Wireless game control units

• US 20050164791A1
• Filed: 03/23/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Freedom Wave LLC
• Original Assignee: Freedom Wave LLC
• Inventors: Leifer, Richard, Peng, Chi-Fu, Leifer, Alan E.
• Application Number:
  US11/088,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20050164791A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/06 using player-operated means for controlling the position of a specific area display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• 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 13/332 using wireless networks, e.g. cellular phone networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• 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 2300/1031 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 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

A wireless control unit includes a controller having wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information, and a console interface/adapter for converting one of the communication ports of the game console into a wireless receiver/transmitter. The console interface/adapter also includes an additional communication port so as to provide the user with access to the used communication port while the interface/adapter is operably disposed within the communication port of the game console.

Claims

1. A wireless control unit for converting a video game system having a game console with game controller ports and being adapted to operate with wired game controllers connected to the game controller ports into a system operable with wireless controllers, the wireless controller unit comprising;

a game controller having at least one user operable switch, wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information at a first frequency, wireless receiver circuitry for receiving controller information, and a vibrating member, said game controller being capable of operating with another game controller transmitting at a frequency different than said first frequency without interference; and

a console interface connected to the game console via at least one of the game controller ports and having wireless receiver circuitry for receiving the game information from the game controller at said first frequency, said console interface including wireless transmitter circuitry for wirelessly transmitting controller information to the game controller, said controller information including control signals for activating said vibrating member.

2. The wireless control unit according to claim 1, wherein said console interface further comprises a plurality of sensors and a plurality of receivers for sensing and receiving different frequencies among said plurality of frequencies.

3. The wireless control unit according to claim 1, wherein said game controller wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information is capable of transmitting at a plurality of different frequencies.

4. The wireless control unit according to claim 1, wherein selection of an operating frequency of said game controller is automatic.

5. The wireless control unit according to claim 1, wherein selection of an operating frequency of said game controller is manually selected by a user.

6. The wireless control unit according to claim 1, further comprising at least a second game controller having wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information at a frequency different than said first frequency.

7. The wireless control unit according to claim 6, further comprising a console interface for each game controller in a multi-player, multi game controller environment, each one of said console interfaces corresponding to one game controller.

8. A wireless gaming system comprising:

a game console having game controller ports and adapted to operate with wired game controllers connected to the game controller ports;

at least one console interface connected to the game console via at least one of the game controller ports and having wireless receiver circuitry for receiving game information from one or more wireless game controllers, each operating at a different frequency, said gaming system being expandable to operate with at least two wireless game controllers operating at different frequencies without frequency cross talk between the controllers and the at least one console interface.

9. The wireless control unit according to claim 8, wherein said at least one console interface further comprises a plurality of sensors and a plurality of receivers for sensing and receiving different frequencies among said plurality of frequencies.

10. The wireless control unit according to claim 8, further comprising at least two game controllers each having wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information to said at lease one console interface at different frequencies, said at least two controllers simultaneously operating with said at least one console interface without cross talk between game controller operating frequencies.

11. The wireless control unit according to claim 8, further comprising:

at least two game controllers each having wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information to said at lease one console interface at a different one of a plurality of frequencies; and

a second console interface, wherein a separate console interface is provided for each of said at least two game controllers.

12. A wireless gaming system comprising:

a game console having a radio frequency receiver capable of receiving a plurality of different radio frequencies; and

a game controller having at least one user operable switch and wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information at a first of said plurality of different frequencies to said radio frequency receiver in said game console.

13. The wireless gaming system according to claim 12, further comprising a second game controller having wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information at a second of said plurality of different frequencies to said radio frequency receiver in said game console, said radio frequency receiver being capable of receiving more than one game controller frequency without cross talk between frequencies.

14. The wireless gaming system according to claim 12, wherein said console radio frequency receiver further comprises a plurality of sensors and a plurality of receivers for sensing and receiving different frequencies among said plurality of radio frequencies.

15. The wireless gaming system according to claim 14, wherein each game controller is capable of transmitting game information at more than one different operating frequency.

16. The wireless gaming system according to claim 15, wherein selection of which operating frequency of said game controllers is used is automatic based on said sensors and receivers in said radio frequency receiver.

17. The wireless gaming system according to claim 15, wherein selection of the operating frequency of said game controllers is manually controlled by a user.