Hybrid separable motion controller

• US 8,882,597 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2011
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nicholson, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/115,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20120302347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/39
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/10 characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
• 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 hybrid separable motion controller is provided. The controller includes a first portion including a first handle, a first medial connector defined along a length of the first handle, and a first geometric object defined at an end of the first handle. The controller further includes a second portion including a second handle, a second medial connector defined along a length of the second handle for coupling to the first medial connector, and a second geometric object defined at an end of the second handle. The first portion or the second portion includes a connection sensor for determining whether the controller is in a connected configuration or a disconnected configuration.

Claims

1. A controller for interacting with a video game, comprising:

a first portion including a first handle, and a first geometric object defined at an end of the first handle;

a second portion including a second handle and a second geometric object defined at an end of the second handle;

wherein the first portion or the second portion includes a connection sensor for determining whether the controller is in a connected configuration defined by joining of the first portion and the second portion, or a disconnected configuration defined by non-joining of the first portion and the second portion; and

wherein the first geometric object and the second geometric object are positioned substantially adjacent to each other when the controller is in the connected configuration;

wherein the connected configuration triggers determination of an input value based on at least one internal motion sensor of the first portion or the second portion;

wherein the disconnected configuration triggers determination of the input value based on a combination of independently tracked locations of the first and second geometric objects.

2. The controller of claim 1,

wherein the first portion includes a first communications interface;

wherein the second portion includes a second communications interface that links to the first communications interface when the controller is in a connected configuration to define a communications pathway between the first portion and the second portion.

3. The controller of claim 1,

wherein the first geometric object includes a first illumination source for illuminating the first geometric object;

wherein the second geometric object includes a second illumination source for illuminating the second geometric object.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the connection sensor triggers activation of the first and second illumination sources when the controller is determined to be in a disconnected configuration.

5. The controller of claim 3,

wherein the first illumination source includes a first LED;

wherein the second illumination source includes a second LED configured to emit a different color than the first LED.

6. The controller of claim 3,

wherein the first portion includes a first light controller for controlling the first illumination source;

and

wherein the second portion includes a second light controller for controlling the second illumination source.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the first portion and second portion each include at least one input mechanism selected from the following:

a button, a joystick, a directional pad, a trigger, a touchpad, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer.

8. The controller of claim 7, wherein the connection sensor triggers a change in an assignment of the input mechanism of the first portion or the second portion when a change between the connected configuration and the disconnected configuration is detected.

9. The controller of claim 1,

wherein the first portion includes a first magnet;

and

wherein the second portion includes a second magnet for coupling to the first magnet when the controller is in the connected configuration.

10. The controller of claim 1,

wherein the first portion includes an alignment hole;

and

wherein the second portion includes an alignment pin for interfacing with the alignment hole when the controller is in the connected configuration.

11. The controller of claim 1,

wherein first portion includes a third geometric object defined at an end of the first handle opposite that of the first geometric object;

wherein the second portion includes a fourth geometric object defined at an end of the second handle opposite that of the second geometric object.

12. The controller of claim 11,

wherein the third geometric object includes a first illumination source for illuminating the third geometric object;

wherein the fourth geometric object includes a second illumination source for illuminating the fourth geometric object.

13. A controller for interfacing with a video game, comprising:

a first portion including a first handle, and a first geometric object defined at an end of the first handle, the first geometric object including a first illumination source for illuminating the first reference object;

a second portion including a second handle, and a second geometric object defined at an end of the second handle, the second geometric object including a second illumination source for illuminating the second geometric object;

wherein the first portion or the second portion includes a connection sensor for determining whether the controller is in a connected configuration defined by joining of the first portion and the second portion, or a disconnected configuration defined by non-joining of the first portion and the second portion;

wherein when the connection sensor determines the controller is in a connected configuration, at least one internal motion sensor of the first portion or the second portion defines an input value for the video game;

wherein when the connection sensor determines the controller is in a disconnected configuration, the input value is defined by a combination of independently tracked locations of the first and second geometric objects.

14. The controller of claim 13,

wherein the first portion includes a first communications interface;

wherein the second portion includes a second communications interface that links to the first communications interface when the controller is in a connected configuration to define a communications pathway between the first portion and the second portion.

15. The controller of claim 13, wherein the connection sensor triggers activation of the first and second illumination sources when the controller is determined to be in a disconnected configuration.

16. The controller of claim 13,

wherein the first illumination source is configured to emit a first color;

wherein the second illumination source is configured to emit a second color different than the first color.

17. A controller for interfacing with a video game, comprising:

a first portion including a first handle, and a first geometric object defined at an end of the first handle, the first geometric object including a first illumination source for illuminating the first geometric object;

a second portion including a second handle, and a second geometric object defined at an end of the second handle, the second geometric object including a second illumination source for illuminating the second geometric object;

wherein the first portion or the second portion includes a connection sensor for determining whether the controller is in a connected configuration defined by joining of the first portion and the second portion, or a disconnected configuration defined by non-joining of the first portion and the second portion;

wherein the first portion includes a first light controller for controlling the first illumination source to emit a first color; and

wherein the second portion includes a second light controller for controlling the second illumination source to emit a second color different than the first color;

wherein the connection sensor triggers a change in an assignment of an input mechanism of the first portion or the second portion when a change between the connected configuration and the disconnected configuration is detected.

18. The controller of claim 17, wherein the connection sensor triggers activation of the first and second illumination sources when the controller is determined to be in a disconnected configuration.

19. The controller of claim 17,

wherein first portion includes a third geometric object defined at an end of the first handle opposite that of the first geometric object, the third geometric object including a third illumination source for illuminating the third geometric object;

wherein the second portion includes a fourth geometric object defined at an end of the second handle opposite that of the second geometric object, the fourth geometric object including a fourth illumination source for illuminating the fourth geometric object.

20. A controller for interacting with a video game, comprising:

a first portion including a first handle, and a first object defined at an end of the first handle;

a second portion including a second handle, and a second object defined at an end of the second handle;

wherein the first portion or the second portion includes a connection sensor for determining whether the controller is in a connected configuration defined by joining of the first portion and the second portion, or a disconnected configuration defined by non-joining of the first portion and the second portion; and

wherein the first object and the second object are positioned substantially adjacent to each other when the controller is in the connected configuration;

wherein the first object includes a first illumination source for illuminating the first object;

wherein the second object includes a second illumination source for illuminating the second object;

wherein the connection sensor triggers activation of the first and second illumination sources when the controller is determined to be in a disconnected configuration;

wherein the connection sensor triggers a change in input values used by the first portion or the second portion when a change between the connected configuration and the disconnected configuration is detected.

21. The controller of claim 20,

wherein the first illumination source is a first LED;

wherein the second illumination source is a second LED.