IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,274,934
Granted Patent B2
US 12,274,934 · App. 17/908,074 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Controller

Inventors: Yukari Konishi (Tokyo, JP); Hitoshi Nakamura (Tokyo, JP); Yusuke Nakagawa (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
A63F13/285A63F13/24
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,274,934
App. No.
17/908,074
Granted
Apr 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A controller includes a sensor that uses an elastically deformable elastic member, detects user's contact with or deforming action of the elastic member, and outputs an electric signal based on the detected contact or deforming action in question.

Claims (17)

1. A controller comprising:

an elastic member comprising an elastically deformable material;

one or more sensors, the one or more sensors being configured to detect a user's contact with or a deforming action of the elastic member and output one or more electric signals based on the user's contact and/or the deforming action; and

a circuit section configured to control of a shape of the elastic member based on the electric signal, wherein the circuit section is configured to control the shape of the elastic member by applying an electric or magnetic field to the elastic member, controlling a gas volume in a gas bubble of the elastic member, or changing a temperature of the elastic member.

2. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein the controller further comprises a guide member that is provided on a front surface of the elastic member to guide a given finger of the user to a position to be touched by the finger.

3. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein a shaped portion is provided on a front surface of the elastic member to guide a given finger of the user to a position to be touched by the finger.

4. The controller according to claim 1 , wherein

the circuit section is connected to an information processing apparatus to which the electric signal is output,

the circuit section being configured to deform the elastic member in response to a signal input from the information processing apparatus.

5. A controller comprising:

an elastic member comprising an elastically deformable material;

one or more sensors, the one or more sensors being configured to detect a deforming action of the elastic member and output one or more electric signals based on the deforming action; and

a temperature control section

configured to change a temperature of the elastic member based on the one or more electric signals, wherein the temperature control section is configured to increase the temperature of the elastic member in response to an increase in an amount that the elastic member is deformed.

6. A controller comprising:

a sensor using an elastically deformable elastic member, the sensor being configured to detect user's contact with or deforming action of the elastic member and output an electric signal based on the user's contact or the deforming action, wherein the elastic member lies between a plurality of members having relatively low elastic moduli, the plurality of members being configured to detect deformation of the elastic member resulting from a user's action on the plurality of members and to output an electric signal based on the deformation, the plurality of members having relatively low elastic moduli comprising a base member and an action member, wherein a stacked body in which an elastic member and a vibration member are stacked in sequence is provided on top of the base member, and an action member is provided on top of the stacked body, and wherein the vibration member vibrates in response to a signal input from an information processing apparatus, and a vibration of the vibration member is transferred to the elastic member; and

a temperature control section configured to change a temperature of the elastic member according to an electric signal output from the sensor.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2022
From: KONISHI, YUKARI; NAKAMURA, HITOSHI; NAKAGAWA, YUSUKE
To: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Reel/Frame 060941/0389 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230099023A1 · Mar 30, 2023
References Cited (16)
US 5643087A · Marcus · 1997 [cited by examiner]
US 20070249422A1 · Podoloff · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20140125608A1 · Murata · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140152542A1 · Case · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20180299972A1 · Saito · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20200133427A1 · Billington · 2020 [cited by examiner]
JP 2008258116A · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009109540A · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2010086500A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018088254A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2020027537A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020190041279A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012093725A1 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for corresponding PCT Application No. PCT/JP2020/013441, 4 pages, dated Jun. 6, 2020. [cited by applicant]
Sungwon Lee, et.al.,“A strain-absorbing design for tissue-machine interfaces using a tunable adhesive gel,” Nature Communications 5, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6898, 8 pages, dated Dec. 19, 2014. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Reasons for Refusal for corresponding JP Application No. 2022-510235, 10 pages, dated Nov. 13, 2023. [cited by applicant]
Cited By (1)
US 1,112,489