Device control system and method of determining altitude

• US 9,604,134 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ScioSense B.V. (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: ams AG (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Sedzin, Aliaksei Vladimirovich, Besling, Willem Frederik Adrianus
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US13/898,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20130316830A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,408 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• 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 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/00 Manufacturing, calibrating, cleaning, or repairing instruments or devices referred to in the other groups of this subclass testing, calibrating or compensating compasses G01C17/38
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 5/06 by using barometric means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675

Abstract

A gaming system has a pressure measurement in the remote control (which may be the complete gaming apparatus) and this is used to derive a height of the remote control. In this way, barometric pressure measurement allows precise determination of the altitude of the game controller. The altitude information is then used to control the game.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a base unit comprising a processor, the base unit hosting a software application;

a remote control, wherein the remote control comprises

a hand-held controller configured to control the software application, and

a pressure sensor configured to provide relative altitude information adapted to be used in the control of the software application; and

a reference pressure sensor provided in the base unit or in a separate unit at a fixed height,

wherein the processor is adapted to

determine calibration information depending on a relation between outputs of the pressure sensor of the remote control and the reference pressure sensor when a difference between an altitude of the pressure sensor of the remote control and an altitude of the reference pressure sensor is zero, and

determine a relative height of the remote control with respect to the reference pressure sensor based on an output of the pressure sensor, on an output of the reference pressure sensor and on the calibration information.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a screen configured to display graphics relating to the software.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference pressure sensor comprises a MEMS capacitive pressure sensor.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the remote control comprises acceleration sensors configured to detect movement in at least two orthogonal directions in the horizontal plane.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the remote control comprises an acceleration sensor configured to detect movement in a vertical direction.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller pressure sensor for providing relative altitude information comprises a capacitive pressure sensor.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the controller pressure sensor for providing relative altitude information comprises a MEMS capacitive pressure sensor.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controller pressure sensor is provided over an integrated circuit.

9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controller pressure sensor is integrated on top of a CMOS read-out circuit.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base unit comprises:

means configured to receive signals from the remote control, including a pressure sensor signal from the pressure sensor;

means configured to receive a reference pressure sensor signal from the reference pressure sensor; and

the processor, wherein the processor is adapted to determine a relative height of the remote control with respect to the reference pressure sensor based on the reference pressure sensor signal and the received pressure sensor signal from the remote control.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is adapted to determine the calibration information further depending on a relation between outputs of the pressure sensor of the remote control and the reference pressure sensor when a difference between an altitude of the pressure sensor of the remote control and an altitude of the reference pressure sensor is given by a defined calibration height.

12. A method of deriving altitude information in respect of a remote control of a system comprising a base unit and a remote control,

wherein the base unit comprises a processor and hosts a software application,

the method comprising:

measuring a pressure level using a pressure sensor in the remote control;

measuring a pressure level using a stationary reference pressure sensor, the reference pressure sensor provided in the base unit or in a separate unit at a fixed height;

determining, by the processor, calibration information depending on a relation between outputs of the pressure sensor of the remote control and the reference pressure sensor when a difference between an altitude of the pressure sensor of the remote control and an altitude of the reference pressure sensor is zero;

combining, by the processor, the measured pressure levels to determine a relative height of the remote control with respect to the reference pressure sensor based on the measured pressure levels and the calibration information; and

controlling a software application by means of the remote control based on the determined relative height.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising detecting movement of the remote control in at least two orthogonal directions in the horizontal plane using acceleration sensors.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the calibration information is determined further depending on a relation between outputs of the pressure sensor of the remote control and the reference pressure sensor when a difference between an altitude of the pressure sensor of the remote control and an altitude of the reference pressure sensor is given by a defined calibration height.

15. A gaming system comprising:

a game console hosting a game software application;

a remote control, wherein the remote control comprises

a hand-held controller having a control function and being configured to control the game software application running on the game console, and

a pressure sensor configured to provide relative altitude information adapted to be used in the control of the game software application;

a reference pressure sensor provided in the game console or in a separate unit at a fixed height; and

a processor, which is adapted to determine a relative height of the remote control with respect to the reference pressure sensor based on an output of the pressure sensor of the remote control and an output of the reference pressure sensor.