US20070265075A1 - Attachable structure for use with hand-held controller having tracking ability - Google Patents
Attachable structure for use with hand-held controller having tracking ability Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20070265075A1 US20070265075A1 US11/382,699 US38269906A US2007265075A1 US 20070265075 A1 US20070265075 A1 US 20070265075A1 US 38269906 A US38269906 A US 38269906A US 2007265075 A1 US2007265075 A1 US 2007265075A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- controller
- accordance
- game
- user
- leds
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/0304—Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means
- G06F3/0325—Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means using a plurality of light emitters or reflectors or a plurality of detectors forming a reference frame from which to derive the orientation of the object, e.g. by triangulation or on the basis of reference deformation in the picked up image
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/20—Input arrangements for video game devices
- A63F13/21—Input arrangements for video game devices characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
- A63F13/211—Input arrangements for video game devices characterised by their sensors, purposes or types using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/20—Input arrangements for video game devices
- A63F13/21—Input arrangements for video game devices characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
- A63F13/213—Input arrangements for video game devices characterised by their sensors, purposes or types comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
- A63F13/20—Input arrangements for video game devices
- A63F13/24—Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/0346—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/10—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
- A63F2300/1006—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals having additional degrees of freedom
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/10—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
- A63F2300/1043—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals being characterized by constructional details
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/10—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
- A63F2300/105—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
- A63F2300/10—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
- A63F2300/1087—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
Definitions
- 11/382,033 entitled “SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL INPUT CONTROL”, (Attorney Docket SCEA06INRT1), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,035, entitled “INERTIALLY TRACKABLE HAND-HELD CONTROLLER”, (Attorney Docket SCEA06INRT2), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,036, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR APPLYING GEARING EFFECTS TO VISUAL TRACKING”, (Attorney Docket SONYP058A), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S.
- the present invention relates generally to computer entertainment systems, and more specifically to a user's manipulation of a controller for such computer entertainment systems.
- Computer entertainment systems typically include a hand-held controller, game controller, or other controller.
- a user or player uses the controller to send commands or other instructions to the entertainment system to control a video game or other simulation being played.
- the controller may be provided with a manipulator which is operated by the user, such as a joy stick.
- the manipulated variable of the joy stick is converted from an analog value into a digital value, which is sent to the game machine main frame.
- the controller may also be provided with buttons that can be operated by the user.
- One embodiment provides an apparatus for use with a system, comprising: a controller having an ability to have its movements detected and tracked by the system; and a structure attached to the controller that is graspable by a user and which allows the user to move the controller around.
- Another embodiment provides a method for use with a system, comprising the steps of: attaching a structure to a controller for the system; moving the controller around with the structure; determining position information for the controller; and providing input to the system based on the determined position information for the controller.
- FIG. 1A is a pictorial diagram illustrating a system that operates in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a controller made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a controller made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1D is a perspective view of a controller made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1E is a perspective view of a controller made in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
- FIG. 2A is a pictorial diagram illustrating a manner for determining position information for a controller in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2B is a planar view of an image plane illustrating a manner for determining position information for a controller in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 3A is a flow diagram illustrating a method for use in obtaining information in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 3B is a flow diagram illustrating a method for use in providing input to a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a system that may be used to run, implement and/or execute the methods and techniques shown and described herein in accordance with embodiments of the present invention
- FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a processor that may be used to run, implement and/or execute the methods and techniques shown and described herein in accordance with embodiments of the present invention
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
- the user or player of a video game typically holds the game controller with one or both hands in order to operate the buttons, joy stick, etc., located on the controller. Often times while playing the game the user will also move the entire controller itself around in the air as he or she simultaneously operates the buttons, joy stick, etc. Some users tend to get excited while playing the game and attempt to control actions or aspects of the game by moving the entire controller itself around in the air.
- Various embodiments of the methods, apparatus, schemes and systems described herein provide for the detection, capture and tracking of the movements, motions and/or manipulations of the entire controller body itself by the user.
- the detected movements, motions and/or manipulations of the entire controller body by the user may be used as additional commands to control various aspects of the game or other simulation being played.
- Detecting and tracking a user's manipulations of a game controller body may be implemented in different ways.
- a camera peripheral can be used with the computer entertainment system to detect motions of the hand-held controller body and transfer them into actions in a game.
- the camera can be used to detect many different types of motions of the controller, such as for example up and down movements, twisting movements, side to side movements, jerking movements, wand-like motions, plunging motions, etc.
