DEVICE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETERMINING ALTITUDE

• US 20130316830A1
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Published: 11/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ScioSense B.V. (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Sedzin, Aliaksei Vladimirovich, Besling, Willem Frederik Adrianus
• Granted Patent: US 9,604,134 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 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• 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 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• 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 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/06 by using barometric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675

Abstract

a gaming system has a pressure measurement in the remote control (which may be the complete gaming apparatus) and this is used to derive a height of the remote control. In this way, barometric pressure measurement allows precise determination of the altitude of the game controller. The altitude information is then used to control the game.

Claims

1. A hand-held controller for controlling a software application, comprising a pressure sensor for providing relative altitude information for use in the control of the software application.

2. A system comprising a controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a screen for displaying graphics relating to the software.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the controller comprises a processor for performing a calibration of the pressure sensor to associate a pressure sensor output with a known altitude level.

4. A system comprising a base unit and a remote control, wherein the remote control comprises a controller as claimed in claim 1.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a reference pressure sensor, wherein the system comprises a processor adapted to determine a relative height of the remote control with respect to the reference pressure sensor based on the two pressure sensor outputs.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the reference pressure sensor comprises a MEMS capacitive pressure sensor.

7. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the reference pressure sensor is provided in the base unit.

8. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the remote control comprises acceleration sensors for detecting movement in at least two orthogonal directions in the horizontal plane.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the remote control comprises an acceleration sensor for detecting movement in a vertical direction.

10. A controller or system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller pressure sensor for providing relative altitude information comprises a capacitive pressure sensor.

11. A controller or system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the controller pressure sensor for providing relative altitude information comprises a MEMS capacitive pressure sensor.

12. A controller or system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the controller pressure sensor is provided over an integrated circuit.

13. A base unit for a system, comprising:

means for receiving signals from a remote control, including a pressure sensor signal;

means for receiving a reference pressure sensor signal; and

a processor adapted to determine a relative height of the remote control with respect to the reference pressure sensor based on the reference pressure sensor signal and the received pressure sensor signal from the remote control.

14. A method of deriving altitude information in respect of a remote control of a system comprising a base unit and a remote control, the method comprising:

measuring a pressure level using a pressure sensor in the remote control;

measuring a pressure level using a stationary reference pressure sensor;

combining the measured pressure levels to determine a relative height of the remote control with respect to the reference pressure sensor.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising detecting movement of the remote control in at least two orthogonal directions in the horizontal plane using acceleration sensors.