[GAME CONTROL SYSTEM AND ITS CONTROL METHOD]

• US 20050208999A1
• Filed: 02/23/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Zeroplus Technology Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Zeroplus Technology Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: CHENG, CHIU-HAO, CHENG, MING-KUO
• Application Number:
  US10/906,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20050208999A1
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light

Abstract

Disclosed is a game control system, which includes a main unit, and a controller for controlling the main unit to run a game software and having a camera mounted in the front side of the housing thereof and electrically connected to the circuit board inside the housing for picking up images and sending obtained images to the main unit for comparison to calculate the amount of movement of the controller relative to the main unit. Incorporating the camera into the inside of the housing of the controller saves manufacturing tools and packing materials, reduces system size and delivery cost.

Claims

1. A game control system comprising a main unit, and a controller for controlling said main unit to run a game software, wherein said controller comprises a housing, said housing having two handhold portions symmetrically disposed at two opposite lateral sides for the holding of the hands, a plurality of operating buttons mounted in an outside wall of said housing, a circuit board mounted inside said housing, and a camera mounted in said housing and electrically connected to said circuit board for picking up images and sending obtained images to said main unit for comparison to calculate the amount of movement of said controller relative to said main unit.

2. The game control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller further comprises a socket fixedly mounted in a front side of said housing and electrically connected to said circuit board;

said camera is detachably connected to said housing, having an connector connectable to said socket.

3. The game control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises two pivot holes aligned in a line in a front side thereof;

said camera is pivotally coupled to said housing, having two pivot pins disposed at two opposite sides and respectively pivotally coupled to said pivot holes.

4. The game control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said pivot pins of camera comprises each have a protruding stop portion adapted to limit the angle of rotation of said camera in said pivot holes relative to said housing.

5. The game control system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing comprises two stop portions respective disposed in said pivot holes and adapted to limit the angle of rotation of said camera in said pivot holes relative to said housing.

6. The game control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller is a palm-top joystick.

7. The game control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller is a remote controller.

8. The game control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main unit is a personal computer.

9. The game control system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main unit is a game machine main unit.

10. A game control method used in the game control system as claimed in claim 1, the game control method comprising the step of:

(a) operating said camera to pick up a first picture and to send said first picture to said main unit;

(b) driving said main unit to calculate the data of the center area of said first picture so as to obtain Sample A;

(c) operating said camera again to pick up a second picture and to send said second picture to said main unit;

(d) driving said main unit to calculate the data of the center area of said second picture so as to obtain Sample B and to calculate the data of said Sample A in said Sample B so as to obtain Sample A″

; and

(e) driving said main unit to compare said Sample A″

to said Sample A so as to calculate the amount of displacement of said controller in X-axis and Y-axis directions relative to said main unit.

11. A game control method used in the game control system as claimed in claim 1, the game control method comprising the steps of:

(a) operating said camera to pick up a first picture and to send said first picture to said main unit;

(b) driving said main unit to calculate the data of the center area of said first picture so as to obtain Sample A, and then driving said main unit to calculate the coordinates date of four corners of said Sample A;

(c) operating said camera again to pick up a second picture and to send said second picture to said main unit;

(d) driving said main unit to calculate the data of the center area of said second picture so as to obtain Sample B and to calculate the data of said Sample A in said Sample B so as to obtain Sample A″

, and then driving said main unit to calculate the coordinates data of four corners of said Sample A″

; and

(e) driving said main unit to compare the coordinates data of said Sample A″

to said Sample A so as to calculate the amount of displacement of said controller in Z-axis direction relative to said main unit or the amount of rotation of said controller relative to said main unit.