Interactive electronic sword game

• US 6,162,123 A
• Filed: 11/25/1997
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Thomas G. Woolston
• Inventors: Woolston, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/977,806
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 463/2, 463/3, 463/7, 463/8, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/39, 463/47.1-47.7, 273/148 B, 345/156, 345/158
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• 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 13/54 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 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• 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 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• 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 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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

An electro-mechanical device for providing an input to a computer program and said computer program providing a tactile output through said electromechanical device to a user. More specifically, the present invention provides an electro-mechanical virtual sword game apparatus that receives positional information from sensors on the sword apparatus and the sword apparatus contains a propulsion gyrostat that under the control of a computer process may be topple to provide a torque on the housing of the sword apparatus that may be used to simulate the impact of sword blows.

Claims

1. An electronic game apparatus comprising:

a housing configured to enable at least one human hand to hold said housing;

a gyroscopic propulsion device mounted in said housing, said gyroscopic propulsion device comprising a flywheel, a first motor for rotating said flywheel, and a second motor for applying a toppling force to said flywheel;

a controller operationally connected to said first and said second motor, said controller providing signals to control said first and said second motors, said controller having an input to receive game control signals;

a sensor coupled to said housing, said sensor determining an attitude of said housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a third motor operationally connected to said flywheel, said third motor providing a toppling force for said flywheel in an axis of rotation different from the toppling axes of said second motor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

said controller provides a calibrated signal to said second motor, said calibrated signal determined in conjunction with predetermined parameters for said flywheel and a rotational speed of said flywheel, said calibrated signal translating into a variable torque exerted on said housing.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a second gyroscope propulsion device mounted in said housing, said second gyroscopic propulsion device having a first motor for rotating a flywheel and a second motor for toppling said flywheel, said second gyroscopic propulsion device operationally connected to said controller, said second gyroscopic propulsion device receiving signals from said controller for working in conjunction with said first gyroscopic propulsion device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor array operationally connected to said controller, said sensor array at least partially mounted on said housing and partially positioned external to said housing, said sensor array communicating signals between at least two elements of said array, said array using said signals communicated between array elements to determine an attitude of said housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a sensor array operationally connected to said controller, said sensor array at least partially mounted on said housing and partially positioned external to said housing, said sensor array communicating signals between at least two elements of said array, said array using said signals communicated between array elements to determine a spatial position of said housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1:

wherein said gyroscopic propulsion device comprises a flywheel mounted in a double gimbaled mechanical configuration, wherein said second motor provides a flywheel toppling force in a first direction and a third motor provides a flywheel toppling force in a second direction.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a switch operationally connected to said controller, said switch mounted to said housing for providing external access to a first position and a second position for said switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus represents at least a portion of a weapon.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the weapon comprises a sword.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the weapon comprises a gun.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the weapon comprises a knife.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus represents at least a portion of an object other than a weapon.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the object comprises a hammer.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor is mounted inside said housing.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor is mounted at least partially outside said housing.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a game controller, in communication with said controller, to transmit the game control signals to said controller.

18. An interactive electronic sword game apparatus comprising:

a display device for displaying images of a sword battle;

a sword device configured to be grasped by at least one hand, said sword device providing a tactile feedback to the at least one hand; and

a controller operationally connected to said display device and said sword device, said controller executing a program for an interactive electronic sword game.

19. The interactive sword game of claim 18 further comprising:

a rotational flywheel in said sword device, said rotational flywheel providing a tactile force through a chassis of said sword device to the at least one hand grasping said sword device.

20. The interactive sword game of claim 19 further comprising:

an electro-mechanical mechanism for rotating said rotational flywheel and toppling said rotational flywheel, said toppling of said rotational flywheel creating a force expressed external to said sword device.

21. The interactive sword game of claim 20 further wherein:

said electro-mechanical mechanism for rotating and toppling said rotational flywheel is configured to topple said rotational flywheel in two degrees of freedom.

22. The interactive sword game of claim 18 further comprising:

a sensor operationally connected to said controller, said sensor determining an attitude of said sword device.

23. The interactive sword game of claim 22 further wherein:

said sensor determines a spatial position of said sword device.

24. The interactive sword game of claim 23 wherein:

said sensor uses a gyroscope and the gyroscope effect to determine said attitude of said sword device.

25. The interactive sword game of claim 22 further comprising:

a second sensor operationally connected to said controller, said second sensor working in conjunction with said first sensor to determine an attitude of said sword device.

26. The interactive sword game of claim 25 further comprising:

a third sensor operationally connected to said controller, said third sensor working in conjunction with said first and second sensors to determine a spatial position of said sword device.

27. A method for providing tactile feedback for use with electronic programs, the method comprising:

providing an electronic program for use with a gyroscopically powered tactile output device that is adjacent to at least a part of a human body;

relaying electronic signals generated by the electronic program to the gyroscopically powered tactile output device to control a toppling effect of a gyroscope in the gyroscopically powered tactile output device; and

providing an incentive to a user of said gyroscopically powered tactile output device to conserve a rotational speed of said gyroscope.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the incentive is provided by supplying the user with an increased ability when the user conserves the rotational speed of the said gyroscope.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the increased ability comprises enhanced power in using the gyroscopically powered tactile output device.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein the gyroscopically powered tactile output device is in contact with the human body part.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the gyroscopically powered tactile output device is affixed to the human body part.

32. A method for providing tactile feedback for use with electronic programs, the method comprising:

providing an electronic program for use with a gyroscopically powered tactile output device that is adjacent to at least a part of a human body;

relaying electronic signals generated by the electronic program to the gyroscopically powered tactile output device to control a toppling effect of a gyroscope in the gyroscopically powered tactile output device; and

providing an incentive to a user of said gyroscopically powered tactile output device to remain within a predetermined field of play.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the incentive to remain within a predetermined field of play comprises providing the user with input that encourages the user to move in a direction toward the field of play when the user nears an edge of the field of play.

34. A method for providing tactile feedback for use with electronic programs, the method comprising:

providing an electronic program for use with a gyroscopically powered tactile output device that is adjacent to at least a part of a human body;

relaying electronic signals generated by the electronic program to the gyroscopically powered tactile output device to control a toppling effect of a gyroscope in the gyroscopically powered tactile output device; and

providing a user of said gyroscopically powered tactile output device with tactile feedback that guides the user'"'"'s movements.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the tactile feedback that guides the user'"'"'s movements comprises a force that encourages the user to move the output device in a predetermined direction.