Device for the acoustic control of a game system and application

• US 20060046845A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alexandre Armand, Bram Dauw
• Original Assignee: Alexandre Armand, Bram Dauw
• Inventors: Dauw, Bram, Armand, Alexandre
• Application Number:
  US10/999,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20060046845A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/35
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• 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 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6072 of an input signal, e.g. pitch and rhythm extraction, voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

An acoustic control device for a game system, comprising a microphone and a processor delivering a signal controlling a function of the game, this signal depending on the intensity of the sounds picked up by the microphone. The control device can be integrated in a helmet and can comprise a vibrating device triggered by virtue of a feedback connection in certain specific situations of the game.

Claims

1. An acoustic control device for a game system, comprising

a microphone delivering a first electrical signal,

a signal processor processing the said first signal and delivering a second electrical signal,

an output port compatible with an input port of the game system,

the said second electrical signal being capable of controlling a function of the game,

wherein the said second electrical signal is a function of the intensity of the sound generating the first electrical signal.

2. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the second electrical signal is also a function of the frequency spectrum of the said sound.

3. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the game device is an electromechanical game and the second electrical signal controls a current supply determining a movement of pieces of the game.

4. A control device according to claim 1, wherein the game device is a video game and the second electrical signal controls the running of a visual sequence of the game.

5. A control device according to claim 1, comprising means for discriminating the sounds produced by a player to whom other sounds picked up by the microphone are attributed.

6. A control device according to claim 1, comprising an input port for a return signal, generated by the occurrence of one or more events chosen from amongst the events liable to occur in the execution of the game, and first means generating a sensory stimulus for the player to which the said device is allocated, triggered by the said return signal.

7. A control device according to claim 6, wherein the said generating means comprise a first vibrating device.

8. A control device according to claim 6, comprising a helmet to which the said microphone and the said first vibrating device are fixed.

9. A control device according to claim 7, comprising a second device generating a sensory stimulus, arranged so as to act on a part of the body of the player other than the part on which the said first stimulus-generating means act.

10. A control device according to claim 9, wherein said second device is a second vibrating device.

11. A vehicle race game system comprising at least one pair of control devices according to claim 1, the speed of each of the said vehicles being an increase in function of the intensity of the sounds emitted by the player to which the said vehicle is allocated.

12. A vehicle race game system comprising one or more control devices according to claim 7, wherein the first vibrating device of each control device comes into action when one of the following events affecting the corresponding vehicle occurs:

leaving the road, accident or breakdown.

13. A vehicle race game system comprising one or more control devices according to claim 9, wherein the first vibrating device of each control device comes into action when one of the following events affecting the corresponding vehicle occurs:

leaving the road, accident or breakdown, and wherein the said second stimulus-generating means come into action when the said first electrical signal exceeds a predetermined threshold and none of the said predetermined events has occurred during a predetermined period.