SCHEME FOR DETECTING AND TRACKING USER MANIPULATION OF A GAME CONTROLLER BODY

• US 20060256081A1
• Filed: 05/06/2006
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC (Sony Corporation)
• Sponsoring Entity: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC (Sony Corporation)
• Inventors: Zalewski, Gary, Mao, Xiadong, Marks, Richard
• Time in USPTO: 0 Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/06 : using player-operated means for controlling the position of a specific area display
• 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 13/42 : by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 : using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 : for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality for handicapped people in general A61F4/00; robot control B25J; tactile signalling G08B; blind teaching G09B21/00; for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/344; electronic switches characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated H03K17/94
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 : Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0325 : using a plurality of light emitters or reflectors or a plurality of detectors forming a reference frame from which to derive the orientation of the object, e.g. by triangulation or on the basis of reference deformation in the picked up image
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

One embodiment provides a method for use in obtaining information that includes the steps of receiving on an image plane of a camera a projection of a geometric shape established on a controller, analyzing movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape, and determining position information for the controller based on the analysis of the movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape.

Claims

1. . A method for use in obtaining information, comprising the steps of:

receiving on an image plane of a camera a projection of a geometric shape established on a controller;

analyzing movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape; and

determining position information for the controller based on the analysis of the movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape.

2. . A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the geometric shape established on the controller comprises:

one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

3. . A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the one or more LEDs comprises four LEDs.

4. . A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the one or more LEDs are strobed.

5. . A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the one or more LEDs are modulated.

6. . A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein each of the one or more LEDs operates at a different frequency.

7. . A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the geometric shape comprises a rectangle.

8. . A system for use in obtaining information, comprising:

a controller having a geometric shape established thereon;

a camera configured to receive on an image plane of the camera a projection of the geometric shape established on the controller; and

an image analyzer configured to analyze movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape and to determine position information for the controller based on the analysis of the movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape.

9. . A system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the geometric shape established on the controller comprises:

one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

10. . A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the one or more LEDs comprises four LEDs.

11. . A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the one or more LEDs are configured to be strobed.

12. . A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the one or more LEDs are configured to be modulated.

13. . A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the one or more LEDs are each configured to operate at a different frequency.

14. . A system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the geometric shape comprises a rectangle.

15. . A system for use in obtaining information, comprising:

means for receiving on an image plane of a camera a projection of a geometric shape established on a controller;

means for analyzing movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape; and

means for determining position information for the controller based on the analysis of the movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape.

16. . A system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the geometric shape established on the controller comprises:

one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

17. . A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the one or more LEDs comprises four LEDs.

18. . A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the one or more LEDs are configured to be strobed.

19. . A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the one or more LEDs are configured to be modulated.

20. . A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the one or more LEDs are each configured to operate at a different frequency.

21. . A system in accordance with claim 15, wherein the geometric shape comprises a rectangle.

22. . A computer program product comprising a medium for embodying a computer program for input to a computer and a computer program embodied in the medium for causing the computer to perform steps of:

receiving on an image plane of a camera a projection of a geometric shape established on a controller;

analyzing movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape; and

determining position information for the controller based on the analysis of the movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape.

23. . A computer program product in accordance with claim 22, wherein the geometric shape established on the controller comprises:

one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

24. . A computer program product in accordance with claim 22, wherein the one or more LEDs comprises four LEDs.