Programmable actuation inputs of an accessory and methods thereof

• US 10,022,622 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2014
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Original Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Inventors: Soelberg, Tino
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US14/303,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20150298001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 345168
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/60 Generating or modifying game content before or while executing the game program, e.g. authoring tools specially adapted for game development or game-integrated level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/208 for storing personal settings or data of the player
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0395 Mouse pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 7/0273 Magnetic circuits with PM for magnetic field generation

Abstract

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processor that performs operations including detecting a first depression range of a button that includes an electro-mechanical sensor for detecting the first depression range, comparing the first depression range to a first actuation threshold, and asserting a first actuation state when the first depression range is at or exceeds the first actuation threshold. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

facilitating, by a system comprising a processor, an execution of a gaming application receiving an input from a gaming device associated with the system;

monitoring, by the system, a venue state of the gaming application according to an image analysis of a present video presentation from the gaming application, wherein the venue state is associated with a present game environment in the gaming application;

providing, by the system, the venue state to the gaming device, wherein the gaming device associates the venue state with a user profile associated with the gaming application to access a plurality of actuation thresholds for the venue state according to different commands for the venue state;

detecting, by the system, a first depression range of a button of the gaming device, wherein the button comprises an electro-mechanical sensor for detecting the first depression range;

comparing, by the system, the first depression range to a first actuation threshold of the plurality of actuation thresholds, wherein the first actuation threshold is generated from user input to a software application executing on the system, wherein the first actuation threshold is based on the venue state and according to the user profile for the gaming application; and

asserting, by the system, a first actuation state when the first depression range is at or exceeds the first actuation threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image analysis comprises detecting an object in the present video presentation, and

wherein the depression range comprises a signal supplied by a sensor of the button.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the signal is a digital signal or an analog signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting first substitute stimuli to the gaming application responsive to the first actuation state.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the system, a first release range of the button;

comparing, by the system, the first release range to a first reset threshold; and

asserting, by the system, a first reset state when the first release range is at or exceeds the first reset threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

detecting, by the system, a second release range of the button;

comparing, by the system, the second release range to a second reset threshold; and

asserting, by the system, a second reset state when the second release range is at or exceeds the second reset threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the system, a program setting for the first actuation threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating, by the system, an updated first actuation threshold responsive to receiving a program setting;

detecting, by the system, a second depression range of the button;

comparing, by the system, the second depression range to the updated first actuation threshold; and

asserting, by the system, a second actuation state when the second depression range is at or exceeds the updated first actuation threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the electro-mechanical sensor generates a voltage level proportional to a depression range of the button, and

wherein the monitoring the venue state of the gaming application further comprises tracking gaming options chosen by an operation of the gaming device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electro-mechanical sensor comprises a hall effect sensor that generates a voltage level proportional to a magnetic field measured by the hall effect sensor, and wherein the voltage level is proportional to a depression range of the button.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the first actuation threshold from user-generated input.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the system, a second depression range of the button;

comparing, by the system, the second depression range to a second actuation threshold; and

asserting, by the system, a second actuation state when the second depression range is at or exceeds the second actuation threshold.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising transmitting second substitute stimuli to the gaming application responsive to the second actuation state.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the first actuation state identifies a first button identification of an accessory from which the button was depressed, wherein the second actuation state identifies a second button identification of the accessory, and wherein the first button identification differs from the second button identification.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first button identification is associated with the button of the accessory, and the second button identification is associated with a different button of the accessory.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the software application monitors the venue state of the gaming application.

17. A machine-readable storage device, comprising instructions, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, a processor performs operations comprising:

determining a gaming venue state from a gaming application executing on a computing device based on a present gaming environment in the gaming application according to an image analysis of a video presentation by the gaming application by a software application executing on the computing device to control aspects of the gaming application;

receiving a signal from a sensor of an accessory that represents a depression range of a button, wherein the software application associates the venue state with a user profile associated with the gaming application to access a plurality of actuation thresholds for the venue state according to different commands for the venue state; and

providing the signal to the software application, wherein the depression range is compared with a first actuation threshold of the plurality of actuation thresholds, and wherein the software application causes the first actuation threshold to be changed to a second actuation threshold of the plurality of actuation thresholds in accordance with a change in the gaming venue state and according to the user profile for the gaming application.

18. The machine-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the image analysis comprises:

detecting a first object and a second object in the video presentation; and

detecting a motion of the first object relative to the second object in the video presentation, and

wherein the signal comprises an analog signal or a digital signal.

19. The machine-readable storage device of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise detecting an actuation state of the button based on the depression range exceeding the first actuation threshold.

20. The machine-readable storage device of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise receiving instructions to change the second actuation threshold to a new actuation threshold of the plurality of actuation thresholds for detecting the actuation state at a different depression range of the button, responsive to another change in the gaming venue state.

21. The machine-readable storage device of claim 20, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving an updated signal representing an updated depression range of the button, wherein the updated depression range exceeds the depression range represented by the signal previously received; and

detecting the actuation state of the button based on the updated depression range exceeding the new threshold.

22. An accessory, comprising:

a button comprising a sensor;

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory and the button, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the processor performs operations comprising;

receiving venue information from an accessory management application being executed on a computing device of a gaming application being executed on the computing device, wherein the accessory management application determines the venue information based on an image analysis of a video presentation of the gaming application to determine a venue state based on a present game environment in the video presentation;

associating the venue state with a user profile associated with the gaming application to access one actuation threshold of a plurality of actuation thresholds for the venue state according to different commands for the venue state associated with the user profile;

receiving from the sensor a signal that represents a depression range of the button;

comparing the depression range to the actuation threshold; and

transmitting an actuation signal to the accessory management application responsive to the depression range exceeding the actuation threshold, wherein the accessory management application causes the actuation threshold to be changed in accordance with the venue state, and wherein the accessory management application provides the actuation signal to the gaming application.

23. The accessory of claim 22, wherein the sensor comprises an electro-mechanical sensor for generating a voltage level proportional to the depression range of the button.

24. The accessory of claim 22, wherein the sensor comprises one of an inductive sensor or a magnetic sensor.