Interactive movement and contact simulation game

• US 5,913,727 A
• Filed: 06/13/1997
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ned Ahdoot
• Original Assignee: Ned Ahdoot
• Inventors: Ahdoot, Ned
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/874,594
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/7-8, 463/30-36, 463/39, 463/40, 463/42, 482/8, 482/12, 482/83, 482/84, 482/148, 482/901, 482/902, 273/148 B, 434/247, 434/257, 434/258, 434/307 R, 434/314, 434/365, 434/392, 434/43, 434/45, 348/77, 348/142, 348/552, 348/699, 340/500, 340/540, 340/541, 340/555, 340/556, 345/112-115, 345/122, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158
• US Class Current: 463/39
• 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 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• 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 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 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 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• 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: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 : for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 : Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 : Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0334 : Foot operated pointing devices

Abstract

An interactive contact and simulation game apparatus in which a player and a three dimensional computer generated image interact in simulated physical contact. Alternately two players may interact through the apparatus of the invention. The game apparatus includes a computerized control means generating a simulated image or images of the players, and displaying the images on a large display means. A plurality of position sensing and impact generating means are secured to various locations on each of the player'"'"'s bodies. The position sensing means relay information to the control means indicating the exact position of the player. This is accomplished by the display means generating a moving light signal, invisible to the player, but detected by the position sensing means and relayed to the control means. The control means then responds in real time to the player'"'"'s position and movements by moving the image in a combat strategy. When simulated contact between the image and the player is determined by the control means, the impact generating means positioned at the point of contact is activated to apply pressure to the player, thus simulating contact. With two players, each players sees his opponent as a simulated image on his display device.

Claims

1. An interactive movement and contact simulation game apparatus, a game being enacted between a player and an image, the apparatus comprising:

a light emitting video display means producing a computer generated image of a combatant, and also producing a non-visible light signal at a wavelength of light not within the human visual spectrum, on the display means, the non-visible light signal moved with time to sequential positions on the display means;

a plurality of body position sensing means, fixed for moving with the player, and responsive to the non-visible light signal from the display means for determining positions of the body position sensing means relative to the display means, and further including a body-mounted signal transceiving means in communication with the sensing means;

a three dimensional viewing means, worn over the player'"'"'s eyes, said viewing means enabling the player to see the image on the video display means as a three-dimensional image;

a computerized control means providing a signal transceiving means, in communication with, and responsive to the display means, and the body-mounted signal transceiving means, such that the computerized control means, generates and controls movement of the image on the display means, the movement of the image on the display means reflecting, mimicking and coordinating with movements of the player, such that the player faces and interacts with the combatant.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the non-visible light signal on the display means is scanned repeatably, in a first direction across the display means, producing a plurality of scans laying in parallel adjacency and proceeding one after another in a second direction on the display means, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction, so that a relative maximum received signal response from each of the body position sensing means determines a physical position of each of the sensing means respectively relative to the first and second direction on display means, the absolute value of each relative maximum establishing a distance of each of the sensing means from the display means thereby fixing an exact position of each of the sensing means relative to each other and to the display means thereby enabling the computerized control means to track approximate body stance, position, posture and motion of the player.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further including a plurality of body impact generating means, distributed on, and fixed for moving with the player, such that when the computerized control means identifies a simulated mutual contacting of body parts between the player and a simulated combatant image, from the simulated full body stance, position, posture and motion of the player interacting with the image, the respective impact generating means on the player is activated by the computerized control means via a signal sent therefrom to the signal receiving means on the player such that the player experiences simulated impacts of the punches and kicks of the player as well as simulated impacts from punches and kicks associated with movement of the image.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the control means translates the simulated impacts into scores, the apparatus further including a score indicia means positioned on the display means.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a sound generating means activated by the control means and generating sounds and utterances responsive to the interactive movement and the simulated contacts of the image.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a floor mat having feet location and pressure sensing means on a surface directly in front of the display means, and further including a signal transmitting means in communication with the control means sending information from the location and pressure sensing means thereto.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least one of the position sensing means is mounted on each one of a pair of combat gloves and on each one of a pair of combat footgear, and on a combat headgear, and on a body covering garment.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the signals are transmitted by wireless wave energy means.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the signals are transmitted over transmission lines.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising an inertial sensing means sensitive to changes in velocity and adapted for attachment to one or more parts of the body, the inertial sensing means producing a signal related to body movements, said body movement related signal transmitted by body-mounted signal transceiving means.

