Interactive game apparatus and game controller used in the same

• US 8,403,754 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Kuo, Ming Hui, Lin, Cho Yi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US11/466,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20070252815A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,406 Days
• Field of Search: 463 30- 40
• 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 13/235 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 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• 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 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light

Abstract

An interactive game apparatus includes a game host and a game controller. The game host includes a game control module capable of running a game program and receiving at least one response signal outputted from the game control. The game controller includes a first motion sensor, a second motion sensor and a processor. The first motion sensor detects motion signals of the play, and the second motion sensor also detects motion signals. Furthermore, the processor includes a determination circuit determining the timing for activating either the first motion sensor or the second motion sensor.

Claims

1. An interactive game apparatus for at least one player to manipulate a game in progress, the interactive game apparatus comprising:

a game controller comprising;

at least one first motion sensor suitable for directly detecting a first motion signal from a motion of the player;

at least one second motion sensor suitable for directly detecting a second motion signal from the motion of the player;

a processor coupled to the first motion sensor and the second motion sensor, said processor being suitable for selecting the first motion signal or the second motion signal to process according to a current manipulation status so as to output at least one control signal wherein said processor is configured to activate one or both of the first and second motion sensors in response to a game control requirement of the game; and

a digital signal processor suitable for compressing and filtering the first motion signals from the first motion sensor, wherein said digital signal processor and the first motion sensor are integrated into an IC;

a game host receiving the control signal outputted from said processor of said game controller, said game host having a game control module suitable for executing a game program and outputting at least one response signal; and

a user control circuit suitable for allowing the player to set at least one of a parameter, a play mode and a condition of the game through bi-directional communications between said game controller and said game host.

2. The interactive game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processor comprises a determination circuit suitable for determining a timing for activating either or both of said first motion sensor and said second motion sensor as a control source for outputting the at least one control signal.

3. The interactive game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said game host further comprises a first data conversion circuit and a first transceiver, wherein said first data conversion circuit is coupled to said game control module so as convert the response signals outputted by said game control module to a first wireless signal complying with an RF format, and said first transceiver is coupled to said first data conversion circuit so as to wirelessly transmit said first wireless signals to the game controller.

4. The interactive game apparatus of claim 3, wherein said game controller further comprises a second data conversion circuit and a second transceiver, wherein the second data conversion circuit is coupled to said processor so as to convert the output signals of said processor to a second wireless signal complying with the RF format, said second transceiver is coupled to said second data conversion circuit so as to wirelessly transmit the second wireless signal to said first transceiver.

5. The interactive game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said game host further comprises a first data conversion circuit and a first input/output port, said first data conversion circuit suitable for converting the response signal outputted by said game control module to a first transmission signal compatible with said first input/output port.

6. The interactive game apparatus of claim 5, wherein said game controller further comprises a second data conversion circuit and a second input/output port, said second data conversion circuit suitable for converting the control signal outputted by said processor to a second transmission signal compatible with said second input/output port.

7. The interactive game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said game controller further comprises a digital signal processor suitable for compressing and filtering the motion signals from the first motion sensor.

12. The interactive game apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first motion sensor including an image sensor having a visual angle range, said current manipulation status depending on said second motion sensor including a gravity action sensor when the player is outside of said visual angle range.

13. The interactive game apparatus of claim 12, said current manipulation status depending entirely on said image sensor when the second motion signal of said second motion sensor cannot be read.

14. The interactive game apparatus of claim 12, the game having an object in play, said current manipulation status having both said image sensor and said gravity action sensor active so as to accurately position the object in play.

18. The game controller of claim 1, the first motion sensor being an image sensor, the second motion sensor being a gravity action sensor.

8. A game controller for at least one player to manipulate a game in progress, the game controller comprising:

at least one first motion sensor suitable for directly detecting a first motion signal from a motion of the player;

at least one second motion sensor suitable for directly detecting a second motion signal from the motion of the player; and

a processor coupled to the first motion sensor and the second motion sensor, said processor suitable for selecting the first motion signal or the second motion signal to process according to a current manipulation status so as to output at least one control signal, wherein said processor is configured to activate one or both of the first and second motions sensors in response to a game control requirement of the game;

a user control circuit suitable for allowing the player to set at least one of a parameter, a play mode, and a condition of the game through bi-directional communications between said game controller and said game host; and

a digital signal processor suitable for compressing and filtering the first motion signals from the first motion sensor, wherein said digital signal processor and the first motion sensor are integrated into an IC.

9. The game controller of claim 8, wherein said processor comprises a determination circuit suitable for determining a timing for activating either or both of the first motion sensor and the second motion sensor as a control source for outputting the at least one control signal.

10. The game controller of claim 8, further comprising:

a second data conversion circuit and a second transceiver, wherein said second data conversion circuit is coupled to said processor so as to convert the output signals of said processor to a second wireless signal complying with an RF format, and said second transceiver is coupled to said second data conversion circuit so as to wirelessly transmit the second wireless signal to an external receiving system.

11. The game controller of claim 8, wherein the game controller further comprises:

a second data conversion circuit and a second input/output port, said second data conversion circuit suitable for converting the control signal outputted by said processor to a second transmission signal compatible with said second input/output port, wherein said second input/output port is connected to an external system by a connection cable.

15. The game controller of claim 8, wherein said first motion sensor including an image sensor having a visual angle range, said current manipulation status depending on said second motion sensor including a gravity action sensor when the player is outside of said visual angle range.

16. The game controller of claim 15, said current manipulation status depending entirely on said image sensor when the second motion signal of said gravity action sensor cannot be read.

17. The game controller of claim 8, the game having an object in play, said current manipulation status having both said image sensor and said gravity action sensor active so as to accurately position the object in play.

19. The game controller of claim 8, the first motion sensor being an image sensor, the second motion sensor being a gravity action sensor.

20. An interactive game apparatus for at least one player to manipulate a game in progress, the interactive game apparatus comprising:

a game controller comprising;

at least one image sensor suitable for directly detecting a first motion signal from a motion of the player;

at least one gravity sensor suitable for directly detecting a second motion signal from the motion of the player;

a processor coupled to the image sensor and the gravity sensor, said processor being suitable for selecting the first motion signal or the second motion signal to process according to a current manipulation status so as to output at least one control signal wherein said processor is configured to activate one or both of the image and gravity sensors in response to a game control requirement of the game; and

a game host receiving the control signal outputted from said processor of said game controller, said game host having a game control module suitable for executing a game program and outputting at least one response signal, wherein the image sensor is configured to calculate a coordinate of an object in a captured image, and wherein the gravity sensor is configured to calculate a motion direction of the game controller;

wherein said game controller further comprises a digital signal processor suitable for compressing and filtering the first motion signals from the image sensor, wherein said digital signal processor and the image sensor are integrated into an IC.