Device indicating movements for software

• US 6,909,420 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1999
• Issued: 06/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fabien Hermand, Frédéric Nicolas, Jean Bonnard
• Original Assignee: Fabien Hermand, Frédéric Nicolas, Jean Bonnard
• Inventors: Nicolas, Frédéric, Bonnard, Jean, Hermand, Fabien
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Jimmy H.
• Application Number:
  US09/856,164
• Time in Patent Office: 2,028 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/158, 345/161, 463/4, 463/8, 463/36
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A system for transforming the movements of at least one joint of a user into control signals for a computer. The system includes a sleeve for putting on over the joint and a movement sensor fixed to the sleeve for the sensor to be placed and held in the hollow of the joint. The sensor is an on/off sensor that is directly subject to the movements of the sleeve in the hollow of the joint.

Claims

1. A combination comprising a standard video game equipment capable of displaying varying representations of a human body;

and an apparatus for transforming movements of a user into control signals, said apparatus comprising;

a pair of two-state elbow sensors adapted to be positioned in respective elbow regions of the user to deliver two different signals depending on a respective elbow bend;

a pair of two-state knee sensors adapted to be positioned in respective knee regions of the user and to deliver two different signals depending on a respective knee bend;

a processing unit for receiving signals from said elbow and knee sensors and for converting said signals into two-state signals of standard format for generation of game action on said standard video game equipment; and

a standard connection arrangement between said apparatus and said standard game equipment;

said apparatus being removably connected to the video game equipment and used as a substitute for a conventional gamepad or joystick to obtain improved playability.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus further comprises a pair of handsets connected to said processing unit, each handset having at least one pushbutton, said processing unit applying signals representative of actions performed on said pushbuttons to said standard game equipment.

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein the handset and the elbow sensor adapted to be positioned on the same arm of the user are interconnected by a wire.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said two-state elbow and knee sensors and said processing unit are interconnected by wireless connection.

5. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said two-state elbow and knee sensors are mechanically-controlled switches.

6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said two-state elbow and knee sensors are positioned in the respective elbow and knee regions by means of sleeves.

7. A video game system including a processor running a game program capable of displaying varying representations of a human body, said system comprising:

a game central processor having an output for a display device and inputs for receiving two-state control signals from conventional gamepads or joysticks; and

at least one apparatus for transforming movements of a user into said control signals, said at least one apparatus including,

a pair of two-state elbow sensors adapted to be positioned in respective elbow regions of the user to deliver two different signals depending on a respective elbow bend;

a pair of two-state knee sensors adapted to be positioned in respective knee regions of the user and to deliver two different signals depending on a respective knee bend; and

a processing unit connected to said sensors for converting signals received from said sensors into said two-state control signals; and

a connection between said at least one apparatus and said inputs;

said apparatus being removably connected to said game central processor and used as a substitute for a conventional gamepad or joystick to obtain improved playability.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said game program is a combat game program.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein said apparatus further comprises a pair of handsets connected to said processing unit, each handset having at least one pushbutton, said processing unit applying signals representative of actions performed on said pushbuttons to said game central processor.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the handset and the elbow sensor adapted to be positioned on the same arm of the user are interconnected by a wire.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein said two-state elbow and knee sensors and said processing unit are interconnected by wireless connection.

12. The system according to claim 7, wherein said two-state elbow and knee sensors are mechanically-controlled switches.

13. The system according to claim 7, wherein said two-state elbow and knee sensors are positioned in the respective elbow and knee regions by means of sleeves.

14. A method for controlling a video game program run by a standard game equipment, said game program being capable of displaying varying representations of a human body and said game equipment being capable of receiving two-state signals on game control inputs, from an apparatus being removably connected to the game equipment and used as a substitute for a conventional gamepad or joystick to obtain improved playability the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a pair of two-state elbow sensors of said apparatus in respective elbow regions of the user, each of said elbow sensors delivering one of two different signals depending on a respective elbow bend;

positioning a pair of two-state knee sensors of said apparatus in respective knee regions of the user, each of said knee sensors delivering one of two different signals depending on a respective knee bend;

connecting said two-state elbow and knee sensors to a processing unit of said apparatus;

selectively moving the elbow and/or knee joints, converting said signals received from said sensors into two-state control signals by said processing unit, and applying said two-state control signals to the game equipment; and

displaying, with said standard game equipment, representations of the human body corresponding to user movement according to said two-state control signals.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said video game program is a combat game program.