11. An interactive movement and contact simulation game apparatus, for a game being enacted between a pair of players, the apparatus comprising:

a pair of light emitting wall mounted video display means each producing a computer generated image of a one of the players positioned in front of the other on a display means, and also producing a non-visible light signal on each of the display means, the light signal sequentially positioned, in superposition over the generated image, and moved with time to sequential positions on the display means;

a pair of a plurality of body position sensing means, each one distributed on, and fixed for moving with one of the pair of players, and responsive to the light signal from the display means adjacent thereto for determining positions of the players body parts relative to the display means, and further including a pair of body-mounted signal transceiving means, each mounted on one of the players;

a pair of three dimensional viewing means, each one of the viewing means worn over the eyes of one of the players, said viewing means enabling each one of the players to see the image on the display means as a three-dimensional image;

a computerized control means providing a signal transceiving means, in communication with, and responsive to each of the display means, and each of the body-mounted signal transceiving means, such that the computerized control means, generates and controls movement of each of the images on each of the display means, the movement of each image on each of the display devices reflecting, mimicking and coordinated with movements of the one of the players in front of the other one of the display devices, such that each of the players perceives that said player faces and interacts with the other of the players.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the light signal on each of the display means is scanned repeatably, in a first direction across the display means, a plurality of scans laying in parallel adjacency and proceeding one after another in a second direction on the display means, orthogonal to a first direction, so that a relative maximum received signal response from each of the body position sensing means determines a physical position of each of the sensing means respectively relative to the first and second direction on the display means, the absolute value of each relative maximum establishing, a distance of each of the sensing means from the display means thereby fixing an exact position of each of the sensing means relative to each other and to the display means thereby enabling the computerized control means to track approximate body stance, position, posture and motion for each of the players.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further including a pair of a plurality of body impact generating means, each one distributed on, and fixed for moving with one of the pair of players, and further including a pair of body-mounted signal transceiving means, each mounted on one of the players, such that when the computerized control means identifies a simulated mutual contacting of body parts between the players, from the simulated full body stance, position, posture and motion of the players, the respective impact generating means on each of the players is activated by the computerized control means via a signal sent therefrom to the signal transceiving means on each of the players, such that each of the players experience simulated impacts of punches and kicks of the players as well as simulated impacts from punches and kicks from the other of the players.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the control means translates the simulated impacts into scores, the apparatus further including a pair of score indicia means positioned on each of the display means.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a pair of sound generating means, one of each being positioned near each of the players, activated by the control means and generating sounds and utterances responsive to the interactive movement and the simulated contacts between the players.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising for each of the players, a floor mat having feet location and pressure sensing means on a surface directly in front of the each display means respectively, and further including a mat signal transmitting means in communication with the control means sending information from the location and pressure sensing means thereto.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein for each of the players, at least one of the position sensing means is mounted on each one of a pair of combat gloves, at least one of the position sensing means is mounted on each one of a pair of combat footgear, at least one of the position sensing means is mounted on a headgear, and at least one of the position sensing means is mounted on a body covering garment.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the signals are transmitted by wireless wave energy means.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the signals are transmitted over transmission lines.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a pair of inertial sensing means sensitive to changes in velocity and each adapted for attachment to one or more parts of the body of each of the players, the inertial sensing means producing a signal related to body movements, and further transmitting the signal via the each of the body mounted signal transceiving means, to the computerized control means.