Handheld electronic gesture game device and method

• US 20130084979A1
• Filed: 10/03/2012
• Published: 04/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bang Zoom Design Limited
• Original Assignee: Bang Zoom Design Limited
• Inventors: Casino, Steven R., Hoeting, Michael G., Fink, Steven, Jeffway, Robert W. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,876,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2402 Input by manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2447 Motion detector
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2452 as a signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2482 Electromotor
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2011/0083 Memory oriented or pattern matching games
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/486 with an ergonomic grip
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

An electronic handheld gesture game device includes a game housing with a speaker and a plurality of lights to provide commands, feedback, and other information to a player. In one type of game play experience, the game device issues one or more commands that indicate a desired movement or gesture to perform, and the player must respond by moving the game housing to simulate the desired movement or gesture. The game device is self-contained and does not require outside computing devices or visual displays to perform the game play experiences.

Claims

1. A method of operating a self-contained electronic handheld gesture game device, comprising:

generating an audible and/or visual prompt for a player to perform at least one gesture movement with the self-contained game device;

sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device with at least one sensor contained in the game device;

determining if the sensed movements correspond to a known gesture movement; and

generating audible, visual, and/or tactile feedback with the self-contained game device when the sensed movements correspond to a known gesture movement.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-contained game device operates a game play experience comprising:

actuating a speaker to generate the audible prompt associated with a desired gesture movement to be performed by the player;

detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

determining whether the sensed movements match the desired gesture movement within a predetermined time limit;

tracking points or penalties applied to the player depending on whether the sensed movements matched the desired gesture movement; and

actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the player on whether a correct gesture movement was performed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein actuating the speaker to generate the audible prompt includes generating at least one of words describing the desired gesture movement and sound effects associated with the desired gesture movement.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-contained game device operates a game play experience comprising:

actuating lights to generate the visual prompt associated with a desired gesture movement to be performed by the player;

detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

determining whether the sensed movements match the desired gesture movement within a predetermined time limit;

tracking points or penalties applied to the player depending on whether the sensed movements matched the desired gesture movement; and

actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the player on whether a correct gesture movement was performed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-contained game device operates a game play experience comprising:

(a) actuating a speaker to generate a sequence of audible prompts associated with a sequence of desired gesture movements to be performed by the player;

(b) detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

(c) determining whether the sensed movements match a known gesture movement within a predetermined time limit;

(d) actuating the speaker to provide feedback to the player when the known gesture movement has been detected;

(e) repeating steps (b), (c), and (d) until a last sensed movement is performed; and

(f) tracking points or penalties applied to the player depending on whether the sequence of sensed movements matched the sequence of desired gesture movements.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-contained game device operates a game play experience comprising:

actuating a speaker to generate a back beat or rhythm sounds, which prompt the player to perform at least one gesture movement;

sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

determining whether the sensed movements match a known gesture movement; and

actuating the speaker to play a sound effect associated with the known gesture movement when the sensed movements match the known gesture movement.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-contained game device operates a game play experience comprising:

(a) determining a current player from a known number of players;

(b) actuating a speaker to generate an audible prompt for the current player to pick up the game device;

(c) actuating the speaker to generate the audible prompt associated with a desired gesture movement to be performed by the current player;

(d) detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

(e) determining whether the sensed movements match the desired gesture movement within a predetermined time limit;

(f) actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the current player on whether a correct gesture movement was performed; and

(g) repeating steps (a) through (f) until each player in the known number of players has been the current player.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-contained game device operates a game play experience comprising:

selecting a current player from first and second players;

actuating a speaker to generate an audible prompt for the current player to pick up the game device;

sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device performed by the current player;

storing the sensed movements as a desired gesture movement;

actuating the speaker to provide an indication that the sensed movements have been recorded and that the other player from the first and second players should pick up the game device;

actuating a speaker to generate an audible prompt for the other player to perform the desired gesture movement;

detecting elapsed time while sensing new at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

determining whether the new sensed movements match the desired gesture movement within a predetermined time limit; and

actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the player on whether a correct gesture movement was performed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-contained game device operates a game play experience comprising:

verifying that two linked self-contained game devices are communicating with each other;

actuating a speaker to generate the audible prompt associated with a desired two-handed gesture movement to be performed by the player;

detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game devices;

determining whether the sensed movements match the desired two-handed gesture movement within a predetermined time limit; and

actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the player on whether a correct two-handed gesture movement was performed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-contained game device operates a game play experience comprising:

