Video Game System Using Bio-Feedback Devices

• US 20070207858A1
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joel Breving
• Original Assignee: Joel Breving
• Inventors: Breving, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 7,654,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/06 using player-operated means for controlling the position of a specific area display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• 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 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• 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 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video

Abstract

A video game system using one or more bio-feedback devices for the monitor and transmission of physiological data of a participant of the video game system to the video game system where the data, along with conventional controller data is incorporated into game play provided by software through the video game system. A headset electrically coupled to a video game system, the headset including one or more bio-feedback devices for transmitting participant physiological data to the video game system for real-time incorporation into game play.

Claims

1. A headset for use with a video game system, the headset comprising:

one or more bio-feedback devices for transmitting to a video game system physiological data of a participant thereof, wherein the one or more bio-feedback devices comprise at least one of an electroencephalogram electrode, a galvanometer, or a thermocouple;

a communication link for electrically coupling the headset and the video game system; and

conductive wiring for electrically coupling the bio-feedback devices with the communication link.

2. The headset of claim 1, wherein the electroencephalogram electrode is configured to measure the electrical activity of surface cortical neurons emitted by a participant of the video game system.

3. The headset of claim 1, wherein the thermocouple comprises a polyvinylidine fluoride thermocouple.

4. The headset of claim 1, wherein the galvanometer comprises at least two conductors configured to measure a change in resistance of skin of a participant of the video game system, wherein the at least two conductors are in physical communication with the skin.

5. The headset of claim 1, wherein the headset further comprises:

an ear piece comprising a speaker for transmitting an audio component from the video game system to the participant; and

a microphone for transmitting verbal communication from the participant to the video game system.

6. A video game system comprising:

a) a control deck;

b) a headset configured to transmit a first set of physiological data of a participant, wherein the headset is electrically coupled with the control deck; and

c) a controller configured to transmit conventional controller data inputted by the participant and a second set of physiological data of the participant, wherein the controller is electrically coupled with the control deck.

7. The video game system of claim 6, wherein:

the video game system further comprises software; and

the software is a computer readable medium comprising executable instructions for providing a video game operable through the control deck.

8. The video game system of claim 7, wherein the headset and the controller transmit data to the control deck for processing into a form interpreted by the software such that the processed data may alter the participant'"'"'s game play of the video game.

9. The video game system of claim 6, wherein the headset comprises one or more bio-feedback devices comprising at least one of an electroencephalogram electrode, a galvanometer, or a thermocouple.

10. The video game system of claim 9, wherein the headset further comprises:

a communication link for electrically coupling the headset and the control deck; and

conductive wiring for electrically coupling the bio-feedback devices with the communication link.

11. The video game system of claim 6, wherein the control deck comprises:

a circuit board for directing the processing of the data transmitted by the headset and the controller;

an analog to digital converter electrically coupled with the circuit board;

a serial to parallel converter electrically coupled with the circuit board;

a software input module; and

a microprocessor electrically coupled with the circuit board and the software input module.

12. The video game system of claim 11, wherein the software input module is located on a client computer or a server computer.

13. The video game system of claim 6, wherein the video game system further comprises a network connection for electrically coupling multiple video game systems such that participants of the multiple video game systems may engage in simultaneous, interactive game play through their respective video game systems.

14. A video game system comprising:

a) a video game processor;

b) software;

c) a microprocessor electrically coupled with the video game processor; and

d) one or more bio-feedback devices electrically coupled with the microprocessor,

wherein the bio-feedback devices are incorporated into a headset or a video game controller, or both,

wherein the bio-feedback devices transmit data from at least two data types,

wherein the at least two data types comprise physiological data from a participant and conventional controller data inputted by the participant, and

wherein the microprocessor comprises executable instructions for determining a “

z”

value that represents the number of standard deviations the physiological data is away from a calculated mean of the physiological data.

15. The video game system of claim 14, wherein the video game system is a handheld video game system, the handheld video game system further comprises:

a shell;

a video display; and

a game port;

wherein the one or more bio-feedback devices are incorporated into the shell of the handheld video game system or a headset electrically coupled with the handheld video game system.

16. The video game system of claim 15, wherein the bio-feedback devices are incorporated into the shell of the handheld video game system and the headset electrically coupled with the handheld video game system.

17. The video game system of claim 15, wherein the headset comprises one or more bio-feedback devices comprising at least one of an electroencephalogram electrode, a galvanometer, or a thermocouple.

18. The video game system of claim 15, wherein the bio-feedback devices incorporated into the shell of the handheld video game system comprise at least one of a photoelectric plethysmography, a galvanometer, or a thermocouple.

19. The video game system of claim 15, wherein the handheld video game system further comprises a network connection for electrically coupling multiple handheld video game systems such that participants of the multiple handheld video game systems may engage in simultaneous, interactive game play through their respective handheld video game systems.

20. A method of providing physiological data of a participant of a video game system to a software input module of the video game system, wherein the method comprises:

a) receiving unprocessed physiological data through a bio-feedback device electrically coupled with the video gaming system, wherein the bio-feedback device transmits the unprocessed physiological data to the video game system;

b) converting the unprocessed physiological data from an analog form to a digital form;

c) collecting the digitally converted physiological data on a shift register, wherein the digitally converted physiological data is collected serially;

d) converting the serially collected digitally converted physiological data into parallel form;

e) delivering the parallel form of the digitally converted physiological data to parallel a data bus;

f) transferring the parallel form of the digitally converted physiological data on the parallel data bus to a microprocessor;

g) relaying the parallel form of the digitally converted physiological data to a ROM unit, wherein the ROM unit stores the parallel physiological data;

h) accessing the ROM unit utilizing a RAM unit to perform pre-defined calculations of the parallel form of the digitally converted physiological data;

i) calculating a “

z”

value for the parallel physiological data utilizing a mean and standard deviation of the parallel form of the digitally converted physiological data;

j) transferring the “

z”

value to a shift register in a serial manner;

k) converting the serial “

z”

value to a parallel form of the “

“

z”

”

value;

l) transferring the parallel form “

z”

value to a microprocessor; and

m) relaying the parallel form “

z”

value from the microprocessor to the software input module.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the relaying of the parallel form “

z”

value from the microprocessor to the software module is performed on a client computer or a server computer.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the bio-feedback device is incorporated into a headset worn by the participant of the video game system.