Hand-held interactive game

• US 20080261694A1
• Filed: 04/17/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Original Assignee: Patent Category Corporation
• Inventors: Zheng, Yu
• Granted Patent: US 7,909,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0053 Apparatus generating random stimulus signals for reaction-time training involving a substantial physical effort
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• 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 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6063 for sound processing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit

Abstract

A game apparatus has a plurality of actuation devices in which at least two of the actuation devices require different mechanical actions for actuation. The apparatus further includes a speaker, a display screen, and a processor coupled to each of the actuation devices and to the display screen and the speaker. The processor outputs a first command signal to the speaker relating to a first actuation device, then outputs a second command signal to the speaker when the first actuation device is actuated, with the second command signal relating to a second actuation device. The processor outputs image signals to the display screen that are representative of the mechanical actions being taken.

Claims

1. A game apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of actuation devices in which at least two of the actuation devices require different mechanical actions for actuation;

a display screen; and

a processor coupled to each of the actuation devices and to the display screen, the processor outputting a first command signal to the display screen relating to a first actuation device, the processor outputting a second command signal to the display screen when the first actuation device is actuated, the second command signal relating to a second actuation device, and outputting an error signal to the display screen if the first actuation device is not actuated within a predetermined period of time;

wherein the processor outputs the error signal to the display screen when an actuation device other than the first actuation device is actuated in response to the first command signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actuation devices include a pressure switch, a pull switch, a lever switch, and a rotational switch.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further including an external memory coupled to the processor.

4. A game apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of actuation devices in which at least two of the actuation devices require different mechanical actions for actuation;

a speaker;

a display screen; and

a processor coupled to each of the actuation devices and to the display screen and the speaker, the processor outputting a first command signal to the speaker relating to a first actuation device, the processor outputting a second command signal to the speaker when the first actuation device is actuated, the second command signal relating to a second actuation device, and outputting an error signal to the speaker if the first actuation device is not actuated within a predetermined period of time;

wherein the processor outputs the error signal to the speaker when an actuation device other than the first actuation device is actuated in response to the first command signal; and

wherein the processor outputs image signals to the display screen that are representative of the mechanical actions being taken.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the actuation devices include a pressure switch, a pull switch, a lever switch, and a rotational switch.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further including an external memory coupled to the processor.

7. An interactive game system, comprising:

a. a game object having;

a plurality of actuation devices in which at least two of the actuation devices require different mechanical actions for actuation;

a speaker;

a communication device; and

a processor coupled to each of the actuation devices and to the speaker and the communication device, the processor outputting a first command signal to the speaker relating to a first actuation device, the processor outputting a second command signal to the speaker when the first actuation device is actuated, the second command signal relating to a second actuation device, and outputting an error signal to the speaker if the first actuation device is not actuated within a predetermined period of time; and

b. a hand-held unit having;

control buttons;

a display screen;

a communication device that communicates signals with the communication device of the game object; and

a processor coupled to the control buttons, the display screen and the communication device of the hand-held unit, the processor of the hand-held unit outputting image signals to the display screen that are representative of the mechanical actions being taken.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor of the game object outputs the error signal to the speaker when an actuation device other than the first actuation device is actuated in response to the first command signal.

9. An interactive game system, comprising:

a. a game object having;

a plurality of actuation devices in which at least two of the actuation devices require different mechanical actions for actuation;

a communication device; and

a processor coupled to each of the actuation devices and to the communication device;

b. a hand-held unit having;

control buttons;

a speaker;

a display screen;

a communication device that communicates signals with the communication device of the game object; and

a processor coupled to the control buttons, the speaker, the display screen and the communication device of the hand-held unit, the processor of the hand-held unit outputting;

(i) image signals to the display screen that are representative of the mechanical actions being taken, (ii) a first command signal to the speaker relating to a first actuation device, (iii) a second command signal to the speaker when the first actuation device is actuated, the second command signal relating to a second actuation device, and (iv) an error signal to the speaker if the first actuation device is not actuated within a predetermined period of time.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor of the hand held unit outputs the error signal to the speaker when an actuation device other than the first actuation device is actuated in response to the first command signal.

11. A method of playing a game, comprising:

outputting a first command signal to a speaker relating to a first actuation device, the first actuation device being one of a plurality of actuation devices, with at least two of the actuation devices requiring different mechanical actions for actuation;

outputting a first image signal to a display screen, the first image signal relating to the first command signal;

outputting a second command signal to the speaker when the first actuation device is actuated within a predetermined period of time, the second command signal relating to a second actuation device; and

outputting a second image signal to a display screen, the second image signal relating to the second command signal.

12. The method of claim 11, further including outputting an error signal to the speaker when an actuation device other than the first actuation device is actuated in response to the first command signal.

13. The method of claim 11, further including outputting an error signal to the speaker if the first actuation device is not actuated within a predetermined period of time.