Electronic sword game with input and feedback

• US 20050085298A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kico Sound LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Woolston, Thomas G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,247,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• 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 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• 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 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 : for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8029 : Fighting without shooting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 : Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 : with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

An electro-mechanical device for providing an input to a computer program and said computer program providing a tactile output through said electro-mechanical device to a user. More specifically, the present invention provides an electro-mechanical virtual sword game apparatus that receives positional information from sensors on the sword apparatus and the sword apparatus contains a propulsion gyrostat that under the control of a computer process may be topple to provide a torque on the housing of the sword apparatus that may be used to simulate the impact of sword blows.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an electronic game, the method comprising manipulating a gyroscopic element to provide a sensation to a player based on action in the electronic game.

2. A method of controlling an electronic game, the method comprising manipulating a gyroscopic element to cause a physical effect based on action in the electronic game.

3. Software, embodied in a form understandable by a programmable controller, for causing the programmable controller to control an electronic game having a gyroscopic element, the software comprising instructions to manipulate the gyroscopic element to cause a physical effect based on action in the electronic game.

4. An interactive electronic game apparatus comprising:

a display device for displaying images corresponding to an interactive electronic game;

a handle configured to be grasped by at least one hand, the handle providing tactile feedback to the at least one hand during at least a portion of interactive electronic game play; and

a controller operationally coupled to the display device and the handle, the controller executing a program for the interactive electronic game, wherein at least a portion of the interactive electronic game comprises a simulated sword battle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the program executed by the controller causes tactile feedback to be provided to the handle during the simulated sword battle.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the program executed by the controller results in an absence of tactile feedback being provided to the handle during at least a portion of the interactive electronic game.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the handle resembles a hilt of a sword.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the handle represents on object other than a hilt of a sword.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the handle represents a gun, bazooka, knife, hammer, or axe.

10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the handle represents at least a portion of a weapon.