Third party hardware manufacturer, Splitfish, claims today to have developed a force feedback system for the PS3’s Sixaxis controller, using a “low-power consumption” technology called SensorFX.
Importantly SplitFish also claims its technology does not violate any Immersion Corporation patents, meaning that should Sony wish to make use of Splitfish’s technology, it would not face any further legal shenanigans with Immersion.
Splitfish describes the tech as follows:
Does SensorFX offer Sony a potential route back to the much-missed rumble feature on the PS3’s Sixaxis controller? SPOnG certainly hopes so and we’ll be keeping our beady eye on this to update you with any further news.
Perhaps a Sixaxis controller featuring a new form of vibration technology would then actually win an Emmy or something!
Importantly SplitFish also claims its technology does not violate any Immersion Corporation patents, meaning that should Sony wish to make use of Splitfish’s technology, it would not face any further legal shenanigans with Immersion.
Splitfish describes the tech as follows:
"[SensorFX] uses no moving parts to produce meaningful sensory feedback. A broad range of intensity and sensation compliment the ability to derive feedback sensations from isolated areas on the controller, to isolate one side or the other, movement from front to back or all areas at the same time. As an example, a gamer playing a race game can feel variations in pulse, strength and collision location and to feel intensity differences between a smooth guardrail swipe and a full frontal slam into a wall."
Does SensorFX offer Sony a potential route back to the much-missed rumble feature on the PS3’s Sixaxis controller? SPOnG certainly hopes so and we’ll be keeping our beady eye on this to update you with any further news.
Perhaps a Sixaxis controller featuring a new form of vibration technology would then actually win an Emmy or something!
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
majin dboy 31 Jan 2007 11:02
1/6
bitchy!!!!!!!!!!
SPInGSPOnG 31 Jan 2007 11:12
2/6
SlitFish wrote:
[SensorFX] uses no moving parts to produce meaningful sensory feedback.
That sound unfeasible to me!
Can anyone tell me how they are going to produce feedback without moving parts?
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jwstacey 31 Jan 2007 11:31
3/6
does a speaker count as a moving part. Probably not and Id imagine you can put the correct frequency through it to resonate with the pad ?? It would probably sound like arse tho
config 31 Jan 2007 17:02
4/6
does a speaker count as a moving part
Yes. The coil of a speaker generates an alternating electromagnetic field within a fixed magnetic field, causing the coil to move. You could work it the other way around by using a solenoid, which is a fixed magnet moving within an alternating electromagnetic field.
Both of these are different from the rumble found in most pads, however. The create rumble using rotating a motors with an off-centre weight attached.
I'm not sure how specific the Immersion patent is, but I though it was vague enough to cover any form of haptic feedback, regardless of the method of implementation.
config 31 Jan 2007 17:07
5/6
Rod Todd wrote:
SlitFish wrote:
[SensorFX] uses no moving parts to produce meaningful sensory feedback.
That sound unfeasible to me!
Can anyone tell me how they are going to produce feedback without moving parts?
Yeah, sounds hokey.
Maybe they use contacts on the pad to give you a mild electric shock to simulate vibration
:)
DoctorDee 31 Jan 2007 18:19
6/6
config wrote:
I'm not sure how specific the Immersion patent is, but I though it was vague enough to cover any form of haptic feedback, regardless of the method of implementation.
In which case it shouldn't have been granted.