Method and device for optical gun interaction with a computer game system

• US 20020010021A1
• Filed: 09/06/2001
• Published: 01/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Jack Jean Mccauley
• Original Assignee: Jack Jean Mccauley
• Inventors: McCauley, Jack Jean
• Application Number:
  US09/947,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20020010021A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5258 by dynamically adapting the position of the virtual camera to keep a game object or game character in its viewing frustum, e.g. for tracking a character or a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/537 using indicators, e.g. showing the condition of a game character on screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6684 by dynamically adapting its position to keep a game object in its viewing frustrum, e.g. for tracking a character or a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/02 Light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light emitting sources, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0386 for light pen

Abstract

A device and a method for integrating an optical gun with a computer game system and within a computer game scenario are provided. The preferred embodiment includes an optical gun, or gun, with a communications interface, such as a USB interface, with the computer game system. The gun has sensors that sense when (1) a player is grasping a gun handle, or (2) the gun is holstered. The gun simulates a recoil force when a simulated round is fired. A battery is charged between game periods and drawn down during play. A laser beam is emitted from the gun only when the gun is pointed at a game video screen. Green and red LED'"'"'s on the gun indicate the presence of a friend or foe character or avatar. The gun includes a zoom control that affects the screen representation of the player'"'"'s view and visibility in the game scenario. The gun may have bidirectional or unidirectional wireless communications with the computer game system, a battery charger and multi-channel radio carrier frequency auto detect. The gun can determine the nature of the game video screen. A video sampling or tapping wire may enable further enhanced features of the gun.

Claims

1. An optical gun for use with a computer game system, the computer game system having a game computer, a video display and a video signal bus coupling the game computer and the video display, the optical gun comprising:

a control module, the control module having a processor and a memory; and

a serial interface, the serial interface coupling the control module and the computer game system.

2. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface comprises a voltage power line, a ground line, and at least one signal line.

3. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface comprises a USB.

4. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface comprises a USB compatible communications bus.

5. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface comprises a bi-directional communications bus.

6. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface comprises a substantially USB compliant bus.

7. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface comprises a communications bus selected from the group consisting of a MICROSOFT XBOX game system compatible communications interface, a MICROSFT XUSB compatible communications interface, a NINTENDO game system compatible communications bus, an IBM computer system standards compatible communications bus, an APPLE COMPUTER computer system standards compatible communications bus, a SONY CORPORATION PLAYSTATION computer system standards compatible communications bus, a SONY CORPORATION GAME CUBE computer system standards compatible communications bus, a SEGA CORPORATION DREAMCAST computer system standards compatible communications bus, and an IEEE technology society standard compatible communications bus.

8. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further comprises a hand detect sensor, the hand detect sensor for detecting a proximity of a human hand to the optical gun and informing the processor of the hand detection.

9. The optical gun of claim 8, wherein the hand detect sensor is selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared detector, a motion detector, a light detector and an electro- mechanical switch.

10. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further comprises:

a holster, the holster sized to substantially house a barrel of the optical gun; and

a holster sensor, the holster detect sensor for detecting an insertion of the barrel of the optical gun into the holster, and the holster sensor informing the processor of the holster insertion.

11. The optical gun of claim 10, wherein the holster sensor is selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared detector, a motion detector, a light detector and an electro- mechanical switch.

12. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further comprises a recoil simulator generator, the recoil simulator generator for delivering a simulated recoil to a game player as directed by the computer game system.

13. The optical gun of claim 12, wherein the optical gun further comprises a battery, the battery for delivering power to the recoil simulator generator.

14. The optical gun of claim 13, wherein the serial interface comprises a power line, the power line for delivering power to the battery.

15. The optical gun of claim 14, the optical gun further comprising:

a holster, the holster sized to substantially house a barrel of the optical gun;

a holster sensor, the holster detect sensor for detecting an insertion of the optical gun into the holster, and the holster sensor informing the processor of the holster insertion; and

wherein the battery is charged when the holster sensor informs the processor of an insertion of the barrel into the holster.

16. The optical gun of claim 15, wherein the holster sensor is selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared detector, a motion detector, a light detector and an electro- mechanical switch.

17. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further comprises a laser pointer, the laser emitting light when the optical gun determines that the optical gun is pointed at the video screen.

18. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further comprises a visual indicator, the visual indicator informing the user when the optical gun determines that the optical gun is pointed at a friend character.

19. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further comprises a visual indicator, the visual indicator informing the user when the optical gun determines that the optical gun is pointed at a foe character.

20. The optical gun of claim 19, wherein the visual indicator informs the user when the optical gun determines that the optical gun is pointed at a friend character.

21. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further comprises a zoom control, whereby the user directs the computer game system to increase a magnification of the visual display as presented to the user.

22. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface includes a wireless communications link between the optical gun and the computer game system.

23. The optical gun of claim 22, wherein the optical gun further comprises a multiple wireless communications channel auto detect.

24. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface comprises a wireless unidirectional communications link, whereby the optical gun provides data to the computer game system.

25. The optical gun of claim 24, wherein the optical gun further comprises a multiple channel auto detect.

26. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further comprises a video sampling cable, the video sampling cable for providing a video frames as sent to the video display to the optical gun.

27. The optical gun of claim 22, wherein the optical gun further comprises a battery and a battery charger, whereby the battery provide power to the optical gun and the battery charger transmits power to the battery.

28. The optical gun of claim 27, the optical gun further comprising:

a holster, the holster sized to substantially house a barrel of the optical gun;

a holster sensor, the holster detect sensor for detecting an insertion of the optical gun into the holster, and the holster sensor informing the processor of the holster insertion; and

wherein the battery is charged when the holster sensor informs the processor of an insertion of the barrel into the holster.

