Gaming peripheral including releasably engageable release element

• US 20090280902A1
• Filed: 05/06/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Tandon, Vinod V., Zalewski, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,759 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• 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 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

A gaming peripheral for use during play of an electronic video game includes a releasably engageable release element which disengages in accordance with game play. Disengagement of the release element is selectably controllable and based on receipt of an electronic trigger signal transmitted from a gaming console on which the game is being played. The release element is engaged by a player applying a manual force to the peripheral.

Claims

1. A method of providing feedback via a peripheral, the peripheral having a moveable part and a base and a user input, the moveable part being moveable with respect to the base, and the peripheral being in communication with a game console rendering a game;

the method comprising;

manually moving the moveable part so as to engage the moveable part to the base and create tension between the part and the base;

activating the user input in response to information provided by the game console;

receiving a signal from the console to release the moveable part depending on the state of the game and user input; and

automatically releasing the part in response to the signal from the console.

2. The method of claim 1 further wherein the part is partially released from the base.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the direction in which the part is released depends on the signal received from the console.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the part represents an image displayed on the screen, and the movement of the part corresponds with the movement of the image.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the game is a baseball game.

6. A method for playing a video game comprising:

providing a gaming peripheral including a releasably engageable release element; and

disengaging the release element based on receipt of an electronic trigger signal at the peripheral and in accordance with play of an electronic video game.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the disengaging further comprises setting the peripheral to a partially disengaged position.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the disengaging further comprises selectively controlling at least one of direction, extent and speed of movement of the release element.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

a player of the game applying a manual force to the peripheral for setting the peripheral to a fully engaged position.

10. A gaming peripheral for operation with a game console, the peripheral comprising:

a base;

a moveable part releasably and moveably engaged with respect to the base;

a tension device to apply tension as between the base and moveable part when the moveable part is manually engaged to the base by a user;

a release to release the moveable part from engagement with the base; and

a controller to provide a signal from the console to the release in connection with a game.

11. The gaming peripheral of claim 10 further comprising user input, and the signal provided by the console is provided in response to the console receiving signal from the user input.

12. The gaming peripheral of claim 11 wherein the user input is a position detector.

13. The gaming peripheral of claim 10 wherein the tension device is a spring.

14. The gaming peripheral of claim 10 wherein the release is a member that extends into an aperture of one of the base or moveable part.

15. The gaming peripheral of claim 10 wherein the peripheral is shaped as, and simulates, a baseball bat.

16. The gaming peripheral of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of moveable parts.

17. The gaming peripheral of claim 16 wherein the release controls the direction of the moveable part upon its release.

18. The gaming peripheral of claim 17 wherein the release comprises a plurality of members which may be selectively and individually actuated to control the direction.

19. The gaming peripheral of claim 16 wherein the release controls the speed of the moveable part upon its release.

20. The gaming peripheral of claim 16 wherein the release controls the distance of the moveable part upon its release.

21. A gaming peripheral for operation with a game console, the peripheral comprising:

a base;

a plurality of moveable parts releasably and moveably engaged with respect to the base;

a tension device to apply tension as between the base and the moveable parts when the moveable parts are manually engaged to the base by a user;

a release to selectively release each of the moveable parts from engagement with the base; and

a controller to provide a signal from the console to the release in connection with a game, the signal identifying the individual moveable parts to be released.

22. The gaming peripheral of claim 21 wherein the gaming peripheral is shaped as, and simulates, a gun.

23. A method of releasing a moveable part from a gaming peripheral, wherein the part was attached to the peripheral by a user and the attachment introduces tension between the part and the peripheral, comprising:

displaying a game to a user in accordance with instructions;

receiving user input;

determining whether the moveable part should be released from the peripheral based on the instructions and the user input; and

providing a signal to the peripheral to release the part.

24. A device for providing input to a game comprising:

a first part;

a second part moveable with respect to the first part;

means for attaching the first pat to the second part;

means for exerting a force on the second part when the second part is attached to the first part, wherein the force is created in response to manual operation by a user; and

means for releasing the first part from the second part, the means for releasing being responsive to an electronic signal corresponding with a game.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the means for exerting a force is a spring.