POSITION LOCATION SYSTEM USING MULTIPLE POSITION LOCATION TECHNIQUES

• US 20080318684A1
• Filed: 06/19/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza)
• Application Number:
  US12/142,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20080318684A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/573 using trajectories of game objects, e.g. of a golf ball according to the point of impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• 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 2300/5553 user representation in the game field, e.g. avatar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/003 Bistatic radar systems; Multistatic radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/426 Scanning radar, e.g. 3D radar G01S13/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/723 by using numerical data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/878 Combination of several spaced transmitters or receivers of known location for determining the position of a transponder or a reflector G01S13/874 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/412 based on a comparison between measured values and known or stored values
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/012 Head tracking input arrangements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

A position location system includes a first position location sub-system, a second position location sub-system, and processing circuitry. The first position location sub-system determines first position location information regarding a first object using a first position location technique. The second position location sub-system determines second position location information regarding a second object, the second position location sub-system using a second position location technique that differs from the first position location technique. The processing circuitry processes the first position location information to determine a position of the first object within a coordinate system and processes the second position location information to determine a position of the second object within the coordinate system.

Claims

1. A video gaming system comprising:

a first position location sub-system operable to determine first position location information regarding a first gaming object using a first position location technique;

a second position location sub-system operable to determine second position location information regarding a second gaming object, the second position location sub-system using a second position location technique that differs from the first position location technique; and

a gaming console coupled to the first position location sub-system and to the second position location sub-system and operable to;

process the first position location information to determine a position of the first gaming object within a coordinate system of a gaming environment;

process the second position location information to determine a position of the second gaming object within the coordinate system of the gaming environment; and

integrate the positions of the first and second gaming objects within the coordinate system of the gaming environment into a video game function.

2. The video gaming system of claim 1, wherein the coordinate system of the gaming environment comprises at least one of:

a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system; and

a spherical coordinate system.

3. The video gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming console is further operable to:

process the first position location information to determine motion of the first object within the coordinate system; and

process the second position location information to determine motion of the second object within the coordinate system.

4. The video gaming system of claim 1, wherein:

the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of receivers for orientation about a physical area; and

the second position location sub-system includes a plurality of receivers for orientation about the physical area.

5. The video gaming system of claim 4, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one transmitter.

6. The video gaming system of claim 5, wherein the at least one transmitter and at least one receiver of the plurality of receivers of the first position location sub-system are substantially co-located.

7. The video gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming console is further operable to:

process the first position location information to determine a position of at least one first reference point on the first gaming object within the coordinate system; and

process the second position location information to determine a position of at least one second reference point on the first gaming object within the coordinate system.

8. The video gaming system of claim 7, wherein the gaming console is operable to determine a position and orientation of the first gaming object within the coordinate system based upon the first position location information and the second position location information.

9. The video gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming console is further operable to:

process the first position location information to determine the position of the first object within the coordinate system; and

process the second position location information to determine motion of the first object within the coordinate system.

10. The video gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first position location technique and the second position location technique are selected from the group consisting of:

acoustic wave detection, wherein the object includes at least one sound energy source and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of sound energy receivers;

Radio Frequency (RF) signal detection, wherein the object includes at least one RF transmitter and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of RF receivers;

RF signal detection, wherein the object includes at least one RF receiver and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of RF transmitters;

RF signal detection, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one RF transmitter and a plurality of RF receivers;

digital imaging, wherein the object includes a plurality of digital cameras;

digital imaging, wherein the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of digital cameras;

Infrared (IR) detection wherein the object includes an IR source and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of IR receivers;

IR detection, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one IR source and a plurality of IR receivers;

laser distance measurement;

thermal imaging; and

multiple axis accelerometer sensing.

