Hand-held controller with pressure-sensing switch for virtual-reality systems

1. A method, comprising:

in a virtual-reality system comprising a head-mounted display (HMD) and a hand-held controller, wherein:

the hand-held controller comprises a grip, a user-input surface, and a tracking ring;

the user-input surface includes a user-input key that is mounted, at least in part, on the grip, and the user input key includes an analog pressure sensor; and

the tracking ring is coupled to the user-input surface and the tracking ring includes a plurality of illumination sources on an outer surface of the tracking ring;

the method comprising:

displaying an image of a hand on the HMD;

sensing pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor by a user holding the hand-held controller and wearing the HMD; and

displaying, on the HMD, a degree of closing of the image of the hand in proportion to the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

sensing the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor comprises sensing increased pressure being applied to the analog pressure sensor; and

the displaying comprises displaying an animation of the image of the hand at least partially closing, in accordance with the increased pressure.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the increased pressure causes the user-input key to partially depress; and

the animation shows the image of the hand partially closing.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the increased pressure causes the user-input key to fully depress; and

the animation shows the image of the hand fully closing.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

sensing the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor comprises sensing reduced pressure being applied to the analog pressure sensor; and

the displaying comprises displaying an animation of the image of the hand at least partially opening, in accordance with the reduced pressure.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

the reduced pressure causes the user-input key to partially release from a fully depressed state; and

the animation shows the image of the hand partially opening.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

the reduced pressure causes the user-input key to fully release from a fully depressed state; and

the animation shows the image of the hand fully opening.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in the virtual-reality system, at respective times:

determining that the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor corresponds to a first threshold pressure;

determining that the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor corresponds to a second threshold pressure greater than the first threshold pressure; and

determining that the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor is between the first threshold pressure and the second threshold pressure;

wherein the displaying comprises:

in response to determining that the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor corresponds to the first threshold pressure, displaying the image of the hand as fully open on the HMD;

in response to determining that the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor corresponds to the second threshold pressure, displaying the image of the hand as fully closed on the HMD; and

in response to determining that the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor is between the first threshold pressure and the second threshold pressure, displaying the image of the hand as partially open.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the first threshold pressure is zero pressure on the analog pressure sensor; and

the second threshold pressure corresponds to the user-input key being fully depressed.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the user-input key comprises:

a casing depressible by one or more fingers of the user; and

a switch coupled to the casing, wherein the switch includes the analog pressure sensor.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein sensing the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor comprises detecting a range of pressure inputs applied to the casing by the user.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the virtual-reality system comprises a controller, distinct from the hand-held controller, to control the HMD;

the analog pressure sensor comprises a transducer; and

the method further comprises, in the virtual-reality system:

converting the pressure inputs into respective analog electrical signals, using the transducer; and

providing the respective analog electrical signals to the controller for display as actions of the image of the hand.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the user-input key comprises a trigger.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

the casing is positioned within a recess of the grip; and

the switch is positioned in the casing.

15. A virtual-reality system, comprising:

a head-mounted display (HMD); and

a hand-held controller, wherein:

the hand-held controller comprises a grip, a user-input surface, and a tracking ring;

the user-input surface includes a user-input key that is mounted, at least in part, on the grip, wherein the user input key includes an analog pressure sensor;

the tracking ring is coupled to the user-input surface and the tracking ring includes a plurality of illumination sources on an outer surface of the tracking ring; and

the hand-held controller is configured to:

display an image of a hand on the HMD;

sense pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor by a user holding the hand-held controller and wearing the HMD; and

display, on the HMD, a degree of closing of the image of the hand in proportion to the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein:

sensing the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor comprises sensing increased pressure being applied to the analog pressure sensor; and

the displaying comprises displaying an animation of the image of the hand at least partially closing, in accordance with the increased pressure.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein:

sensing the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor comprises sensing reduced pressure being applied to the analog pressure sensor; and

the displaying comprises displaying an animation of the image of the hand at least partially opening, in accordance with the reduced pressure.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the hand-held controller is further configured to, at respective times:

determine that the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor corresponds to a first threshold pressure;

determine that the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor corresponds to a second threshold pressure greater than the first threshold pressure; and

determine that the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor is between the first threshold pressure and the second threshold pressure;

wherein the displaying comprises:

in response to determining that the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor corresponds to the first threshold pressure, displaying the image of the hand as fully open on the HMD;

in response to determining that the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor corresponds to the second threshold pressure, displaying the image of the hand as fully closed on the HMD; and

in response to determining that the pressure applied to the analog pressure sensor is between the first threshold pressure and the second threshold pressure, displaying the image of the hand as partially open.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein:

the user-input key comprises:

a casing depressible by one or more fingers of the user; and

a switch coupled to the casing, wherein the switch includes the analog pressure sensor.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein:

the virtual-reality system comprises a controller, distinct from the hand-held controller, to control the HMD;

the analog pressure sensor comprises a transducer; and

the hand-held controller is further configured to:

convert the pressure inputs into respective analog electrical signals, using the transducer; and

provide the respective analog electrical signals to the controller for display as actions of the image of the hand.