ANALOG-SIGNAL CONTROLLER FOR MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20120101604A1
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Retoy, LLC
• Original Assignee: Futurity Ventures, LLC
• Inventors: Segal, Edo, Suzuki, Kent, Panin, Dmytro
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/405 being a wireless ad hoc network, e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Pico net
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6072 of an input signal, e.g. pitch and rhythm extraction, voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8011 Ball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

A system and method are provided for interfacing with a mobile device. According to one aspect, a method for interfacing one or more peripheral devices with a mobile device having a processor is provided. One or more unique tones/signals are generated at a respective peripheral device corresponding to an event detected by the respective peripheral device. The tones/signals are conveyed to a mobile device where they are received through a microphone in communication with the mobile device. A processor processes the signals into one or more digital commands, and correlates the digital commands with real-time data to identify an action. One or more outputs are then provided based upon the action.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for interfacing one or more peripheral devices with a mobile device, the mobile device having a processor, a memory, an interfacing module stored in the memory and executing in the processor, and a microphone, the method comprising:

receiving one or more signals using the microphone, each of the signals being generated at a respective peripheral device and corresponding to an event detected by the respective peripheral device;

processing the signals into one or more digital commands using the processor;

correlating the digital commands with real-time data using the processor, thereby identifying an action; and

providing one or more outputs based upon the action.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a tally of the number of digital commands processed.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining one or more scoring regions that correspond to the real-time data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing one or more videos corresponding to the event; and

embedding at least one of an audio enhancement and a video enhancement to the one or more videos in response to the one or more digital commands.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a sports goal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the peripheral device is a launching device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal is an audio tone with a frequency between 15 kHz and 20 kHz.

8. A system for interfacing one or more peripheral devices with a mobile device comprising:

a processor;

a control circuit operatively connected to the processor;

a memory operatively connected to the control circuit and accessible by the processor;

an interfacing module stored in the memory and executing in the processor, and

a microphone operatively connected to the control circuit;

wherein the interfacing module, when executed by the processor, configures the control circuit to;

receive one or more signals with the microphone, each of the signals originating at a respective peripheral device and corresponding to an event detected by the respective peripheral device;

process the signals into one or more digital commands using the processor;

correlate the digital commands with real-time data using the processor to identify an action; and

provide one or more outputs based upon the action.

9. A system for interfacing with a mobile device, the mobile device having a processor and a storage medium accessible by the processor, comprising:

a signal generator that generates one or more signals;

a signal conveyor connected to convey the signals to the mobile device; and

one or more software modules encoded on the storage medium (i) which execute in the processor and (ii) which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to;

process the signals into one or more digital commands using the processor;

correlate the digital commands with real-time data using the processor to identify an action; and

provide one or more outputs based upon the action.

10. An apparatus for enhancing the operation of a launching device, the launching device having a trigger, comprising:

a housing supported by the launching device;

a circuit board contained within the housing and having control circuitry;

one or more speakers contained within the housing and operatively connected to the circuit board; and

a trigger sensor operatively connected to the circuit board and oriented to be capable of engagement by the trigger of the launching device;

wherein the control circuitry is configured to;

maintain a tally of instances that the trigger sensor is engaged;

provide a first audio feedback signal through the speakers in response to engagement of the trigger sensor; and

provide a second audio feedback signal through the speakers in response to the tally of instances that the trigger sensor is engaged.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein one or more buttons are mounted to the housing and are operatively connected to the circuit board.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the circuit board provides audio feedback through the speakers in response to engagement of one or more of the buttons.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the launching device includes a rail and wherein the housing includes a sled that supports the housing.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sled engages with the rail.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sled is slidably moveable along the rail.