Game System and Game Controller

• US 20090131171A1
• Filed: 11/14/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• 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 8,491,388 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 2300/1031 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 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes

Abstract

A controller includes at least one vibrator and a vibration control unit which converts an operation input signal which is input to a predetermined operation button into a vibration control signal so as to be supplied to a vibrator. A motion sensor in a sensor unit detects vibration caused by the drive of the vibrator. Sensor output signal value obtained as a result of the detection by the sensor unit is transmitted from a wireless communication module to a game device. A game device achieves a function of automatically firing in succession in a game, based on the sensor output signal value.

Claims

1. A game system comprising a game controller and a game device for executing a game application,

the game controller including:

at least one vibrator wherein a vibration control signal controls drive of the at least one vibrator;

a motion sensor configured to detect vibration caused by the drive of the at least one vibrator;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to analog-to-digital convert an output signal of the motion sensor; and

a first communication module configured to supply a sensor output signal, which has been analog-to-digital converted, to the game device, and

the game device including;

a second communication module configured to receive the sensor output signal from the game controller;

an application processing unit configured to carrying out a processing of a game application; and

a supply unit configured to supply the received sensor output signal to the application processing unit as game operation data,

wherein the application processing unit reflects the game operation data received from the supply unit, in the processing of a game application.

2. A game system according to claim 1, wherein the game controller further includes:

an operation button operated by a user wherein the operation of the operation button drives the at least one vibrator; and

a vibration control unit configured to convert an operation input signal which is input to the operation button into a vibration control signal so as to be supplied to the at least one vibrator.

3. A game system according to claim 2, wherein the vibration control unit determines vibration frequency or vibration amplitude of the at least one vibrator according to an operation amount of the operation button.

4. A game system according to claim 1, the game controller further including an operation button operated by a user,

wherein the first communication module supplies an operation input signal which is input to the operation button, to the game device, and

the game device further including a vibration control signal generator configured to generate a vibration control signal based on an operation input signal received by the second communication module,

wherein the second communication module supplies the generated vibration control signal to the game controller.

5. A game system according to claim 1, when the sensor output signal going above a reference value from a value equal to or below the reference value is detected or when the sensor output signal going down to or below the reference value from a value above the reference value is detected, the supply unit generates game operation data and supply the generated game operation data to the application processing unit.

6. A game system according to claim 1, wherein the application processing unit fires virtual bullets in succession, based on the game operation data received from the supply unit.

7. A game controller for transmitting game operation data to a game device, the game controller comprising:

at least one vibrator;

a motion sensor configured to detect a motion of the game controller caused by drive of the at least one vibrator;

an operation button operated by a user wherein the operation of the operation button drives the at least one vibrator;

a vibration control unit configured to convert an operation input signal which is input to the operation button into a vibration control signal so as to be supplied to the at least one vibrator;

an analog-to-digital converter configured to analog-to-digital convert an output signal of the motion sensor; and

a communication module configured to supply a sensor output signal, which has been analog-to-digital converted, to the game device.