Tremolo bar input for a video game controller

• US 7,435,178 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Jamie Jien-Mei, Tam, Johnnie, Yao, John, Lange, Theodor R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan; Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLIKIN, ANDREW R
• Application Number:
  US11/403,659
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 846/00, 847/23, 847/43, 847/37, 847/39, 200/43.13, 200/43.18, 200/412, 162/62, 292/281, 267/150, 267/72, 745/26, 745/27, 463/46, 463/47, 463/7, 463/37, 463/38, 273/148.B, 273/148.R
• US Class Current: 463/38
• 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 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/342 for guitar-like instruments with or without strings and with a neck on which switches or string-fret contacts are used to detect the notes being played electric guitars in which the tones are generated by the vibration of strings G10H3/18
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/135 Musical aspects of games or videogames; Musical instrument-shaped game input interfaces game background music G10H2210/026; musical game scoring or performance evaluation G10H2210/091
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/185 Stick input, e.g. drumsticks with position or contact sensors stick for music conducting applications, e.g. conductor baton movement detection G10H2220/206
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/561 Piezoresistive transducers, i.e. exhibiting vibration, pressure, force or movement -dependent resistance, e.g. strain gauges, carbon-doped elastomers or polymers for piezoresistive drumpads, carbon microphones
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/135 Spint guitar, i.e. guitar-like instruments in which the sound is not generated by vibrating strings, e.g. guitar-shaped game interfaces

Abstract

A video game controller and a method of operating the controller are provided. The controller includes: a guitar-shaped housing comprising a body portion and a neck portion; a console interface for coupling with a game console; a tremolo arm extending from the body portion of the housing, said tremolo arm being rotatable about a first axis; and an angular detector coupled to the console interface for detecting angular rotation of the tremolo arm.

Claims

1. A video game controller comprising:

a guitar-shaped housing comprising a body portion and a neck portion;

a console interface for coupling with a game console;

an arm assembly comprising a bar extending from a base, the base including at least a semicircular part, the bar and a portion of the base about the extending portion of the bar extending from an opening in the body portion, said bar being rotatable about a first axis, the first axis being parallel to a surface of the body portion and said arm being rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being normal to the surface of the body portion; and

an angular detector coupled to the console interface, said angular detector for detecting angular rotation of the bar about the first axis.

2. The video game controller of claim 1, wherein:

said angular detector comprises a potentiometer for generating an analog signal corresponding to an angular position of the bar about the first axis.

3. The video game controller of claim 1, wherein:

said angular detector comprises an optical sensor for generating a signal indicating a plurality of angular positions of the bar about the first axis.

4. The video game controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a strum input provided on the body portion of the housing and coupled to the console interface, said strum input for detecting strumming motion by a user; and

a fretboard input provided on the neck portion of the housing and coupled to the console interface, said fretboard input for detecting fretboard fingering by the user.

5. The video game controller of claim 4, wherein:

the neck portion of the housing extends along a neck axis; and

the strum input comprises a flange configured to rotate about a strum axis substantially parallel to the neck axis.

6. The video game controller of claim 4, wherein:

the fretboard input comprises at least five buttons.

7. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the console interface comprises a control logic.

8. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the angular detector is configured to provide a digital signal indicative of the angular rotation of the bar.

9. The game controller of claim 8, wherein the angular detector comprises a digital position sensor.

10. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the angular detector is configured to provide an analog signal indicative of the angular rotation of the bar.

11. A video game controller, comprising:

a guitar-shaped housing comprising a body portion and a neck portion;

a console interface for coupling with a game console;

an arm assembly including a bar mounted to a semicircular base, a portion of the semicircular base extending through an opening in the body portion of the housing, said bar rotatable about a first axis, the first axis being parallel to a surface of the body portion;

said bar rotatable about a second axis, the second axis being normal to the surface of the body portion; and

an angular detection means, coupled to the console interface, for detecting angular rotation of the bar.

12. The video game controller of claim 11, wherein:

said angular detection means comprises a potentiometer for generating an analog signal corresponding to an angular position of the bar about the first axis.

13. The video game controller of claim 11, wherein:

said angular detection means comprises an optical sensor for generating a signal indicating a plurality of angular positions of the bar about the first axis.

14. The video game controller of claim 11, further comprising:

a strum input provided on the body portion of the housing and coupled to the console interface, said strum input for detecting strumming motion by a user; and

a fretboard input provided on the neck portion of the housing and coupled to the console interface, said fretboard input for detecting fretboard fingering by the user.

15. The video game controller of claim 14, wherein:

the neck portion of the housing extends along a neck axis; and

the strum input comprises a flange configured to rotate about a strum axis substantially parallel to the neck axis.

16. The game controller of claim 11, wherein the console interface comprises a control logic.

17. Apparatus for video game play, comprising:

a video game controller comprising;

a guitar-shaped housing comprising a body portion and a neck portion with a plurality of buttons on the neck portion;

a rotatable base rotatably coupled along a first axis to the body portion of the guitar-shaped housing, a portion of the rotatable base extending through an opening in the guitar-shaped housing;

a bar extending from and rotatably coupled along a second axis to the rotatable base, the bar extending from the portion of the rotatable base extending through the opening in the guitar-shaped housing;

a spring to bias the rotatable base to a default position;

a detector for detecting position of the bar; and

control logic for generating signals for transmission to a video game console in response to a user'"'"'s interaction with the buttons on the neck portion and the bar.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising the game console, the game console configured to run a video game for providing cues to the user to indicate interaction with the video game controller and to provide points for interaction in accordance with the cues.

19. The game controller of claim 17, further comprising:

a flange on the rotatable base; and

a first arm coupled to the spring, the first arm positioned in a travel path of the flange upon rotation of the rotatable base, the first arm rotatable about the first axis.

20. The game controller of claim 19, further comprising:

a second arm positioned in the travel path of the flange upon rotation of the rotatable base and coupled to the spring, the second arm rotatable about the first axis; and

a frame mounted to the body portion, the frame having one or more protrusions, the one or more protrusions positioned to limit the range of motion of at least one of the first arm and the second arm.

21. The game controller of claim 20:

wherein the bar comprises a proximal section having a proximal end and a distal section having a distal end, the proximal end being mounted to the rotatable base; and

wherein the bar is shaped such that the proximal section makes an obtuse angle with the distal section.

22. The game controller of claim 21, wherein:

the proximal section comprises a cylindrical rod shape having a first diameter;

the distal section comprises a cylindrical rod shape having a second diameter;

the second diameter is greater than or equal to the first diameter;

the rotatable base includes a cylindrical opening configured to receive the proximal end of the bar, the second axis being located along the center line of the cylindrical opening; and

the bar is rotatably mounted within the cylindrical opening.

23. The game controller of claim 22, wherein the bar is configured to rotate 360 degrees within the cylindrical opening.

24. A video game controller, comprising:

a guitar-shaped housing;

a semicircular base extending through an opening in the housing;

a bar extending from the semicircular base, the arm rotatably coupled to the housing so as to be rotatable about a primary axis and a secondary axis;

means for detecting angular position of the bar along the primary axis;

control logic for generating signals to be transmitted to a video game console indicative of angular position of the bar along the primary axis; and

means for providing a counterforce against rotation of the bar about the primary axis.