11. A method for locating a first gaming object and a second gaming object within a physical area of a gaming environment, the method comprising:

capturing position location information regarding a first gaming object using a first position location system that uses first position location technique;

capturing position location information regarding a second gaming object using a second position location sub-system that uses a second position location technique that differs from the first position location technique;

processing the first position location information by a gaming module to determine a position of the first gaming object within a coordinate system of the gaming environment;

processing the second position location information by the gaming module to determine a position of the second gaming object within the coordinate system of the gaming environment; and

integrating, by the gaming module, the positions of the first and second gaming objects within the coordinate system of the gaming environment into a video game function.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the coordinate system of the gaming environment comprises at least one of:

a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system; and

a spherical coordinate system.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein further comprising:

processing, by the gaming module, the first position location information to determine motion of the first object within the coordinate system; and

processing, by the gaming module, the second position location information to determine motion of the second object within the coordinate system.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

processing, by the gaming module, the first position location information to determine a location of at least one first reference point on the first gaming object; and

processing, by the gaming module, the second position location information to determine a location of at least one second reference point on the first gaming object.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, by the gaming console, determining a position and orientation of the first gaming object based upon the first position location information and the second position location information.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising, by the gaming module:

processing the first position location information to determine the position of the first object within the coordinate system; and

processing the second position location information to determine motion of the first object within the coordinate system.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the first position location technique and the second position location technique are selected from the group consisting of:

acoustic wave detection, wherein the object includes at least one sound energy source and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of sound energy receivers;

Radio Frequency (RF) signal detection, wherein the object includes at least one RF transmitter and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of RF receivers;

RF signal detection, wherein the object includes at least one RF receiver and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of RF transmitters;

RF signal detection, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one RF transmitter and a plurality of RF receivers;

digital imaging, wherein the object includes a plurality of digital cameras;

digital imaging, wherein the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of digital cameras;

Infrared (IR) detection wherein the object includes an IR source and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of IR receivers;

IR detection, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one IR source and a plurality of IR receivers;

laser distance measurement;

thermal imaging; and

multiple axis accelerometer sensing.

18. A position location system comprising:

a first position location sub-system operable to determine first position location information regarding a first object using a first position location technique;

a second position location sub-system operable to determine second position location information regarding a second object, the second position location sub-system using a second position location technique that differs from the first position location technique; and

processing circuitry coupled to the first position location sub-system and to the second position location sub-system and operable to;

process the first position location information to determine a position of the first object within a coordinate system; and

process the second position location information to determine a position of the second object within the coordinate system.

19. The position location system of claim 18, wherein the coordinate system of the gaming environment comprises at least one of:

a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system; and

a spherical coordinate system.

20. The position location system of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to:

process the first position location information to determine motion of the first object within the coordinate system; and

process the second position location information to determine motion of the second object within the coordinate system.

21. The position location system of claim 18, wherein:

the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of receivers for orientation about a physical area; and

the second position location sub-system includes a plurality of receivers for orientation about the physical area.

22. The position location system of claim 21, wherein the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of transmitters for orientation about the physical area.

23. The position location system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers of the first position location sub-system are substantially co-located.

24. The position location system of claim 18, wherein the processing circuitry is further operable to:

process the first position location information to determine the position of the first object within the coordinate system; and

process the second position location information to determine motion of the first object within the coordinate system.

25. The position location system of claim 18, wherein the first position location technique and the second position location technique are selected from the group consisting of:

acoustic wave detection, wherein the object includes at least one sound energy source and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of sound energy receivers;

Radio Frequency (RF) signal detection, wherein the object includes at least one RF transmitter and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of RF receivers;

RF signal detection, wherein the object includes at least one RF receiver and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of RF transmitters;

RF signal detection, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one RF transmitter and a plurality of RF receivers;

digital imaging, wherein the object includes a plurality of digital cameras;

digital imaging, wherein the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of digital cameras;

Infrared (IR) detection wherein the object includes an IR source and the first position location sub-system includes a plurality of IR receivers;

IR detection, wherein the first position location sub-system includes at least one IR source and a plurality of IR receivers;

laser distance measurement;

thermal imaging; and

multiple axis accelerometer sensing.