Electronic gaming device with feedback

• US 8,485,903 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kico Sound LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Woolston, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): SKAARUP, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US12/965,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20110086709A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1- 3, 463/7, 463/8, 463 36- 43, 446/473, 273/143.B, 345/156, 345/158
• 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 13/23 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 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/833 Hand-to-hand fighting, e.g. martial arts competition A63F13/837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• 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 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• 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 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 : for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 : Fighting without shooting
• 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 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for communicating information regarding movement of a gaming device are presented herein. A gaming device can include at least one sensor configured to measure information associated with at least one of a position of the gaming device or an attitude of the gaming device. Further, a communications interface component can be configured to communicate the information to a controller. A method can detect, via sensors of a handheld gaming device, information related to a movement of the handheld gaming device; and transfer the information to a controller communicatively coupled to the handheld gaming device. A system can include means for receiving information related to a position of a gaming device or an attitude of the gaming device, and means for predicting an anticipated position of the gaming device based on the means for receiving the information.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

measuring at least one of a position of a gaming device or an attitude of the gaming device;

sending, to a controller, measurement information generated based on the at least one of the position of the gaming device or the attitude of the gaming device;

receiving, from the controller, first game information generated based on the measurement information; and

toppling a gyrostat in a housing of the gaming device in response to the first game information.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring at least one of a velocity of the gaming device, an acceleration of the gaming device, or an inertia of the gaming device; and

sending, to the controller, movement information generated based on the at least one of the velocity of the gaming device, the acceleration of the gaming device, or the inertia of the gaming device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, based on the measurement information, electromagnetic radiation to one or more receivers communicatively coupled to the controller.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving, from the controller, second game information generated based on the electromagnetic radiation.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling the gyrostat comprises generating, using the gyrostat, tactile feedback via the housing of the gaming device in response to the receiving the first game information.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the generating the tactile feedback comprises simulating, using the tactile feedback, a force applied to a virtual object.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the simulating comprises simulating a blow of a sword.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the simulating comprises simulating a kickback of at least one of a gun, a pistol, or a rifle.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the communications interface component is further configured to:

send, to the controller, movement information representing at last one of a velocity of the gaming device, an acceleration of the gaming device, or an inertia of the gaming device.

15. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one transmitter configured to send, based on the orientation information, electromagnetic radiation to one or more receivers communicatively coupled to the controller.

16. The gaming device of claim 15,

wherein the game information is based on the electromagnetic radiation.

9. A system, comprising:

means for generating orientation information based on at least one of a position of a gaming device or an attitude of the gaming device;

means for sending the orientation information to a controller and receiving game information from the controller, wherein the game information is based on the orientation information; and

means for toppling a gyrostat located in a housing of the gaming device in response to the game information being received from the controller.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

means for generating movement information based on the at least one of a velocity of the gaming device, an acceleration of the gaming device, or an inertia of the gaming device,

wherein the means for sending comprises means for sending the movement information to the controller.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing system to perform operations, comprising:

generating location information based on at least one of a position of a gaming device or an attitude of the gaming device;

sending the location information to a controller;

receiving, from the controller, game information based on the location information; and

toppling a gyrostat in a housing of the gaming device based on the game information.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating movement information based on at least one of a velocity of the gaming device, an acceleration of the gaming device, or an inertia of the gaming device; and

sending the movement information to the controller.

13. A gaming device, comprising:

a housing;

a gyrostat disposed within the housing;

at least one sensor configured to measure orientation information associated with at least one of a position of the gaming device or an attitude of the gaming device;

a communications interface component configured to send the orientation information to a controller and receive game information from the controller, wherein the game information is based on the orientation information; and

a control component configured to topple the gyrostat in response to the game information being received.

17. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the gyrostat being toppled by the control component causes tactile feedback to be generated via the housing of the gaming device.

18. The gaming device of claim 17, wherein the control component is further configured to:

simulate, via the tactile feedback, a force applied to a virtual object.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the control component is further configured to:

simulate, via the tactile feedback, a blow of a sword.

20. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the control component is further configured to:

simulate, via the tactile feedback, a kickback of at least one of a gun, a pistol, or a rifle.