POLYMORPHIC FIREARM CONTROLLER

• US 20110275435A1
• Filed: 01/24/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment America LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Torre, David P., Dimalanta, Rov
• Granted Patent: US 9,180,365 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 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 13/42 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 13/54 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 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/10 characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

A game controller includes a first mock firearm action associated with a first weapon mode and a second mock firearm action associated with a second weapon mode. If first mock firearm action is enabled, it can generate a load command when the first mock firearm action is operated. If second mock firearm action is enabled, it can generate a load command when the second mock firearm action is operated. The game controller includes a mode selector, to enable the first mock firearm action when the game controller is in the first weapon mode and to enable the second mock firearm action when the game controller is in the second weapon mode.

Claims

1. A game controller, comprising:

a first mock firearm action, associated with a first weapon mode, to generate a load command when the first mock firearm action is operated;

a second mock firearm action, associated with a second weapon mode, to generate the load command when the second mock firearm action is operated; and

a mode selector, to enable the first mock firearm action when the game controller is in the first weapon mode and to enable the second mock firearm action when the game controller is in the second weapon mode.

2. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the first mock firearm action and the second mock firearm action are each selected from a list consisting of:

a mock pump action, a mock bolt action, a mock break action, a mock lever action and a mock revolver action.

3. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the first mock firearm action is a mock automatic action that includes a magazine holder having a detector for detecting the presence of a mock ammunition magazine, and wherein the first mock firearm action is operated by inserting the mock ammunition magazine into the magazine holder.

4. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a trigger, to generate a fire command; and

a recoil simulator, to generate a force feedback when the fire command is generated.

5. The game controller of claim 4, wherein the recoil simulator to generate a first force when the game controller is in a first weapon mode and to generate a second force when the game controller is in a second weapon mode.

6. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a proximity sensor, to detect the presence of an object, wherein the game controller to generate a zoom command when the presence of the object is detected by the proximity sensor.

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

a speaker, to simulate sounds made by a first weapon associated with the first weapon mode when the first weapon mode is active and to simulate sounds made by a second weapon associated with the second weapon mode when the second weapon mode is active.

8. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the mode selector to receive a weapon mode signal from a game, the weapon mode signal identifying a weapon mode to activate, and to activate the weapon mode identified by the weapon mode signal.

9. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the mode selector to receive a user selection of a weapon mode, to activate the selected weapon mode, and to send a signal to a game console identifying the selected weapon mode.

10. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface for receiving a motion sensitive game controller.

11. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more inertial sensors, wherein data from the one or more inertial sensors are sent to a computing device and used to control a character in a game.

12. A method comprising:

sensing operation of a mock firearm action by a firearm controller that includes a plurality of mock firearm actions;

determining whether the mock firearm action is enabled;

when the mock firearm action is enabled, generating a load ammunition signal and sending the load ammunition signal to a computing device; and

when the mock firearm action is not enabled, failing to generate the load ammunition signal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a command to activate a specified weapon mode by the firearm controller;

activating the selected weapon mode by the firearm controller; and

enabling the mock firearm action that is associated with the selected weapon mode.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

generating a reload sound associated with a selected weapon mode, wherein the selected weapon mode is associated with the mock firearm action.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

sensing a trigger pull by the firearm controller;

generating a weapon fire signal and sending the weapon fire signal to a computing device; and

generating a force feedback having a strength and a force feedback pattern associated with the selected weapon mode.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting a presence of a human body part near at least one of a scope or gun sight included in the firearm controller;

generating a zoom command upon detecting the presence of the human body part; and

sending the zoom command to a computing device.

17. A game controller, comprising:

a controller body;

at least one of mock scope or a mock gun sight attached to the controller body; and

a proximity sensor, disposed proximate to the mock scope or mock gun sight, to detect the presence of a human body part, wherein the game controller to generate a zoom command when the presence of a human body part is detected by the proximity sensor.

18. The game controller of claim 17, wherein the presence of the human body part is detected by the proximity sensor when a user looks through the mock scope or the gun sight.

19. The game controller of claim 17, wherein the proximity sensor is disposed at the mock scope or the mock gun sight.

20. The game controller of claim 17, further comprising:

a mode selector to select an active weapon mode, wherein the game controller to generate the zoom command only if the active weapon mode includes a zoom function.