Wireless charging of electronic gaming input devices
First Claim
1. A method for wirelessly charging a motion-sensitive input device comprising a housing sized and adapted to be held in the air and manipulated by a user to control or activate one or more desired play effects within a game at least in part by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing said input device, the housing having an internal cavity formed therein sized and adapted to receive and contain one or more batteries for powering said input device, said method comprising:
- inserting into said internal cavity a magnetic inductance energy generator comprising i) an inductance coil or wire sized and arranged such that when it is exposed to a fluctuating magnetic field electrical pulses are generated, ii) a rectifier configured to convert said electrical pulses into storable electrical energy, and iii) a capacitor or rechargeable battery for storing said storable electrical energy for powering said input device; and
exposing said inductance coil or wire to a fluctuating magnetic field to thereby generate said electrical pulses and wirelessly charge said input device with said stored electrical energy,whereby said input device can be wirelessly charged and operated by a user to control or activate said one or more desired play effects without wires or electrical connectors between said input device and an external energy source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide a unique interactive game that includes multiple dynamic layers in which a participant may complete a variety of challenges and/or tasks. For example, the participant may obtain a toy “wand” from a retail phase that is usable in an interactive entertainment phase. The interactive entertainment phase may include multiple interrelated layers such that progress in one or more layers may affect the participant'"'"'s experience in one or more other layers. The participant may also receive training on how to use the wand and/or complete one or more special effects, adventures and/or quests. During or following the interactive entertainment phase, the participant may use accumulated points and/or powers to redeem prizes and/or compete against other participants, such as in a duel.
247 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for wirelessly charging a motion-sensitive input device comprising a housing sized and adapted to be held in the air and manipulated by a user to control or activate one or more desired play effects within a game at least in part by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing said input device, the housing having an internal cavity formed therein sized and adapted to receive and contain one or more batteries for powering said input device, said method comprising:
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inserting into said internal cavity a magnetic inductance energy generator comprising i) an inductance coil or wire sized and arranged such that when it is exposed to a fluctuating magnetic field electrical pulses are generated, ii) a rectifier configured to convert said electrical pulses into storable electrical energy, and iii) a capacitor or rechargeable battery for storing said storable electrical energy for powering said input device; and exposing said inductance coil or wire to a fluctuating magnetic field to thereby generate said electrical pulses and wirelessly charge said input device with said stored electrical energy, whereby said input device can be wirelessly charged and operated by a user to control or activate said one or more desired play effects without wires or electrical connectors between said input device and an external energy source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A wirelessly-chargeable input device for a gaming platform of the type comprising a live-action game, computer game, video game, home gaming console or hand-held game unit, said wirelessly-chargeable input device comprising:
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a portable housing sized and adapted to be grasped and moved through the air by a user to control or activate one or more desired play effects within a game, said housing having an internal cavity formed therein sized and adapted to receive and contain one or more batteries or other power sources and associated circuitry for powering and operating said input device; motion-sensitive or orientation-sensitive circuitry comprising one or more sensors configured and arranged within said housing so as to generate sensor output data responsive to one or more sensed motions or orientations of said housing; an internal transmitter capable of wireless communication with at least one external receiver associated with said gaming platform, said internal transmitter being configured to send to said at least one external receiver a game input signal based at least in part on said sensor output data; an internal receiver capable of wireless communication with at least one external transmitter associated with said gaming platform, said internal receiver being configured to receive from said at least one external transmitter a game output signal comprising information relevant to a user-selectable game; a magnetic inductance energy generator comprising an inductance coil or wire sized and arranged such that when it is exposed to a fluctuating magnetic field pulses of electrical energy are generated; and a capacitor or rechargeable battery disposed within said cavity and electrically coupled to said magnetic inductance energy generator for storing said generated electrical energy for powering and operating said input device; whereby said input device can be wirelessly charged and operated by a user without wires or electrical connectors between said input device and an external power source. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An inductive charging system for wirelessly charging a game input device comprising a portable housing sized and adapted to be grasped by a user and moved through the air to control or activate one or more desired play effects within a game, the housing having an internal cavity formed therein sized and adapted to receive and contain one or more batteries for powering said input device, said inductive charging system comprising:
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a magnetic inductance energy generator comprising an inductance coil or wire sized and arranged such that when it is exposed to a fluctuating magnetic field electrical pulses are thereby generated; energy conversion circuitry electrically coupled to said inductance coil or wire and arranged and adapted to convert said generated electrical pulses into storable electrical energy; a capacitor or rechargeable battery electrically coupled to said energy conversion circuitry for storing said storable electrical energy in said capacitor or rechargeable battery at a selected operating voltage; a voltage regulator electrically coupled to said capacitor or rechargeable battery arranged and adapted to stabilize or regulate said operating voltage, wherein said magnetic inductance energy generator, said energy conversion circuitry, said voltage regulator and said capacitor or rechargeable battery are all sized and arranged so as to be inserted into and contained within said internal cavity of said portable housing; and an external power source comprising a fluctuating magnetic field, said external power source being sized and adapted to expose said inductance coil or wire to said fluctuating magnetic field so as to generate said electrical pulses to thereby wirelessly charge said input device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A game controller charging system for wirelessly charging and powering a wireless hand-held game controller of the type comprising a portable housing having one or more motion sensors therein for sensing motion of said housing and an internal cavity for receiving one or more replaceable batteries for powering said game controller, said game controller charging system comprising:
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a magnetic inductance energy generator sized and configured to be inserted into said internal cavity of said game controller housing, said magnetic inductance energy generator comprising;
i) an inductance coil, ii) a rectifier electrically coupled to said inductance coil, and iii) a capacitor or rechargeable battery electrically coupled to said rectifier; andan external power source comprising an electromagnetic field generator, said electromagnetic field generator being sized and configured to generate a fluctuating magnetic field sufficient to induce an alternating current to flow through said inductance coil when said game controller is placed in proximity with said electromagnetic field generator, whereby energy is thereby transferred wirelessly from said external power source to said game controller and wherein said game controller can be wirelessly charged and operated by a user without electrically connecting said game controller to said external power source. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification