Integral video game and cardio-waveform display

• US 5,672,107 A
• Filed: 01/31/1996
• Issued: 09/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Balligomingo Entertainment LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Federal Patent Corporation
• Inventors: Clayman, Henry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHAAF, JAMES CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/594,229
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/30, 463/31, 463/7, 482/1, 482/901
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• 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 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/67 adaptively or by learning from player actions, e.g. skill level adjustment or by storing successful combat sequences for re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/85 Providing additional services to players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/26 the game being influenced by physiological parameters A63F2250/1031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/57 details of game services offered to the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6027 using adaptive systems learning from user actions, e.g. for skill level adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry

Abstract

A video game which incorporates a video game player'"'"'s cardio-waveform into the video display and integrates the wave-form with the activities of the video game being played. A cardio-waveform sensor is attached to a video game player. The sensor produces a signal which is transmitted to an input interface of a micro-processor. A joystick or other control system which enables a player to control the play of the video game is also attached to the input interface of the micro-processor. The micro-processor produces a display signal dependant on the signal'"'"'s generated from the joystick and cardio-waveform sensor. The player'"'"'s cardio-waveform is also displayed on the video display and is incorporated into the activities of the game being played. In one embodiment the cardio-waveform represents a boundary which confines the activities of a roaming icon.

Claims

1. A video game having particular characteristics to be played by at least one player, said video game comprising:

a control means for allowing said at least one player to physically interact with said video game;

a means for sensing the cardio-waveform of said at least one player to produce a signal representative thereof;

a processing means for integrating said signal of said cardio-waveform into said particular characteristics of said video game;

a display means for displaying said particular characteristics of said video game with said integrated signal representative of said at least on player'"'"'s cardio wave-form.

2. The video game as recited in claim 1, wherein said displayed cardio wave form represents a boundary which a roaming icon cannot pass without being destroyed.

3. The video game as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one player comprises two players each an opponent to the other;

wherein each of said at least two player'"'"'s cardio waveform is sensed and displayed.

4. The video game as recited in claim 1 wherein, said means to sense said cardio-waveform of said at least one player is incorporated into said control means such that said player'"'"'s cardio waveform is sensed from simple contact between said at least one player and said control means.

5. The video game as recited in claim 1 wherein, said processing means processes and alters said signal representative of said at least one player'"'"'s cardio wave-form to produce a variant waveform and incorporates said variant waveform into said particular characteristics of said video game.

6. The video game as recited in claim 1, wherein said video game further comprises:

an audio means for producing sounds corresponding to said particular characteristics of said video game.

7. The video game as recited in claim 3, wherein said particular characteristics of said video game includes a roaming icon capable of shooting projectiles towards an opponents displayed cardio wave-form, the object being to flatline said opponents displayed cardio wave-form.

8. The video game claim as recited in claim 7, wherein said video game further comprises;

an audio means for producing sounds corresponding to said particular characteristics of said video game wherein when said opponents cardio waveform is flatlined by another opponent said audio means produces a continuous flat tone.

9. The video games as recited in claim 1, wherein said video game comprises a plurality of levels of difficulty, wherein a particular level of difficulty at any point in time is dependent on the frequency of said sensed cardio wave-form.

10. A video game having particular characteristics to be played by at least one player, said video game comprising:

a control means for allowing said at least one player to physically interact with said video game;

a means for sensing the cardio-waveform of said at least one player to produce a signal representative thereof;

a processing means for integrating said signal of said cardio-waveform into said particular characteristics of said video game;

a display means for displaying said video game and said cardio-waveform of said at least one player; and

wherein said processing means includes a diagnostic mode for facilitating the diagnosis of an abnormally sensed cardio wave-form wherein said at least one player'"'"'s cardio wave form is sensed and display unaltered.

11. A video game as recited in claim 10 wherein said displayed un-altered cardio wave-form is superimposed over a predetermined cardio wave-form.

12. A video game as recited in claim 10 wherein said diagnostic means further comprises:

a transmission means for transmitting said signal representative of said at least one player'"'"'s sensed cardio-waveform to a remote location so that said signal may be displayed on a remote electrocardiogram.