Visual feedback system in game controller

• US 20030092488A1
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zeroplus Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Zeroplus Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Cheng, Chiu-Hao
• Application Number:
  US10/291,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20030092488A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• 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 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5375 for graphically or textually suggesting an action, e.g. by displaying an arrow indicating a turn in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• 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 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/305 for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6653 for altering the visibility of an object, e.g. preventing the occlusion of an object, partially hiding an object
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball

Abstract

The visual feedback system of this invention places a display device in between a game console and a game controller. Through video synthesizing circuitry, the display device captures motion signals from the game controller and vibrating signals generated during the game to produce a video signal that can be further combined with the video signal transmitted by the game console. Finally, the video synthesizing circuitry sends the combined video signal to the screen for display. In this way, the user no longer has to keep an eye on the information given by the game controller. Adding to the existing sense of touch provided by the original controller, the user can further experience a visual feedback effect.

Claims

1. A visual feedback system which is connected between a game console and a game controller comprising:

a communication interface which is used to connect the game console and the game controller;

a control circuitry which receives control signals from the game controller though the communication interface in order to convert to preset display mode and display information;

and one video synthesizing circuitry which receives video signals from the game console and display information from the control circuitry and synchronizes the information into the video signal from the game console for screen display.

2. The visual feedback system of claim 1 wherein the game console can be a television entertainment system.

3. The visual feedback system of claim 1 wherein the game console can be a computer gaming system.

4. The visual feedback system of claim 1 wherein different display modes of the video synthesizing circuitry are saved in a memory.

5. The visual feedback system of claim 4 wherein the video synthesizing circuitry is connected to a switch which allows different display modes to be selected.

6. The visual feedback system of claim 1 wherein the video synthesizing circuitry is connected to a brightness adjustment knob which allows the brightness level on the screen to be adjusted.

7. The visual feedback system of claim 1 wherein the video synthesizing circuitry is connected to a transparency adjustment knob which allows the transparency level on the screen to be adjusted.

8. The visual feedback system of claim 1 wherein the video synthesizing circuitry is able to produce color or grayscale images.

9. The visual feedback system of claim 1 wherein a PROG (programmable) function can be added and used to configure the information of display modes.

10. The visual feedback system of claim 9 wherein the PROG function can be a single button.

11. The visual feedback system of claim 9 wherein the PROG function can be comprised of two or more preset buttons on the game controller.

12. The visual feedback system of claim 1 wherein the displayed steps can be determined by the output value of the game controller.

13. The visual feedback system of claim 1 wherein the control signal can be the input motion signal of the game controller or the vibration signal produced during a game.

14. A game controller visual feedback system in conjunction with a game console comprises:

a game controller device which includes;

a communication interface for information exchange between the interface and the game console;

multiple buttons for input signal;

a control circuitry which receives control signals from the game console though the communication interface and converts the control signals and input signals into display information;

and a video synthesizing circuitry which receives video signals from the game console and display information from the control circuitry and

synchronizes the information into the video signal from the game console for screen display.

15. The game controller visual feedback system of claim 14 wherein the game console can be a television entertainment system.

16. The game controller visual feedback system of claim 14 wherein the game console can be a computer gaming system.

17. The game controller visual feedback system of claim 14 wherein different display modes of the video synthesizing circuitry are saved in a memory.

18. The game controller visual feedback system of claim 17 wherein the video synthesizing circuitry is connected to a switch which allows different display modes to be selected.

19. The game controller visual feedback system of claim 14 wherein the video synthesizing circuitry is connected to a brightness adjustment knob which allows the brightness level on the screen to be adjusted.

20. The game controller visual feedback system of claim 14 wherein the video synthesizing circuitry is connected to a transparency adjustment knob which allows the transparency level on the screen to be adjusted.

21. The game controller visual feedback system of claim 14 wherein the video synthesizing circuitry is able to produce color or grayscale image.

22. The game controller visual feedback system of claim 14 wherein a PROG (programmable) function can be added and used to configure the information of display modes.

23. The game controller visual feedback system of claim 22 wherein the PROG function can be a single button.

24. The game controller visual feedback system of claim 22 wherein the PROG function can be comprised of two or more preset buttons on the game controller.

25. The game controller visual feedback system of claim 22 wherein the displayed steps can be determined by the output value of the game controller.

26. A wireless visual feedback system in conjunction with a game console and a wireless game controller, which includes a wireless controller device allowing the input information from the user to be transmitted wirelessly, comprising:

a wireless receiver which receives information entered by the user through the wireless game controller;

a control circuitry which controls the wireless receiver in order to convert the input signal into display information;

and a video synthesizing circuitry which receives video signals from the game console and display information from the control circuitry and synchronizes the information into the video signal from the game console for screen display.

27. The wireless visual feedback system of claim 26 wherein the game console can be a television entertainment system.

28. The wireless visual feedback system of claim 26 wherein the game console can be a computer gaming system.

29. The wireless visual feedback system of claim 26 wherein different display modes of the video synthesizing circuitry are saved in a memory.

30. The wireless visual feedback system of claim 29 wherein the video synthesizing circuitry is connected to a switch which allows different display modes to be selected.

31. The wireless visual feedback system of claim 26 wherein the video synthesizing circuitry is connected to a brightness adjustment knob which allows the brightness level on the screen to be adjusted.

32. The wireless visual feedback system of claim 26 wherein the video synthesizing circuitry is connected to a transparency adjustment knob which allows the transparency level on the screen to be adjusted.

33. The wireless visual feedback system of claim 26 wherein the video synthesizing circuitry is able to produce color or grayscale images.

34. The wireless visual feedback system of claim 26 wherein a PROG (programmable) function can be added and used to configure the information of display modes.

35. The wireless visual feedback system of claim 34 wherein the PROG function can be a single button.

36. The wireless visual feedback system of claim 34 wherein the PROG function can be comprised of two or more preset buttons on the game controller.

37. The wireless visual feedback system of claim 34 wherein the displayed steps can be determined by the output value of the game controller.