Augmented reality video game systems

• US 9,703,369 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2008
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey David Mullen
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey David Mullen
• Inventors: Mullen, Jeffrey David
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Application Number:
  US12/249,925
• Time in Patent Office: 3,195 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

An augmented reality home console is provided. Users can wear head-mounted displays with transparent screens and can control video game indicia that are perceived as being augmented over a user'"'"'s environment by displaying video game indicia onto the transparent displays. As such, for example, two users can play an airplane dog fighting game where each user controls a plane in their living room. A device that can determine surfaces of objects (e.g., walls) can be utilized such that when the airplane is flown into a wall, the airplane explodes.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a game console for providing a game;

a head-mounted display having a video camera coupled to said game console, wherein a user of said head-mounted display is operable to see said user'"'"'s three-dimensional physical surroundings as a result of the head-mounted display; and

a controller associated with said head-mounted display, wherein said controller provides a first three-dimensional control signal to move a virtual object and a second three-dimensional control signal to change the movement of said virtual object from the movement provided from said first three-dimensional control signal, said virtual object is visually provided to said user such that said user sees said virtual object in said user'"'"'s three-dimensional physical surroundings, said camera detects a physical surface in said three-dimensional physical surroundings, and said first three-dimensional control signal moves said virtual object three-dimensionally over at least three axis of movement about said three-dimensional physical surroundings within a predetermined playing area in a first manner and said second three-dimensional control signal moves said virtual object three-dimensionally over at least three axis of movement about said three-dimensional physical surroundings within said predetermined playing area in a second manner.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller includes a button.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said head-mounted display includes an inertial movement determination device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said head-mounted display includes a second camera, a first inertial movement determination device, and a second inertial movement determination device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said head-mounted display includes a microphone, a first speaker, a second speaker, and an inertial movement determination device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a plurality of buttons.

2. A system comprising:

a game console for providing a game;

a head-mounted display having a video camera coupled to said game console, wherein a user of said head-mounted display is operable to see said user'"'"'s three-dimensional physical surroundings as a result of the head-mounted display; and

a controller associated with said head-mounted display, wherein said controller provides a first three-dimensional control signal to move a virtual object and a second three-dimensional control signal to change the movement of said virtual object from the movement provided by said first three-dimensional control signal, said virtual object is visually provided to said user such that said user sees said virtual object in said user'"'"'s three-dimensional physical surroundings, said game provides a virtual surface over said surface such that said user sees said virtual surface over said surface, and said first three-dimensional control signal moves said virtual object three-dimensionally over at least three axis of movement in a first manner and said second three-dimensional control signal moves said virtual object three-dimensionally over at least three axis of movement in a second manner.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein said controller includes a button.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein said head-mounted display includes an inertial movement determination device.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein said head-mounted display includes a second camera, a first inertial movement determination device, and a second inertial movement determination device.

12. The system of claim 2, wherein said head-mounted display includes a microphone, a first speaker, a second speaker, and an inertial movement determination device.

13. The system of claim 2, wherein said controller includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a plurality of buttons.

3. A system comprising:

a game console for providing a game;

a head-mounted display, wherein a user of said head-mounted display is operable to see the user'"'"'s three-dimensional physical surroundings as a result of said head-mounted display; and

a controller associated with said head-mounted display, wherein said controller provides a first three-dimensional control signal to move, from the perspective of said user, a virtual airplane three-dimensionally about said three-dimensional physical surroundings in over at least three axis of movement in a first manner and a second three-dimensional control signal to change from the first manner the movement of said virtual airplane three-dimensionally about said three-dimensional physical surroundings over at least three axis of movement to a second manner.

14. The system of claim 3, wherein said controller includes a button.

15. The system of claim 3, wherein said head-mounted display includes an inertial movement determination device.

16. The system of claim 3, wherein said head-mounted display includes a camera, a first inertial movement determination device, and a second inertial movement determination device.

17. The system of claim 3, wherein said head-mounted display includes a microphone, a first speaker, a second speaker, and an inertial movement determination device.

18. The system of claim 3, wherein said controller includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a plurality of buttons.