Operating device and information processing system

• US 8,870,653 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2010
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamashita, Toru, Shimohata, Yasuyuki, Hosoi, Kazuhiro, Kuroda, Ryoji
• Primary Examiner(s): LIM, SENG HENG
• Application Number:
  US12/821,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20110263328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37
• US Class Current: 463/36
• 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 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details

Abstract

An operating device has a narrow housing, and in this housing, an acceleration sensor and/or a gyro sensor are accommodated. Operation data inclusive of acceleration data and/or angular velocity data acquired from the acceleration sensor and/or the gyro sensor is transmitted by an operation data transmitter. Then, at a lower end of the housing, an elastic member having a spherical surface or substantially a spherical surface is provided.

Claims

1. An operating device, comprising:

a narrow housing;

an acceleration sensor and/or a gyro sensor accommodated in or coupled to said housing;

an operation data transmitter which transmits operation data inclusive of at least acceleration data and/or angular velocity data respectively acquired from said acceleration sensor and/or said gyro sensor; and

an elastic member which is provided at one end or in proximity to the one end of said housing, wherein

said elastic member has a spherical surface or substantially a spherical surface and a recess configure to insert a portion of said housing of the operating device into and hold said portion of said housing of the operating device, and

said elastic member has a configuration enabling the operating device including the elastic member to stand up by itself on the spherical or the substantially spherical surface of the elastic member.

3. An operating device according to claim 1, wherein said elastic member is detachably attached to the one end of said housing.

4. An operating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a camera provided to said housing at an end being opposite to the end attached with said elastic member, and

said operating device configures to calculate position information of an object within an image imaged by said camera, and

said operation data further includes the calculated position information.

5. An operating device according to claim 4, further comprising a first button toward said camera on a top surface of said housing, wherein

said operation data further includes operation information of said first button.

6. An operating device according to claim 5, further comprising a second button provided at a position being opposed to said first button on a bottom surface of said housing, wherein

said operation data further includes operation information of said second button.

7. An information processing system comprising an information processing apparatus and the operating device according to claim 1,wherein said information processing apparatus configured to:

receive operation data from said operating device,

calculate an attitude of said operating device on the basis of the acceleration data and/or the angular velocity data included in the received operation data, and

perform predetermined information processing in correspondence with the calculated attitude.

8. An information processing system including an operating device and an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said information processing apparatus configured to:

receive operation data from said operating device,

detect vibrations of said operating device on the basis of the acceleration data and/or the angular velocity data included in the received operation data, and

perform the predetermined information processing in correspondence with the detected vibration.

9. An information processing system according to claim 8, wherein

said information processing apparatus further configured calculate an attitude of said operating device on the basis of the acceleration data and/or the angular velocity data included in the received operation data, and

perform predetermined information processing in correspondence with the detected vibrations and the calculated attitude.

16. The operation device according to claim 1, wherein said operating device can still be maneuvered and operated by a user when the portion of said housing is inserted into said elastic member.

17. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said operating device can be held in a hand of a user and be operated while the portion of said housing is inserted into said elastic member.

18. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operation data comprises at lest one of acceleration data and/or angular velocity data and is acquired from said acceleration sensor and/or said gyro sensor while the elastic member holds said portion of said housing.

19. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein the operation data comprises at least one of acceleration data and/or angular velocity data acquired from said acceleration sensor and/or said gyro sensor and is transmitted to an information processing apparatus while the elastic member holds said portion of said housing.

2. An operating device, comprising:

a narrow housing;

an acceleration sensor and/or a gyro sensor which are accommodated in or coupled to said housing;

an operation data transmitter which transmits operation data inclusive of at least acceleration data and/or angular velocity data respectively acquired from said acceleration sensor and/or said gyro sensor; and

an elastic member which is provided at one end or in proximity to the one end of said housing, wherein

said elastic member has a curved surface on a side being opposite to a side attached to said housing, and positions a center of gravity of said operating device entire including said elastic member between a center of curvature of said curved surface and said curved surface by being attached to said housing, and

said elastic member has a configuration enabling the operating device entire including the elastic member to stand up by itself on the curved surface of the elastic member.

12. An operating device according to claim 2, wherein said elastic member is detachably attached to the one end of said housing.

13. The operating device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a camera provided to said housing at an end being opposite to the end attached with said elastic member, and

said operating device configures to calculate position information of an object within an image imaged by said camera, and

said operation data further includes the calculated position information.

14. An information processing system comprising information processing apparatus and the operating device according to claim 2, wherein said information processing apparatus configured to:

receive operation data from said operation device, calculate an attitude of said operating device on the basis of the acceleration data and/or the angular velocity data included in the received operation data, and

perform predetermined information processing in correspondence with the calculated attitude.

15. An information processing system comprising an information processing apparatus and the operating device according to claim 2, wherein said information processing apparatus configured to:

receive operation data from said operating device,

detect vibrations of said operating device on the basis of the acceleration data and/or the angular velocity data included in the received operation data, and

perform the predetermined information processing in correspondence with the detected vibration.

20. The operating device according to claim 2, wherein

the elastic member has a recess configured to hold at least a portion of the housing, and

the elastic member configured to be detached from the housing.

10. An elastic member provided at one end or in proximity to the one end of an operating device having a narrow housing, an acceleration sensor and/or a gyro sensor accommodated in or coupled to said housing, an operation data transmitter configured to transmits operation data inclusive of at least acceleration data and/or angular velocity data respectively acquired from said acceleration sensor and/or said gyro sensor,

said elastic member has a spherical surface or substantially a spherical surface, and is formed with an concave having a shape substantially the same as that of the one end of said housing on said spherical surface or substantially the spherical surface, said elastic member also having a recess configured to insert a portion of said housing of the operating device into and hold said portion of said housing of the operating device, and

said elastic member has a configured enabling the operating device including the elastic member to stand up by itself on the spherical or the substantially spherical surface of the elastic member.

11. An elastic member provided at one end or in proximity to the one end of an operating device having a narrow housing, an acceleration sensor and/or a gyro sensor accommodated in or coupled to said housing, an operation data transmitter configured to transmit operation data inclusive of at least acceleration data and/or angular velocity data respectively acquired from said acceleration sensor and/or said gyro sensor,

said elastic member has a curved surface on a side being opposite to a side attached to said housing, and is configured to bring a center of gravity of said operating device entire including said elastic member between a center of curvature of said curved surface and said curved surface by being attached to said housing, and

said elastic member has a configuration enabling the operating device entire including the elastic member to stand up by itself on the curved surface of the elastic member.

21. The elastic member according to claim 11, wherein

the elastic member has a recess configured to hold at least a portion of the housing, and

the elastic member configured to be detached from the housing.