IP Library Granted Patent US 9,839,840
Granted Patent B2
US 9,839,840 · App. 14/934,090 · Granted Dec 12, 2017

Interconnectable handheld controllers

Inventor: Clare Regimbal Long (Edmonds, WA)
Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
A63F13/235
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,839,840
App. No.
14/934,090
Granted
Dec 12, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pair of interconnectable handheld controllers is disclosed. The pair of controllers includes a right-hand controller and a left-hand controller. The right-hand controller includes a right-hand handle portion, a surrounding right-hand ring portion, and a first connector disposed on the right-hand ring portion. The left-hand controller includes a left-hand handle portion, a surrounding left-hand ring portion, and a second connector disposed on the left-hand ring portion. The first connector and the second connector are cooperative to releasably attach the right-hand controller and the left-hand controller together. The first connector and the second connector can be magnets, cooperative hook and loop material, or a ball and socket arrangement.

Claims (47)

1. A pair of handheld controllers, comprising:

a right-hand controller, including:

a right-hand handle portion;

a right-hand ring-shaped tracking frame extending from opposite sides of and surrounding the right-hand handle portion;

a plurality of right-hand light sources disposed on the right-hand tracking frame; and

a first connector disposed on the right-hand tracking frame; and

a left-hand controller, including:

a left-hand handle portion;

a left-hand ring-shaped tracking frame extending from opposite sides of and surrounding the left-hand handle portion;

a plurality of left-hand light sources disposed on the left-hand tracking frame; and

a second connector disposed on the left-hand tracking frame;

wherein the first connector and the second connector are cooperative to releasably attach the right-hand controller and the left-hand controller together.

2. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 1 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are magnets.

3. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 1 , wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is loop material, and the other of the first connector and the second connector is hook material.

4. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 1 , wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is a ball, and the other of the first connector and the second connector is a socket configured to releasably receive the ball therein.

5. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 1 , wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is a tee shaped member, and the other of the first connector and the second connector is a slotted receptacle configured to releasably receive the tee shaped member therein.

6. A pair of handheld controllers, comprising:

a right-hand controller, including:

a right-hand handle portion;

a surrounding right-hand ring portion extending from opposite sides of and surrounding the right-hand handle portion;

a plurality of right-hand light sources disposed on the surrounding right-hand ring portion; and

a first connector disposed on the surrounding right-hand ring portion; and

a left-hand controller, including:

a left-hand handle portion;

a surrounding left-hand ring portion extending from opposite sides of and surrounding the left-hand handle portion;

a plurality of left-hand light sources disposed on the surrounding left-hand ring portion; and

a second connector disposed on the surrounding left-hand ring portion;

wherein the first connector and the second connector are cooperative to releasably attach the right-hand controller and the left-hand controller together.

7. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 6 , wherein the right-hand controller and the left-hand controller are substantially symmetric with respect to each other.

8. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 6 , wherein the first connector and the second connector are magnets.

9. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the magnets is positioned substantially flush with an outer surface of one of the surrounding right-hand ring portion or the surrounding left-hand ring portion.

10. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 8 , wherein the magnets include a first magnet positioned underneath a first outer surface of each of the surrounding right-hand ring portion and a second magnet positioned underneath a second outer surface of the surrounding left-hand ring portion.

11. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 6 , wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is loop material, and the other of the first connector and the second connector is hook material.

12. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 6 , wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is a ball, and the other of the first connector and the second connector is a socket configured to releasably receive the ball therein.

13. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 6 , wherein one of the first connector and the second connector is a tee shaped member, and the other of the first connector and the second connector is a slotted receptacle configured to releasably receive the tee therein.

14. A pair of handheld controllers, comprising:

a first controller, including:

a first handle portion;

a first ring-shaped frame portion extending from opposite sides of and surrounding the first handle portion; and

a plurality of first light sources disposed on the first ring-shaped frame portion; and

a second controller, including:

a second handle portion;

a second ring-shaped frame portion extending from opposite sides of and surrounding the second handle portion; and

a plurality of second light sources disposed on the second ring-shaped frame portion;

wherein the second ring-shaped frame portion includes a gap formed in the second ring-shaped frame portion, whereby the first ring-shaped frame portion and the second ring-shaped frame portion can be linked together.

15. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 14 , wherein the first ring-shaped frame portion includes a gap formed in the first ring-shaped frame portion, whereby the first ring-shaped frame portion and the second ring-shaped frame portion can be linked together.

16. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 14 , wherein the first controller and the second controller are substantially symmetric with respect to each other.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 26, 2022
From: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
To: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 060199/0876 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 20, 2018
From: OCULUS VR, LLC
To: FACEBOOK TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 047112/0836 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 8, 2015
From: LONG, CLARE REGIMBAL
To: OCULUS VR, LLC
Reel/Frame 037242/0646 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170128828A1 · May 11, 2017