Operating Device

• US 20110263329A1
• Filed: 10/01/2009
• Published: 10/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ito, Takamasa, Sumi, Yutaka, Hamada, Koji, Onuki, Yoshikazu, Miyazaki, Yoshio, Enomoto, Kazuyoshi, Araki, Takamasa
• Granted Patent: US 8,747,224 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• 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 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• 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 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• 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 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• 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

Provided is an operation device which allows various kinds of operation information to be input to a main body thereof as needed without unnecessarily increasing the weight of the operation device. The operation device includes: the main body having a shape elongated from one end to another end; a light emitting member provided to the one end of the main body; and a connection portion provided to the other end of the main body, to which an arbitrary one of a plurality of other operation devices is to be connected.

Claims

1-13. -13. (canceled)

14. An information processing system, comprising:

a plurality of operation devices each comprising a light emitting portion; and

an information processing apparatus to be communicably connected to the plurality of operation devices,

wherein the information processing apparatus comprises;

detection means for detecting light emitted from the light emitting portion; and

position identifying means for identifying a position of each of the plurality of operation devices based on a position of the detected light, and

wherein each of the plurality of operation devices causes the light emitting portion to emit the light with a different light emission color.

15. The information processing system according to claim 14,

wherein the information processing apparatus assigns, to each of the plurality of operation devices communicably connected thereto, a logical number for identifying each of the plurality of operation devices, and

wherein each of the plurality of operation devices causes the light emitting portion to emit the light with the light emission color determined based on the logical number assigned to the operation device.

16. The information processing system according to claim 14,

wherein the information processing apparatus further comprises light emission control means for presenting candidates for the light emission color to a user of one of the plurality of operation devices, and transmitting, to the one of the plurality of operation devices, an instruction to cause the light emitting portion of the one of the plurality of operation devices held by the user to emit the light with a color selected by the user from among the candidates for the light emission color, and

wherein the one of the plurality of operation devices causes the light emitting portion to emit the light with the color corresponding to the transmitted instruction.

17. The information processing system according to claim 16, wherein the light emission control means excludes a light emission color of another one of the plurality of operation devices from the candidates for the light emission color to be presented.

18. An operation device, which comprises a light emitting portion, and is to be communicably connected to an information processing apparatus,

wherein light emitted from the light emitting portion is used by the information processing apparatus so as to identify a position of the operation device, and

wherein the light emitting portion emits the light with a light emission color different from a light emission color of another operation device connected to the information processing apparatus.

19. An information processing apparatus, which is to be communicably connected to a plurality of operation devices each comprising a light emitting portion,

the information processing apparatus comprising:

detection means for detecting light emitted from the light emitting portion;

position identifying means for identifying a position of each of the plurality of operation devices based on a position of the detected light; and

light emission control means for causing the light emitting portion of each of the plurality of operation devices to emit the light with a different light emission color.

20. A control method for an information processing apparatus which is to be communicably connected to a plurality of operation devices each comprising a light emitting portion,

the control method comprising:

detecting light emitted from the light emitting portion;

identifying a position of each of the plurality of operation devices based on a position of the detected light; and

causing the light emitting portion of each of the plurality of operation devices to emit the light with a different light emission color.

21. A computer-readable information storage medium having a program stored therein, the program causing an information processing apparatus, which is to be communicably connected to a plurality of operation devices each comprising a light emitting portion, and comprises detection means for detecting light emitted from the light emitting portion, to function as:

position identifying means for identifying a position of each of the plurality of operation devices based on a position of the detected light; and

light emission control means for causing the light emitting portion of each of the plurality of operation devices to emit the light with a different light emission color.

22. An information processing system, comprising:

an operation device comprising a light emitting portion; and

an information processing apparatus,

wherein the information processing apparatus comprises;

detection means for detecting light emitted from the light emitting portion; and

position identifying means for identifying a position of the operation device based on a position of the detected light, and

wherein the operation device changes a light emission mode of the light emitting portion in accordance with a device state of the operation device.

23. The information processing system according to claim 22, wherein the operation device changes the light emission mode of the light emitting portion in accordance with a charge state of a rechargeable battery built in the operation device.

24. The information processing system according to claim 23, wherein the operation device changes a light emission color of the light emitting portion when a remaining charge of the rechargeable battery has fallen below a predetermined threshold.

25. The information processing system according to claim 23, wherein the operation device causes, in accordance with an instruction from a user, the light emitting portion to emit the light in a mode corresponding to the charge state of the rechargeable battery.

26. An operation device, comprising a light emitting portion,

wherein light emitted from the light emitting portion is used by an information processing apparatus so as to identify a position of the operation device, and

wherein a light emission mode of the light emitting portion is changed in accordance with a device state of the operation device.

27. An information processing apparatus, which is to be communicably connected to an operation device comprising a light emitting portion,

the information processing apparatus comprising:

detection means for detecting light emitted from the light emitting portion;

position identifying means for identifying a position of the operation device based on a position of the detected light;

means for acquiring a device state of the operation device; and

light emission control means for changing a light emission mode of the light emitting portion in accordance with the acquired device state of the operation device.

28. A control method for an information processing apparatus which is to be communicably connected to an operation device comprising a light emitting portion,

the control method comprising:

detecting light emitted from the light emitting portion;

identifying a position of the operation device based on a position of the detected light;

acquiring a device state of the operation device; and

changing a light emission mode of the light emitting portion in accordance with the acquired device state of the operation device.

29. A computer-readable information storage medium having a program stored therein, the program causing an information processing apparatus, which is to be communicably connected to an operation device comprising a light emitting portion, and comprises detection means for detecting light emitted from the light emitting portion, to function as:

position identifying means for identifying a position of the operation device based on a position of the detected light;

means for acquiring a device state of the operation device; and

light emission control means for changing a light emission mode of the light emitting portion in accordance with the acquired device state of the operation device.