Game controller steering wheel and methods therefor

• US 7,775,884 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2006
• Issued: 08/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: McCauley, Jack J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, SCOTT E
• Application Number:
  US11/331,983
• Time in Patent Office: 1,677 Days
• Field of Search: 463 36- 39
• US Class Current: 463/39
• 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 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• 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 2300/105 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 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

A game controller having a steering wheel communicating wirelessly with a controller base is provided. The steering wheel includes a wireless transmitter while the controller base includes a wireless receiver. The wireless transmitter is configured to transmit wheel information of the steering wheel to the wireless receiver of the controller base. Steering wheel information can include wheel rotational information. Wheel rotational information can be obtained using an optical sensor, a potentiometer or an accelerometer. The wireless transmitter can be an RF, IR or ultrasonic transmitter. Power for the wireless transmitter can be provided by an onboard battery. A sleep mode can also further extend the life of the wheel battery. It may also be possible to power the steering wheel from the controller base.

Claims

1. A game controller useful in association with a game console, the game controller comprising:

a controller base having a wireless receiver and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit information to the game console; and

a wheel physically coupled to the controller base, the wheel having a wireless transmitter, and wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit wheel information of the wheel to the wireless receiver of the controller base.

2. The game controller of claim 1 wherein the wheel further includes a rotational sensor configured to sense wheel rotational information of the wheel, and wherein wheel information is wheel rotational information.

3. The game controller of claim 2 wherein the wheel rotational sensor includes an optical sensor.

4. The game controller of claim 2 wherein the wheel rotational sensor includes a potentiometer.

5. The game controller of claim 2 wherein the wheel rotational sensor includes an accelerometer.

6. The game controller of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter is an RF transmitter.

7. The game controller of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter is an IR transmitter.

8. The game controller of claim 1 wherein the wireless transmitter is an ultrasonic transmitter.

9. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a game control button located on the wheel.

10. A method for communicating between a wheel, a controller base to which the wheel is physically coupled, and a video game console, the method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting wheel information using a wireless transmitter of the wheel;

wirelessly receiving wheel information using a wireless receiver of the controller base; and

wirelessly transmitting received wheel information using a wireless transmitter of the controller base for reception by the video game console.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein wheel information includes wheel rotational information.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the wheel rotational information is obtained by using an optical sensor.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the wheel rotational information is obtained by using a potentiometer.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the wheel rotational information is obtained by using an accelerometer.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the wireless transmitter of the wheel is an RF transmitter.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein the wireless transmitter of the wheel is an IR transmitter.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein the wireless transmitter of the wheel is an ultrasonic transmitter.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the wheel includes a game control button.

19. A game controller useful in association with a game console, the game controller comprising:

a controller base having a wireless receiver; and

a wheel physically coupled to the controller base, the wheel having a rotational sensor configured to sense wheel rotational information and a wireless transmitter configured to transmit wheel rotational information to the receiver of the controller base.

20. The game controller of claim 19 wherein the wheel rotational sensor includes an optical sensor.

21. The game controller of claim 19 wherein the wheel rotational sensor includes a potentiometer.

22. The game controller of claim 19 wherein the wheel rotational sensor includes an accelerometer.

23. The game controller of claim 19, further comprising a game control button located on the wheel.