ELECTRONIC SWORD GAME WITH INPUT AND FEEDBACK

• US 20110086709A1
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kico Sound LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Woolston, Thomas G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,485,903 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 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• 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 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• 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 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• 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 2300/8029 : Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 : Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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

Systems, methods, and apparatus for communicating information regarding movement of a gaming device are presented herein. A gaming device can include at least one sensor configured to measure information associated with at least one of a position of the gaming device or an attitude of the gaming device. Further, a communications interface component can be configured to communicate the information to a controller. A method can detect, via sensors of a handheld gaming device, information related to a movement of the handheld gaming device; and transfer the information to a controller communicatively coupled to the handheld gaming device. A system can include means for receiving information related to a position of a gaming device or an attitude of the gaming device, and means for predicting an anticipated position of the gaming device based on the means for receiving the information.

Claims

1. A gaming device, comprising:

at least one sensor configured to measure information associated with at least one of a position of the gaming device or an attitude of the gaming device;

a communications interface component configured to communicate the information to a controller.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the communications interface component is further configured to:

communicate to the controller first information representing at least one of a velocity of the gaming device, an acceleration of the gaming device, or an inertia of the gaming device.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver component configured to receive from the controller game information in response to the information.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one transmitter configured to transmit, in response to the at least one of the position of the gaming device or the attitude of the gaming device, electromagnetic radiation to one or more receivers communicatively coupled to the controller.

5. The gaming device of claim 4, further comprising:

a receiver component configured to receive from the controller game information in response to at least one of the information or the electromagnetic radiation.

6. The gaming device of claim 3, further comprising:

a component configured to generate tactile feedback via a housing of the gaming device in response to the game information.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the component is further configured to:

topple a gyrostat in response to the game information.

8. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the component is further configured to:

simulate, via the tactile feedback, a force applied to a virtual object.

9. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein the component is further configured to:

first simulate, via the tactile feedback, a blow of a sword.

10. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein the component is further configured to:

first simulate, via the tactile feedback, a kickback of at least one of a gun, a pistol, or a rifle.

11. A method, comprising:

detecting, via sensors of a handheld gaming device, information related to a movement of the handheld gaming device; and

transferring the information to a controller communicatively coupled to the handheld gaming device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

first detecting first information representing at least one of a velocity of the handheld gaming device, an acceleration of the handheld gaming device, or an inertia of the handheld gaming device;

wherein the transferring further includes first transferring the first information to the controller.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving game information from the controller in response to the transferring the information.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

transmitting electromagnetic radiation to one or more receivers communicatively coupled to the controller in response to the information.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving game information from the controller in response to at least one of the transferring the information or the transmitting the electromagnetic radiation.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating tactile feedback via a housing of the handheld gaming device in response to the receiving the game information.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the generating the tactile feedback further comprises:

toppling a gyrostat in response to the receiving the game information.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

simulating a force applied to a virtual object in response to the generating the tactile feedback.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the simulating the force further comprises:

first simulating a blow of a sword in response to the generating the tactile feedback.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the simulating the force further comprises:

first simulating a kickback of at least one of a gun, a pistol, or a rifle in response to the generating the tactile feedback.

21. A system, comprising:

means for first receiving information related to a first position of a first gaming device or a first attitude of the first gaming device; and

means for first predicting a first anticipated position of the first gaming device based on the means for first receiving the information.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for communicating game information to the first gaming device in response to the means for first predicting the first anticipated position.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for communicating the game information includes means for first communicating toppling information to the first gaming device in response to the means for first predicting the first anticipated position.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for determining an impact point of a virtual object based on the means for first predicting the first anticipated position.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

means for displaying the virtual object in response to the means for determining the impact point.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the virtual object includes at least one of a virtual sword or a virtual gun.

27. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for second receiving other information related to a second position of a second gaming device or a second attitude of the second gaming device;

means for second predicting a second anticipated position of the second gaming device based on the means for second receiving the other information.

28. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

means for determining an impact point of a first virtual object associated with the first gaming device and a second virtual object associated with the second gaming device based on the means for second predicting the second anticipated position.

29. The system of claim 27, further comprising:

means for communicating toppling information to at least one of the first gaming device or the second gaming device based on the means for second predicting the second anticipated position.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein at least one of the first virtual object or the second virtual object includes a virtual sword.