Wireless game control units

• US 6,659,871 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Freedom Wave LLC
• Original Assignee: Arista Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Leifer, Richard, Peng, Chi-Fu, Leifer, Alan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERUBIN, YVESTE GILBERTE
• Application Number:
  US10/194,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20030003993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36-39, 463/47, 345/156, 345/161, 345/163, 345/158, 345/2.1, 710/63, 455/66.1
• US Class Current: 463/39
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/422 automatically for the purpose of assisting the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• 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 2300/1037 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 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6054 by generating automatically game commands to assist the player, e.g. automatic braking in a driving game

Abstract

A wireless control unit includes a controller having wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information, and a console interface/adapter for converting one of the communication ports of the game console into a wireless receiver/transmitter. The console interface/adapter also includes an additional communication port so as to provide the user with access to the used communication port while the interface/adapter is operably disposed within the communication port of the game console.

Claims

1. A wireless control unit for converting a video game system having a game console with game controller ports and being adapted to operate with wired game controllers connected to the game controller ports into a system operable with wireless controllers, the wireless control unit comprising;

a game controller having at least one user operable switch, a memory cartridge receptacle, wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information, and wireless receiver circuitry for receiving controller information; and

a console interface having a built-in connector that is directly connected to the game console without wires via at least one of the game controller ports and having wireless receiver circuitry for receiving the game information from the game controller, said console interface including wireless transmitter circuitry for wirelessly transmitting controller information to the game controller.

2. The wireless control unit according to claim 1, wherein the console interface further comprises a connection port for receiving a memory cartridge for storing game information.

3. The wireless control unit according to claim 1, wherein said memory cartridge receptacle receives a memory cartridge for storing at least one of said game information and said controller information.

4. A wireless control unit for converting a video game system having a game console with game controller ports and being adapted to operate with wired game controllers connected to the game controller ports into a system operable with wireless controllers, the wireless control unit comprising:

a game controller having at least one user operable switch, a memory cartridge receptacle, wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information, wireless receiver circuitry for receiving controller information, and a connection port for receiving a peripheral device; and

a console interface having a built-in connector that is directly connected to the game console without wires and further having wireless receiver circuitry for receiving the game information;

from at said game controller, said console interface including wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting controller information including control signals for activating the peripheral device disposed in said connection port.

5. The wireless control unit according to claim 4, wherein the console interface further comprises a connection port for receiving a memory cartridge for storing game information.

6. The wireless control unit according to claim 4, wherein said peripheral device comprises a memory cartridge for storing at least one of said game information and said controller information.

7. The wireless control unit according to claim 4, wherein said peripheral device comprises a vibrating member and said controller information includes control signals for activating said vibrating member.

8. A wireless control unit for converting a video game system having a game console with game controller ports and being adapted to operate with wired game controllers connected to the game controller ports into a system operable with wireless controllers, the wireless controller unit comprising;

a game controller having at least one user operable switch, a memory, wireless transmitter circuitry for transmitting game information, and wireless receiver circuitry for receiving controller information; and

a console interface having a built-in connector that is directly connected to the game console without wires via at least one of the game controller ports and having wireless receiver circuitry for receiving the game information from the game controller, said console interface including wireless transmitter circuitry for wirelessly transmitting controller information to the game controller, said memory for storing at least one of said game information and said controller information.

9. The wireless control unit according to claim 8, wherein said game controller further comprises a vibrating member, said controller information including control signals for activating said vibrating member.