Two-player game playing apparatus using wireless remote controllers

• US 5,605,505 A
• Filed: 02/24/1995
• Issued: 02/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics Company Limited (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Han, Jang W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US08/393,771
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 463/39
• US Class Current: 463/39
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0384 Wireless input, i.e. hardware and software details of wireless interface arrangements for pointing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A two-player game playing apparatus using wireless remote controllers includes a first remote controller, a second remote controller, a first remote control signal receiver for receiving a game key signal transmitted from the first remote controller, a second remote control signal receiver for receiving the game key signal transmitted from the second remote controller, a decoder, a game pack, a game processor, and a video outputting apparatus, thereby allowing two players to enjoy a game with wireless remote controllers. Further, a microcomputer is employed only in one of the two remote controllers, thereby reducing the production cost and simplifying the configuration.

Claims

1. A two-player game playing apparatus for playing a game program stored in a game pack using wireless remote controllers, the two-player game playing apparatus comprising:

a first remote controller for transmitting without a wire a game key signal input by a first player in a specific frequency band;

a second remote controller for transmitting without a wire a game key signal input by a second player in a frequency band which is different from the frequency band of the game key signal transmitted from said first remote controller;

a first remote control signal receiver for receiving the game key signal transmitted from said first remote controller without a wire;

a second remote control signal receiver for receiving the game key signal transmitted from said second remote controller without a wire;

a decoder for reading out the respective players'"'"' game key signals output from said first and second remote control signal receivers;

a game processor for reading out and performing the game program from said game pack according to the respective players'"'"' game key signals output from said decoder; and

a video outputting apparatus for processing game video and audio signals output from said game processor and outputting the signals as an image and sound.

2. The two-player game playing apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said first remote control signal receiver transmits the game key signal input by said first player at 38 KHz.

3. The two-player game playing apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said second remote control signal receiver transmits the game key signal input by said second player at 100 KHz.

4. The two-player game playing apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein said first remote control signal receiver receives the game key signal transmitted from said first remote controller and filters the signal at 38 KHz.

5. The two-player game playing apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein said second remote control signal receiver receives the game key signal transmitted from said second remote controller and filters the signal at 100 KHz.

6. The two-player game playing apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said first remote control signal receiver comprises:

a remote controller sensor for receiving the game key signal transmitted from said first remote controller and for converting the game key signal into an electrical signal;

an amplifier for amplifying the electrical signal output from said remote controller sensor;

a limiter for limiting the level of the amplified signal;

a band-pass filter for filtering the limited signal at a frequency band corresponding to the transmission frequency band of said first remote controller;

a demodulator for demodulating the filtered signal;

an integrating circuit for integrating the demodulated signal; and

a comparator for waveform-shaping the integrated signal.

7. The two-player game playing apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said second remote control signal receiver comprises:

a remote controller sensor for receiving the game key signal transmitted from said second remote controller and for converting the game key signal into an electrical signal;

an amplifier for amplifying the electrical signal output from said remote controller sensor;

a limiter for limiting the level of the amplified signal;

a band-pass filter for filtering the limited signal at a frequency band corresponding to the transmission frequency band of said first remote controller;

a demodulator for demodulating the filtered signal;

an integrating circuit for integrating the demodulated signal; and

a comparator for waveform-shaping the integrated signal.

8. A two-player game playing apparatus for playing a game program stored in a game pack using wireless remote controllers, the two-player game playing apparatus comprising:

a first remote controller for receiving a first input by a first player;

a second remote controller, connected to said first remote controller by a wire cable, for receiving a second input by a second player, and for transmitting without a wire a game key signal responsive to at least one of first input and the second input;

a remote control signal receiver for receiving the game key signal transmitted from said second remote controller;

a decoder for decoding the game key signal from said remote control signal receiver;

a game processor for reading out the game program from said game pack, for executing the game program according to the game key signal output from said decoder, and for generating game video and audio signals according to the executed game program; and

a video outputting apparatus for outputting the game video and audio signals.

9. The two-player game playing apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein said second remote controller includes a connector for allowing said first remote controller to be optionally connected to said second remote controller via said wire cable.

10. The two-player game playing apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein said first remote controller is constructed with a first key matrix that is connected to said wire cable for allowing said first player to input the first input.

11. The two-player game playing apparatus recited in claim 10, wherein said second remote controlled comprises:

a second key matrix for allowing said second player to input the second input;

a microcomputer for detecting the second input from said second key matrix and the first input from said first key matrix and outputting a key code of a format corresponding to at least one of the first input and the second input; and

a transmitting portion for transmitting the key code output from said microcomputer without a wire.

12. The two-player game playing apparatus recited in claim 8, wherein the game key signal transmitted from said second remote controller has a format made up of a header, mode test code, second remote controller key data, first remote controller key data, and leader.

13. A game playing system for playing a game program stored in a game pack using wireless remote controllers, the system comprising:

a game playing apparatus body;

a first wireless remote controller for transmitting in a predetermined frequency band a first game key signal to the game playing apparatus body;

a second remote controller for transmitting in a frequency band different from the frequency band used to transmit the first game key signal a second game key signal to the game playing apparatus body; and

said game playing apparatus body comprising;

a first remote control signal receiver for receiving the first game key signal,

a second remote control signal receiver for receiving the second game key signal,

a decoder for reading out the first game key signal output from said first remote control signal receiver and for reading out the second game key signal output from said second remote control signal receiver,

a game processor for reading out the game program from said game pack, for performing the game program according to the first game key signal and the second game key signal output from said decoder, and for generating game video and audio signals according to performed game program, and

an outputting apparatus for outputting the video and audio signals.