MOTION-SENSITIVE INPUT DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED CAMERA FOR SENSING GESTURES
First Claim
1. An interactive game wherein a game participant uses a wireless motion-sensitive input device to direct or control one or more computer animations providing an immersive interactive gaming experience, said interactive game comprising:
- a wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising a live-action game, computer game, video game or home game console configured to generate one or more computer animations in accordance with an interactive game;
a digital camera configured to capture and communicate to said wireless-compatible gaming platform one or more digital images;
at least one wireless hand-held motion-sensitive input device configured to be held and operated by a user to play or direct a game at least in part by moving a body of said input device in free space, said input device comprising;
a housing sized and configured to be gripped and held by a user, said housing comprising an internal cavity sized and configured to receive or contain one or more internal power sources and circuitry configured to power and operate said input device;
one or more sensors configured to generate sensor state data responsive to one or more sensed motions or orientations of said input device in free space;
one or more switches configured to generate switch state data responsive to selective actuations thereof by one or more fingers of a user'"'"'s hand;
an effects generator configured to generate light, vibration or sound effects in accordance with said interactive game; and
electronic circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate data to and from said wireless-compatible gaming platform, said electronic circuitry comprising;
i) a microprocessor, ii) memory configured to store a unique identifier, and iii) a wireless radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to;
a) transmit to said wireless-compatible gaming platform one or more wireless signals comprising said unique identifier, said sensor state data and said switch state data, and b) receive from said wireless-compatible gaming platform one or more wireless signals comprising selected game-relevant information; and
game software stored in non-transitory storage comprising executable program instructions that direct or cause said wireless-compatible gaming platform to carry out an immersive interactive game wherein one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects are produced based at least in part on said sensor state data and said switch state data.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless input device for playing an interactive motion-sensitive game using a wireless-compatible game console in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects is provided wherein game play is conducted by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing the input device in a particular manner. The input device can include motion-sensitive circuitry and/or command circuitry for generating control signals and/or an effects generator and associated control circuitry to enable the input device to selectively generate at least one visual, aural or tactile effect comprising sound, lighting or vibration. The input device can include a wireless transceiver for providing two-way wireless communication with the wireless-compatible game console. An optional lighting element emits a light signal or pattern that can be sensed by an external sensor or camera to interpret one or more movements or gestures made using the input device.
129 Citations
76 Claims
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1. An interactive game wherein a game participant uses a wireless motion-sensitive input device to direct or control one or more computer animations providing an immersive interactive gaming experience, said interactive game comprising:
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a wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising a live-action game, computer game, video game or home game console configured to generate one or more computer animations in accordance with an interactive game; a digital camera configured to capture and communicate to said wireless-compatible gaming platform one or more digital images; at least one wireless hand-held motion-sensitive input device configured to be held and operated by a user to play or direct a game at least in part by moving a body of said input device in free space, said input device comprising; a housing sized and configured to be gripped and held by a user, said housing comprising an internal cavity sized and configured to receive or contain one or more internal power sources and circuitry configured to power and operate said input device; one or more sensors configured to generate sensor state data responsive to one or more sensed motions or orientations of said input device in free space; one or more switches configured to generate switch state data responsive to selective actuations thereof by one or more fingers of a user'"'"'s hand; an effects generator configured to generate light, vibration or sound effects in accordance with said interactive game; and electronic circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate data to and from said wireless-compatible gaming platform, said electronic circuitry comprising;
i) a microprocessor, ii) memory configured to store a unique identifier, and iii) a wireless radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to;
a) transmit to said wireless-compatible gaming platform one or more wireless signals comprising said unique identifier, said sensor state data and said switch state data, and b) receive from said wireless-compatible gaming platform one or more wireless signals comprising selected game-relevant information; andgame software stored in non-transitory storage comprising executable program instructions that direct or cause said wireless-compatible gaming platform to carry out an immersive interactive game wherein one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects are produced based at least in part on said sensor state data and said switch state data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An interactive game wherein a game participant uses a motion-sensitive wireless wand input device to direct or control one or more computer animations as part of an immersive gaming experience, said interactive game comprising:
