Image controller

• US 7,345,670 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anascape, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Anascape, Ltd.
• Inventors: Armstrong, Brad A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BODDIE, WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/893,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20020000971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,457 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-161, 345164-169, 345/173, 345/174, 345/163, 341/22, 341/33, 341/34
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04755 Magnetic sensor, e.g. hall generator, pick-up coil
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04766 providing feel, e.g. indexing means, means to create counterforce
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04737 with six degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 : with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 : Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 : Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/006 : Only mechanical function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/008 : Video game
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2237/002 : Bell crank
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/00 : Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/002 : having an operating member rectilinearly slidable in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 : Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement

Abstract

An image controller structured for allowing inputs to be converted or translated into electrical outputs, one preferred controller structured with at least a sufficient number of sensors to aid in controlling three-dimensional objects and navigating a three-dimensional viewpoint shown by a display. An active tactile feedback vibrator is mounted as a component of the controller for providing vibration to be felt by a user. Some preferred embodiments also incorporate proportional sensors allowing user variable inputs to cause imagery to be variably controlled.

Claims

1. A multiple axes controller, comprising:

at least twelve sensors sensing inputs to the controller from a human user, the twelve sensors providing outputs at least in part controlling three-dimensional imagery shown by an electronic display;

a tactile feedback motor mounted to a hand held housing of the controller, said feedback motor providing vibration to the human user to simulate a physical occurrence related to the imagery;

a single first button positioned on the controller is depressible by a finger of the human user to actuate

a first sensor of said sensors and

a second sensor of said sensors;

said first sensor is a proportional sensor,

said second sensor is a switch capable of indicating an On state when actuated;

a single second button positioned on the controller is depressible by a finger of the human user to actuate

a third sensor of said sensors and

a fourth sensor of said sensors;

said third sensor is a proportional sensor,

said fourth sensor is a switch capable of indicating an On state when actuated;

a two-axes member supported on said controller, said two-axes member positioned to activate

four sensors, the four sensors comprising;

a fifth sensor and a sixth sensor for sensing movement of said member about the first axis;

a seventh sensor and an eighth sensor for sensing movement of said member about the second axis.

2. A multiple axes controller according to claim 1 wherein actuation of at least one of the first and second sensors activates a turn-on tactile feedback.

3. A three-dimensional imagery controller, comprising:

at least twelve sensors sensing inputs by a human and outputting electrical outputs, the sensor outputs controlling at least in part the three dimensional imagery;

active tactile feedback structure providing vibration to be felt by a hand of the human holding said controller;

a pivotally mounted first button positioned on the controller is depressible by a finger of the human, said first button positioned to variably actuate

a first proportional sensor of the at least twelve sensors, the first proportional sensor outputting a first proportional output, the first proportional output variably controlling the three-dimensional imagery;

a pivotally mounted second button positioned on the controller is depressible by a finger of the human, said second button positioned to variably actuate

a second proportional sensor of the at least twelve sensors, the second proportional sensor outputting a second proportional output, the second proportional output variably controlling the three-dimensional imagery;

a rotating stick member, said rotating stick member positioned to actuate a plurality of the twelve sensors.

4. An image generation device and an associated hand-held image controller, comprising:

an image generation device, the image generation device creating imagery capable of being displayed by a television;

a hand-held image controller communicates with the image generation device, the hand-held image controller comprising;

at least twelve sensors are positioned within the controller, the at least twelve sensors sensing inputs by a human and controlling imagery creation of the image generation device;

an active tactile feedback structure is combined with the controller, the active tactile feedback structure vibrating to be felt by at least one hand of the human holding the controller;

a first button positioned on the controller is depressible by a finger of the human, the first button is positioned to variably actuate

a first proportional sensor of the at least twelve sensors, the first proportional sensor variably controlling the imagery creation of the image generation device;

a second button positioned on the controller is depressible by a finger of the human, the second button is positioned to variably actuate

a second proportional sensor of the at least twelve sensors, the second proportional sensor variably controlling the imagery creation of the image generation device;

a stick member is combined with the controller, the stick member structured to actuate at least one of the at least twelve sensors.

5. An image generation device and an associated hand-held image controller according to claim 4, wherein the image generation device and the controller are built at least for a game and variable movement of the stick member on two axes variably controls the image creation of the image generation device.

6. A process of controlling three-dimensional imagery and providing feedback, the process comprising:

receiving at least twelve signals representing at least twelve sensors,

utilizing the at least twelve signals to control the three-dimensional imagery;

sending a feedback signal causing active tactile feedback structure to provide vibration to be felt by at least one hand of a human user;

receiving a first button signal, the first button signal representing a first proportional sensor activated by depression of a first button by a human finger of the human user,

utilizing the first button signal to control, at least in part, the three-dimensional imagery;

receiving a second button signal, the second button signal representing a second proportional sensor activated by depression of a second button by a human finger of the human user,

utilizing the second button signal to control, at least in part, the three-dimensional imagery;

receiving at least two signals, the at least two signals representing at least two sensors activated by a stick moved on two axes by the human user,

utilizing the at least two signals to control, at least in part, the three dimensional imagery.