- Such motions may correspond to various commands such that the motions are transferred into actions in a game.
- Detecting and tracking the user's manipulations of a game controller body can be used to implement many different types of games, simulations, etc., that allow the user to, for example, engage in a sword or lightsaber fight, use a wand to trace the shape of items, engage in many different types of sporting events, engage in on-screen fights or other encounters, etc.
- a computer entertainment system or console 102 uses a television or other video display 104 to display the images of the video game or other simulation thereon.
- the game or other simulation may be stored on a DVD, CD, flash memory, USB memory, or other memory media 106 that is inserted into the console 102 .
- a user or player 108 manipulates a game controller 110 to control the video game or other simulation.
- a camera or other video image capturing device 112 is positioned so that the controller 110 is within the camera's field of view 114 .
- the camera 110 may be placed on the video display 104 , but it should be well understood that the camera may be located elsewhere.
- the camera 112 may comprise a camera peripheral device such as the commercially available iToyTM product. But it should be well understood that any type or brand of camera may be used, such as for example a web-cam camera, add-on USB camera, infrared (IR) capability camera, fast frame capture rate camera, etc.
- the user 108 physically moves the controller 110 itself. That is, the user 108 physically moves the entire controller 110 around in the air.
- the controller 110 may be moved in any direction by the user 108 , such as up, down, to one side, to the other side, twisted, rolled, shaken, jerked, plunged, etc. These movements of the controller 110 itself may be detected and captured by the camera 112 by way of tracking through image analysis in a manner described below.
- the detected and captured movements of the controller 110 are used to generate position and orientation data for the controller 110 . Because this data is gathered on an image frame-by-frame basis, the data can be used to calculate many physical aspects of the movement of the controller 110 , such as for example its acceleration and velocity along any axis, its tilt, pitch, yaw, roll, as well as any telemetry points of the controller 110 .
- the ability to detect and track the movements of the controller 110 makes it possible to determine whether any predefined movements of the controller 110 are performed. That is, certain movement patterns or gestures of the controller 110 may be predefined and used as input commands for the game or other simulation. For example, a plunging downward gesture of the controller 110 may be defined as one command, a twisting gesture of the controller 110 may be defined as another command, a shaking gesture of the controller 110 may be defined as another command, and so on. In this way the manner in which the user 108 physically moves the controller 110 itself is used as another input for controlling the game, which provides a more stimulating and entertaining experience for the user. Examples of how movements of the controller 110 can be mapped to input commands for the game will be discussed below.
- the controller 110 includes a body 111 .
- the body 111 is the part of the game controller 110 that one would hold by hand (or wear if it were a wearable game controller).
- An input device manipulable by a user is something such as, for example, a button or multi-axis control stick on the controller.
- One or more buttons may be disposed on the body 111 .
- the body may include a housing holdable by hand.
- the housing may include a handgrip graspable by hand.
- the user 108 physically moves the body 111 of the controller 110 .
- the user moves the body 111 around in the air, or in free-space.
- the body 111 may have a forward section to be oriented towards a screen when a progress of a game controlled in accordance with the game controller is displayed upon the screen.
- At least one input device may be assembled with the body 111 with the input device manipulable by a user to register an input from the user.
- One or more light-emitting diodes may be disposed on the body that are arranged in a geometric shape.
- another type of photonically detectable (“PD”) element may be assembled with the body 111 .
- a position of the photonically detectable element may be within an image being recorded by an image capture device when the forward section is oriented at least generally towards the screen.
- the positions of the PD element at different points in time may be quantifiable at quantify movement of the body 111 in space.
- the controller 110 includes four light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 122 , 124 , 126 , 128 .
- the four LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 , 128 may be arranged in a substantially square or rectangular pattern and located on the bridge of the controller 110 between the R 1 and L 1 buttons.
- the geometric shape comprises a substantially square or rectangular pattern.
- the square or rectangular pattern formed by the four LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 , 128 will be referred to herein as the “bounding box” formed by the LEDs.
- the geometric shape may comprise many different shapes.
- the geometric shape may comprise any linear or two-dimensional pattern.
- the LEDs may alternatively, be arranged in a rectangular pattern or an arcuate pattern to facilitate determination of an image plane of the LED array when analyzing an image of the LED pattern obtained by an image capture camera.
