Programmable actuation inputs of an accessory and methods thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10022622-B2
Application number	US-201414303784-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2014
Priority date	Apr 21, 2014
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a processor that performs operations including detecting a first depression range of a button that includes an electro-mechanical sensor for detecting the first depression range, comparing the first depression range to a first actuation threshold, and asserting a first actuation state when the first depression range is at or exceeds the first actuation threshold. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
facilitating, by a system comprising a processor, an execution of a gaming application receiving an input from a gaming device associated with the system;
monitoring, by the system, a venue state of the gaming application according to an image analysis of a present video presentation from the gaming application, wherein the venue state is associated with a present game environment in the gaming application;
providing, by the system, the venue state to the gaming device, wherein the gaming device associates the venue state with a user profile associated with the gaming application to access a plurality of actuation thresholds for the venue state according to different commands for the venue state;
detecting, by the system, a first depression range of a button of the gaming device, wherein the button comprises an electro-mechanical sensor for detecting the first depression range;
comparing, by the system, the first depression range to a first actuation threshold of the plurality of actuation thresholds, wherein the first actuation threshold is generated from user input to a software application executing on the system, wherein the first actuation threshold is based on the venue state and according to the user profile for the gaming application; and
asserting, by the system, a first actuation state when the first depression range is at or exceeds the first actuation threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the image analysis comprises detecting an object in the present video presentation, and
wherein the depression range comprises a signal supplied by a sensor of the button.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the signal is a digital signal or an analog signal.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting first substitute stimuli to the gaming application responsive to the first actuation state.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting, by the system, a first release range of the button;
comparing, by the system, the first release range to a first reset threshold; and
asserting, by the system, a first reset state when the first release range is at or exceeds the first reset threshold.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
detecting, by the system, a second release range of the button;
comparing, by the system, the second release range to a second reset threshold; and
asserting, by the system, a second reset state when the second release range is at or exceeds the second reset threshold.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the system, a program setting for the first actuation threshold.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating, by the system, an updated first actuation threshold responsive to receiving a program setting;
detecting, by the system, a second depression range of the button;
comparing, by the system, the second depression range to the updated first actuation threshold; and
asserting, by the system, a second actuation state when the second depression range is at or exceeds the updated first actuation threshold.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electro-mechanical sensor generates a voltage level proportional to a depression range of the button, and
wherein the monitoring the venue state of the gaming application further comprises tracking gaming options chosen by an operation of the gaming device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electro-mechanical sensor comprises a hall effect sensor that generates a voltage level proportional to a magnetic field measured by the hall effect sensor, and wherein the voltage level is proportional to a depression range of the button.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the first actuation threshold from user-generated input.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting, by the system, a second depression range of the button;
comparing, by the system, the second depression range to a second actuation threshold; and
asserting, by the system, a second actuation state when the second depression range is at or exceeds the second actuation threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising transmitting second substitute stimuli to the gaming application responsive to the second actuation state.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first actuation state identifies a first button identification of an accessory from which the button was depressed, wherein the second actuation state identifies a second button identification of the accessory, and wherein the first button identification differs from the second button identification.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the first button identification is associated with the button of the accessory, and the second button identification is associated with a different button of the accessory.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the software application monitors the venue state of the gaming application.

17. A machine-readable storage device, comprising instructions, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, a processor performs operations comprising:
determining a gaming venue state from a gaming application executing on a computing device based on a present gaming environment in the gaming application according to an image analysis of a video presentation by the gaming application by a software application executing on the computing device to control aspects of the gaming application;
receiving a signal from a sensor of an accessory that represents a depression range of a button, wherein the software application associates the venue state with a user profile associated with the gaming application to access a plurality of actuation thresholds for the venue state according to different commands for the venue state; and
providing the signal to the software application, wherein the depression range is compared with a first actuation threshold of the plurality of actuation thresholds, and wherein the software application causes the first actuation threshold to be changed to a second actuation threshold of the plurality of actuation thresholds in accordance with a change in the gaming venue state and according to the user profile for the gaming application.

18. The machine-readable storage device of claim 17 , wherein the image analysis comprises:
detecting a first object and a second object in the video presentation; and
detecting a motion of the first object relative to the second object in the video presentation, and
wherein the signal comprises an analog signal or a digital signal.

19. The machine-readable storage device of claim 17 , wherein the operations further comprise detecting an actuation state of the button based on the depression range exceeding the first actuation threshold.

20. The machine-readable storage device of claim 19 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving instructions to change the second actuation threshold to a new actuation threshold of the plurality of actuation thresholds for detecting the actuation state at a different depression range of the button, responsive to another change in the gaming venue state.

21. The machine-readable storage device of claim 20 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving an updated signal representing an updated depression range of the button, wherein the updated depression range exceeds the depression range represented by the signal previously received; and
detecting the actuation state of the button based on the update

Assignees

• Steelseries Aps

Inventors

• Soelberg Tino

Classifications

• G06F9/44505

  Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files · CPC title

• A63F13/63

  by the player, e.g. authoring using a level editor · CPC title

• A63F13/22 Primary

  Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment · CPC title

• G06F3/03543

  Mice or pucks (G06F3/03541 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F2203/013

  Force feedback applied to a game · CPC title