Method and apparatus for operatively controlling a virtual reality scenario with a physically demanding interface

• US 7,727,117 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: IALabs-CA, LLC
• Inventors: Merril, Greg, Feldman, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US11/372,231
• Publication Number:
  US 20060205565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/29, 434/247
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• 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: Y10S 482/902 Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

A safe, physically demanding interface device for children or other users to play video games according to the present invention includes a base and a joystick or control rod. The base supports a significant portion or the entirety of the child weight (e.g., supports a child in a seated or standing position), while the joystick is manipulable by the child to play the games. The device is configured to force the child to utilize many of the large muscle groups to interact with the game. Since the child weight is supported by the base, the interface device is stable (e.g., unlikely to tip or move) and, therefore, provides for safe, compelling video game play for users either alone or with other users.

Claims

1. A user interface device enabling a user to perform a physically demanding activity to manipulate a virtual reality scenario comprising:

a base in the form of a platform and including a top surface to directly support a user thereon;

an elongated rod attached to said base via a sleeve arrangement and manipulable by said user to control said virtual reality scenario, wherein said sleeve arrangement includes a stub disposed on said base and at least one sleeve disposed over said stub and receiving said elongated rod therein, and wherein the quantity and elasticity of said at least one sleeve controls an amount of user force required to manipulate said elongated rod; and

a sensing unit to measure manipulation of said elongated rod by said user;

wherein said base includes a processor coupled to said sensing unit to process data relating to said measured manipulation to facilitate control of said virtual reality scenario in accordance with said manipulation of said elongated rod by said user.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein an upper portion of said elongated rod includes a knob with an input device disposed on a knob top surface to enter information to control said virtual reality scenario.

3. The device of claim 1 further including a reset button to reset said user interface device.

4. The device of claim 1 further including:

resistance controls to selectively adjust an amount of user force required to manipulate said elongated rod to control said virtual reality scenario.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said base top surface includes a recessed portion to contour a user body portion in a seated position.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said base accommodates a user in a standing position and further includes at least one input device disposed on a base top surface and actuable by user feet to enter information to control said virtual reality scenario.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor generates said virtual reality scenario and controls that scenario in accordance with said manipulation of said elongated rod by said user.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said user interface device is directly coupled to a monitor to display said generated virtual reality scenario.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor transfers information including said processed data to a host processing system generating said virtual reality scenario to control that scenario in accordance with said manipulation of said elongated rod by said user.

10. The device of claim 9 further including:

a cable with a plurality of connectors, wherein at least two connectors are configured to couple said user interface device to different host processing systems.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said elongated rod is constructed of at least one of plastic, rubber, foam and a padded material to prevent injury to a user during manipulation of said elongated rod.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said elongated rod is lightweight to enable said elongated rod to produce forces at or below approximately seventy foot pounds to prevent injury during manipulation by said user.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said sensing unit includes:

at least one strain gauge each to measure strain applied to said elongated rod along a corresponding axis to determine manipulation of said elongated rod.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said sensing unit includes:

a plurality of switches disposed at particular locations and selectively actuable in response to manipulation of said elongated rod, wherein said locations of actuated switches indicate said manipulation of said elongated rod.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said virtual reality scenario includes a video game scenario.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said elongated rod is removably attached to said base.

17. A user interface device enabling a user to perform a physically demanding activity to manipulate a virtual reality scenario comprising:

a base in the form of a platform and including a top surface to directly support a user thereon;

an elongated rod attached to said base and manipulable by said user to control said virtual reality scenario; and

a sensing unit to measure manipulation of said elongated rod by said user, wherein said sensing unit includes;

at least one identifier disposed on said elongated rod; and

an image capture device to produce images including said elongated rod;

wherein said base includes a processor coupled to said sensing unit to process data relating to said measured manipulation to facilitate control of said virtual reality scenario in accordance with said manipulation of said elongated rod by said user, and wherein said processor processes said images to determine displacement of said at least one identifier within said images to determine manipulation of said elongated rod.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein an upper portion of said elongated rod includes a knob with an input device disposed on a knob top surface to enter information to control said virtual reality scenario.

