SPHERICAL ENDED CONTROLLER WITH CONFIGURABLE MODES

• US 20100105480A1
• Filed: 10/22/2009
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Zalewski, Gary M, Larsen, Eric, Marks, Richard, Huang, Ennin, Mikhailov, Anton
• Granted Patent: US 8,221,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/38
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• 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 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• 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

Input devices for interfacing with a game console to interact with a computer program are disclosed. In one example, the input device includes a controller with a handle and a spherical object that is connected to a first end of the handle. The controller further includes a circuit that identifies the position of the handle. The circuit further includes communication logic to communicate the identified position to the game console during interaction with the computer program. The controller further includes control inputs connected to a second end of the handle, wherein the spherical object is placed in contact with a surface when held by the handle and the circuit updates the identified position of the handle as the handle is pivoted on the surface. The control inputs providing commands that are exchanged with the game console to further interact with the computer program.

Claims

1. An input device for interfacing with a game console to interact with a computer program, comprising:

a controller having a handle;

a spherical object connected to a first end of the handle;

a circuit for identifying position of the handle, the circuit further including communication logic to communicate the identified position to the game console during interaction with the computer program; and

control input connected to a second end of the handle, wherein the spherical object is placed in contact with a surface when held by the handle, the circuit defined to update the identified position of the handle as the handle is pivoted on the surface, the control input providing commands that are exchanged with the game console to further interact with the computer program.

2. An input device as described in claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor to detect when the spherical object is in actual contact with the surface.

3. An input device as described in claim 2, wherein the sensor suspends the identification of position of the controller when the spherical object is not in contact with the surface, the suspension being cancelled when the spherical object is rejoined in contact with the surface;

or

wherein the sensor activates one of a wand or pointer mode when the spherical object is not in contact with the surface.

4. An input device as described in claim 1, wherein the handle is pivoted to enable pitch, roll and yaw control.

5. An input device as described in claim 1, wherein the spherical object is connected to the handle by one of an adjustable switch, a positional switch, a fixed connector, a flexible connector, or a strain gauge.

6. An input device as described in claim 1, wherein the spherical object includes a light element.

7. An input device as described in claim 6, wherein the light element is configured to change colors.

8. An input device as described in claim 1, wherein the handle and spherical object operation in one of a wand mode, a pointer mode, or a joystick mode.

9. An input device as described in claim 1, wherein the handle includes a joystick installed with an indentation in the handle, the indentation having a slope angled toward the spherical object.

10. An input device as described in claim 9, wherein the handle includes supplemental input, the supplemental input being positioned on the handle between the joystick and the spherical object.

11. An input device as described in claim 10, wherein the supplemental input includes a plurality of buttons, where one of the plurality of buttons is partially within the indentation in the handle.

12. An input device as described in claim 1, wherein the control input connected to the second end of the handle is a trackball, the trackball further configured to act as a button when pressed.

13. An input device for interfacing with a game console to interact with a

computer program, comprising:

a controller having a handle with a first input area and a second input area, the first input area being located on a side surface, the second input area being located on a posterior end;

a spherical section being connected to an anterior end of the controller;

a first circuit to detect when the spherical section is in contact with a surface and enable the second input area to receive control input for the computer program; and

a second circuit to identify a position of the handle relative to the surface, the second circuit further including communication logic to communicate the identified position and control input to the game console during interaction with the computer program.

14. An input device as recited in claim 13, wherein the first input area and the second input area are configured to receive a modular interface insert.