Advanced video controller system

• US 20060258454A1
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Secretary of the Army
• Original Assignee: United States Secretary of the Army
• Inventors: Brick, Todd A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,651,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• 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 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• 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 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

A video control system has an accelerometer sensor connected to a microcontroller for imparting motion and orientation information to the microcontroller. An encoder/transmitter is connected to the microcontroller and converts a plurality of parallel signals from the microcontroller into a serial data stream which is wirelessly transmitted to a receiver/decoder which converts the serial data back to the original parallel signals. The receiver/decoder is connected to a keyboard encoder that is connected to the keyboard port of personal computer. The accelerometer sensor, microcontroller and encoder transmitter are adapted to be worn on a video player'"'"'s person. The system allows for a realistic experience in a video environment in which movement of the video player is replicated and appreciated on a video screen.

Claims

1. A video control system, comprising:

a motion sensor;

a controller having means for processing signals received from said motion sensor, said controller outputting a plurality of processed signals;

a keyboard encoder, said keyboard encoder receiving said plurality of processed signals and converting said processed signals to corresponding computer keystrokes.

2. A video control system according to claim 1, wherein:

said motion sensor is an accelerometer.

3. A video control system according to claim 2, wherein:

said accelerometer is a two-axis accelerometer evaluation board.

4. A video control system according to claim 3, further comprising:

a sensor housing for accommodating said motion sensor therein, said sensor housing having attachment means for attaching said sensor housing to a limb of a video player.

5. A video control system according to claim 1, further comprising:

an encoder/transmitter for taking said processed signals and converting said processed signals into a serial stream of encoded data and transmitting said serial stream of data.

6. A video control system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a receiver/decoder for receiving said serial stream of encoded data and decoding said serial stream of encoded data.

7. A video control system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a personal computer, said keyboard encoder connecting to a keyboard port of said personal computer.

8. A video control system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a portable power source and a voltage regulator connecting to said controller.

9. A video control system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a game weapon, said game weapon having a plurality of game weapon sensors with each sensor of said plurality of game weapon sensors sending a signal to said encoder/transmitter.

10. A video control system, according to claim 9, wherein said game weapon further comprises:

a plurality of direction sensors, said plurality of direction sensors sending direction signals to said controller.

11. A video control system according to claim 10, wherein said game weapon further comprises:

a zoom/sight sensor, said zoom/sight sensor connecting to said controller.

12. A video control system according to claim 11, wherein said game weapon further comprises:

a look-aim sensor;

a look-aim sensor receiver for receiving a signal from said look aim sensor;

said personal computer having a mouse port connected to said look-aim sensor receiver.

13. A video control system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a head mounted video viewer;

an audio-video (AV) transmitter connected to a video card and a sound card of said personal computer;

an audio-video receiver in wireless communication with said audio-video transmitter.

14. A video control system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a headset power source connected to said head mounted video viewer.

15. A video control system according to claim 14, wherein:

said motion sensor, said controller, said encoder/transmitter, and said audio-video receiver are adapted to be worn on a person'"'"'s body.

16. A video control system, comprising:

a motion sensor;

a microcontroller connected to said motion sensor;

an encoder/transmitter connected to said microcontroller;

a receiver/decoder connected to said encoder/transmitter;

a keyboard encoder connected to said receive/decoder;

a personal computer connected to said keyboard encoder by a keyboard port.

17. A video control system according to claim 16, wherein:

said encoder/transmitter and said receiver/decoder are connected via wireless communication.

18. A video control system according to claim 17, further comprising:

a game weapon having a plurality of weapon sensors, a plurality of direction sensors, and a two-axis gyroscopic look-aim sensor, said plurality of weapon sensors being connected to said encoder/transmitter, said plurality of direction sensors being connected to said microcontroller and said two axis gyroscopic look-aim sensor being connected to a look-aim receiver connected to a mouse port of said personal computer.

19. A video control system according to claim 18, further comprising:

a head mounted video display;

an AV receiver connected to said head mounted video display;

a headset transmitter connected to said personal computer, said headset transmitter being in wireless communication with said AV receiver.

20. A video control system, comprising:

a sensor worn on a limb of a video game player, said sensor outputting X and Y pulse width modulation signals;

a microcontroller connected to said sensor;

a keyboard encoder that receives said pulse width modulation signals.

21. A video controller system, comprising:

a game weapon;

a plurality of sensors provided on said game weapon;

a keyboard encoder, said keyboard encoder receiving signals from each sensor of said plurality of sensors.

22. A video controller system according to claim 21, further comprising:

a personal computer, said keyboard encoder connecting to the keyboard port of said personal computer.

23. A video control system according to claim 21, wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

a fire switch, a fix-jam/SPORTS switch, a reload switch, and a semi-burst switch.

24. A video control system according to claim 21, wherein said plurality of sensors comprises:

direction sensors.

25. A video controller system according to claim 21, wherein one sensor of said plurality of sensors is a zoom/sight sensor.

26. A video controller system according to claim 22, further comprising:

a two-axis gyroscopic look-aim sensor wirelessly connected to said personal computer through a look-aim receiver.

27. A video controller system according to claim 22, further comprising:

a motion and orientation sensor adapted to be worn on a video player'"'"'s body;

a microcontroller connected to said motion and orientation sensor and to said keyboard encoder.

28. A video controller system according to claim 27, further comprising:

an encoder/transmitter, said encoder transmitter connecting to said microcontroller and to said plurality of sensors; and

a receiver/decoder, said receiver/decoder being in wireless communication with said encoder/transmitter and connecting to said keyboard encoder.

29. A video controller system according to claim 27, further comprising:

a head mounted video display;

an AV receiver connected to said head mounted display;

a video display transmitter for wireless communication with said AV receiver, said connected video display transmitter being connected to said personal computer.

30. A video controller system according to claim 27, further comprising:

a head mounted video display;

an AV receiver connected to said head mounted display;

a video display transmitter for wireless communication with said AV receiver, said connected video display transmitter being connected to said personal computer.