- the illustrated embodiment of the controller utilizes four LEDs, it should be well understood that other embodiments may utilize more than four LEDs or less than four LEDs. For example, three LEDs will work, and two LEDs will also work to provide tracking information. Even one LED can provide position information. Furthermore, the LEDs may be located on a different part of the controller 110 .
- the LEDs may be positioned or disposed on the controller 110 in a variety of ways, including in a cluster, a line, a triangle, and/or other such configurations.
- One LED may be used or multiple LEDs can be used.
- the plane that is formed that intersects the LEDs may be tilted with respect to the orientation of the controller.
- the actual orientation of the controller may be determined by performing a transformation of data received in the image plane to determine the controller orientation.
- the LEDs can be removable, attachable and/or detachable.
- the LEDs can be included on a plate or separate casing that is detachable from the body 111 .
- the controller 110 includes the body 111 and a cluster or array of LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 and 128 .
- the four LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 , 128 may be arranged in a substantially linear pattern and located on the bridge of the controller 110 between the R 1 and L 1 buttons.
- the geometric shape comprises a substantially linear pattern.
- one or more of the LEDs can be implemented through infrared LEDs.
- infrared LEDs can be paired with the visible LEDs.
- the visible LEDs can, for example, show a player ID.
- the LEDs may be surface mounted, with the infrared LEDs peeking through small windows that allow both visible LED and infrared LED transmission.
- the controller 110 includes the body 111 and a communications interface and/or port 132 .
- the interface allows the controller to couple directly with a tracking device and/or the console 102 .
- the tracking devices at least in part can allow for the detection of movement of the controller 110 , by optical, audio and/or inertia.
- the interface 132 can be substantially any relevant communication interface, such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART), and/or other such relevant interface.
- the interface 132 can be positioned on the controller 110 in substantially any position. As illustrated, the interface 132 may be located on the bridge of the controller 110 between the R 1 and L 1 buttons.
- FIG. 1E there is depicted a perspective view of the controller 110 that is made in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.
- the controller includes the body 111 , the R 1 and L 1 buttons, the one or more LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 and 128 , the interface 132 (e.g., a USB interface), and other relevant buttons, indicators and the like.
- the LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 and 128 are shown in the linear pattern, however, other patterns can be employed as described above and further below. Additionally in some implementations, the LEDs and/or interface 132 can be removable, attachable and/or detachable.
- the four LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 , 128 produce four points or dots that are perceived by camera 112 ( FIG. 1A ). Because the camera 112 is looking at the player 108 with the controller 110 in his hands, the camera 112 is able to track the movement of the controller 110 by tracking the movement of the dots produced by the four LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 , 128 and the bounding box that they form.
- the projection of the four dots are cast on the image plane of the camera 112 's outputs.
- Image analysis is used to track the user's manipulations of the controller and to determine controller position and orientation.
- the four LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 , 128 produce information regarding the body's movement.
- the positions of one or two controllers can be determined, or the relative movements of two controllers can be tracked.
- FIG. 2A illustrates an example of how the bounding box is used to track the movements of the controller.
- the controller and thus the four LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 , 128 , are located within the field of view 114 of the camera 112 .
- the four LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 , 128 form a bounding box 202 when the controller is in a first position.
- the controller is moved to a second position the four LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 , 128 form a second bounding box 204 .
- the intermediate positions of the bounding boxes are also captured, depending on the speed of the movement and the frame rate of the camera 112 .
- the bounding boxes 202 and 204 formed by the four LEDs 122 , 124 , 126 , 128 are captured in the image plane of the camera 112 .
- FIG. 2B illustrates an example of the image plane 220 of the camera 112 showing the bounding boxes 202 and 204 .
- a physics analysis is performed to derive and determine the movements of the bounding box and how the rectangle of the bounding box deforms into different shapes based on the tilt, yaw, etc. of the controller.
- the position, orientation, acceleration, velocity, etc., of the controller can be determined, which can in turn be used to track the user's manipulations of the game controller.
- FIG. 3A there is illustrated a method 300 for use in obtaining information from a controller in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- the method 300 may be executed and performed by many different types of systems and devices, such as for example entertainment systems and consoles, computers, consumer electronics device, etc.
- An example of a system that may be used to perform the method 300 will be described below.
- the method 300 begins in step 302 in which a projection of a geometric shape established on the controller is received on an image plane of a camera. This step may be performed as has already been described above.
