Apparatus and method for digitization of human motion for virtual gaming

• US 20080227545A1
• Filed: 03/14/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel Leland Bragg, Nam Chin Cho, Philip Wei Hu
• Original Assignee: Daniel Leland Bragg, Nam Chin Cho, Philip Wei Hu
• Inventors: Bragg, Daniel Leland, Hu, Philip Wei, Cho, Nam Chin
• Application Number:
  US11/717,512
• Publication Number:
  US 20080227545A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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: 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 3/0346 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

Handheld apparatus and method to provide control over virtual figures and elements within a computer rendered environment. Motion capturing sensors output acceleration vector signals. After digitization and storage of these vector signals into data packets, the packets are wirelessly transmitted to the receiver device. The receiver device transfers the digitized packets to a computer or a video game console. A rendering application resident on the console utilizes the received vector data to move the graphical elements on the display. Unique computation of the acceleration vectors result in realistic and real-time human movement in a computer generated three-dimensional environment. Employment of multiple independent handheld apparatuses provides more precise simulation of human motion in a virtual environment.

Claims

1. A method and apparatus for generating and transferring vector data indicative of direction and acceleration in order to control virtual elements displayed on a computer or gaming console by a graphics rendering system in real time.

2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handheld apparatus includes tri-axial accelerometer element, a microcontroller, and a wireless transmitter packaged for secure and comfortable hand grip.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein each wirelessly transferred data packet contains a relative timestamp for determination of sample rate used for real time processing required to realistically position and orient virtual elements on a console display.

5. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the system utilizes two independent, wireless devices for interactivity with virtual figures on a console display.

6. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein the handheld apparatuses contain an interlocking mechanism to allow for the conjoining of two apparatuses.

7. A method from claim 6 whereby the conjoined apparatuses allow for the generation of two sets of relative acceleration vector signals.

8. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handheld apparatus includes ridges to aid in the grip of the apparatus preventing unintended release of the apparatus from the user'"'"'s hand.

9. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handheld apparatus includes holes and ridges in its body to reduce contact surface and increase airflow for the reduction of perspiration buildup between the user'"'"'s hand and the apparatus body.

4. A method for translating relative human motion into virtual reality space by way of numerically integrating the accelerometer signals.