Game controller with force sensing input devices and method of measuring applied forces to game controller input devices to interact with a gaming application
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A game controller to interact with a game processor including a gaming application comprising:
- a plurality of user-manipulable input devices including at least one isometric input device, wherein an amount of applied force for actuation of said at least one isometric input device is configurable by a user; and
a plurality of signal sources each to detect manipulation of a corresponding input device and to generate a manipulation signal indicating said measured manipulation to enable control of a corresponding gaming application function.
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Abstract
A game controller according tot the present invention employs scalable force-detecting sensors (e.g., strain gauges, etc.) to measure user manipulation of controller input devices (e.g., joysticks, etc.). The controller incorporates force sensing, rather than motion sensing, to provide the “analog” type inputs to a computer-interactive game. The force required to provide the controller output is adjustable by the user, while the mapping of sensor to game control is determined by user configuration of the controller.
115 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A game controller to interact with a game processor including a gaming application comprising:
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a plurality of user-manipulable input devices including at least one isometric input device, wherein an amount of applied force for actuation of said at least one isometric input device is configurable by a user; and
a plurality of signal sources each to detect manipulation of a corresponding input device and to generate a manipulation signal indicating said measured manipulation to enable control of a corresponding gaming application function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A game controller to interact with a game processor including a gaming application comprising:
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a plurality of user-manipulable input devices including at least one isometric input device;
a plurality of signal sources each to detect manipulation of a corresponding input device and to generate a manipulation signal indicating said measured manipulation to enable control of a corresponding gaming application function;
a controller processor to receive and process said manipulation signals from said signal sources and transfer information to said game processor in a format compatible with said game processor for controlling said gaming application functions; and
a configuration module to assign said gaming application functions to said input devices in accordance with device function assignments received from said user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of configuring a game controller to interact with a game processor including a gaming application, wherein said game controller includes a plurality of user-manipulable input devices with at least one isometric input device, and a plurality of signal sources each associated with a corresponding input device to detect manipulation of that device, said method comprising:
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(a) receiving an amount of applied force for actuation of said at least one isometric input device from a user and configuring said game controller in accordance with said force amount; and
(b) detecting manipulation of an input device and generating a manipulation signal indicating said measured manipulation to enable control of a corresponding gaming application function. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method of configuring a game controller to interact with a game processor including a gaming application, wherein said game controller includes a plurality of user-manipulable input devices, a plurality of signal sources each associated with a corresponding input device to detect manipulation of that device, and a controller processor with a plurality of inputs each associated with a corresponding gaming application function and receiving a manipulation signal from a corresponding input device, said method comprising:
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(a) receiving device function assignments from a user, wherein said plurality of user-manipulable input devices includes at least one isometric input device;
(b) assigning said gaming application functions to said input devices in accordance with said device function assignments;
(c) detecting manipulation of an input device and generating a manipulation signal indicating said measured manipulation to enable control of a corresponding gaming application function; and
(d) processing said manipulation signals and transferring information from said controller processor to said game processor in a format compatible with said game processor to control said gaming application functions. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification