Input device and method for shooting games

• US 20070129152A1
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Liou, Shun-Nan, Chang, Shyang-Jye, Tsai, Ming-Jye, Lian, Zhi-Wei
• Application Number:
  US11/519,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20070129152A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/49
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2488 Remotely playable
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/02 Light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light emitting sources, e.g. laser

Abstract

An input device and method for shooting games, which comprises at least an inertial sensing module, for detecting the aiming gesture of an user and issuing a gesture signal according to the detection; a switch unit, capable of issuing an on/off signal for simulating a shooting; a signal processing unit, capable of receiving the gesture signal and the on/off signal and converting those received signals into a target control signal and other control signals in respective; and a wireless transmission module; wherein, the target control signal and other control signals are transmitted to an electronic device interactive to the input device for controlling the aiming and shooting of a target displayed on the interactive electronic device.

Claims

1. An input device for a shooting game, comprising:

an inertial sensing module, for detecting a gesture movement of a user while generating a gesture signal accordingly;

a switch unit, for generating an on/off signal;

a control unit, connected to the inertial sensing module and the switch, for receiving and processing the gesture signal and the on/off signal and processing those received signals into an aiming signal; and

a wireless transmission module, connected to the control unit, for transmitting the aiming signal to an interactive device.

2. The input device of claim 1, wherein the inertial sensing module further comprises an accelerometer for sensing rotation in free space.

3. The input device of claim 2, wherein the accelerometer is capable of executing a differential method to compute angular accelerations while integrating the same to obtain angular velocities as it is used to detect the gesture movement of the user.

4. The input device of claim 1, wherein the control unit further comprises a signal processing unit, capable of converting and encoding a control signal generated by the control unit into the aiming signal while transmitting the aiming signal back to the control unit.

5. The input device of claim 4, wherein the control unit and the signal processing unit can be integrated into a chip.

6. The input device of claim 1, wherein the input device further comprises a casing for the switch unit to be fitted thereon while exposing the switch unit outside the casing to be operable externally.

7. The input device of claim 6, wherein the outlook of the casing can be formed into a shape similar to a gun.

8. The input device of claim 6, wherein the outlook of the casing can be formed into a shape similar to a computer mouse.

9. The input device of claim 6, wherein the outlook of the casing can be formed into a shape similar to a remote control.

10. The input device of claim 1, wherein the interactive device is a television set.

11. The input device of claim 1, wherein the interactive device is a computer.

12. The input device of claim 1, wherein the interactive device is a video game platform.

13. The input device of claim 1, wherein the interactive device further comprises a displaying device and the displaying device is a computer monitor.

14. The input device of claim 1, wherein the interactive device further comprises a displaying device and the displaying device is a television monitor.

15. The input device of claim 1, wherein the interactive device further comprises a displaying device and the displaying device is a projector.

16. An input method for a shooting game, comprising steps of:

(a) detecting a gesture movement of an user and thus issuing a gesture signal according to the detection;

(b) enabling a switch unit to issue an on/off signal;

(c) fetching the gesture signal and the on/off signal for processing those received signals into an aiming signal; and

(d) transmitting the aiming signal to an interactive device.

17. The input method of claim 16, wherein the gesture signal further comprises:

a first-axis acceleration signal measured with respect to a first axis of a space;

a second-axis acceleration signal measured with respect to a second axis of the space;

a first-axis rotation signal measured with respect to the first axis of the space;

a second-axis rotation signal measured with respect to the second axis of the space; and

a third-axis rotation signal measured with respect to a third axis of the space.

18. The input method of claim 17, wherein the first-axis acceleration signal further comprises:

a first acceleration signal and a second acceleration signal.

19. The input method of claim 18, further comprising a step of:

performing a differential operation upon the first acceleration signal and the second acceleration signal for obtaining the third-axis rotation signal.

20. The input method of claim 16, wherein the transmission of step (d) is performed by a wireless transmission means.