Game controller and game system

• US 9,227,142 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• 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): LIDDLE, JAY TRENT
• Application Number:
  US14/317,010
• Publication Number:
  US 20140309032A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 remotely controllable display system comprising:

a processing arrangement comprising first and second cooperating processors;

a handheld remote controller including;

a housing structured, dimensioned, shaped and configured so a single hand can grasp and support the housing, hold the housing in the air and move it in free space to point and twist the housing;

a 2D direct pointing device disposed in the housing, the 2D direct pointing device sensing infrared light emitted by an infrared marker;

a multi-axis inertia sensor disposed within the housing, the multi-axis inertia sensor sensing multiple axes;

the first processor which is coupled to the 2D direct pointing device and the multi-axis inertia sensor; and

a first wireless device operatively coupled to the first processor, the first wireless device sending, over the air, data responsive to light sensed by the 2D direct pointing device and data responsive to inertia sensed by the inertia sensor; and

a display controller comprising;

a second wireless device that receives the data the first wireless device sends over the air, and

the second processor operatively coupled to the second wireless device and to an image generator, the second processor controlling the image generator to generate images for display on an image display,

wherein the processing arrangement is configured to;

determine a position on the display responsive to the light sensed by the direct pointing device,

control the image generator to generate a display of an object based on the determined position, and

determine aspects relating to twist of the housing based on at least the inertia sensed by the multi-axis inertia sensor.

2. The remotely controllable display system of claim 1 wherein the inertia sensor comprises a three-axis accelerometer.

3. The remotely controllable display system of claim 1 wherein said inertia sensor comprises a gyro-sensor capable of detecting rotation and/or angular rate.

4. The remotely controllable display system of claim 1 wherein the direct pointing device comprises an image pickup element and an image processing circuit, the image processing circuit generating coordinate data.

5. The remotely controllable display system of claim 1 further including an operation device disposed on the housing, the operation device outputting operation data in accordance with operation thereof by a digit of the single hand.

6. The remotely controllable display system of claim 1 further including a button disposed on the housing, the button generating button depression data in response to depression thereof by a digit of the single hand.

7. The remotely controllable display system of claim 1 wherein the remote controller is configured to optionally connect to a further handheld controller.

8. A handheld remote controller for use with a display system of the type comprising a processing arrangement comprising first and second cooperating processors, the handheld remote controller including:

a housing structured, dimensioned, shaped and configured so a single hand can grasp and support the housing, hold the housing in the air and move it in free space to point and twist the housing;

a 2D direct pointing device disposed in the housing, the 2D direct pointing device sensing infrared light emitted by an infrared marker;

a multi-axis inertia sensor disposed within the housing, the multi-axis inertia sensor sensing multiple axes;

the first processor which is coupled to the 2D direct pointing device and the multi-axis inertia sensor; and

a wireless radio operatively coupled to the first processor, the wireless radio providing a wireless link for data responsive to light sensed by the 2D direct pointing device and data responsive to inertia sensed by the inertia sensor;

the first processor cooperating with a second processor remote to the first processor over the wireless link to enable the processing arrangement to;

determine a position on a display responsive to the light sensed by the direct pointing device,

control generation of a display of an object based on the determined position, and

determine aspects of twist of the housing based on at least the inertia sensed by the multi-axis inertia sensor.

9. A system, comprising:

at least one active infrared light emitter disposable in proximity to a television display, the infrared light emitter receiving electrical power and providing infrared light;

a handheld controller comprising;

a handheld two-dimensional optical infrared detector configured to detect two-dimensional spatial information relating to the infrared light emitter,

a control surface comprising at least one depressible input button,

a handheld inertial sensor providing an output, and

a handheld wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly report the two-dimensional spatial information relating to the infrared light emitter, depression of the depressible input button and the handheld inertial sensor output;

a wireless communication device configured to wirelessly receive reported information transmitted by the handheld controller; and

a processor operatively coupled to the wireless communication device and configured to process the received reported information and provide responsive direct pointing control that controls position of an object on the television display in response to a pointing direction of the optical infrared detector.