Apparatus and a method for more realistic video games on computers or similar devices using visible or invisible light and a light sensing device

• US 20040266528A1
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Xiaoling Wang
• Original Assignee: Xiaoling Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Xiaoling
• Application Number:
  US10/609,026
• Publication Number:
  US 20040266528A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• 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 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and a method for providing more realistic input for video games on computers, or similar devices is provided. The apparatus may include a mock shooting device, having a lighting device. The apparatus may also include a screen for displaying visual target objects of a video shooting game, at which a game player can shoot at with the mock shooting device, a light sensing device that detects light from the mock shooting devices, and an input computing device that computes the hit position of the mock shooting device on the screen device based on the signals from the light sensing device. The apparatus may also be used for other interactive video games.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising

a game computing device;

an input computing device;

a screen device having a screen;

a light sensing device; and

a first mock shooting device having a first lighting device;

wherein the light sensing device detects light from the first lighting device; and

wherein the input computing device uses signals from the light sensing device to determine whether the first mock shooting device is aimed towards a first location on the screen of the screen device; and

wherein the input computing device sends the determination of whether the first mock shooting device is aimed towards the first location to the game computing device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

wherein the light sensing device surrounds the screen.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

wherein the light sensing device is comprised of a plurality of light sensors.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the light sensing device is comprised of four sensor strips placed around the screen;

and

wherein each of the four sensor strips is comprised of a plurality of light sensors;

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first lighting device of the first mock shooting device projects a light pattern onto the light sensing device;

and

wherein the light sensing device is electrically connected to the input computing device and provides data about the first lighting device to the input computing device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first lighting device of the first mock shooting device projects a cross light pattern onto the light sensing device;

and

wherein the light sensing device is electrically connected to the input computing device and provides data about the first lighting device to the input computing device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

wherein the first mock shooting device is further comprised of a wireless commanding device;

and

wherein the wireless commanding device sends a shooting command when the first mock shooting device is triggered.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the first mock shooting device is further comprised of one or more control buttons;

and wherein the control buttons may be used to send control command signals; and

the wireless commanding device sends a unique command signal when one of the control buttons on the first mock shooting device is operated.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a wireless command receiving device;

and

wherein the wireless command receiving device is electrically connected to the input computing device and passes command signals received from the wireless commanding device to the input computing device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the input computing device includes an integrated wireless command receiving device that computes the aiming position of the first lighting device on the screen and receives command signals from the wireless commanding device of the first mock shooting device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first mock shooting device is further comprised of a wired communications line;

and wherein the wired communications line communicates command signals directly from the first mock shooting device to the input computing device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

light from the first lighting device is visible to human eyes and to the light sensing device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

light from the first lighting device is invisible to human eyes but visible to the light sensing device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

a second mock shooting device comprised of a second lighting device;

wherein the first lighting device of the first mock shooting device has a first characteristic;

wherein the second lighting device of the second mock shooting device has a second characteristic; and

wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are different.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein

the first characteristic is comprised of a first light wavelength which is emitted from the first lighting device of the first mock shooting device;

the second characteristic is comprised of a second light wavelength which is emitted from the second lighting device of the second mock shooting device; and

wherein the first wavelength is different from the second wavelength.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein

the first characteristic is comprised of a first light pattern which is emitted from the first lighting device of the first mock shooting device;

the second characteristic is comprised of a second light pattern which is emitted from the second lighting device of the second mock shooting device; and

wherein the first pattern is different from the second pattern.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first mock shooting device is comprised of a first identifier;

and further comprising a second mock shooting device comprised of a second identifier;

wherein the first identifier and the second identifier are different; and

wherein the first mock shooting device uses the first identifier to send command signals with a first characteristic;

wherein the second mock shooting device uses the second identifier to send command signals with a second characteristic; and

wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are different.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the light sensing device is comprised of a plurality of sets of light sensors;

and

wherein each set of light sensors detects light with a certain characteristic.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein

the plurality of sets of light sensors are placed interlaced around the screen.

20. A method comprising the steps of

using a light pattern from a first lighting device fixed to a first mock shooting device to determine whether the first mock shooting device is aimed towards a first location on a screen.

21. The method of claim 20 further wherein

the light pattern from the first lighting device is a cross light pattern.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising

detecting light from the first lighting device through the use of a light sensing device.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising

using a wireless commanding device to send command signals from the first mock shooting device.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising

using a wired communications line to send command signals from the first mock shooting device.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising

using light from a second lighting device fixed to a second mock shooting device to determine whether the second mock shooting device is aimed towards a second location on a screen;

and

wherein the first lighting device emits light with a first characteristic and the second lighting device emit light with a second characteristic and wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are different.

26. The method of claim 20 further comprising

using a first identifier for the first mock shooting device;

and

using a second identifier for the second mock shooting device; and

wherein the first identifier and the second identifier are different; and

wherein the first identifier enables the first mock shooting device to send commands with a first characteristic and the second identifier enables the second mock shooting device to send command signals with a second characteristic; and

wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are different.

27. An apparatus comprising

a game computing device;

an input computing device;

a screen device having a screen;

a light sensing device;

a first mock control device having a first marking device; and

wherein the light sensing device detects light from the first marking device; and

wherein the input computing device uses signals from the light sensing device to determine the position of the first mock control device versus the screen; and

wherein the input computing device sends the determination of the position of the first mock control device with respect to the screen to the game computing device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

wherein the first mock control device is a mock boxing glove for inputting fist movement of a game player wearing it.

29. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

wherein the first mock control device is a mock snow-boarding device.

30. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

wherein the first mock control device is a mock hat for inputting head movement of a game player wearing it.

31. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

wherein the first mock control device is a mock sword for inputting sword movement of a game player using it in video fighting games with sword or similar weapons.

32. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

wherein the first mock control device is a mock game control pad with an embedded marking device for inputting the movement of the mock game control pad.

33. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

wherein the light sensing device surrounds the screen.

34. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

wherein the light sensing device is comprised of a plurality of light sensors.

35. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

the light sensing device is comprised of a plurality of sensor strips placed around the screen;

and

wherein each sensor strip is comprised of a plurality of light sensors;

36. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

the first marking device projects a light pattern onto the light sensing device;

and

wherein the light sensing device is electrically connected to the input computing device and provides data about the first marking device to the input computing device.

37. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

the first marking device projects a cross light pattern onto the light sensing device;

and

wherein the light sensing device is electrically connected to the input computing device and provides data about the first marking device to the input computing device.

38. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein

the light sensing device is comprised of a plurality of sets of light sensors;

and

wherein each set of light sensors detects light with a certain characteristic.

a second mock shooting device comprised of a second marking device;

wherein the first marking device of the first mock control device has a first characteristic;

wherein the second marking device of the second mock control device has a second characteristic; and

wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are different.

39. A method comprising the steps of

using a light pattern from a first marking device fixed to a first mock control device to determine the position of the first mock control device.

40. The method of claim 39 further wherein

the light pattern from the first marking device is a cross light pattern.

41. The method of claim 39 further wherein

the light pattern from the first marking device is a corn light pattern.

42. The method of claim 39 further comprising

detecting the light from the first marking device through the use of a light sensing device.

43. The method of claim 39 further comprising

using a wireless commanding device to send command signals from the first mock control device.

44. The method of claim 39 further comprising

using light from a second marking device fixed to a second mock control device to determine the position of the second mock control device;

and

wherein the first marking device fixed to the first mock control device emits light with a first characteristic and the second marking device fixed to the second mock control device emits light with a second characteristic and wherein the first characteristic and the second characteristic are different.