Rotary Game Controller and Method of Facilitating User Exercise During Video Game Play

• US 20070219050A1
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IA Labs CA LLC
• Original Assignee: IA Labs CA LLC
• Inventors: Merril, Greg
• Application Number:
  US11/672,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20070219050A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/14 Platforms for reciprocating rotating motion about a vertical axis , e.g. axis through the middle of the platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/04 for small-room or indoor sporting games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

A game controller according to the present invention enables a user to perform exercises to control a gaming or virtual reality scenario. The game controller or exercise device includes an exercise structure and control circuitry. The exercise structure enables a user seated on a rotatable support member to apply forces to rotate the support member and user body. The rotation of the user on the exercise structure is measured and utilized to control the game scenario.

Claims

1. An exercise system serving as a peripheral to manipulate a virtual reality scenario of a host processing system in accordance with user exercise comprising:

a base;

a support member to support a user, wherein said support member is rotatable by a user relative to said base;

at least one sensor to measure user rotation of said support member; and

a processor to process measurements from said at least one sensor and facilitate control of said virtual reality scenario of said host processing system in accordance with said measured rotation of said support member.

2. A method of manipulating a virtual reality scenario of a host processing system in accordance with user exercise on an exercise system, wherein said exercise system comprises a base and a support member supporting a user and rotatable relative to said base, said method comprising:

(a) rotating said support member relative to said base;

(b) measuring user rotation of said support member via at least one sensor; and

(c) processing measurements from said at least one sensor via a processor and facilitating control of said virtual reality scenario of said host processing system in accordance with said measured rotation of said support member.