Acceleration activated joystick

• US 5,516,105 A
• Filed: 10/06/1994
• Issued: 05/14/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exergame, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Exergame, Inc.
• Inventors: Eisenbrey, Glen T., Childress, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US08/319,157
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 B
• US Class Current: 273/148.00B
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/816 Athletics, e.g. track-and-field sports
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

A video game user interface device that allows the user to play standard video games using realistic arm, leg and body movements which relate to the various activities portrayed in the video game being played. The device is sensitive to acceleration and outputs a signal to the video game controller when an acceleration is detected.

Claims

1. An acceleration activated apparatus for providing input signals to a video game controller, the acceleration activated apparatus which comprises:

a housing, the housing having a cavity formed therein;

at least a first acceleration activated switch received in the cavity, the acceleration activated switch having a resilient member movable between an undeformed position in which the first acceleration activated switch is in an open condition and a deformed position in which the first acceleration activated switch is in a closed condition;

a mass received in the cavity for movement into and out of operative contact with the resilient member of the first acceleration activated switch; and

means for relaying the condition of the first acceleration activated switch to the video game controller.

2. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the cavity forms a race for guiding the mass;

the first acceleration activated switch is fixed at a first end of the race.

3. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a second acceleration activated switch, the second acceleration activated switch fixed at a second end of the race opposed to and spaced from the first acceleration activated switch.

4. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the cavity defines a ball race;

the first acceleration activated switch is fixed proximate a first end of the ball race; and

the shape of the mass is spherical and the mass is rotatably received in the ball race.

5. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 4 further comprising

means for stopping fixed at a second end of the ball race, opposed to and spaced from the first acceleration activated switch.

6. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 4 wherein

the ball race comprises at least two vanes, the vanes integral to the housing and extending radially inward therefrom.

7. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 4 wherein

the ball race comprises four vanes, integral to the housing and extending radially into the cavity therefrom.

8. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 4 wherein

the ball race comprises at least two arcuate surfaces.

9. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first acceleration activated switch comprises:

a rubber dome switch; and

a circuit board switch contact mounted in the housing adjacent to the rubber dome switch for operative engagement thereby.

10. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the relaying means comprises electrical conducting wires, the wires electrically connected to the first acceleration activated switch.

11. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the relaying means comprises a radio frequency transmitter received in the cavity and operatively connected to the first acceleration activated switch.

12. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the relaying means comprises:

an infrared system received in the cavity, the infrared transmitter operatively connected to the first acceleration activated switch.

13. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the cavity defines a first race and a second race, the second race generally perpendicular to the first race;

the first acceleration activated switch is fixed proximate a first end of the first race;

a second acceleration activated switch is fixed proximate a first end of the second race, the second acceleration activated switch having a resilient member movable between an undetermined position in which the second acceleration activated switch is in an open condition and a deformed position in which the second acceleration activated switch is in a closed condition;

first means for stopping is fixed at a second end of the first race;

second means for stopping is fixed at a second end of the second race;

a first mass received in the first race between the first acceleration activated switch and the first stopping means for movement into and out of operative engagement with the resilient member of the first acceleration activated switch; and

a second mass received in the second race between the second acceleration activated switch and the second stopping means for movement into and out of operative engagement with the resilient member of the second acceleration activated switch.

14. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

an appendage mounted to the housing.

15. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 1 further comprising

means for mounting the acceleration activated apparatus to a user'"'"'s body.

16. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 15 wherein the mounting means comprises:

a belt.

17. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 15 wherein the mounting means comprises:

a clip.

18. The acceleration activated apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a spring received in the cavity, the spring having a first end and a second end, the mass mounted to the first end of the spring, the second end of the spring mounted to the housing.

19. An acceleration sensitive video game input apparatus for detecting user generated movements and providing an indication of such movements to a video game controller, the input apparatus which comprises:

a housing having a bore defined therein;

an electrical switch circuit fixed in the bore;

a spherical mass received within the bore for rolling movement between a deformed position and a undeformed position;

resilient means for closing the electrical switch circuit when the spherical mass is in the deformed position and opening the electrical switch circuit when the spherical mass is in the undeformed position; and

means for relaying the condition of the circuit to the video game system.