Voice control module for controlling a game controller

• US 6,456,977 B1
• Filed: 01/13/1999
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Wang, Jong-Ding
• Primary Examiner(s): Chawan, Vijay B
• Application Number:
  US09/231,711
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270-275, 704/231, 704/251, 704/243, 345/473, 345/327, 345/302, 345/353, 345/978, 345/168, 348/232, 434/169, 434/307, 463/35, 463/36, 463/1, 463/16, 600/545
• US Class Current: 704/275
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/424 involving acoustic input signals, e.g. by using the results of pitch or rhythm extraction or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6072 of an input signal, e.g. pitch and rhythm extraction, voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command

Abstract

The present invention provides a voice control module for controlling a game controller comprising: a microphone for inputting voice signals, a first voice recognition device of command mode for converting the voice signals inputted from the microphone within a time period into a corresponding game command, and a second voice recognition device of continuous mode for converting the voice signals continuously inputted from the microphone into a corresponding switch command. Wherein after the switch command is converted, the second voice recognition device initiates the first voice recognition device to convert the voice signals inputted from the microphone within the time period into a corresponding game command to control the game controller.

Claims

1. A voice control module for controlling a game controller comprising:

a microphone for inputting voice signals;

a first voice recognition device having a memory for storing a plurality of game command files and being used for converting first voice signals inputted from the microphone within a time period into a corresponding game command, each of the game command files comprising corresponding first voice signals of a plurality of game commands; and

a second voice recognition device having another memory for storing a control command file and being used for converting second voice signals continuously inputted from the microphone into a corresponding switch command, the control command file comprising corresponding second voice signals of a plurality of switch commands, each of the game command files stored in the memory of the first voice recognition device being corresponding to a switch command of the control command file;

wherein after the second voice recognition device converts the second voice signals inputted from the microphone into a corresponding switch command that corresponds to one of the game command files stored in the memory of the first voice recognition device, the second voice recognition device initiates the first voice recognition device to convert the first voice signals inputted from the microphone within the time period into a corresponding game command in the game command file corresponding to the switch command to control the game controller.

2. The voice control module of claim 1 further comprising a switch for delivering the voice signals inputted from the microphone to the first or second voice recognition device wherein after the switch command is converted, the second voice recognition device controls the switch to deliver the voice signals inputted from the microphone to the first voice recognition device so as to enable the first voice recognition device to convert the voice signals into the corresponding game command.

3. The voice control module of claim 1 further comprising an output device for acknowledging the result of each conversion made by the first or second voice recognition device.

4. The voice control module of claim 3 wherein the output device is a speaker.

5. The voice control module of claim 1 wherein the first and second voice recognition devices are installed in a computer joystick which is used for generating pointing and key command signals to control the game controller.

6. A method for controlling a game controller controlled by a voice control module, the voice control module comprising:

a microphone for inputting voice signals;

a first voice recognition device for converting first voice signals into a game command; and

a second voice recognition device for converting second voice signals into a switch command;

the method comprising;

using the second voice recognition device to convert second voice signals continuously inputted from a microphone into a switch command; and

using the first voice recognition device to convert first voice signals inputted from the microphone into a game command to control the game controller within a time period after the switch command is converted;

wherein after the switch command is converted, the second voice recognition device initiates the first voice recognition device to convert the voice signals inputted from the microphone within the time period into the game command to control the game controller.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the voice control module further comprises a switch for delivering the voice signals inputted from the microphone to the first or second voice recognition device, after the switch command is converted, the second voice recognition device controls the switch to deliver the voice signals inputted from the microphone to the first voice recognition device so as to enable the first voice recognition device to convert the voice signals into the game command.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the second voice recognition device comprises a memory for storing a control command file which comprises second voice signals of a plurality of switch commands, and the first voice recognition device also comprises a memory for storing a plurality of game command files each being corresponding to a switch command of the control command file and comprising first voice signals of a plurality of game commands, and wherein after converting the voice signals inputted from the microphone into a corresponding switch command according to the control command file, the second voice recognition device initiates the first voice recognition device to convert the voice signals inputted from the microphone into a corresponding game command according to the game command file corresponding to the converted switch command.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the voice control module further comprises an output device for acknowledging the result of each conversion made by the first or second voice recognition device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the output device is a speaker.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the first and second voice recognition devices are installed in a computer joystick which is used for generating pointing and key command signals to control the game controller.