Physical feedback channel for entertainement or gaming environments

• US 20050113167A1
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Treiner, Jorg, Boucher, Sophie, Clanget, Ulrich, Buchner, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/995,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20050113167A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/30
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• 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 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 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 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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

Abstract

A physical feedback system for computer gaming environments comprises: a computing device for executing an application software program, the computing device having an interface for transmitting feedback signals generated by the application software program, and a wearable receiver having means for receiving the feedback signals from the computing device and actuator means designed to enter physical feedback sensations to the body and/or head of a user using the skin of the user as an interface.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A system comprising:

a computing device for executing an application software program, the computing device having an interface for transmitting feedback signals generated by the application software program, and

a wearable receiver having means for receiving the feedback signals from the computing device and actuator means designed to enter physical feedback sensations to the body and/or head of a user using the skin of the user as an interface.

22. A system according to claim 21,

characterized in that

the wearable receiver is integrated in a piece of garment.

23. A system according to claim 22,

characterized in that

a display is integrated into the piece of garment, wherein the display is designed to react to the feedback signals from the computing device.

24. A system according to claim 21,

characterized in that

the wearable receiver comprises a controller for controlling an array of actuators according to an operational pattern depending on any feedback signal received.

25. A system according to claim 21,

characterized in that

it furthermore comprises a channel for transmitting signals representing biological data from the user to the computing device hosting the application software program.

26. A system according to claim 21,

characterized in that

the application software is an entertainment or game-type software.

27. A system according to claim 26,

characterized in that

the feedback signals are generated depending on a user or application context.

28. A system according to claim 27,

characterized in that

the feedback signals are generated depending on a background scene, defined virtual objects, sounds, colors and/or a virtual actor generated by a game-type software.

29. A system according to claim 21,

characterized in that

the application software is designed to display scenes on the monitor, wherein different elements of the scenes displayed are respectively associated with a channel of the feedback signals and each channel is associated with a respective subgroup of the actuator means.

30. A system according to claim 21,

characterized in that

the actuator means comprise means for generating vibrational, tactile an/or heat stimuli.

31. A system according to claim 21,

characterized in that

the wearable receiver comprises means for adjusting manually operational parameters of the actuator means.

32. A method for providing physical feedback sensations to the body of a user of an application software program, the method comprising the following steps:

generating feedback signals in an application software program,

transmitting the feedback signals to a wearable receiver, and

entering, based on the received feedback signals, physical feedback sensations to the body and/or head of a user using the skin of the user as an interface.

33. A method according to claim 32,

characterized in that

an array of actuators is controlled according to an operational pattern depending on any feedback signal.

34. A method according to claim 32,

characterized in that

signals representing biological data from the user are transmitted to the computing device hosting the application software program for further processing.

35. A method according to claim 32,

characterized in that

the feedback signals are generated depending on a background scene, defined virtual objects, sounds, colors and/or a virtual actor generated by a game-type software.

36. A method according to claim 32,

characterized in that

the application software is divided into several logical parts, wherein each part is associated with a channel of the feedback signals and each channel is associated with a respective subgroup of the actuator means.

37. A method according to claim 32,

characterized in that

the actuator means comprise means generating vibrational, tactile an/or heat stimuli to a user.

38. A computer program product,

supporting a method according to claim 32 when running on a computing device.

39. A computer game console,

designed to support a method according to claim 32.

40. A wearable game accessory,

comprising a controller supporting a method according to claim 32.