- step 304 the movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape are analyzed. Namely, the four dots of the bounding box are tracked and analyzed. Field and frame analysis is performed on the image plane of the camera output to analyze the manipulation of the four reference points to determine position orientation, tilt, yaw, roll, etc. of the controller. In addition, acceleration of the controller can be tracked in any direction. Analysis of the frames of the image can give the acceleration along any axis. Telemetry points of the controller can also be computed. It can also be determined whether or not the controller is in a resting position or resting state, such as for example when the controller is in a neutral or steady state near the user's waist.
- the bounding box 202 ( FIG. 2B ) indicates that the controller was initially positioned looking fairly straight ahead at the camera.
- the bounding box 204 indicates that the controller was then moved downward, rolled and turned to the user's left.
- This can be solved by reading other telemetry from the controller or by strobing or modulating the LEDs to enable the video analyzer system to discriminate individual corners of the bounding box rectangle for tracking purposes.
- the LEDs may be strobed or modulated as an aid for discerning the different corners of the bounding box.
- each LED may have its own frequency as an aid for discerning the different corners of the bounding box.
- Tracking the movements and rotations of the bounding box on the screen is based on a frame-by-frame analysis.
- the camera's output creates the frames of image data.
- the projection of the bounding box is captured in software.
- the movements of the controller across the frames is based on the translation of the box.
- the use of a high frame rate provides the ability to accurately track acceleration and changes in acceleration of the movement of the controller. That is, by projecting the image on the plane at high rates, the delta movements of the controller can be tracked. This provides the ability to plot the acceleration, the points where the acceleration peaks out, the points where gravity zeros out, and the points of inflection. The points of inflection are the transition points where the controller stops and changes direction. All of this analysis is performed by analyzing the frames of the image and determining the position and deformation of the bounding box. By way of example, frame rates of 120 frames per second or higher may be used, but it should well understood that any frame rate may be used.
- the history of previous frames may be mapped. This allows the previous telemetry of the controller to be looked at for determining certain parameters such as, for example, in tracking acceleration, velocity, and stopping points.
- step 306 position information for the controller is determined based on the analysis of the movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape.
- an image analyzer may be used to perform one or both of steps 304 and 306 .
- an image analyzer may be used to perform the analysis of the movements and deformations of the bounding boxes in the image plane of the camera.
- the output of the video camera may be coupled to the input of an image analyzer.
- the image analyzer monitors the bounding box formed by the reference LEDs as captured in the image plane of the camera.
- the image analyzer analyzes the position, rotation, horizontal and vertical deformation of the bounding box to determine the physical user manipulation of the controller, its position, roll, tilt and yaw coordinates.
- the data may be output in the form of an output ID or the like.
- Such output IDs from the image analysis may include data such as the x, y, z coordinates, acceleration and velocity along any axis, that the controller is in a resting position or state, etc.
- the image analyzer can indicate where the controller is and whether a command is issued. And the image analyzer may be pinged at any instant of time and it may provide position, orientation, last command, etc.
- the image analyzer may provide, but shall not be limited to providing the following outputs:
- Each of these outputs may be generated by analyzing the movements and deformations of the bounding box as described above. These outputs may be further processed in order to track the movement of the controller. Such tracking will allow certain movements of the controller to be recognized, which can then be used to trigger certain commands as described below. It should be well understood that many other outputs may be used in addition to or in replacement of the above-listed outputs.
- Additional inputs to the image analyzer may optionally be provided. Such optional inputs may include but shall not be limited the following:
- the ability to detect and track the movements of the controller 110 makes it possible to determine whether any predefined movements of the controller 110 are performed. That is, certain movement patterns or gestures of the controller 110 may be mapped to input commands for the game or other simulation.
- the method 320 begins in step 322 in which position information for a controller for the system is determined. This step may be performed using the methods and techniques described above.
- the determined position information for the controller is compared with predetermined position information associated with commands. That is, any number of different movements, gestures or manipulations of the controller may be mapped to various commands. This allows different movements, gestures or manipulations of the controller to be mapped into game models. For example, moving the controller up may be mapped to one command, moving the controller down may be mapped to another command, and moving the controller in any other direction may be mapped to other commands.
- shaking the controller once may be mapped to one command
- shaking the controller twice may be mapped to another command
- shaking the controller three, four, five, etc., times may be mapped to other commands. That is, various gestures may be established based on shaking the controller a certain number of times. Still other gestures may be established based on shaking the controller up and down vigorously a certain number of times. Other movements of the controller such as twisting, rolling, etc., may be mapped to still other commands.
