Gaming accessory with sensory feedback device

• US 10,173,133 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Original Assignee: Steelseries Aps
• Inventors: Mahlmeister, Jeffrey Nicholas, Hawver, Bruce, Wolff-Petersen, Jacob, Rom, Kim, Grever, Francis Arnold, Soelberg, Tino
• Primary Examiner(s): Giesy, Adam R.
• Application Number:
  US15/222,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20160332072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• 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 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A method that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, receiving, by a device comprising a processor, a first signal from a motion-sensitive component of the device; receiving, by the device, a second signal from a touch-sensitive interface of the device, detecting, by the device, from a combined signal comprising the first signal and the second signal, a selection of a portion of the device; and causing, by the device, a sensory feedback generator to provide a feedback signal in accordance with the combined signal. The feedback signal may comprise an audible sound, a visual effect, a tactile effect, or any combination thereof. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a memory that stores instructions; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor, responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising;

receiving a signal corresponding to a user drawing defining at least a portion of a boundary of a region on a gaming accessory, the region comprising a touch-sensitive interface;

receiving an input regarding a game situation, the input corresponding to a user selection of the region;

analyzing the input with respect to the game situation to determine whether the input corresponds to an expected action; and

causing the gaming accessory to provide a haptic feedback in accordance with the analyzing, wherein the haptic feedback is of a first type responsive to the input corresponding to the expected action and of a second type responsive to the input not corresponding to the expected action.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the user selection is indicated by a combination of actuation of a motion-sensitive component of the gaming accessory and contact with the touch-sensitive interface.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the user selection is indicated by movement of the touch-sensitive interface.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the game situation comprises a portion of a sequence of game situations presented by the device, and wherein the analyzing is performed in accordance with a context of the sequence of game situations.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein responsive to the input not corresponding to the expected action, the operations further comprise:

analyzing a plurality of alternative inputs to determine an intended input; and

performing a game action corresponding to the intended input.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the operations further comprise causing the gaming accessory to provide a haptic feedback of a third type in accordance with performing the game action.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise providing a graphical user interface, and wherein the boundary of the region is defined by drawing on an image of the touch-sensitive interface.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback indicates a location of the region on the gaming accessory.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the haptic feedback comprises a vibration in the gaming accessory.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the vibration has a frequency, an amplitude, a number of pulses, or a duration in accordance with a location of the region on the gaming accessory.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising:

providing a graphical user interface comprising an image of a touch-sensitive interface on a gaming accessory;

receiving a signal corresponding to a user drawing on the image, thereby defining at least a portion of a boundary of a region of the touch-sensitive interface;

receiving an input regarding a game situation, the input corresponding to a user selection of the region;

analyzing the input with respect to the game situation to determine whether the input corresponds to an expected action; and

causing the gaming accessory to provide a haptic feedback in accordance with the analyzing.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the user selection is indicated by a combination of actuation of a motion-sensitive component of the gaming accessory and contact with the touch-sensitive interface.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein responsive to the input not corresponding to the expected action, the operations further comprise:

analyzing a plurality of alternative inputs to determine an intended input; and

performing a game action corresponding to the intended input.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise causing the gaming accessory to provide an additional haptic feedback in accordance with performing the game action.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the game situation comprises a portion of a sequence of game situations presented by the processor, and wherein the analyzing is performed in accordance with a context of the sequence of game situations.

16. A method comprising:

providing, by a processing system including a processor, a graphical user interface comprising an image of a touch-sensitive interface on a gaming accessory;

receiving, by the processing system, a signal corresponding to a user drawing on the image, thereby defining at least a portion of a boundary of a region of the touch-sensitive interface;

receiving, by the processing system, an input regarding a game situation, the input corresponding to a user selection of the region;

analyzing, by the processing system, the input with respect to the game situation to determine whether the input corresponds to an expected action; and

causing, by the processing system, the gaming accessory to provide a haptic feedback in accordance with the analyzing, wherein the haptic feedback indicates a location of the region on the gaming accessory.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the haptic feedback is of a first type responsive to the input corresponding to the expected action and of a second type responsive to the input not corresponding to the expected action.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the haptic feedback comprises a vibration in the gaming accessory, wherein the vibration has a frequency, an amplitude, a number of pulses, or a duration in accordance with the location of the region on the gaming accessory.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

responsive to the input not corresponding to the expected action, analyzing a plurality of alternative inputs to determine an intended input; and

performing a game action corresponding to the intended input.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the game situation comprises a portion of a sequence of game situations presented by the processing system, and wherein the analyzing is performed in accordance with a context of the sequence of game situations.