Method and device for timing offset in an optical gun interaction with a computer game system

• US 20030199317A1
• Filed: 05/08/2003
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: McCauley, Jack Jean
• Application Number:
  US10/431,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20030199317A1
• 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 bi-directional 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. 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 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.

2. The method of claim 1, 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.

3. The method of claim 1, 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.

4. The method of claim 1, 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.

5. In a computer system having a digital television video screen, an optical detector, and a controller, the controller communicatively linked to the digital television video screen and to the optical detector, and the controller providing a video file to the digital television video screen for display, a method comprising:

sampling the brightness of an area of the video screen by the optical detector over a time period;

determining the beat frequency of the video screen from the brightness sampling by the optical detector;

determining a phase angle measurement of a component of the beat frequency;

informing the controller of the phase angle measurement, whereby the controller applies the phase angle measurement to calculate the location of the area of the video screen sampled by the optical detector.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the component of the beat frequency is a substantially square-wave, impulse or sinusoidal function having a fundamental frequency of approximately 100 Hz.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the component of the beat frequency is the horizontal retrace frequency signal of the digital television video screen input signal.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the component of the beat frequency is a substantially square-wave, impulse or sinusoidal function having a fundamental frequency selected from the group of frequencies consisting of approximately 60 Hz, or approximately 120 Hz.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the component of the beat frequency is the vertical retrace component signal of the digital television video screen standard NTSC, PAL and SECAM.

10. In a computer system having a digital television video screen, an optical detector, and a controller, the controller communicatively linked to the digital television video screen and to the optical detector, and the controller providing a video file to the digital television video screen for display, a method comprising:

observation by the optical detector of the number of Vsync counts that occur between the start of a display of a frame of the video file on the digital television video screen and the detection of a particular instance of pixel or area brightening of the video display; and

transmitting the Vsync count to the controller, whereby the controller determines the location of the pixel or area observed by the optical detector.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

detection by the optical detector of an Hsync count of a width of an area brightening of the video display screen; and

transmission of the Hsync count from the optical detector to the controller, whereby the controller applies the Hsync count to determine the center of the brightening of the area of the display screen, from which determination the orientation of the optical gun to the video display screen is calculated.