Enhanced hang-timer for console simulation

• US 20060167649A1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Drop Zone (UK) Limited
• Original Assignee: Drop Zone (UK) Limited
• Inventors: Alexander, Jeffrey Michael, Griebling, Erich T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,257 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/160
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/185 for ski-jumping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8041 Skating using skis, skates or board
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 8/08 Means used apart from the time-piece for starting or stopping same

Abstract

An enhanced hang-time evaluation mechanism is disclosed, where the mechanism is capable of providing data to a game console for simulation. Such data may correspond to the actions of an object, such as snowboarder, skier, or mountain biker, and then be simulated in a game console. The simulation of such an object may be proportional in accuracy to the types of data gathering devices employed. For example, an accelerometer measuring hang-time via static acceleration may be used. Also, any data gathering device capable of providing spatial positioning data may be used, whether it is a compass providing orientation data, a altimeter providing altitude data, or a global positioning device providing positioning data. Such data may also be stored in a memory module, where the data may be characterized, evaluated, and then provided to the game console, regardless of whether the memory module is internal or external to the hang-time mechanism.

Claims

1. A device for gathering, recording, and providing data about an object to a game console for simulation of the object in the game console, comprising:

an accelerometer configured to measure the static acceleration of the object in order to determine the hang-time of the object during a hang-time event, wherein the accelerometer is configured to generate a first data for the hang-time event;

a data gathering device configured to measure a spatial movement of the object during a hang-time event, wherein the data gathering device is configured to generate a second data for the hang-time event;

a memory module configured to store at least one of the first data and the second data; and

an output module configured to communicate with the memory module and configured to communicate with a game console, such that the output module provides at least one of the first data and the second data to the game console for simulation of the object based on the hang-time event.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data gathering device is a compass that measures the spatial movement of the object relative to the magnetic field of the earth in order to measure the object'"'"'s spatial orientation relative to the earth.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the compass measures at least one of the relative orientation of the object and the absolute orientation of the object.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data gathering device is an altimeter that measures the altitude of the object by measuring changes in the ambient pressure during the spatial movement of the object.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the altimeter is configured to reset at predetermined intervals and for predetermined periods of time.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the altimeter uses a resetting aperture to reset pressure in its reference chamber, wherein the resetting is accomplished by using one of a viscous fluid, a valve, and a small air orifice.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the data gathering device is a global positioning system device that measures the position of the object on the earth.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the memory module is internal to a hang-timer device.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the memory module is external to a hang-timer device.

10. A device allowing for simulation of at least one object based on measured data corresponding to the at least one object, comprising:

at least one accelerometer configured to measure the static acceleration of the object during a hang-time event, wherein the at least one accelerometer measures a first value;

at least one data gathering device comprising at least one of (a) a digital compass, (b) an altimeter, and (c) a global positioning device, wherein the data gathering device measures a spatial position of the object during the hang-time event, wherein the data gathering device measures a second value; and

at least one memory module configured to store at least one of the first value and the second value, wherein the memory module is also configured to provide via an output module at least one of the first value and the second value to a game console for simulation of the object corresponding to the hang-time event.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the altimeter uses a resetting aperture to reset pressure in its reference chamber, wherein the resetting is accomplished by using one of a viscous fluid or a valve.

12. A method for gathering, recording, and providing data about an object to a game console for simulation of the object in the game console, comprising:

gathering a first data using an accelerometer, wherein the accelerometer is configured to measure the static acceleration of the object in order to determined the hang-time of the object;

gathering a second data using a data gathering device, wherein the data gathering device is configured to measure a spatial movement of the object;

recording at least one of the first data and the second data and storing the one of the first and second data in a memory module; and

providing at least one of first data and second data to a game console using an output module.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising characterizing at least one of the first data and the second data as a relevant data for use in the game console.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising time stamping at least one of the first data and the second data.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the time stamping allows for simulation of the object in the game console according to a temporal order.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the time stamping is performed on an hang-time event by hang-time event basis.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the time stamping is performed on a run-by-run basis, wherein a run comprises at least one hang-time event.

18. The method according to claim 12, further comprising evaluating at least one of the first data and second data for a score assignment, wherein the evaluating is performed one of internally to the hang-timer.

19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising comparing at least one of the first data and second data to another data of another object, wherein the comparing allows for the assessment of performance of the object in relation to the another object.

20. The method according to claim 12, further comprising of gathering, recording, and providing another data about another object different from the object, in order to provide the another data to the game console for simulation.