Virtual game board and tracking device therefor
First Claim
1. A self-contained electronic unit comprising:
- a physically manipulable housing constructed to be moved in its entirety, during use by a user;
a feedback device incorporated into the housing, configured to communicate, to the user, changes in distance between a virtual game piece and other virtual objects within a virtual environment, the virtual environment being a virtual game board; and
processing electronics, incorporated into the housing, the processing electronics being configured to generate the virtual environment, to respond to movement of the housing in its entirety, without regard to relative movement of the housing with respect to any stationary attached hardware, by causing changes in distance between the virtual game piece and other virtual objects within the virtual environment, and to cause the feedback device to provide feedback to the user through the feedback device, representing changes in distance between the virtual game piece and other virtual objects within the virtual environment.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A self-contained electronic unit includes a physically manipulable housing such as a mouse, a feedback device, and processing electronics. The housing is constructed to be moved in its entirety during use by a user. The feedback device is incorporated into the housing and is configured to communicate, to the user, movement of a virtual object within a virtual environment. The processing electronics are incorporated into the housing, and are configured to generate the virtual environment, to respond to movement of the housing in its entirety, without regard to relative movement of the housing with respect to any stationary attached hardware, by causing movement of the virtual object within the virtual environment. A trackball is contained within the mouse housing, and the processing electronics are configured to respond to direct physical manipulation of the trackball by a user to cause movement of the virtual object within the virtual environment.
38 Citations
48 Claims
-
1. A self-contained electronic unit comprising:
-
a physically manipulable housing constructed to be moved in its entirety, during use by a user;
a feedback device incorporated into the housing, configured to communicate, to the user, changes in distance between a virtual game piece and other virtual objects within a virtual environment, the virtual environment being a virtual game board; and
processing electronics, incorporated into the housing, the processing electronics being configured to generate the virtual environment, to respond to movement of the housing in its entirety, without regard to relative movement of the housing with respect to any stationary attached hardware, by causing changes in distance between the virtual game piece and other virtual objects within the virtual environment, and to cause the feedback device to provide feedback to the user through the feedback device, representing changes in distance between the virtual game piece and other virtual objects within the virtual environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A self-contained electronic unit comprising:
-
a physically manipulable mouse housing constructed to be held in its entirety during use by a user;
a trackball contained within the mouse housing;
a feedback device incorporated into the mouse housing, configured to communicate, to the user, changes in distance between a virtual game piece and other virtual objects within a virtual environment, the virtual environment being a virtual game board;
and processing electronics, incorporated into the mouse housing, the electronics being configured to generate the virtual environment, to respond to direct physical manipulation of the trackball by a user to cause changes in distance between the virtual game piece and other virtual objects within the virtual environment, and to cause the feedback device to provide feedback to the user representing changes in distance between the virtual game piece and other virtual objects within the virtual environment. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
-
-
47. A self-contained electronic unit comprising:
-
a physically manipulable housing constructed to be moved in its entirety, during use by a user;
a feedback device incorporated into the housing, configured to communicate, to the user, movement of a virtual object within a virtual environment, the virtual environment being a virtual game board; and
processing electronics, incorporated into the housing, the processing electronics being configured to generate the virtual environment, to respond to movement of the housing in its entirety, without regard to relative movement of the housing with respect to any stationary attached hardware, by causing movement of a virtual game piece within the virtual environment, and to cause the feedback device to provide feedback to the user through the feedback device, representing movement of the virtual object within the virtual environment;
wherein the virtual environment comprises a dynamic play area in which the virtual object moves regardless of user input, the virtual object being distinct from the virtual game piece.
-
-
48. A self-contained electronic unit comprising:
-
a physically manipulable mouse housing constructed to be held in its entirety during use by a user;
a trackball contained within the mouse housing;
a feedback device incorporated into the mouse housing, configured to communicate, to the user, movement of a virtual object within a virtual environment, the virtual environment being a virtual game board;
and processing electronics, incorporated into the mouse housing, the electronics being configured to generate the virtual environment, to respond to direct physical manipulation of the trackball by a user to cause movement of a virtual game piece within the virtual environment, and to cause the feedback device to provide feedback to the user representing movement of the virtual object within the virtual environment;
wherein the virtual environment comprises a dynamic play area in which the virtual object moves regardless of user input, the virtual object being distinct from the virtual game piece.
-
Specification