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Motion-sensitive wand controller for a game

  • US 8,169,406 B2
  • Filed: 09/13/2011
  • Issued: 05/01/2012
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2000
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An interactive gaming system for amusing or entertaining one or more game participants playing a game in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects, said interactive gaming system comprising:

  • at least one gaming console configured and adapted to produce said one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects in accordance with a particular selected game desired to be played by said one or more game participants, said at least one gaming console comprising a first wireless transceiver adapted to provide two-way wireless communications with one or more associated wireless devices;

    one or more wireless motion-sensitive input devices sized and configured to be held and operated by each of said one or more game participants using a single hand to play said particular selected game at least in part by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing said input device, each said one or more input devices comprising;

    an elongated body having an axis of elongation extending from a proximal end adapted to be gripped and held by said single hand to a distal end, said elongated body substantially enclosing an internal cavity sized and configured so as to contain one or more batteries and associated electronics for operating said input device;

    processing circuitry comprising a microprocessor and an associated memory device, said memory device being configured and adapted to store at least one address identifier for facilitating electronic identification and/or tracking of said input device;

    motion-sensitive circuitry disposed within said internal cavity configured and arranged so as to provide a first user-directed input signal responsive to one or more sensed motions of said input device, said motion sensitive circuitry comprising at least one sensor element for sensing an acceleration force exerted on said input device and at least one sensor element for sensing rotation of said input device;

    command circuitry comprising one or more finger-actuated switches configured and arranged relative to said elongated body so as to be selectively actuated by one or more fingers of said single hand to thereby provide a second user-directed input signal responsive to said one or more finger actuations;

    a second wireless transceiver adapted to provide two-way wireless communication with at least said first wireless transceiver, said second wireless transceiver being configured and adapted to;

    i) transmit to said first transceiver a control signal based at least in part on said first and second user-directed input signals and said address identifier, and ii) receive from said first transceiver a return data signal containing information relevant to said particular selected game; and

    at least one light-emitting module configured and adapted to produce a light signal or pattern capable of being detected by one or more external cameras or sensors;

    at least one camera adapted to be provided in communicative association with said at least one gaming console, said at least one camera being further configured and adapted to capture one or more digital images containing said light signal or pattern and to communicate said one or more digital images to said at least one gaming console; and

    wherein said at least one gaming console is further configured and adapted to process said one or more digital images by analyzing the position and/or movement of said light signal or pattern and to thereby activate, modify or control said one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects based at least in part on said processed digital images.

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