Apparatus for controlling a video game

• US 5,488,362 A
• Filed: 10/01/1993
• Issued: 01/30/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reality Quest Corporation
• Original Assignee: Anaphase Unlimited, Inc.
• Inventors: Ullman, Noah T., Ullman, Adam N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, Scott A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, CHEUKFAN
• Application Number:
  US08/131,094
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 341/20, 341/21, 341/23, 341/176, 273/148 B, 273/438, 364/190, 364/709.11, 364/709.2, 364/709.08, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158
• US Class Current: 341/20
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/0024 with accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 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: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/34 Switch arrangements, e.g. keyboards or mechanical switches specially adapted for electrophonic musical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/326 Control glove or other hand or palm-attached control device
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/371 Using hook and loop-type fastener or similar attachment to fasten detachable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2240/211 Wireless transmission, e.g. of music parameters or control data by radio, infrared or ultrasound

Abstract

A hand attachment is lined above and below a wrist portion with parallel conductive contacts. One set of contacts is connected to a signal generator which generates control signals for moving characters in a video game. The second set of contacts is connected to the video game. Placing the hand at an angle selectively connects the contacts, sending the desired direction control signal to the video game. Conductive contacts are also located on the thumb and fingertips. Placing the thumb in contact with any of the fingertips connects a static signal generator to the video game. The hand attachment may be a glove or a wrist cuff. The control signals generated by the hand attachment may be wirelessly transmitted to the video game.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing command signals for controlling at least one video element on a video display, comprising:

a hand attachment;

a plurality of detectors disposed at spaced apart locations of said hand attachment for detecting directional movement;

each of said plurality of detectors for detecting a specific relative directional movement of an arm and hand thereof in a plane relative to said arm; and

means for converting said detected movement to command signals for controlling the movement of said at least one video element in directions corresponding to said relative movement on said video display.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

wireless transmission means for wirelessly transmitting said command signals to a remote receiver being disposed adjacent to said video display.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said wireless transmission means includes transmissions in infrared.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of detectors include conductive rubber.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hand attachment is a glove.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said hand attachment is a cuff which attaches to a wrist.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of detectors include at least one strain sensing element for sensing the movement of said hand relative to said forearm in said plane by effecting a change in stress upon said at least one strain sensor.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of detectors include at least one reed switch and magnet being disposed such that movement of said hand relative to said forearm effects a change in a state of closure of said at least one reed switch.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of detectors detects contact of a finger of said hand with a contact area on said hand attachment.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said at least one of said plurality of detectors includes a contact on a finger of said hand and a second contact covering said contact area where said contact area is one of the palm and the thumb of said hand.

11. An apparatus for providing command signals for controlling the movement of a video element on a video display, comprising:

a hand attachment having detecting means for detecting movement and means for wirelessly transmitting said command signals to a remote receiver;

said detecting means having a plurality of detectors, each for detecting relative directional movement of an arm and hand thereof in a plane relative to said arm;

said means for wirelessly transmitting includes a wireless transmitter being attached to said hand attachment for transmitting said command signals to a remote receiver being disposed adjacent to said video display for causing movement of said video element in directions corresponding to said relative movement.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for wirelessly transmitting includes transmissions in infrared.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said detecting means includes means for detecting relative movement of at least one finger of said hand relative to a contact area on said hand attachment.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said contact area on said hand attachment is one of the thumb and a palm of said hand.

15. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for wirelessly transmitting includes transmissions in radio frequency.

16. An apparatus for controlling the movement of an object on a computer display by movement of an arm and hand thereof, comprising:

a glove for said hand;

said glove including a plurality of detectors, each for detecting directional movement of said hand relative to said forearm;

said plurality of detectors being disposed around said glove such that motion of said hand in up, down, left and right directions beyond respective predetermined angles relative to said forearm is detected; and

means for generating unique signals for each of said detected movement for causing movement of said object on said computer display in corresponding directions.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, further including a plurality of additional detectors for detecting the contact of at least one finger of said hand with a contact area;

means for generating a respective unique command signal; and

means for transmitting said unique command signal to a controller of said computer display.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said contact area is one of the thumb and the palm of said hand.

19. An apparatus according to claim 16, further including means for wirelessly transmitting said unique signals to a controller of said computer display.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said means for wirelessly transmitting includes transmissions in infrared.