Accessory for presenting information associated with an application

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9387395-B2
Application number	US-55822409-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2009
Priority date	Sep 11, 2009
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an accessory having a plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons, a plurality of light sources, wherein each light source emits a controllable spectrum of light through a corresponding one of the plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons, and a controller coupled to the plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons, and the plurality of light sources. The controller can be operable to detect tactile contact of each of the plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons, receive status information associated with a video game, and adjust the spectrum of light emitted by at least a portion of the plurality of light sources according to the status information to indicate one or more aspects of the video game. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An accessory, comprising:
a memory that stores executable instructions;
a plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons;
a plurality of light sources, wherein each light source emits a controllable spectrum of light through a corresponding one of the plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons; and
a controller coupled to the plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons, the memory, and the plurality of light sources, wherein responsive to executing the instructions, the controller performs operations comprising:
detecting tactile contact of each of the plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons;
receiving from a computer device first status information that is associated with a first variable tactical condition of a video game;
determining a first association between the first status information and a first grouping of more than one of the plurality of light sources; and
adjusting the controllable spectrum of light emitted by each light source of the first grouping of the more than one of the plurality of light sources according to the first status information responsive to determining the first association to create a first color scale that indicates a range of states of the first variable tactical condition of the video game, wherein the first color scale comprises a first color that indicates a first state of the first variable tactical condition, a second color that indicates a second state of the first variable tactical condition, and a combination of the first color and the second color indicates a partial transition between the first state of the first variable tactical condition and the second state of the first variable tactical condition, wherein the first association between the first status information and the first grouping of the more than one of the plurality of light sources is assigned by the computer device using a graphical user interface, and wherein a proposed modification to the first association is generated by the computer device according to user interactions with the plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons during play of the video game.

2. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the first status information is submitted by one of a gaming software application producing the video game, and a software application monitoring the gaming software application and wherein the determining of the first association is based on a user-selectable configuration of the accessory based on the first variable tactical condition of the video game.

3. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the controllable spectrum of light emitted by the first grouping of the more than one of the plurality of light sources represents the first state of the first variable tactical condition of the video game.

4. The accessory of claim 3 , wherein the operations further comprise causing at least a portion of the controllable spectrum of light emitted to pulsate to indicate the second state of the first variable tactical condition.

5. The accessory of claim 3 , wherein the operations further comprise causing at least a portion of the controllable spectrum of light emitted to fade to indicate the first state of the first variable tactical condition.

6. The accessory of claim 3 , wherein the operations further comprise causing at least a portion of the controllable spectrum of light emitted to brighten to indicate the second state of the first variable tactical condition.

7. The accessory of claim 3 , wherein the first variable tactical condition comprises a level of ammunition for a weapon, an avatar health, a proximity of an enemy, a game damage, or any combinations thereof.

8. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the accessory corresponds to a keyboard, a gaming pad, a mouse, a gaming console controller, or a joystick, singly or in combination comprising the plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons and the plurality of light sources, the operations further comprising:
receiving second status information associated with a second variable tactical condition of a video game;
determining a second association between the second variable tactical condition and a second grouping of more than one of the plurality of light sources; and
adjusting the controllable spectrum of light emitted by each light source of the second grouping of the plurality of light sources according to the second status information to create a second color scale that indicates a third state of the second variable tactical condition of the video game.

9. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the video game operates in one of a computer or a gaming console.

10. The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the first variable tactical condition of the video game corresponds to gaming resources, health of avatars in the video game, or a proximity between the avatars.

11. The accessory of claim 10 , wherein the avatars are generated by the video game and controlled by the video game or user input applied to the accessory.

12. An accessory, comprising:
a plurality of tactile-sensitive controls;
a user interface that produces a visible scale;
a memory that stores executable instructions;
a controller coupled to a plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons, the memory, and the user interface, wherein the controller responsive to executing the instructions, performs operations comprising:
detecting tactile contact of each of the plurality of tactile-sensitive controls;
receiving from a computer device status information associated with a variable tactical aspect of a video game;
determining an association between the status information associated with the video game and a grouping of more than one of the plurality of tactile-sensitive controls; and
adjusting the visible scale produced by the user interface according to the status information to reflect a state of a range of states of the variable tactical aspect of the video game responsive to determining the association, wherein the visible scale comprises a first color that indicates a first state of the variable tactical aspect, a second color that indicates a second state of the variable tactical aspect, and a combination of the first color and the second color indicates a partial transition between the first state of the variable tactical aspect and the second state of the variable tactical aspect, wherein the association between the status information and the grouping of the more than one of the plurality of tactile-sensitive controls is assigned by the computer device using a graphical user interface, and wherein a proposed modification to the association is generated by the computer device according to user interactions with the plurality of tactile-sensitive buttons during play of the video game.

13. The accessory of claim 12 , wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of light sources, each light source capable of emitting a controllable spectrum of light through a corresponding one of the plurality of tactile-sensitive controls.

14. The accessory of claim 12 , wherein the user interface comprises a display for presenting the visible scale, wherein the visible scale is representative of the state of the variable tactical aspect of the video game.

15. The accessory of claim 12 , wherein the user interface comprises an audio system for audibly presenting the state of the variable tactical aspect of the video game in combination with the visible scale.

16. The accessory of claim 12 , wherein the user interface comprises tactile feedback for presenting the state of the variable tactical aspect of the video game in combination with the visible scale.

17. The accessory of claim 12 , whe

Assignees

• Rom Kim
• Wolff-Petersen Jacob
• Steelseries Aps

Inventors

• Rom Kim
• Wolff-Petersen Jacob

Classifications

• A63F13/06

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A63F2300/305

  for providing a graphical or textual hint to the player · CPC title

• A63F13/02 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A63F2300/65

  for computing the condition of a game character · CPC title

• A63F2300/303

  for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display · CPC title