Controllers with asymmetric tracking patterns

1. A handheld controller, comprising:

a handle portion comprising a top end and a bottom end, the top end comprising opposing left-hand and right-hand sides; and

a single ring portion connected to the handle portion, wherein:

the ring portion extends in a left-hand direction from the left-hand side of the top end of the handle portion, the ring portion is connected to the left-hand side of the top end of the handle portion, and the ring portion curves in the left-hand direction away from the left-hand side of the top end of the handle portion;

the ring portion also extends in a right-hand direction away from the right-hand side of the top end of the handle portion, the ring portion is connected to the right-hand side of the top end of the handle portion, and the ring portion curves away in the right-hand direction away from the right-hand side of the top end of the handle portion; and

the ring portion comprises tracking features for tracking movement of the handheld controller.

2. The handheld controller of claim 1 , wherein the tracking features comprise at least one of:

fiducial markers;

lights;

reflectors; and

signal generators.

3. The handheld controller of claim 2 , wherein the tracking features comprise light emitting diodes.

4. The handheld controller of claim 3 , wherein the light emitting diodes comprise infrared light emitting diodes.

5. The handheld controller of claim 1 , wherein the ring portion forms an outer circumference.

6. The handheld controller of claim 5 , wherein the tracking features are disposed on the outer circumference of the ring portion.

7. The handheld controller of claim 5 , wherein a length of the handle portion from the top end to the bottom end is at a substantially 45 degree angle to a plane formed by the outer circumference.

8. The handheld controller of claim 1 , wherein the ring portion connected to the handle portion forms a closed loop.

9. The handheld controller of claim 1 , wherein the ring portion comprises a forward edge and a distinct rear edge.

10. The handheld controller of claim 9 , wherein the tracking features comprise:

a row of tracking features disposed adjacent the forward edge; and

a row of tracking features disposed adjacent the distinct rear edge.

11. A handheld controller, comprising:

a handle portion;

a single ring portion comprising:

an outer circumference;

a forward edge;

a distinct rear edge;

a first row of tracking features that are positioned on the outer circumference adjacent the forward edge of the ring portion; and

a second row of tracking features that are positioned on the outer circumference adjacent the distinct rear edge of the ring portion;

wherein:

the ring portion is connected to a left-hand side of a top end of the handle portion, and the ring portion curves away in a left-hand direction away from the left-hand side of the top end of the handle portion; and

the ring portion is connected to a right-hand side of the top end of the handle portion, and the ring portion curves away in a right-hand direction away from the right-hand side of the top end of the handle portion.

12. The handheld controller of claim 11 , wherein a distance of the first row of tracking features from the forward edge alternates repeatedly from a first distance to a second distance that is different than the first distance.

13. The handheld controller of claim 11 , wherein the tracking features of the second row are positioned at approximately the same distance from the distinct rear edge.

14. The handheld controller of claim 11 , wherein the tracking features of the first row are positioned at substantially the same circumferential distance with respect to each other.

15. A pair of handheld controllers, the pair of handheld controllers comprising:

a right-hand controller with a tracking light pattern for tracking movement of the right-hand controller; and

a left-hand controller with a tracking light pattern for tracking movement of the left-hand controller;

wherein:

the right-hand controller and the left-hand controller are substantially symmetric with respect to each other with an exception of their respective tracking light patterns;

the right-hand tracking light pattern and the left-hand tracking light pattern are asymmetric with respect to each other despite the fact that the right-hand controller and the left-hand controller are substantially symmetric with respect to each other; and

for each of the right-hand controller and the left-hand controller:

a ring portion is connected to a left-hand side of a top end of a handle portion, and the ring portion curves away in a left-hand direction away from the left-hand side of the top end of the handle portion; and

the ring portion is connected to a right-hand side of the top end of the handle portion, and the ring portion curves away in right-hand direction away from the right-hand side of the top end of the handle portion.

16. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 15 ,

wherein the right-hand tracking light pattern includes a first row of tracking lights that is positioned adjacent a forward edge of a respective ring portion.

17. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 15 , wherein the left-hand tracking light pattern includes a first row of tracking lights that is positioned adjacent a forward edge of a respective ring portion.

18. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 17 ,

wherein, for the left-hand tracking light pattern, a second row of tracking lights is positioned adjacent a rear edge of the respective ring portion.

19. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 18 , wherein tracking lights of the first row of the left-hand controller are disposed at a distance from the forward edge of the respective ring portion that alternates between a first distance and a second distance that is different than the first distance.

20. The pair of handheld controllers of claim 15 , wherein both the right-hand tracking light pattern and the left-hand tracking light pattern comprise LED lights.