Magnetic user input assembly of a controller device
A thumbstick assembly is configured to receive user input. The thumbstick assembly receives input through depression of a thumbstick, lateral rotation of the thumbstick, or some combination thereof. The thumbstick comprises a first surface, a rod, a spherical magnet. The first surface receives contact with a user's skin. The rod comprises a first end coupled to the first surface and a second end coupled to the spherical magnet. The thumbstick assembly further comprises a cup and a ring magnet. The cup is configured to receive the spherical magnet, wherein the spherical magnet is configured to move about a pivot point within the cup. The ring magnet is positioned about an outer surface of the cup and is configured to provide a restoring torque to the movement of the spherical magnet. The thumbstick assembly comprises one or more sensors that detect movement of the thumbstick relative to the cup.
1. A user input assembly comprising:
a first surface configured to receive contact with a skin surface of a user;
a rod comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the rod coupled to the first surface;
a spherical magnet that is coupled to the second end of the rod;
a cup configured to receive the spherical magnet, wherein the cup is separate from the rod, and wherein the spherical magnet is configured to move about a pivot point within the cup; and
a ring magnet positioned about an outer surface of the cup, the ring magnet surrounding the spherical magnet positioned within the cup, wherein the ring magnet is configured to provide a restoring torque to the movement of the spherical magnet.
2. The user input assembly of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the cup has a radius of curvature that is complementary to a surface profile of the spherical magnet.
3. The user input assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ring magnet is positioned such that a diameter of the ring magnet is within a threshold distance of the pivot point of the spherical magnet.
4. The user input assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a knob coupled to the first end of the rod, wherein the first surface is part of the knob.
5. The user input assembly of claim 4 , wherein actuation of the knob generates a signal that corresponds to an amount of movement of the knob relative to the cup.
6. The user input assembly of claim 4 , further comprising one or more guides that are configured to restrict movement of the knob to move along a respective axis of the one or more guides.
7. The user input assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a collar coupled between the knob and the cup, wherein the collar is composed of a flexible material configured to flex in accordance with movement of the knob relative to the cup.
8. The user input assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first sensor and a second sensor positioned about the outer surface of the cup, wherein the first sensor is positioned at a 90 degree angle relative to the second sensor, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect movement of the rod along a first axis and the second sensor is configured to detect movement of the rod along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis.
9. The user input assembly of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are each Hall Effect sensors.
10. The user input assembly of claim 1 , wherein a static position of the user input assembly comprises the rod in an orthogonal position relative to a diameter of the ring magnet, and wherein the user input assembly further comprises a switch that is configured to restore the rod to the static position of the user input assembly.
11. The user input assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cup is composed of an insulating material and the rod is composed of a conductive material.
12. The user input assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a leaf spring comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the leaf spring positioned within an opening at a bottom portion of the cup and abutting the spherical magnet; and
a controller electrically coupled to the second end of the leaf spring and configured to determine a surface capacitance that corresponds to the skin surface of the user contacting the first surface.
13. A handheld controller device comprising:
a user input assembly comprising:
a first surface configured to receive contact with a skin surface of a user;
a rod comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the rod coupled to the first surface;
a spherical magnet that is coupled to the second end of the rod;
a cup configured to receive the spherical magnet, wherein the cup is separate from the rod, and wherein the spherical magnet is configured to move about a pivot point within the cup; and
a ring magnet positioned about an outer surface of the cup, the ring magnet surrounding the spherical magnet positioned within the cup, wherein the ring magnet is configured to provide a restoring torque to the movement of the spherical magnet.
14. The handheld controller device of claim 13 , wherein a portion of the cup has a radius of curvature that is complementary to a surface profile of the spherical magnet.
15. The handheld controller device of claim 13 , wherein the ring magnet is positioned such that a diameter of the ring magnet is within a threshold distance of the pivot point of the spherical magnet.
16. The handheld controller device of claim 13 , further comprising a knob coupled to the first end of the rod, wherein the first surface is part of the knob.
17. The handheld controller device of claim 16 , wherein actuation of the knob generates a signal that corresponds to an amount of movement of the knob relative to the cup.
18. The handheld controller device of claim 13 , further comprising a first sensor and a second sensor positioned about the outer surface of the cup, wherein the first sensor is positioned at a 90 degree angle relative to the second sensor, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect movement of the rod along a first axis and the second sensor is configured to detect movement of the rod along a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis.
19. The handheld controller device of claim 18 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are each Hall Effect sensors.
20. The handheld controller device of claim 13 , wherein the cup is composed of an insulating material and the rod is composed of a conductive material, and the handheld controller device further comprising:
a leaf spring comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the leaf spring positioned within an opening at a bottom portion of the cup and abutting the spherical magnet; and
a controller electrically coupled to the second end of the leaf spring and configured to determine a surface capacitance that corresponds to the skin surface of the user contacting the first surface.