System and method for playing a virtual game by sensing physical movements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9675878-B2
Application number	US-201313827262-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2013
Priority date	Sep 29, 2004
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

A wireless input device for playing an interactive motion-sensitive game using a wireless-compatible game console in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects is provided wherein game play is conducted by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing the input device in a particular manner. The input device can include motion-sensitive circuitry and/or command circuitry for generating control signals and/or an effects generator and associated control circuitry to enable the input device to selectively generate at least one visual, aural or tactile effect comprising sound, lighting or vibration. The input device can include a wireless transceiver for providing two-way wireless communication with the wireless-compatible game console. An optional lighting element emits a light signal or pattern that can be sensed by an external sensor or camera to interpret one or more movements or gestures made using the input device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gaming system wherein a user's movements in a physical play environment are sensed as part of an interactive gaming experience conducted in a virtual play environment, said gaming system comprising:
an image preparation device configured to generate a video signal comprising one or more computer-animated images in accordance with a virtual play environment;
a game control system electrically coupled to said image preparation device and configured to direct said image preparation device to prepare or modify said one or more computer-animated images in accordance with a game;
a first wireless transceiver electrically coupled to said game control system;
at least one portable wireless game controller configured to be operated by a user as an input device to play or direct said game at least in part by moving the entire body of said at least one portable wireless game controller in free space, said at least one portable wireless game controller comprising:
a housing configured to be manipulated and moved by a user in free space;
a microprocessor and associated programmable memory configured to store therein a unique identifier uniquely identifying said controller;
one or more switches configured to generate switch state data responsive to selective actuations thereof by a user;
a second wireless transceiver configured to i) transmit to said first wireless transceiver a first wireless signal comprising said switch state data, and ii) receive from said first wireless transceiver a second wireless signal comprising relevant gaming data; and
a light source configured to emit a visible or infrared light signal capable of being detected by a video camera;

at least one video camera configured to capture and communicate to said game control system selected image data comprising said visible or infrared light signal; and
at least one expansion interface configured to receive at least one auxiliary component configured to be modularly attached and detached to said at least one portable wireless game controller to thereby enable a user to selectively create a modified game controller having improved or additional functional capabilities.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein said image preparation device is further configured to be communicatively coupled with a display device comprising a display screen or a projector.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein said at least one portable wireless game controller further comprises one or more sensors configured to generate sensor state data responsive to one or more sensed motions or orientations of said at least one portable wireless game controller, and wherein said one or more sensors are selected from the group consisting of: a tilt sensor, a gyro-sensor, and an accelerometer.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein said at least one portable wireless game controller further comprises a touch-sensor configured to generate sensor state data responsive to sensed touching by said user.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein said at least one video camera comprises a first video camera configured to produce first captured image data from a first camera angle, and a second video camera configured to produce second captured image data from a second camera angle, and wherein said first camera angle is different than said second camera angle.

6. The gaming system of claim 5 wherein said game control system is further configured to analyze one or more of said first captured image data or said second captured image data and determine one or more of position or movement of said at least one portable wireless game controller within said physical play environment.

7. The gaming system of claim 6 wherein at least one of said first or second cameras is arranged within a line of sight of said light source.

8. The gaming system of claim 1 in combination with game software stored in a non-transitory medium comprising instructions to, when executed, direct said game control system to carry out an interactive game wherein one or more computer-animated effects are produced in a virtual play environment based at least in part on said switch state data and said information indicating said one or more of position or movement of said at least one portable wireless game controller.

9. A motion-sensitive input device for directing or controlling an interactive game conducted in a virtual play environment by sensing a user's movements in a physical play environment, said motion-sensitive input device comprising:
a housing configured to be held and moved by a user in free space;
a microprocessor and associated non-volatile memory having stored therein a unique identifier uniquely identifying said input device;
one or more switches configured to generate switch state data responsive to selective actuations thereof by a user;
at least one motion sensor configured to generate first sensor state data responsive to one or more sensed motions of said input device in free space;
at least one touch sensor configured to generate second sensor state data responsive to sensed touching of a finger of a user thereon;
a light source configured to emit visible or infrared light capable of being detected by a camera;
an effects controller configured to produce one or more of light, vibration or sound effects in accordance with an interactive game;
a wireless radio frequency (RF) transceiver configured to i) transmit one or more wireless signals comprising at least said unique identifier, said first and second sensor state data and said switch state data, and ii) receive one or more wireless signals comprising relevant gaming data; and
at least one expansion interface configured to receive at least one auxiliary component configured to be modularly attached and detached to said input device to thereby enable a user to selectively create a modified input device having improved or additional functional capabilities.

10. The motion-sensitive input device of claim 9 wherein said input device is configured to be held and operated in a single hand, and wherein said one or more switches are configured to be actuated by one or more fingers of said single hand.

11. The motion-sensitive input device of claim 9 wherein said at least one touch sensor is sized and arranged relative to said housing so as to be selectively touched by one or more fingers of a user who is simultaneously holding and moving the entire input device in free space.

12. The motion-sensitive input device of claim 9 wherein said at least one motion sensor is selected from the group consisting of: a tilt sensor, a gyro-sensor, and an accelerometer.

13. The motion-sensitive input device of claim 9 wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

14. The motion-sensitive input device of claim 13 wherein said LED is configured to emit a beam or cone of light.

15. The motion-sensitive input device of claim 9 in combination with at least one camera configured to capture image data comprising information indicating one or more of position or movement of said light source within a physical play environment.

16. The combination of claim 15 wherein said at least one camera comprises a first camera configured to produce first captured image data from a first camera angle and a second camera configured to produce second captured image data from a second camera angle and wherein said first camera angle is different than said second camera angle.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first or second cameras is configured to be arranged within a l

Assignees

• Creative Kingdoms Llc
• Mq Gaming Llc

Inventors

• Barney Jonathan A
• Weston Denise Chapman

Classifications

• A63F13/497

  Partially or entirely replaying previous game actions · CPC title

• A63F2009/2429

  IC card, chip card, smart card · CPC title

• A63F2300/105

  using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes · CPC title

• A63J21/00

  Conjuring appliances; Auxiliary apparatus for conjurers · CPC title

• A63F13/285

  Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback · CPC title