Programmable actuation inputs of an accessory and methods thereof

• US 10,328,341 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2018
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• 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:
  US16/005,913
• Publication Number:
  US 20180290052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 378 Days
• 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:

monitoring, by a system comprising a processor, a venue state of a 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, and wherein the gaming application receives an input from a gaming device associated with the system;

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;

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 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 greater than or equal to the first actuation threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the button comprises an electro-mechanical sensor for detecting the first depression range.

3. The method of claim 2, 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.

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

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first depression range comprises a signal supplied by a sensor of the button.

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

7. 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.

8. The method of claim 7, 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.

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

10. 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.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first actuation threshold is generated from user input to a software application executing on the system.

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, 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.

14. The method of claim 13, 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.

15. 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 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 gaming venue state with a user profile associated with the gaming application to access a plurality of actuation thresholds for the gaming venue state according to different commands for the gaming venue state; and

providing the signal to the software application, wherein the software application causes a first actuation threshold of the plurality of actuation thresholds 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.

16. The machine-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the gaming application performs an image analysis of a video presentation by the gaming application, 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.

17. The machine-readable storage device of claim 15, 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 new actuation threshold for a different depression range of the button, responsive to another change in the gaming venue state, and wherein the different depression range is compared with the first actuation threshold of the plurality of actuation thresholds.

18. 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;

comparing an input from the sensor to the actuation threshold; and

transmitting an actuation signal to the accessory management application responsive to the input exceeding the actuation threshold, wherein the accessory management application causes the actuation threshold to be changed in accordance with the venue state.

19. The accessory of claim 18, wherein the sensor generates a voltage level proportional to a depression range of the button, and

wherein the receiving venue information further comprises receiving gaming options chosen by an operation of the gaming application.

20. The accessory of claim 19, wherein the button comprises an electro-mechanical sensor for detecting the depression range of the input.