- various different trajectories of the game controller may be mapped onto gestures, which trigger commands in the game.
- Each command is mapped to a predetermined movement of the controller.
- Such predetermined movements of the controller will have associated predetermined position information.
- the determined position information for the controller is compared with the predetermined position information to see if a command should be triggered.
- mapping of gestures to game commands may be implemented as follows.
- the outputs of the image analyzer may be used to determine position and orientation information for the controller.
- the image analyzer may output various different IDs that are indicative of position and orientation of the controller. For example, one ID may be output for a steady state determination, another ID may be output to indicate shaking of the controller, and various other IDs may be output to indicate other orientations.
- one ID may be output for a steady state determination
- another ID may be output to indicate shaking of the controller
- various other IDs may be output to indicate other orientations.
- the use of such IDs may be used to output whether the controller is in steady state or is moving. If the controller is in steady state, an ID may indicate how long the controller has been in steady state.
- the determined position and orientation information for the controller may then be compared with predetermined position information associated with input commands for the game. If the determined position information matches the predetermined position information for a command, then the command is provided to the entertainment system. Again, various gestures such as pushing the controller up or down, twisting in a circle, right or left, twisting while pulling it up or down, rolling right or left, etc., may all be mapped to various commands.
- the image analyzer may trigger an interrupt.
- the triggering of such an interrupt may be used as part of the process of providing the command to the entertainment system.
- the system may optionally be configured so that zero acceleration points in the axes, stop points, and/or other events also trigger interrupts.
- the predetermined position information associated with input commands may be defined in terms of ranges, tolerances, and/or thresholds that are considered to be close enough to the predetermined position information such as to activate the command. That is, commands may be defined in terms of the thresholds or ranges.
- the system may check to see if the determined position and orientation information falls within a range of a gesture.
- the defined commands may have thresholds that can be looked at in determining whether or not to invoke the command.
- histories of previous frames may be saved or mapped.
- the frame buffer may be monitored or the system may otherwise keep running records of the history of the previous frames.
- the previous frames may be looked at to determine if any commands are met.
- the mapping of frame histories may allow the telemetry of the controller at a specific time to be determined to provide the position orientation in determining if a command is met.
- step 326 if the determined position information for the controller matches predetermined position information for a command, the command is provided to the system.
- Such command may be used to cause an event to occur or not occur in a video game or other simulation.
- the movements of a game controller may mapped to game commands, such as for example in video game.
- position information for a controller that is being manipulated by a user is received.
- the position information is analyzed to determine whether a predetermined movement of the controller associated with a command has been performed. This analysis may be performed as described above. If the predetermined movement of the controller associated with a command has been performed, then the command is executed by the game. The execution of the command may cause a visual effect or the like to occur on the video display that the game is being displayed on.
- LEDs may be used to detect and track the movements of controllers for other types of systems, devices, consumer electronics, etc. That is, the LEDs of the game controller described above can be used to perform remote control functions for consumer electronics devises or any device. LEDs may be used on the controllers for many other types of systems and devices in order to detect and track the controllers so that such movements may be mapped to commands for those systems and device. Examples of such other types of systems and devices may include, but are not limited to, televisions, stereos, telephones, computers, home or office networks, hand-held computing or communication device, etc.
- such universal remote controls may include LEDs as described herein such that movements of the universal remote control body may be used as input commands for several or many different devices or systems.
- a game controller may have a universal remote function.
- such may comprise a body having a forward section to be oriented towards a screen when a progress of a game controlled in accordance with the game controller is displayed upon the screen.
- At least one input device may be assembled with the body with the input device manipulable by a user to register an input from the user.
- a signal encoder may be included.
- An infrared signal transmitter operable to transmit an infrared signal over the air using a signal generated by the signal encoder may be included.
- the signal encoder may be programmable to encode the signal with a selected one of a plurality of signaling codes for reception by an electronic device having an infrared receiver and a signal decoder operable with the selected one signaling code.
- battery operated toys including toys molded into a form and style of a branded game
- the image analyzer can recognize a user or process audio authenticated gestures, etc.
- a user may be identified by an analyzer in the system through a gesture and a gesture may be specific to a user.
- Gestures may be recorded by users and stored in models.
- the recordation process may optionally store audio generated during recordation of a gesture.
- the sensed environment may be sampled into a multi-channel analyzer and processed.
