SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL INPUT CONTROL

• US 20060287084A1
• Filed: 05/06/2006
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Marks, Richard L., Zalewski, Gary M., Mao, Xiadong
• Granted Patent: US 8,686,939 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 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• 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 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

Methods for tracking a controller of a video game and for providing inputs to a system are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a controller of a video game system, comprising:

generating one or more signals from an inertial sensor located on a controller for the video game system;

analyzing the one or more signals to determine position and/or orientation information for the controller; and

utilizing the position and/or orientation information during play of a video game on the video game system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more signals include a signal that is related to a translational acceleration of the controller with respect to one or more directions.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein analyzing the one or more signals includes integrating translational acceleration signal or data generated from the translational acceleration signal with respect to time to produce a velocity signal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein analyzing the one or more signals includes integrating the translational acceleration signal or data generated from the translational acceleration signal twice with respect to time to produce displacement signal.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more signals include a signal that is related to a rotation of the controller about a pitch, roll or yaw axis.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein utilizing the position and/or orientation information during game play on the video game system includes determining a path of the controller from the position and/or orientation information.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising comparing the path of the controller to one or more known gestures.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising changing a state of the video game if the path of the controller or a portion thereof corresponds to one or more of the known gestures.

9. A method for use in providing input to a system, comprising the steps of:

generating one or more signals from an inertial sensor located on a controller for the system;

analyzing the one or more signals to determine position and/or orientation information for the controller;

comparing the determined position and/or orientation information with predetermined position information associated with one or more commands; and

changing a state of the system if the determined position and/or orientation information matches predetermined position information for a command.