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a wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising a live-action game, computer game, video game or home game console configured, to generate one or more computer animations in accordance with an interactive game; at least one motion-sensitive wireless wand input device configured to be held and operated by a user using a single hand to play or direct a game at least in part by moving the entire body of said wand input device, said wand input device comprising; an elongated body having an axis of elongation extending from a first end adapted to be gripped by a single hand of a user to a second end extending from said first end and being in substantial coaxial alignment therewith; a first arrangement of one or more sensors configured to generate sensor state data responsive to at least a first sensed motion of said wand input device; a second arrangement of one or more sensors configured to generate sensor state data responsive to at least a second sensed motion of said wand input device, wherein said second sensed motion is different than said first sensed motion; at least one lighting element configured to produce a visible or infrared light signal or pattern capable of being detected by one or more external cameras or sensors; and electronic circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate data to said wireless-compatible gaming platform over a range of at least 10 feet, said electronic circuitry comprising;
i) a microprocessor, ii) memory configured to store a unique identifier, and iii) a wireless transmitter configured to transmit to said wireless-compatible gaming platform one or more wireless signals communicating at least said unique identifier and said sensor state data;at least one physical play object comprising object-specific data stored or recorded in a manner such that it can be wirelessly and electronically read by said wireless-compatible gaming platform over a range of at least 1 cm; and game software stored in non-transitory storage comprising executable program instructions that direct or cause said wireless-compatible gaming platform to carry out said interactive game wherein one or more computer animations are produced based at least in part on said sensor state data and said object-specific data. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A wireless motion-sensitive input device for use with a wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising a live-action game, computer game, video game or home game console, said motion-sensitive input device comprising:
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a base component sized and configured to be held and operated by a single hand of a user to play or direct a game at least in part by moving the entire body of said base component in free space, said base component comprising an elongated body having an axis of elongation extending from a first end adapted to be gripped by a single hand of a user to a second end protruding from said first end and being in substantial coaxial alignment therewith, said elongated body substantially enclosing an internal cavity sized and configured to receive or contain one or more internal power sources and circuitry configured to power and operate said base component; at least one auxiliary component configured to be modularly attached and detached to said base component to enable a user to selectively create a modified input device having increased or different functional capabilities; an arrangement of one or more sensors configured to generate sensor state data responsive to one or more sensed motions or orientations of said motion-sensitive input device; at least one lighting element configured to produce a visible or infrared light signal or pattern capable of communicating pointing or gesturing information to one or more external cameras or sensors; and electronic circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate said sensor state data to a wireless-compatible gaming platform, said electronic circuitry comprising;
i) a microprocessor, ii) memory configured to store a unique identifier, and iii) a radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to;
a) transmit to said wireless-compatible gaming platform one or more wireless RF signals comprising said unique identifier and said sensor state data, and b) receive from said wireless-compatible gaming platform one or more wireless RF signals comprising selected game-relevant information. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A wireless motion-sensitive input device for use with a wireless-compatible gaming platform comprising a live-action game, computer game, video game or home game console, said input device comprising:
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a housing sized and configured to be held and operated by a user using a single hand to play or direct a game at least in part by moving the entire body of said housing, said housing having an axis of elongation extending from a first end adapted to be gripped by a single hand of a user to a second end extending substantial coaxially from said first end, said housing substantially enclosing an internal cavity sized and configured to receive or contain one or more internal power sources and circuitry configured to power and operate said input device; a first arrangement of one or more sensors configured to generate sensor state data responsive to at least a first sensed motion of said input device; a second arrangement of one or more sensors configured to generate sensor state data responsive to at least a second sensed motion of said input device wherein said second sensed motion is different than said first sensed motion; at least two finger-actuated switches configured to generate switch state data responsive to selective actuations thereof by one or more fingers of a user'"'"'s hand; at least one lighting element configured to produce a visible or infrared light signal or pattern capable of communicating pointing or gesturing information to one or more external cameras or sensors; and electronic circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate data to and from a wireless-compatible gaming platform, said electronic circuitry comprising;
i) a microprocessor, ii) memory configured to store a unique identifier, and iii) a wireless radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to;
a) transmit to said wireless-compatible gaming platform one or more wireless signals comprising said unique identifier, said sensor state data and said switch state data, and b) receive from said wireless-compatible gaming platform one or more wireless signals comprising selected game-relevant information. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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Specification