Tracking device for use in obtaining information for controlling game program execution
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tracking device comprising:
- an inertial sensor unit mountable to a body of a game controller, wherein the inertial sensor unit is operable to produce information usable by a processor for quantifying a movement of the body through space, wherein the information is usable by the processor for controlling execution of a game program, wherein the inertial sensor unit includes (i) a single mass elastically coupled to a frame for translational and rotational movement relative to the frame with respect to each of two or more different axes; and
(ii) two or more displacement sensors, wherein each of the two or more displacement sensors are operable to generate a displacement signal related to a displacement of the single mass relative to the frame, wherein the displacement sensors are positioned such that a first combination of displacement signals from the two or more displacement sensors can be analyzed by the processor or another processor to determine an angle of rotation of the frame with respect to one of the two or more different axes and a second combination of displacement signals from the two or more displacement sensors can be analyzed by the processor or another processor to determine a motion of the frame with respect to the same one or a different one of the two or more different axes; and
a visible light source mountable to the body of the game controller and configured to be detected by an image capture unit coupled to the processor, wherein a position of the visible light source detected by the image capture unit is used by the processor or another processor to correct a drift in the information provided to the processor from the inertial sensor.
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Abstract
A tracking device for use in obtaining information for controlling an execution of a game program by a processor for enabling an interactive game to be played by a user and related apparatus are disclosed.
131 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A tracking device comprising:
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an inertial sensor unit mountable to a body of a game controller, wherein the inertial sensor unit is operable to produce information usable by a processor for quantifying a movement of the body through space, wherein the information is usable by the processor for controlling execution of a game program, wherein the inertial sensor unit includes (i) a single mass elastically coupled to a frame for translational and rotational movement relative to the frame with respect to each of two or more different axes; and
(ii) two or more displacement sensors, wherein each of the two or more displacement sensors are operable to generate a displacement signal related to a displacement of the single mass relative to the frame, wherein the displacement sensors are positioned such that a first combination of displacement signals from the two or more displacement sensors can be analyzed by the processor or another processor to determine an angle of rotation of the frame with respect to one of the two or more different axes and a second combination of displacement signals from the two or more displacement sensors can be analyzed by the processor or another processor to determine a motion of the frame with respect to the same one or a different one of the two or more different axes; anda visible light source mountable to the body of the game controller and configured to be detected by an image capture unit coupled to the processor, wherein a position of the visible light source detected by the image capture unit is used by the processor or another processor to correct a drift in the information provided to the processor from the inertial sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A game controller, comprising:
- a body;
at least one input device assembled with the body, the input device manipulable by a user to register an input from the user;
an inertial sensor unit mounted to the body, wherein the inertial sensor unit is operable to produce information for quantifying a movement of said body through space, wherein the inertial sensor unit includes (i) a single mass elastically coupled to a frame for translational and rotational movement relative to the frame with respect to each of two or more different axes; and
(ii) two or more displacement sensors, wherein each of the two or more displacement sensors is operable to generate a displacement signal related to a displacement of the single mass relative to the frame, wherein the displacement sensors are positioned such that a first combination of displacement signals from the two or more displacement sensors can be analyzed by a processor to determine an angle of rotation of the frame with respect to one of the two or more different axes and a second combination of displacement signals from the two or more displacement sensors can be analyzed by the processor or another processor to determine a motion of the frame with respect to the same one or a different one of the two or more different axes; and
a visible light source mounted to the body of the game controller and configured to be detected by an image capture unit, wherein a position of the visible light source detected by the image capture unit is used by the processor or another processor to correct for a drift in the determination of position and/or angle of rotation of the game controller.
- a body;
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30. A method for tracking a controller of a video game system, comprising:
- generating one or more signals from an inertial sensor unit mounted to the controller for the video game system, wherein the inertial sensor unit includes (i) a single mass elastically coupled to a frame for translational and rotational movement relative to the frame with respect to each of two or more different axes; and
(ii) two or more displacement sensors, wherein each of the two or more displacement sensors is operable to generate corresponding displacement signals related to a displacement of the single mass relative to the frame, wherein the displacement sensors are positioned such that a first combination of displacement signals from the two or more displacement sensors can be analyzed by a processor to determine an angle of rotation of the frame with respect to one of the two or more different axes and a second combination of displacement signals from the two or more displacement sensors can be analyzed by the processor or another processor to determine a motion of the frame with respect to the same one or a different one of the two or more different axes;analyzing with the processor or another processor the corresponding displacement signals to identify the first or second combination of displacement signals and determine position and/or angle of rotation information for the controller with respect to the two or more different axes; correcting with the processor or another processor a drift in the determination of position and/or angle of rotation of the controller by detecting a position of a visible light source mounted to the controller with an image capture unit; and utilizing the position and/or angle of rotation information during play of a video game on the video game system.
- generating one or more signals from an inertial sensor unit mounted to the controller for the video game system, wherein the inertial sensor unit includes (i) a single mass elastically coupled to a frame for translational and rotational movement relative to the frame with respect to each of two or more different axes; and
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31. A method for use in providing input to a system, comprising the steps of:
- generating one or more signals from an inertial sensor unit mounted to a controller for the system, wherein the inertial sensor unit includes (i) a single mass elastically coupled to a frame for translational and rotational movement relative to the frame with respect to each of two or more different axes; and
(ii) two or more displacement sensors, wherein each of the two or more displacement sensors is operable to generate a signal related to a displacement of the single mass relative to the frame, wherein the displacement sensors are positioned such that they produce particular combinations of signals that can be analyzed by a processor to determine an angle of rotation and a motion of the frame with respect to one of the two or more different axes;analyzing displacement sensor signals from the two or more displacement sensors to determine position and angle of rotation information for the controller with respect to one of the two or more different axes; correcting with the processor or another processor a drift in the determination of position and/or angle of rotation of the controller by detecting with an image capture unit a position of a visible light source mounted to the controller; comparing the determined position and angle of rotation information with predetermined position information associated with one or more commands; and changing a state of the system if the determined position and/or angle of rotation information matches predetermined position information for a command of the one or more commands.
- generating one or more signals from an inertial sensor unit mounted to a controller for the system, wherein the inertial sensor unit includes (i) a single mass elastically coupled to a frame for translational and rotational movement relative to the frame with respect to each of two or more different axes; and
Specification