Enhanced controller with modifiable functionality

• US 20080004113A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Swanson, David, Hargis, David, Avery, Jason, Rymarz, Paul, Much, Michael P.
• Application Number:
  US11/479,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20080004113A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes

Abstract

A controller, a method of interacting with a computer-implemented program, and a method for modifying controller functionality. In one embodiment of the present invention, a controller includes a first member and a second member movably coupled with the first member, wherein a movement of the second member with respect to the first member is operable to transform the controller from a first configuration to a second configuration. The controller also includes a plurality of input devices coupled with at least one of the first member and the second member. Additionally, a processor is coupled with and operable to change an operation state of the plurality of input devices and available controller functionality upon detecting the transformation from the first to the second configuration.

Claims

1. A controller comprising:

a first member;

a second member movably coupled with said first member, wherein a movement of said second member with respect to said first member is operable to transform said controller from a first configuration to a second configuration;

a plurality of input devices coupled with at least one of said first member and said second member; and

a processor coupled with and for changing an operation state of said plurality of input devices and available controller functionality upon detecting said transformation from said first to said second configuration.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a plurality of user interface elements and a plurality of sensors.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a first user interface element and a second user interface element, and wherein said processor is operable to separately control an enabled state of said first user interface element and said second user interface element.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a first user interface element and a second user interface element, and wherein said processor is operable to separately adjust said first user interface element and said second user interface element.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a plurality of computer-implemented game controls, said controls comprising a plurality of buttons for interacting with a computer-implemented game.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a first sensor and a second sensor, and wherein said processor is operable to separately control an enabled state of said first sensor and said second sensor.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a first sensor and a second sensor, and wherein said processor is operable to separately adjust said first sensor and said second sensor.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a plurality of accelerometers for detecting movement of said controller and for interacting with a computer-implemented game.

9. The controller of claim 1 further comprising a monitoring component for identifying said transformation and transmitting a signal to said processor to enable said detecting of said transformation.

10. A controller comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices coupled with said housing; and

a processor coupled with and for changing an operation state of said plurality of input devices and available controller functionality upon detecting a change in orientation of said controller.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein said housing comprises a first member and a second member, wherein said second member is movably coupled with said first member, and wherein a movement of said second member with respect to said first member is operable to transform said controller from a first configuration to a second configuration;

and

wherein said processor is further operable to change an operation state of said plurality of input devices and available controller functionality upon detecting said transformation from said first to said second configuration.

12. The controller of claim 10, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a plurality of user interface elements and a plurality of sensors.

13. The controller of claim 10, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a first user interface element and a second user interface element, and wherein said processor is operable to separately control an enabled state of said first user interface element and said second user interface element.

14. The controller of claim 10, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a first user interface element and a second user interface element, and wherein said processor is operable to separately adjust said first user interface element and said second user interface element.

15. The controller of claim 10, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a plurality of computer-implemented game controls, said controls comprising a plurality of buttons for interacting with a computer-implemented game.

16. The controller of claim 10, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a first sensor and a second sensor, and wherein said processor is operable to separately control an enabled state of said first sensor and said second sensor.

17. The controller of claim 10, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a first sensor and a second sensor, and wherein said processor is operable to separately adjust said first sensor and said second sensor.

18. The controller of claim 10, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a plurality of accelerometers for detecting movement of said controller and for interacting with a computer-implemented game.

19. The controller of claim 10 further comprising a magnetometer coupled to said processor and operable to detect said change in orientation of said controller.

20. A method for interacting with a computer-implemented program comprising:

accessing a configuration status of a controller, wherein said configuration status is determined by a positioning of a first member of said controller with respect to a second member of said controller;

implementing an updated state of a plurality of input devices of said controller based upon a change in said configuration status; and

communicating to a coupled computer system an input received by one of said plurality of input devices in said updated state, wherein said communicating enables interaction with said computer-implemented program.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

accessing an orientation of said controller; and

implementing said updated state based further upon a change in said orientation of said controller.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a plurality of user interface elements.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said implementing an updated state further comprises changing an enabled state of said plurality of user interface elements.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said implementing an updated state further comprises adjusting said plurality of user interface elements.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a plurality of computer-implemented game controls, said controls comprising a plurality of buttons.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein said plurality of input devices comprise a plurality of sensors.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said implementing an updated state further comprises changing an enabled state of said plurality of sensors.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said implementing an updated state further comprises adjusting said plurality of sensors.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein said plurality of sensors comprise a plurality of accelerometers for detecting movement of said controller.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein said change in said orientation is detected by a magnetometer coupled to said controller.

31. A method for modifying controller functionality comprising:

adjusting said controller from a first physical configuration to a second physical configuration;

modifying a first plurality of user interface elements of said controller to support a first plurality of user inputs corresponding to said controller arranged In said second physical configuration; and

modifying a first plurality of sensors of said controller to support a first plurality of sensor inputs corresponding to said controller arranged In said second physical configuration.

32. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

adjusting said controller from a first orientation to a second orientation;

modifying a second plurality of user interface elements of said controller to support a second plurality of user inputs corresponding to said controller arranged In said second orientation; and

modifying a second plurality of sensors of said controller to support a second plurality of sensor inputs corresponding to said controller arranged In said second orientation.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein said first and second plurality of user interface elements comprise at least one button enabling a user to interact with a computer-implemented game.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein said first plurality and said second plurality of user interface elements share at least one user interface element in common.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein said first plurality and said second plurality of sensors share at least one sensor in common.