IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,405,668
Granted Patent B2
US 12,405,668 · App. 18/334,247 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Force feedback trigger for handheld device

Inventors: Michelle Warner (Seattle, WA); Madeline Blair Aby (Seattle, WA); Rémy O'Leary Pieron (North Bend, WA); Tzu-Yuan Wang (Campbell, CA); Lorenz Henric Jentz (Seattle, WA); Jason Andrew Higgins (Seattle, WA); Walker Robb (Seattle, WA); Michael Allison (Ridgefield, WA); Joshua Yasbek (Portland, OR); Douglas Harriman (Portland, OR)
Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
G06F3/016A63F13/285
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,405,668
App. No.
18/334,247
Granted
Sep 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

As disclosed herein, a system may comprise a handheld device in electronic communication with a controller. The handheld device may comprise a housing defining an internal cavity and an orifice providing access to the internal cavity. A trigger may comprise an external and an internal surface. The trigger may be oriented to cover the orifice. A transfer member may be oriented in the internal cavity and coupled to the internal surface of the trigger. A force sensor may be oriented in the internal cavity and may engage a distal end of the transfer member and the internal surface of the trigger. A transfer roller may be oriented in the internal cavity and coupled to the distal end of the transfer member. A cam may be oriented in the internal cavity and may engage the transfer member. A motor may be oriented in the internal cavity and coupled to the cam.

Claims (51)

1. A system, comprising:

a controller;

a handheld device in electronic communication with the controller, wherein the handheld device comprises a housing, wherein the housing defines an internal cavity, and wherein the housing defines an orifice providing access to the internal cavity;

a trigger comprising an external surface and an internal surface, wherein the trigger is oriented to cover the orifice providing access to the internal cavity;

a transfer member oriented in the internal cavity and coupled to the internal surface of the trigger;

a force sensor oriented in the internal cavity and engaged to a distal end of the transfer member and the internal surface of the trigger;

a transfer roller oriented in the internal cavity and coupled to the distal end of the transfer member;

a cam oriented in the internal cavity and configured to indirectly engage the transfer member; and

a motor oriented in the internal cavity and coupled to the cam.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the motor comprises a rotational motor configured to cause the cam to rotate about an axis.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transfer member comprises a proximal end, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the internal surface of the trigger, and wherein a coupling interface between the transfer member and the trigger is configured to permit a rotation at the coupling interface.

4. The transfer member of claim 3 , wherein a first section of the distal end of the transfer member engages the force sensor and a second section of the distal end of the transfer member is coupled to the transfer roller.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an encoder, wherein the encoder is configured to convert at least rotary position to electronic signals.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a gear train coupled to the motor and the cam, wherein the gear train is configured to adjust a rotational speed or a torque applied to the cam by the motor.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the trigger comprises a Hall effect sensor, wherein the Hall effect sensor provides data regarding a simulated action in an augmented reality/virtual reality environment.

8. A system, comprising:

a handheld device, wherein the handheld device comprises a housing, wherein the housing defines an internal cavity, and wherein the housing defines an orifice providing access to the internal cavity;

a trigger comprising an external surface and an internal surface, wherein the trigger is oriented to cover the orifice providing access to the internal cavity;

a transfer member oriented in the internal cavity and coupled to the internal surface of the trigger;

a force sensor oriented in the internal cavity and engaged to a distal end of the transfer member and the internal surface of the trigger;

a transfer roller oriented in the internal cavity and coupled to the distal end of the transfer member;

a cam oriented in the internal cavity and configured to indirectly engage the transfer member;

a motor oriented in the internal cavity and coupled to the cam; and

a controller in electronic communication with the handheld device, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive, via the force sensor, a force input from the trigger;

determine, based on the force input, a response force to be applied to the transfer member; and

cause the motor to initiate a first rotation, transferring a rotational force through the cam and applying the response force to the transfer member.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the motor comprises a rotational motor configured to cause the cam to rotate about an axis.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the transfer member comprises a proximal end, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the internal surface of the trigger, and wherein a coupling interface between the transfer member and the trigger is configured to permit a second rotation at the coupling interface.

11. The transfer member of claim 10 , wherein a first section of the distal end of the transfer member engages the force sensor and a second section of the distal end of the transfer member is coupled to the transfer roller.

12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising an encoder, wherein the encoder is configured to convert at least rotary position to electronic signals.

13. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a gear train coupled to the motor and the cam, wherein the gear train is configured to adjust a rotational speed or a torque applied to the cam by the motor.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the trigger comprises a Hall effect sensor, wherein the Hall effect sensor provides data regarding a simulated action in an augmented reality/virtual reality environment.

15. A system, comprising:

a handheld device, wherein the handheld device comprises a housing, wherein the housing defines an internal cavity, and wherein the housing defines an orifice providing access to the internal cavity;

a trigger comprising an external surface and an internal surface, wherein the trigger is oriented to cover the orifice providing access to the internal cavity;

a transfer member oriented in the internal cavity and coupled to the internal surface of the trigger;

a force sensor oriented in the internal cavity and engaged to a distal end of the transfer member and the internal surface of the trigger;

a transfer roller oriented in the internal cavity and coupled to the distal end of the transfer member;

a cam oriented in the internal cavity and configured to indirectly engage the transfer member;

a motor oriented in the internal cavity and coupled to the cam;

a gear train coupled to the motor and the cam, wherein the gear train is configured to adjust a rotational speed or a torque applied to the cam by the motor; and

a controller in electronic communication with the handheld device, wherein the controller is configured to:

receive, via the force sensor, a force input from the trigger;

determine, based on the force input, a response force to be applied to the transfer member; and

cause the motor to initiate a first rotation, transferring a rotational force through the cam and applying the response force to the transfer member.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the motor comprises a rotational motor configured to cause the cam to rotate about an axis.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the transfer member comprises a proximal end, wherein the proximal end is coupled to the internal surface of the trigger, and wherein a coupling interface between the transfer member and the trigger is configured to permit a second rotation at the coupling interface.

18. The transfer member of claim 17 , wherein a first section of the distal end of the transfer member engages the force sensor and a second section of the distal end of the transfer member is coupled to the transfer roller.

19. The system of claim 15 , further comprising an encoder, wherein the encoder is configured to convert at least rotary position to electronic signals.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the trigger comprises a Hall effect sensor, wherein the Hall effect sensor provides data regarding a simulated action in an augmented reality/virtual reality environment.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2025
From: ALLISON, MICHAEL; YASBEK, JOSHUA; HARRIMAN, DOUGLAS
To: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 071088/0103 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63351780 · Jun 13, 2022
Related Publication 20230400926A1 · Dec 14, 2023
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