad trigger through the meshing between the trigger gear9and the driven ratchet gear10.

In an embodiment, the trigger gear9is a fan-shaped gear. On the one hand, the fan-shaped trigger gear9can save space; on the other hand, the side end face of the fan-shaped trigger gear9can abut against the inner surface of the gamepad trigger6, thereby applying a feedback force to the gamepad trigger6.

Here, the trigger gear9is mounted on the trigger shaft8. The trigger shaft8may be fixed to the housing structure of the gamepad.

In this embodiment, the reset mechanism comprises a torsion spring7. The torsion spring7is also disposed on the trigger shaft8. One end of the torsion spring7is used to press against the housing or bracket of the gamepad, and the other end is pressed against the trigger gear9and applies a reset driving force towards the reset position to the trigger gear9. In this way, the torsion spring7can be combined with the trigger gear9. In this case, the reset can be realized by the torsion spring7, and the torsion spring7and the trigger gear9share some components. In addition, when the feedback force is applied and the motor4is not working, the torsion spring7can make the trigger gear9abut against the inner surface of the gamepad trigger6without being in a relaxed state, thereby not affecting the use of the gamepad. In addition, in this case, it does not need an additional fixing device to fix the trigger gear9to the gamepad trigger6.

FIG.6is a schematic diagram of ratchet teeth engagement relationship in a force feedback module according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG.6, the first ratchet teeth13of the driving ratchet gear2are located on a side of the driving ratchet gear2, the second ratchet teeth14of the driven ratchet gear10are located on a side of the driven ratchet gear10, and the first ratchet teeth13and the second ratchet teeth14are arranged to face each other. Both the driving ratchet gear2and the driven ratchet gear10are mounted on the ratchet gear shaft11. Such a ratchet structure is simple, easy to realize and low in manufacturing cost.

As shown inFIG.6, the first ratchet teeth13comprises at least three ratchet teeth portions uniformly distributed along the circular side of the driving ratchet gear2, and the second ratchet teeth14comprises at least three ratchet teeth portions uniformly distributed along the circular side of the driven ratchet gear10. Such a uniform ratchet teeth setting can keep the ratchet gears stable when transmitting the feedback force without too much shaking and thus affecting the feedback effect.

In addition, the spacing of the ratchet teeth portions may correspond to the pressing stroke of the gamepad trigger6. In other words, when the gamepad trigger6is pressed from the outermost side to the innermost side, the distance that one ratchet teeth portion of the driven ratchet gear10moves is less than or equal to the distance between two adjacent ratchet teeth portions. In this way, the operation of the ratchet teeth can be limited to a controllable range, which can effectively improve the stability and reliability of the gamepad in the process of use.

FIG.5is a schematic diagram of component engagement relationship in the force feedback module in operating state according to an embodiment.

As shown inFIG.5, when the motor4works, the output shaft drives the motor gear3to rotate along the direction of arrow A. The motor gear3drives the driving ratchet gear2to rotate along the direction of arrow B. At this point, the driving ratchet gear2drives the driven ratchet gear10to rotate along the direction of arrow C through ratchet teeth. Then, the driven ratchet gear10drives the fan-shaped trigger gear9to rotate along the direction of arrow D to resist the external force applied to the gamepad trigger6along the direction of arrow E, thereby forming a force feedback effect. The signal input to motor4can be adjusted according to the software to form different force feedback effects such as damping, vibration, gun trigger, etc.

FIG.7is a schematic diagram of component engagement relationship in the force feedback module when the gamepad trigger is pressed according to an embodiment. When the motor4does not work, the working mechanism of the force feedback module when the gamepad trigger is pressed is shown inFIG.7. As shown inFIG.7, when the motor does not work, and the gamepad trigger6is pressed along the direction of arrow E for the first time, the fan-shaped trigger gear9is driven to move along the direction of arrow F, the driven ratchet gear10is driven to rotate along the direction of arrow G, and the driving ratchet gear2and motor gear3are pushed to reset through ratchet teeth.

FIG.8is a schematic diagram of component engagement relationship in a force feedback module when the gamepad trigger is reset according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG.8, when the motor does not work, after the external force for pressing the gamepad trigger6is released, under the action of the torsion spring7, the fan-shaped trigger gear9moves along the direction of arrow K, and the gamepad trigger6resets outward along the direction of arrow J. Due to the movement of the fan-shaped trigger gear9, the driven ratchet gear10rotates in the direction of the arrow L. Due to the unidirectional transmission of the ratchet, the ratchet of the driven ratchet gear10and the driving ratchet gear2are separated, so that the press and reset actions of the gamepad trigger6is no longer affected by the motor4, and the press and reset are realized only under the action of external force and torsion spring7.

FIG.9is a schematic diagram of component engagement relationship in a force feedback module when the gamepad trigger is pressed and reset according to an embodiment. The circle210inFIG.9indicates the state when the ratchet teeth of the driving ratchet gear2and the driven ratchet gear10are engaged. The circle220inFIG.9indicates the state when the ratchet teeth of the driving ratchet gear2and the driven ratchet gear10are disengaged.

FIG.10is a schematic block diagram of a gamepad according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG.10, the gamepad310comprises a gamepad control unit311and a force feedback module312. The gamepad control unit311generates a feedback force control signal. The force feedback module312is, for example, the force feedback module described in the above embodiments. The drive mechanism of the force feedback module312receives the feedback force control signal from the gamepad control unit311to generate a corresponding feedback force.

FIG.11is a schematic block diagram of a game system according to an embodiment. As shown inFIG.11, the game system comprises a gamepad310and a game processing device320. In addition, the game system may also comprise a display device330.

The gamepad310is, for example, the gamepad shown inFIG.10. The game processing device320generates a feedback force signal required by the game. The gamepad control unit311of the gamepad310receives the feedback force signal from the game processing device320and generates a corresponding feedback force control signal. The gamepad control unit311sends the feedback force control signal to the force feedback module312to generate a corresponding feedback force.

The gamepad310, the game processing device320, and the display device330may be connected by various wired and/or wireless methods. The display device330may be, for example, a liquid crystal display device, a micro LED display device, a projection display device, etc. In some cases, at least two of the gamepad310, the game processing device320, and the display device330may be integrated together. For example, the gamepad310, the game processing device320, and the display device330may be integrated together. The game processing device320is provided in the gamepad310. A micro projection display device is provided in the gamepad310as the display device330.

The specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recited in the claims may be performed in a different order from those in the embodiments and the desired results may still be achieved. In addition, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require a particular sequence or a continuous sequence as shown in order to achieve the desired results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.