29. The optical gun of claim 28, wherein the holster sensor is selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared detector, a motion detector, a light detector and an electro- mechanical switch.

30. The optical gun of claim 4, wherein the optical gun further comprises a battery and a battery charger, whereby the battery provide power to the optical gun and the battery charger transmits power to the battery.

31. The optical gun of claim 30, the optical gun further comprising:

a holster, the holster sized to substantially house a barrel of the optical gun;

a holster sensor, the holster detect sensor for detecting an insertion of the optical gun into the holster, and the holster sensor informing the processor of the holster insertion; and

wherein the battery is charged when the holster sensor informs the processor of an insertion of the barrel into the holster.

32. The optical gun of claim 31, wherein the holster sensor is selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, a pressure sensor, an infrared detector, a motion detector, a light detector and an electro- mechanical switch.

34. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface further comprises at least a first connector and a second connector, and where the first connector and the second connector are configured to enable a hardware communication connection with a communications bus.

35. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the gun further comprises a peripheral input module, the peripheral input module operatively connected with the optical gun and the peripheral input module for providing a game player a means to transmit information to the optical gun.

36. The optical gun of claim 35, wherein the peripheral input module further comprises an input device selected from the group consisting of a thumbpad, a foot pedal an optical wheel and a mouse.

37. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further comprises a laser pointer, the laser emitting light as directed by the computer game system and as the computer game system determines that the optical gun is pointed at the video screen.

38. The optical gun of claim 22, wherein the optical gun further comprises at least two wireless communications channel selections and manual switch to select one of the at least two wireless communications channel selections for use in wireless communications between the optical gun and the computer game system.

39. The optical gun of claim 38, wherein the at least two wireless communications channel selections comprise unidirectional communications channel selections for use in wireless communications from the optical gun and to the computer game system.

40. The optical gun of claim 38, wherein the at least two wireless communications channel selections comprise bidirectional communications channel selections for use in wireless communications between the optical gun and to the computer game system.

41. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial further comprises a cable bundle, t he cable bundle having at least two hardware connectors, each hardware connector for connection with a computer game system.

42. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial further comprises a cable bundle, the cable bundle having at least two hardware connectors, each hardware connector for connection with a computer game system, and each connector selected from the group consisting of a MICROSOFT XBOX game system compatible communications interface, a MICROSFT XUSB compatible communications interface, a NINTENDO game system compatible communications bus, an IBM computer system standards compatible communications bus, an APPLE COMPUTER computer system standards compatible communications bus, a SONY CORPORATION PLAYSTATION computer system standards compatible communications bus, a SONY CORPORATION GAME CUBE computer system standards compatible communications bus, a SEGA CORPORATION DREAMCAST computer system standards compatible communications bus, and an IEEE technology society standard compatible communications bus.

43. The optical gun of claim 1, further comprising a zoom control, wherein the zoom control activates a zoom function, whereby the interaction of the game player within a computer game scenario is affected by manual manipulations of the zoom control.

44. The optical gun of claim 43, wherein a screen image of the video display of the computer game system is affected by manual manipulations of the zoom control.

45. The optical gun of claim 22, wherein the optical gun further comprises a battery and a battery charger, the battery for storing electrical power and providing electrical power to the optical gun, and the battery charger for providing electrical power to the battery, and the battery charger is detachably attached to the battery, whereby the optical gun is detachably attached to the battery charger to recharge the battery and detached from the battery charger for use in game play.

46. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the control module is integrated on a single substrate.

47. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the control module is an integrated semiconductor device.

48. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the control module is a multi-chip module.

33. A method of generating accurate timing by an optical gun in communication with a computer game system, the computer game system running a computer game and transmitting video signals to a video display, the method consisting of:

a. providing an optical gun having an optical senor, a processor, memory and a communications interface, the memory for use by the processor in capturing and analyzing data;

b. observation of the video display by the optical sensor;

c. providing the video signals to the optical gun;

d. determining a phase timing offset value introduced the video display by means of the processor and the memory; and

e. informing the computer game system of the phase time offset value via the communications interface.

49. A method of determining a time offset introduced by a digital television after receipt of video display information from a computer game system, the digital television having a video display and the video display signal having Vsync and Hsync information, the method consisting of:

a. providing an optical gun having a processor, a memory, a communications channel, and an optical sensor,

i. the memory for use by the processor in capturing and analyzing data;

ii. the communications channel for providing the video display information to the optical gun and providing bi-directional communications between the optical gun and the computer game system;

iii. the optical sensor for detecting pixel brightening of an area of the video display;

b. transmitting the video display information to the optical gun via the video display cable;

c. pointing the optical sensor at the video display screen;

d. detecting pixel brightening by the optical gun of the area of the video display screen;

e. determining the time period between two brightness peaks detected by the the optical sensor;

f. deriving a phase angle shift value of the video display screen; and

g. transmitting the phase angle shift value from the optical gun to the computer game system.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the time period between two peaks of pixel brightening is estimated by multiple detections of the brightness peak and calculating an average time period value, and determining the phase angle with the average time period value.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the optical gun detects the number of Vsync counts displayed on the video display related to a brightening of the area of the video display screen, and transmitting the number of Vsync counts to the computer game system.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the optical gun detects the number of Hsync counts displayed on the video display related to a brightening of the area of the video display screen, and transmitting the number of Hsync counts to the computer game system, wherein the spot center is determined.