(a) generating a sequence of desired gesture movements in a correct order;

(b) mixing up the order of the sequence of desired gesture movements;

(c) actuating a speaker to generate a sequence of audible prompts associated with the mixed up sequence of desired gesture movements to be performed by the player, and also to generate additional audible commands indicating the correct order;

(d) detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

(e) determining whether the sensed movements match a known gesture movement within a predetermined time limit;

(f) actuating the speaker to provide feedback to the player when the known gesture movement has been detected;

(g) repeating steps (d), (e), and (f) until a last sensed movement is performed; and

(h) tracking points or penalties applied to the player depending on whether the sequence of sensed movements matched the sequence of desired gesture movements in the correct order.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-contained game device operates a game play experience comprising:

(a) setting a time limit;

(b) actuating a speaker to generate the audible prompt associated with a desired gesture movement to be performed by the player;

(c) detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

(d) determining whether the sensed movements match the desired gesture movement;

(e) tracking points or penalties applied to the player depending on whether the sensed movements matched the desired gesture movement; and

(f) actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the player on whether a correct gesture movement was performed;

(g) repeating steps (c) through (f) until the elapsed time exceeds the time limit; and

(h) actuating lights and/or the speaker to indicate a score achieved by the player and the game end.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-contained game device operates a game play experience comprising:

verifying that two linked self-contained game devices held by corresponding players are communicating with each other;

actuating a speaker in each linked game device to generate the audible prompt associated with a desired gesture movement to be performed by the corresponding player;

detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

determining whether the sensed movements match the desired gesture movement;

determining which of the linked game devices determined a match with the desired gesture movement first during the elapsed time; and

actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the players on which game device detected the desired gesture movement first.

13. An electronic handheld gesture game device, comprising:

an elongated housing including a handle and an interior space;

at least one sensor located in the interior space and configured to detect at least two-dimensional movements of the housing;

a speaker located in the interior space and configured to generate audible prompts and feedback for a player holding the housing; and

a controller located in the interior space and operatively coupled to the sensor and the speaker, the controller performing a series of operations including actuating the speaker to provide a prompt for the player to perform at least one gesture movement, determining whether sensed movements of the housing correspond to a known gesture movement, and actuating the speaker to provide feedback when the sensed movements correspond to a known gesture movement,

wherein the game device is self-contained and does not require interaction with sensors and feedback devices located outside the housing for the controller to perform the series of operations.

14. The handheld gesture game device of claim 13, further comprising:

lights located in the interior space and configured to generate visual prompts and feedback for the player; and

a motor located within the interior space and configured to generate tactile feedback at the handle for the player.

15. The handheld gesture game device of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one of a rotation detecting switch, a ball switch, a gravity switch, a tilt switch, and an accelerometer.

16. The handheld gesture game device of claim 13, wherein the controller is operable to perform a series of operations defining a game play experience, the series of operations comprising:

actuating the speaker to generate the audible prompt associated with a desired gesture movement to be performed by the player;

detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

determining whether the sensed movements match the desired gesture movement within a predetermined time limit;

tracking points or penalties applied to the player depending on whether the sensed movements matched the desired gesture movement; and

actuating the speaker to provide feedback to the player on whether a correct gesture movement was performed.

17. The handheld gesture game device of claim 13, wherein the controller is operable to perform a series of operations defining a game play experience, the series of operations comprising:

actuating lights to generate the visual prompt associated with a desired gesture movement to be performed by the player;

detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

determining whether the sensed movements match the desired gesture movement within a predetermined time limit;

tracking points or penalties applied to the player depending on whether the sensed movements matched the desired gesture movement; and

actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the player on whether a correct gesture movement was performed.

18. The handheld gesture game device of claim 13, wherein the controller is operable to perform a series of operations defining a game play experience, the series of operations comprising:

(a) actuating the speaker to generate a sequence of audible prompts associated with a sequence of desired gesture movements to be performed by the player;

(b) detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

(c) determining whether the sensed movements match a known gesture movement within a predetermined time limit;

(d) actuating the speaker to provide feedback to the player when the known gesture movement has been detected;

(e) repeating steps (b), (c), and (d) until a last sensed movement is performed; and

(f) tracking points or penalties applied to the player depending on whether the sequence of sensed movements matched the sequence of desired gesture movements.

