GAME CONTROLLER

• US 20090017911A1
• Filed: 07/09/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: MIYAZAKI, Yoshio
• Granted Patent: US 9,174,122 B2
• 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 13/235 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 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• 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 technique which easily removes the motion element of the game controller which is attributed to the vibrating motion of a vibrator from the output data of an acceleration sensor or reduces the element can be achieved by the present invention. In a game controller, an acceleration sensor detects the movement of the game controller. LPF is installed at the output of the acceleration sensor. Vibrators are installed inside of a housing. The cutoff frequency of LPF is set lower than the peak value of the natural frequency of the game controller. The cutoff frequency of LPF may be set to two thirds or less of the peak value of the natural frequency of the game controller.

Claims

1. A game controller operative to transmit game operation data to a game device, comprising:

a motion sensor operative to detect the movement of the game controller;

a low pass filter installed at the output of the motion sensor; and

at least one vibrator, wherein

the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter is set lower than the natural frequency of the game controller.

2. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter is set so that at least a part of the vibration component of the game controller attributed to the vibrating motion of the vibrator can be removed.

3. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter is set to two thirds or less of the peak value of the natural frequency of the game controller.

4. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the low pass filter is configured so that filter circuits which have different cutoff frequencies can be selectively used.

5. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the cutoff frequency of the low pass filter is set to a predetermined value of 15 Hz or less.

6. The game controller according to claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless communication module operative to transmit the output data of the motion sensor at a predetermined cycle, wherein

the lag time caused by the low pass filter is set shorter than twice the duration of transmission cycle of the wireless communication module.

7. The game controller according to claim 6 wherein the lag time caused by the low pass filter is set shorter than the duration of transmission cycle of the wireless communication module.

8. The game controller according to claim 1, further comprising;

a wireless communication module operative to transmit the output data of the motion sensor at a predetermined cycle;

another low pass filter installed between the motion sensor and the low pass filter, wherein

the lag time caused by the low pass filters in two stages is set shorter than twice the duration of transmission cycle of the wireless communication module.

9. The game controller according to claim 8 wherein the lag time caused by each of the low pass filters which constitute a two-stage low pass filter is set shorter than the duration of transmission cycle of the wireless communication module.

10. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

the motion sensor includes at least one acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor, further comprising:

a passive filter installed between the acceleration sensor and the low pass filter; and

an active filter installed between the angular velocity sensor and the low pass filter.