VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER

• US 20100016077A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Original Assignee: Disney Enterprises Incorporated (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Longdale, Holly G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,727,878 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 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/63 by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6018 where the game content is authored by the player, e.g. level editor or by game device at runtime, e.g. level is created from music data on CD
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

One particular implementation of the present invention may take the form of a video game controller that provides multiple inputs to a video game system. The controller may be compatible with multiple video game systems and may interface with multiple video games. More particularly, the controller may include a flat tablet-like device and a stylus that allows the user to draw within the video game environment. The tablet may recognize pressure applied by the stylus or by the user'"'"'s fingers to map the position of the pressure applied and provide that information to a video game console such that the user may interact with a video game. Other embodiments may include a series of overlays that cover the controller device. The overlay may be specific to a particular video game and provide the user with a interface to press certain areas on the tablet to interact with the video game correctly. The overlay may also allow the user to interact with a pre-existing video game system through the controller.

Claims

1. A video game controller comprising:

a tablet pad including a surface that detects pressure applied to the tablet pad by a user;

a stylus device configured to be used by the user to provide pressure to the tablet pad;

at least one accelerometer configured to measure the movement and orientation of the video game controller;

a microprocessor in communication with the tablet pad and the at least one accelerometer, the microprocessor configured to associate a coordinate value to the pressure applied to the tablet pad by the user;

a port in communication with the microprocessor, the port configured to communicate with a video game system, wherein the microprocessor transmits the coordinate value to the video game system through the port.

2. The video game controller of claim 1, wherein the user provides multiple pressure inputs to the tablet pad by drawing on the tablet pad with the stylus.

3. The video game controller of claim 1, wherein the user provides pressure to the tablet pad by pressing on the tablet pad with the user'"'"'s finger.

4. The video game controller of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor associates a value indicating the amount of pressure applied to the tablet pad by the user.

5. The video game controller of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one button configured to provide an input to the video game system when pressed.

6. The video game controller of claim 1, wherein the port further comprises:

a wireless device to communicate with the video game system.

7. The video game controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a peripheral input interface configured to communicate with a peripheral input device, wherein the peripheral input device is selected from a group comprising;

a mouse, a trackwheel, a microphone and a steering wheel.

8. A video game controller comprising:

a tablet pad including a surface that detects pressure applied to the tablet pad by a user;

a microprocessor in communication with the tablet pad, the microprocessor configured to associate a coordinate value to the pressure applied to the tablet pad by the user;

a port in communication with the microprocessor, the port configured to communicate with a video game system, wherein the microprocessor transmits the coordinate value to the video game system through the port; and

an overlay positioned at least partially on the surface, wherein the overlay indicates to the user where to apply pressure to the tablet pad to interact with a video game.

9. The video game controller of claim 8, wherein the overlay is a stencil.

10. The video game controller of claim 8, wherein the overlay provides an interface for the video game controller to be used with a pre-existing video game system.

11. The video game controller of claim 8, further comprising:

a stylus, wherein the stylus can be used by the user to apply pressure to the overlay.

12. The video game controller of claim 8, wherein the user provides pressure to the overlay by pressing on the tablet pad with the user'"'"'s finger.

13. The video game controller of claim 8, wherein the microprocessor associates a value indicating the amount of pressure applied to the tablet pad by the user

14. The video game controller of claim 8, further comprising:

at least one button configured to provide an input to the video game system when pressed.

15. The video game controller of claim 8, further comprising:

a tilt sensor configured to measure the movement and orientation of the video game controller.

16. The video game controller of claim 8, wherein the port further comprises:

a wireless device to communicate with the video game system.

17. The video game controller of claim 8, further comprising:

a peripheral input interface configured to communicate with a peripheral input device, wherein the peripheral input device is selected from a group comprising;

a mouse, a trackwheel, a microphone and a steering wheel.

18. A system for communicating a user input, the system comprising:

a tablet pad including a surface that detects pressure applied to the tablet pad by the user;

at least one accelerometer configured to measure the movement and orientation of the system;

a microprocessor in communication with the tablet pad and the at least one accelerometer, the microprocessor configured to associate a coordinate value to the pressure applied to the tablet pad by the user;

a port in communication with the microprocessor, the port configured to communicate with a video game system, wherein the microprocessor transmits the coordinate value to the video game system through the port.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

a stylus configured to be used by the user to apply pressure to the tablet pad.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

a peripheral input interface configured to communicate with a peripheral input device, wherein the peripheral input device is selected from a group comprising;

a mouse, a trackwheel, a microphone and a steering wheel.