Game controller and game system

• US 8,409,003 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Issued: 04/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ikeda, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Liddle, Jay Trent
• Application Number:
  US12/191,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20080311989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 463 36- 39
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera

Abstract

A first control unit includes a first operation data generation section for generating first operation data in accordance with a motion of a first control unit body included in the first control unit. A second control unit includes a second operation data generation section for generating second operation data in accordance with a direction input operation performed by a player. Further, one of the first control unit and the second control unit includes a transmission section for transmitting the first operation data and the second operation data to a computer at a predetermined timing.

Claims

1. A handheld controller arrangement for transmitting operation data to a computing device executing a program that displays information on a display, the handheld controller arrangement comprising:

a first handheld unit including a first handheld body configured to be held in and supported by a user'"'"'s hand in free space;

a second handheld unit including a second handheld body configured to be held in and supported by a user'"'"'s other hand in free space;

a flexible cable for electrically connecting the first handheld unit with the second handheld unit,

the first handheld unit including a first operation data generation section generating first operation data in accordance with motion of the first handheld body;

the second handheld unit including a second operation data generation section generating second operation data in accordance with a direction input operation performed by the user; and

one of the first handheld unit and the second handheld unit further including a wireless transmission section for wirelessly transmitting the first operation data and the second operation data to the computing device at a predetermined timing,

wherein the first operation data generation section includes an image pickup section, fixed to the first handheld body, configured to take an image along a predetermined direction from the first handheld body, and output, as a part of the first operation data, an image taken by the image pickup section and/or a result of performing a predetermined calculation on the image taken by the image pickup section.

2. The handheld controller arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first operation data generation section further includes a positional information calculation section for calculating positional information indicating a center of gravity, in the image taken by the image pickup section, of at least one marker image which is included in the taken image and is used as an imaging target, and outputting the positional information as part of the first operation data.

3. The handheld controller arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission section wirelessly transmits the first operation data and the second operation data to the computing device.

4. The handheld controller arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first operation data generation section has an acceleration sensor and/or a gyro sensor included in the first handheld body, and outputs data generated by the acceleration sensor and/or the gyro sensor as the first operation data.

5. The handheld controller arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flexible cable is detachably connected to at least the first handheld body, and the transmission section is included in the first handheld body.

6. The handheld controller arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the transmission section collects and transmits to the computing device the first operation data and the second operation data at intervals shorter than 1/60 second.

7. The handheld controller arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second operation data generation section includes a stick which has a tip projecting from the second handheld body the stick being inclinably movable relative to the second handheld body, and outputs data obtained in accordance with an inclining direction of the stick as the second operation data.

8. The handheld controller arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second operation data generation section includes an operation button which has operation portions representing at least four directions and which is able to be pushed, by the operation portions, into the second handheld body, and outputs, as the second operation data, data corresponding to the operation portion at which the operation button is pushed.

9. The handheld controller arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second operation data generation section includes a sliding member which has a top surface exposed from the second handheld body and which is horizontally movable on the second handheld body, and outputs data obtained in accordance with a horizontal moving direction of the sliding member as the second operation data.

10. The handheld controller arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second handheld body has an outer surface and the second operation data generation section includes a touch pad on the outer surface of the second handheld body and outputs, as the second operation data, data obtained in accordance with a position on the touch pad at which the touch pad is touched.

11. The handheld controller arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second operation data generation section includes at least four operation buttons which are able to be pushed into the second handheld body, and outputs data obtained in accordance with the pushed operation button as the second operation data.

12. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 further including a first connector terminating an end of the flexible cable, and a second connector disposed in the first and/or second handheld units, the first and second connectors detachably mating to establish connectivity between the first and second handheld units while optionally detaching to permit at least one of the first and second handheld units to be operated independently of the other to transmit operation data to the computing device.

13. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 12 wherein one of the first and second handheld units powers the other via the flexible cable.

14. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first handheld body has a generally parallelepiped shape extending in a longitudinal direction from front to rear and has an overall size small enough to be held in one hand.

15. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first handheld body has disposed thereon a cross-shaped four-direction push-switch allowing the user to select one of four directions 90°

apart.

16. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first handheld unit further comprises a push switch including a ring-shaped four-direction operation section and a center switch provided at the center thereof.

17. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first handheld unit further comprises an inclinable stick projecting from the first handheld body, the inclinable stick outputting an operation signal in accordance with an inclining direction of the stick.

18. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first handheld unit further comprises a disc-shaped member horizontally slidable relative to the first handheld body, the disc-shaped member outputting an operation signal in accordance with the sliding direction of the disc-shaped member.

19. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first handheld unit further comprises plural switches representing at least four directions and which outputs a directional operation signal in accordance with a switch pressed by a user.

20. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first handheld body comprises a top surface, and the first handheld unit comprises an operation button recessed in the top surface so as not to be inadvertently pressed.

21. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first handheld unit includes a plurality of light emitting diodes which provide a visual indication distinguishing the first handheld unit from other handheld units being used simultaneously with the computing device.

22. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first handheld body comprises a recessed portion formed at a position at which an index or middle finger of the user is disposed when the user holds the first handheld body.

23. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 22 wherein the first handheld body further comprises an operation button disposed on a rear slope of the recessed portion.

24. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first handheld unit includes a first microcomputer, the second handheld unit includes a second microcomputer, and the first and second microcomputers inter-communicate via the flexible cable.

25. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first handheld unit further comprises a vibration generator that when activated vibrates the first handheld body to convey the vibration to the user'"'"'s hand.

26. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the second handheld body has a streamlined solid shape including a head which is a widest portion on the second handheld unit, and which has an overall size that is small enough to be held in one hand.

27. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the second handheld unit includes an inclinable stick projecting from a top surface thereof, the stick enabling a user to arbitrarily designate a direction and position by inclining the stick in any direction of 360 degrees.

28. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first operation data generation section comprises a gyroscope that senses an angular velocity that can be used to derive an inclination of the first handheld body.

29. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first handheld unit further comprises an infrared sensor that images plural infrared markers to indicate a pointing direction of the first handheld body.

30. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the user is enabled to point with the first handheld unit and instructs an object to move with the second handheld unit to provide two-handed operation.

31. The handheld controller arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first and second handheld units held in different hands allow the user to move about, use motion to provide operation data, and provide different inputs with different hands.