PlayStation VR Glove Controller Patent Registered By Sony, Concept Images Leaked

With these sensors, ideally, gamers can interact with virtual objects such as the ability to pick them up, toss an object around, or even squeeze an object.

The patent, spotted by Ars Technica, is for a “Glove Interface Object” presumably created to work with the PlayStation VR (or perhaps a future successor). But this glove offers a bit more functionality than those handheld wands, including sensors that can “identify a flex of at least one finger portion”, contact sensors that can detect when you touch a thumb to another fingertip, and sensors that measure the user’s “finger position pose” (which can then be rendered on the screen). Integrated “haptic feedback” would also give the user some tactile sense of what a held object feels like.

The glove interface object includes a bracelet, attached to a light controller, and other sensors connected in a circuit.

Ever since Sony unveiled its PlayStation VR headset two years ago, gamers have been eagerly awaiting the release of the company’s first efforts into the world of VR gaming.

It should be noted that the patent was submitted back in October of 2014, before being published yesterday by the US Patent & Trademark office. The idea has been around in pop culture for quite some time – Tom Cruise in Minority Report – but for the same reason the Nintendo Virtual Boy flunked in the mid 90s, it wouldn’t be fair to compare Sony’s new controller-less controller idea to the also-awesome late 80s Power Glove. This may be a potential interface solution developed alongside Sony’s nascent virtual reality plans. Thanks to a patent that was discovered by user Rösti on Neogaf, we learn that Sony has an interest in glove based controllers to use with their upcoming PlayStation VR headset.