Curvate Motion Sensing and Control System

• US 20140162779A1
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Published: 06/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Morinoske Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Morinoske Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kawaguchi, Takuo
• Application Number:
  US14/075,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20140162779A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera

Abstract

Gaming system based on curvate movement of a jacketed device which may be a smartphone through space on trajectories determined by a user to provide visual, acoustic or physical output based on the user-determined trajectory of the device where the device has a gyroscope sensor for sensing angular acceleration of the device and an accelerometer for determining the magnitude of any acceleration of the device, the gyroscope sensor and the accelerometer cooperate to track the user-determined trajectory of the device, and the jacket has a rotary member for moving the device through space on the trajectory determined by the user.

Claims

1. A gaming system based on curvate movement of a device through space on trajectories determined by a user comprising:

a device with a central axis and a gyroscope sensor for sensing angular acceleration of the device and an accelerometer to determine the magnitude of any acceleration of the device where the gyroscope sensor and the accelerometer cooperate to track the user-determined trajectory of the device;

a jacket for mounting to the device, the jacket having a rotary member for moving the device through space on a trajectory determined by the user; and

means for providing visual, acoustic or physical output based on the user-determined trajectory of the jacketed device.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 in which the rotary member is adapted for spinning, swinging or rotating the device about a jacket axis offset from the device central axis.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 in which the device includes a wireless signal generator for transmitting a signal indicative of the user-determined trajectory of the device.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 in which the device is a smartphone.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 in which the device includes a GPS sensor for providing information about the location of the device during operation of the gaming system.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 in which the device includes a timer for measuring the extent of movement of the device on the user-determined trajectory within a predetermined time interval.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 in which the rotary member is chosen from the group consisting of:

a cavity in the jacket, a member with a cavity fastened to the jacket, and a ring attached to the jacket.

8. The gaming system of claim 1 in which the rotary member is a cavity in the jacket.

9. The gaming system of claim 8 in which the shape of the rotary member cavity is chosen from the group consisting of circular, oval, half-moon, square, triangular and spiral.

10. The gaming system of claim 2 in which the jacket includes two rotary members defining spaced-apart rotation axes.

11. The gaming system of claim 1 in which the jacket includes finger rests for receiving the user'"'"'s fingers while the user grips the jacket.

12. The gaming system of claim 11 in which the finger rests are shaped and disposed to receive a user'"'"'s middle, ring and pinky fingers.

13. The gaming system of claim 1 in which the rotary member is affixed to the jacket by a link chosen from the group consisting:

a wire, a cord, a ribbon, a chain, a flexible member and a rod-like member.

14. The gaming system of claim 1 in which the rotary member is a ring mounted to the jacket for both rotary and pivoting movement.

15. The gaming system of claim 4 including an output device for receiving the signal indicative of the user-determined trajectory of the device generating a display of the user-determined trajectory.

16. The gaming system of claim 4 in which the output device is chosen from the group consisting of a smartphone, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer and a television.

17. The gaming system of claim 15 in which the output device is adapted to display both the user-determined trajectory of the jacketed device and a target trajectory.

18. The gaming system of claim 15 in which the output device is adapted to display both the user-determined trajectory of the jacketed device and a target trajectory in which the output device includes means for generating a score indicative of the congruence of the user-determined trajectory and the target trajectory.

19. The gaming system of claim 18 in which the congruence of the actual trajectory and the user-determined trajectory is determined in three dimensions.

20. The gaming system of claim 17 in which the device includes a plurality of target trajectories and one target trajectory may be chosen from the plurality of target trajectories before initiating the gaming system.

21. The gaming system of claim 20 in which the output device includes means for comparing the camera for capturing images while the device is spun, swung or rotated, the device being adapted to compare contrast points in the captured images to determine the trajectory of the device;

trajectory of the jacketed device to the plurality of target trajectories and matching it against the target trajectory that is most congruent to the user-determined trajectory.

22. The gaming system of claim 20 in which the device includes means for creating target trajectories using the device gyroscope sensor and accelerometer.

23. A gaming system based on curvate movement of a device through space on trajectories determined by a user comprising:

a device with a central axis and a camera for capturing images while the device is spun, swung or rotated, the device being adapted to compare contrast points in the captured images to determine the trajectory of the device;

a jacket for mounting to the device, the jacket having a rotary member for moving the device through space on trajectories determined by the user; and

means for providing visual, acoustic or physical output based on the trajectory of the device.

24. A gaming method comprising:

providing a device with a central axis and a gyroscope sensor for sensing angular acceleration of the device and an accelerometer to determine the magnitude of any acceleration of the device where the gyroscope sensor and the accelerometer cooperate to track the user-determined trajectory of the device, a jacket for mounting to the device, the jacket having a rotary member for moving the device through space on a trajectory determined by the user, and means for providing visual, acoustic or physical output based on the user-determined trajectory of the jacketed device;

establishing a user-determined trajectory of the jacketed device; and

providing a visual, acoustic or physical output based on the user-determined trajectory of the jacketed device.