Radio frequency remote game controller

• US 6,346,047 B1
• Filed: 01/08/1999
• Issued: 02/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eleven Engineering Game Control LLC (Eleven Engineering Incorporated), Eleven Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Eleven Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Sobota, John, Gosior, Jason, Garner, Louis, Broughton, Colin
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/227,780
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 463/39, 463/37, 463/7, 370/204, 370/277, 370/294, 370/432, 370/475, 455/66, 345/156, 345/157, 345/161, 345/163
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• 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 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

A portable game controller for operating an electronic game device. The controller communicates between a person and the game device with a radio frequency sender and receiver. Signal transmission is communicated over the same channel with time domain multiplexing, and can be sent over one or more channels to expand the number of controllers operable in a system. Signal transmission can be delivered in short intervals to conserve battery power. Multiple persons can deliver signals through multiple senders or through a common radio frequency sender, and signals can be transmitted from the radio frequency receiver to the radio frequency sender.

Claims

1. A game controller system communicating between a user and an electronic game device, comprising:

a portable housing;

a sensor attached to said housing and responsive to operation by the user to generate signals;

a radio frequency sender engaged with said sensor, wherein said sender transmits said signals with time domain multiplexed transmission; and

a radio frequency receiver engaged with the electronic game device for receiving the signals from said radio frequency sender.

2. A game controller as recited in claim 1, wherein said radio frequency receiver is attached to the electronic game device.

3. A game controller as recited in claim 1, wherein said radio frequency receiver is capable of transmitting signals from the electronic game device to said radio frequency sender.

4. A game controller as recited in claim 3, wherein said sensor is engaged with said radio frequency sender for detecting signals transmitted by said radio frequency sender.

5. A game controller as recited in claim 1, wherein said radio frequency sender is capable of being turned off when said signals are not being transmitted.

6. A game controller as recited in claim 1, wherein said radio frequency sender is capable of transmitting said signals in a plurality of discrete time intervals.

7. A game controller as recited in claim 1, wherein said signals are transmitted at a frequency equal to or greater than 300 MHz.

8. A game controller system for communicating between at least two users and an electronic game device, comprising:

a portable housing;

at least two sensors engaged with said housing wherein each sensor is responsive to operation by at least one of the users to generate signals;

a radio frequency sender engaged with said sensors, wherein said sender transmits said signals with time domain multiplexed transmission; and

a radio frequency receiver engaged with the electronic game device for receiving the signals from said radio frequency sender.

9. A game controller system as recited in claim 8, wherein each sensor is attached to a separate housing and is further engaged with said radio frequency sender.

10. A game controller as recited in claim 8, wherein each sensor and engaged sender share a common address transmitted as one of said signals.

11. A game controller system as recited in claim 8, wherein one or more of said radio frequency senders are capable of transmitting signals to one or more radio frequency receivers each engaged with a different electronic game device.

12. A game controller system as recited in claim 8, wherein said receiver is capable of receiving signals from at least two radio frequency senders operating on different channels.

13. A game controller system as recited in claim 8, wherein one of said sensors is capable of changing the frequency of the signals transmitted to said radio frequency receiver.

14. A method for communicating between a user and an electronic game device, comprising:

operating a sensor engaged with a portable housing to generate signals in response to operation by the user;

detecting said signals with a radio frequency sender to transmit said signals with said sensor;

operating said radio frequency sender to transmit said signals with time domain multiplexing; and

receiving said radio frequency sender signals with a radio frequency receiver engaged with the electronic game device.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the steps of operating a second sensor engaged with said housing to generate a signals in response to operation by a second user, and of detecting said signals with said radio frequency sender for transmission to said radio frequency receiver.

16. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the steps of operating a second sensor engaged with a second housing to generate signals in response to operation by a second user, of detecting said signals with a second radio frequency sender engaged with said second sensor, of transmitting said signals with said radio frequency sender, and of receiving said second radio frequency sender signals with said radio frequency receiver.

17. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the steps of transmitting signals from said radio frequency receiver and of receiving said radio frequency receiver signals with said radio frequency sender.

18. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the step of transmitting the signals in a plurality of discrete time periods interrupted by periods where no transmission occurs.

19. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising the step of transmitting signals between said radio frequency sender and said radio frequency receiver which comprise an address for connecting said sender and receiver.

20. A game controller system for communicating between a user and an electronic game device, comprising:

a portable housing;

a sensor attached to said housing and responsive to operation by the user to generate signals;

a radio frequency sender engaged with said sensor, wherein said sender transmits said signals with time domain multiplexed transmission, and wherein said sender provides error correction functions; and

a radio frequency receiver engaged with the electronic game device for receiving the signals from said radio frequency sender.

21. A game controller system for communicating between a user and an electronic game device, comprising:

a portable housing;

a sensor attached to said housing and responsive to operation by the user to generate signals;

a radio frequency sender engaged with said sensor, wherein said sender transmits said signals with time domain multiplexed transmission, and wherein said sender transmits only changes made to said signals; and

a radio frequency receiver engaged with the electronic game device for receiving the signals from said radio frequency sender.