19. The device of claim 17 further including a reset button to reset said user interface device.

20. The device of claim 17 further including:

resistance controls to selectively adjust an amount of user force required to manipulate said elongated rod to control said virtual reality scenario.

21. The device of claim 17, wherein said base top surface includes a recessed portion to contour a user body portion in a seated position.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein said base accommodates a user in a standing position and further includes at least one input device disposed on a base top surface and actuable by user feet to enter information to control said virtual reality scenario.

23. The device of claim 17, wherein said processor generates said virtual reality scenario and controls that scenario in accordance with said manipulation of said elongated rod by said user.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein said user interface device is directly coupled to a monitor to display said generated virtual reality scenario.

25. The device of claim 17, wherein said processor transfers information including said processed data to a host processing system generating said virtual reality scenario to control that scenario in accordance with said manipulation of said elongated rod by said user.

26. The device of claim 25 further including:

a cable with a plurality of connectors, wherein at least two connectors are configured to couple said user interface device to different host processing systems.

27. The device of claim 17, wherein said elongated rod is constructed of at least one of plastic, rubber, foam and a padded material to prevent injury to a user during manipulation of said elongated rod.

28. The device of claim 17, wherein said elongated rod is lightweight to enable said elongated rod to produce forces at or below approximately seventy foot pounds to prevent injury during manipulation by said user.

29. The device of claim 17, wherein said virtual reality scenario includes a video game scenario.

30. The device of claim 17, wherein said elongated rod is removably attached to said base.

31. A user interface device enabling a user to perform a physically demanding activity to manipulate a virtual reality scenario comprising:

a base in the form of a platform and including a top surface to directly support a user thereon;

an elongated rod attached to said base and manipulable by said user to control said virtual reality scenario; and

a sensing unit to measure manipulation of said elongated rod by said user, wherein said sensing unit includes a plurality of damper units coupled to said elongated rod and said base to dampen elongated rod motion, wherein each damper unit includes a sensing device to measure damper unit operation in response to manipulation of said elongated rod to measure that manipulation;

wherein said base includes a processor coupled to said sensing unit to process data relating to said measured manipulation to facilitate control of said virtual reality scenario in accordance with said manipulation of said elongated rod by said user.

32. The device of claim 31, wherein an upper portion of said elongated rod includes a knob with an input device disposed on a knob top surface to enter information to control said virtual reality scenario.

33. The device of claim 31 further including a reset button to reset said user interface device.

34. The device of claim 31 further including:

resistance controls to selectively adjust an amount of user force required to manipulate said elongated rod to control said virtual reality scenario.

35. The device of claim 31, wherein said base top surface includes a recessed portion to contour a user body portion in a seated position.

36. The device of claim 31, wherein said base accommodates a user in a standing position and further includes at least one input device disposed on a base top surface and actuable by user feet to enter information to control said virtual reality scenario.

37. The device of claim 31, wherein said processor generates said virtual reality scenario and controls that scenario in accordance with said manipulation of said elongated rod by said user.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein said user interface device is directly coupled to a monitor to display said generated virtual reality scenario.

39. The device of claim 31, wherein said processor transfers information including said processed data to a host processing system generating said virtual reality scenario to control that scenario in accordance with said manipulation of said elongated rod by said user.

40. The device of claim 39 further including:

a cable with a plurality of connectors, wherein at least two connectors are configured to couple said user interface device to different host processing systems.

41. The device of claim 31, wherein said elongated rod is constructed of at least one of plastic, rubber, foam and a padded material to prevent injury to a user during manipulation of said elongated rod.

42. The device of claim 31, wherein said elongated rod is lightweight to enable said elongated rod to produce forces at or below approximately seventy foot pounds to prevent injury during manipulation by said user.

43. The device of claim 31, wherein said virtual reality scenario includes a video game scenario.

44. The device of claim 31, wherein said elongated rod is removably attached to said base.