GAME SYSTEM WITH VARIABLE ACTION CONTROLS

• US 20100105453A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sylvius
• Original Assignee: Sylvius
• Inventors: Madigou, Fabrice
• Application Number:
  US11/922,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20100105453A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• 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

Abstract

The invention concerns an electronic game system (10) comprising an electronic platform (120) capable of being stably positioned during a game by a user in at least two desired inclinations, said platform including a central processing unit (210) connected to storage means and a display device (100), the system (10) further comprising means for determining a position based on the signal propagation time (510) between at least one provided gamepad (110) and said platform (120), said at least one provided gamepad providing, through a wireless transmitter (140), action data identified by said processing unit while a gaming programme is executed, said actions controlling in particular the movements of virtual objects (111) displayed on the display device (100), and being generated by monitoring the button-type directing means and/or by moving said at least one provided gamepad in space. The invention is characterized in that it comprises a transformation unit for converting the action data into commands which differ depending on the position of said at least one provided gamepad (110) relative to said display device (100) and depending on the inclination of the electronic game platform (120).

Claims

1. An electronic game system (10) that includes an electronic platform (120) which can be positioned in a stable manner in the course of a user game, in one of at least two desired angles, where said platform has a central processing unit (210) connected to storage means and to a display device (100), where the system (10) also includes means for determining a position from the signal propagation time (510) between at least one game pad (110) and said platform (120), with said at least one game pad supplying, by means of at least one wireless transmitter (140), action information that is recognised by said processing unit during the execution of a game program, with these actions, in particular control of the movements of virtual objects (111), displayed on the display device (100) and being generated by controlling direction members of the direction button type and/or by moving said at least one game pad in space, characterised in that it includes a conversion unit for converting the action information into commands that differ as a function of the position of said at least one game pad (110) in relation to said display device (100) and as a function of the angle of the electronic game platform (120).

2. An electronic game system according to claim 1, characterised in that the position of said game pad (110) is at least determined in relation to a reference system whose origin is located at the centre of the display device (100).

3. An electronic game system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it also includes at least three reception means (121) of wireless signals (510), attached to the platform, with said signals being transmitted by means of the wireless transmitter (115) on said game pad, with a view to determining the position of said game pad from at least three observation points (P1), each associated with said at least three reception means (121).

4. An electronic game system according to either of claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it includes four reception means (121) of wireless signals (510), attached to the game platform, with said signals being transmitted by means of at least one wireless transmitter (115) on said game pad (110) at least with a view to determining the position of said game pad at least from four observation points (P1), each associated with said four reception means (121).

5. An electronic game system according to claim 4, characterised in that said four reception means (121) are placed at maximum distances from each other.

6. An electronic game system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said processing means (210) are capable of executing an algorithm that reduces an uncertainty regarding the calculated position of said game pad at least.

7. An electronic game system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it also includes means (200) for determining an angle of the platform in relation to a plane.

8. An electronic game system according to claim 7, characterised in that said plane is parallel to the surface of a floor on which said platform is placed.

9. An electronic game system according to either of claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the means (200) for determining the angle of the platform in relation to a plane is an angle detector attached to the platform.

10. An electronic game system according to either of claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the means (200) for determining the angle of the platform in relation to a plane uses a gravitational position detection and measuring device attached to the platform.

11. An electronic game system according to claim 10, characterised in that the gravitational position detection and measuring device includes a ball switch.

12. An electronic game system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it also includes an additional reception means (P5) associated with the platform and located, in relation to a plane determined by the latter, on the other side of said at least three signal reception means (121) attached to the game platform.

13. An electronic game system according to claim 12, characterised in that said additional reception means is located at a certain distance from the game platform.

14. An electronic game system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it also includes a magnetic screen (240).

15. An electronic game system according to claim 14, characterised in that the magnetic screen (240) lies in a plane that is chosen so that said additional reception means (P5) cannot receive radio signals transmitted by said game pad (110) at least when said game pad and said additional means are located on either side of the display device (100).

16. An electronic game system according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that the magnetic screen (240) extends over all or part of the surface of the display device (100).

17. An electronic game system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said at least one game pad (110) includes means (115) for generating and transmit information relating to its movement in space, and in that this information concerns pitch, roll and yaw.

18. An electronic game system according to claim 17, characterised in that the means (115) for generating information relating to pitch and roll are accelerometers, inclinometers, electronic gyroscopes, and two-dimensional electronic compasses.

19. An electronic game system according to either of claims 17 to 18, characterised in that the means (115) for generating information relating to yaw are magnetic sensors.

20. An electronic game system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said game pad at least includes a display screen.

21. An electronic game system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said game pad (110) at least includes a tactile surface.

22. An electronic game system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it includes means for determining the position of said game pad at least by determining its polar coordinates (ρ

, θ and

φ

).

24. An electronic game system according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the transmitters and receivers employed are of the wireless type.

23. An electronic game system according to one of claims to 22, characterised in that it includes means for determining the position of said game pad at least by determining its rectangular coordinates (x, y, z).