22 February 2020

Sony Patents VR Controller With Finger Tracking

A recently-published patent from Sony Interactive Entertainment suggests that the company is working on a new VR motion controller, similar to those for the Valve Index. The patent for a Controller Device outlines an input mechanism for a home-use game machine that detects movement of a user’s hand. Not only that, but the kit features a plurality of sensor units that detect the fingers of the user. These can detect the proximity or contact of a finger and outputs a finger detection signal indicating the state of proximity or contact of the finger.


The sensor units mentioned above are placed where the fingers would rest just like the sensors on the Index controllers or those embedded in an Oculus Touch controller. When the fingers are wrapped around the sensor, the controllers can relay that information to a given VR game and reflect the user’s in-game hands as making a fist or grabbing object. When the sensors can’t find a finger, they’ll assume its extended outwards and reflect that in-app. This could indicate that Sony is looking to implement this type of finger tracking into new motion controllers.

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