Multi-positional three-dimensional controller

• US 8,961,313 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Zalewski, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Jung, Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/475,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20100304868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,097 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/38
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• 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 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed to control interactivity with a video gaming system. The system includes a game console and a controller that is configured to be held in a plurality of handhold orientations. The controller further includes a handle that extends between a first end and a second end along a length axis and an input feature disposed at the first end. The input feature includes sensors to detect manipulations that cause a relative movement between the input feature and the handle. The manipulations that are detected include torque applied to the input feature about the length axis. Where the detected manipulation are relayed to the game console where the game console correlates the detected manipulation into control of the video game. The gaming system can be primarily executed through a local game console, or the game console (or computing device), can communicate to remote servers, over the internet, to processes primary execution. And, the processing can be for one or more users connected to interactive applications, in a multi-user gaming, communication and/or interactive application.

Claims

1. A method to provide input to a game console through a controller, the controller having a handle with a first end and a second end and a spherical input feature connected to the first end of the handle at a pivot point that is disposed along a length axis of the handle, the method comprising:

detecting an orientation of the controller using motion sensors integrated within the handle of the controller, the detected orientation determining when the controller is to operate in a joystick mode;

detecting sensed contact of the spherical input object to a surface when in the joystick mode, the sensed contact being monitored by a sensor that is in communication with the pivot point;

identifying torque information concerning the spherical input object for movements of the spherical input object relative to the pivot point; and

transmitting the torque information to a game console, the torque information identifying rotation and compression of the spherical object that is mapped to direct interactive control of a program executed by a processor of the game console.

2. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting tensile force applied to the spherical input feature during movements of the spherical input object relative to the pivot point.

3. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting compression force applied to the spherical input feature during movements of the spherical input object relative to the pivot point.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein execution through the game console is either providing primary execution locally at the game console, or at a gaming server that communicates processed instructions to the game console for display and local control.