19. The handheld gesture game device of claim 13, wherein the controller is operable to perform a series of operations defining a game play experience, the series of operations comprising:

actuating the speaker to generate a back beat or rhythm sounds, which prompt the player to perform at least one gesture movement;

sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

determining whether the sensed movements match a known gesture movement; and

actuating the speaker to play a sound effect associated with the known gesture movement when the sensed movements match the known gesture movement.

20. The handheld gesture game device of claim 13, wherein the controller is operable to perform a series of operations defining a game play experience, the series of operations comprising:

(a) determining a current player from a known number of players;

(b) actuating the speaker to generate an audible prompt for the current player to pick up the game device;

(c) actuating the speaker to generate the audible prompt associated with a desired gesture movement to be performed by the current player;

(d) detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

(e) determining whether the sensed movements match the desired gesture movement within a predetermined time limit;

(f) actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the current player on whether a correct gesture movement was performed; and

(g) repeating steps (a) through (f) until each player in the known number of players has been the current player.

21. The handheld gesture game device of claim 13, wherein the controller is operable to perform a series of operations defining a game play experience, the series of operations comprising:

selecting a current player from first and second players;

actuating the speaker to generate an audible prompt for the current player to pick up the game device;

sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device performed by the current player;

storing the sensed movements as a desired gesture movement;

actuating the speaker to provide an indication that the sensed movements have been recorded and that the other player from the first and second players should pick up the game device;

actuating a speaker to generate an audible prompt for the other player to perform the desired gesture movement;

detecting elapsed time while sensing new at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

determining whether the new sensed movements match the desired gesture movement within a predetermined time limit; and

actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the player on whether a correct gesture movement was performed.

22. The handheld gesture game device of claim 13, wherein the controller is operable to perform a series of operations defining a game play experience, the series of operations comprising:

verifying that two linked self-contained game devices are communicating with each other;

actuating the speaker to generate the audible prompt associated with a desired two-handed gesture movement to be performed by the player;

detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game devices;

determining whether the sensed movements match the desired two-handed gesture movement within a predetermined time limit; and

actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the player on whether a correct two-handed gesture movement was performed.

23. The handheld gesture game device of claim 13, wherein the controller is operable to perform a series of operations defining a game play experience, the series of operations comprising:

(a) generating a sequence of desired gesture movements in a correct order;

(b) mixing up the order of the sequence of desired gesture movements;

(c) actuating the speaker to generate a sequence of audible prompts associated with the mixed up sequence of desired gesture movements to be performed by the player, and also to generate additional audible commands indicating the correct order;

(d) detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

(e) determining whether the sensed movements match a known gesture movement within a predetermined time limit;

(f) actuating the speaker to provide feedback to the player when the known gesture movement has been detected;

(g) repeating steps (d), (e), and (f) until a last sensed movement is performed; and

(h) tracking points or penalties applied to the player depending on whether the sequence of sensed movements matched the sequence of desired gesture movements in the correct order.

24. The handheld gesture game device of claim 13, wherein the controller is operable to perform a series of operations defining a game play experience, the series of operations comprising:

(a) setting a time limit;

(b) actuating the speaker to generate the audible prompt associated with a desired gesture movement to be performed by the player;

(c) detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

(d) determining whether the sensed movements match the desired gesture movement;

(e) tracking points or penalties applied to the player depending on whether the sensed movements matched the desired gesture movement; and

(f) actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the player on whether a correct gesture movement was performed;

(g) repeating steps (c) through (f) until the elapsed time exceeds the time limit; and

(h) actuating lights and/or the speaker to indicate a score achieved by the player and the game end.

25. The handheld gesture game device of claim 13, wherein the controller is operable to perform a series of operations defining a game play experience, the series of operations comprising:

verifying that two linked self-contained game devices held by corresponding players are communicating with each other;

actuating the speaker in each linked game device to generate the audible prompt associated with a desired gesture movement to be performed by the corresponding player;

detecting elapsed time while sensing at least two-dimensional movements of the game device;

determining whether the sensed movements match the desired gesture movement;

determining which of the linked game devices determined a match with the desired gesture movement first during the elapsed time; and

actuating lights and/or the speaker to provide feedback to the players on which game device detected the desired gesture movement first.