- the processor may reference gesture models to determine and authenticate user identity or objects based on voice or acoustic patterns and to a high degree of accuracy and performance.
- the apparatus 400 may include a processor 401 and a memory 402 (e.g., RAM, DRAM, ROM, and the like).
- the signal processing apparatus 400 may have multiple processors 401 if parallel processing is to be implemented.
- the memory 402 may include data and code configured as described above.
- the memory 402 may include signal data 406 .
- the memory 402 may also contain calibration data 408 , e.g., data representing one or more inverse eigenmatrices C ⁇ 1 for one or more corresponding pre-calibrated listening zones obtained from calibration of a microphone array 422 .
- calibration data 408 e.g., data representing one or more inverse eigenmatrices C ⁇ 1 for one or more corresponding pre-calibrated listening zones obtained from calibration of a microphone array 422 .
- the memory 402 may contain eignematrices for eighteen 20 degree sectors that encompass a microphone array 422 .
- the apparatus 400 may also include well-known support functions 410 , such as input/output (I/O) elements 411 , power supplies (P/S) 412 , a clock (CLK) 413 and cache 414 .
- the apparatus 400 may optionally include a mass storage device 415 such as a disk drive, CD-ROM drive, tape drive, or the like to store programs and/or data.
- the controller may also optionally include a display unit 416 and user interface unit 418 to facilitate interaction between the controller 400 and a user.
- the display unit 416 may be in the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT) or flat panel screen that displays text, numerals, graphical symbols or images.
- the user interface 418 may include a keyboard, mouse, joystick, light pen or other device.
- the user interface 418 may include a microphone, video camera or other signal transducing device to provide for direct capture of a signal to be analyzed.
- the processor 401 , memory 402 and other components of the system 400 may exchange signals (e.g., code instructions and data) with each other via a system bus 420 as shown in FIG. 4 .
- the microphone array 422 may be coupled to the apparatus 400 through the I/O functions 411 .
- the microphone array may include between about 2 and about 8 microphones, preferably about 4 microphones with neighboring microphones separated by a distance of less than about 4 centimeters, preferably between about 1 centimeter and about 2 centimeters.
- the microphones in the array 422 are omni-directional microphones.
- An optional image capture unit 423 e.g., a digital camera
- One or more pointing actuators 425 that are mechanically coupled to the camera may exchange signals with the processor 401 via the I/O functions 411 .
- I/O generally refers to any program, operation or device that transfers data to or from the system 400 and to or from a peripheral device. Every data transfer may be regarded as an output from one device and an input into another.
- Peripheral devices include input-only devices, such as keyboards and mouses, output-only devices, such as printers as well as devices such as a writable CD-ROM that can act as both an input and an output device.
- peripheral device includes external devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, monitor, microphone, game controller, camera, external Zip drive or scanner as well as internal devices, such as a CD-ROM drive, CD-R drive or internal modem or other peripheral such as a flash memory reader/writer, hard drive.
- the apparatus 400 may be a video game unit, which may include a joystick controller 430 coupled to the processor via the I/O functions 411 either through wires (e.g., a USB cable) or wirelessly.
- the joystick controller 430 may have analog joystick controls 431 and conventional buttons 433 that provide control signals commonly used during playing of video games.
- Such video games may be implemented as processor readable data and/or instructions which may be stored in the memory 402 or other processor readable medium such as one associated with the mass storage device 415 .
- the joystick controls 431 may generally be configured so that moving a control stick left or right signals movement along the X axis, and moving it forward (up) or back (down) signals movement along the Y axis. In joysticks that are configured for three-dimensional movement, twisting the stick left (counter-clockwise) or right (clockwise) may signal movement along the Z axis.
- X Y and Z are often referred to as roll, pitch, and yaw, respectively, particularly in relation to an aircraft.
- the joystick controller 430 may include one or more inertial sensors 432 , which may provide position and/or orientation information to the processor 401 via an inertial signal. Orientation information may include angular information such as a tilt, roll or yaw of the joystick controller 430 .
- the inertial sensors 432 may include any number and/or combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes or tilt sensors.
- the inertial sensors 432 include tilt sensors adapted to sense orientation of the joystick controller with respect to tilt and roll axes, a first accelerometer adapted to sense acceleration along a yaw axis and a second accelerometer adapted to sense angular acceleration with respect to the yaw axis.
- An accelerometer may be implemented, e.g., as a MEMS device including a mass mounted by one or more springs with sensors for sensing displacement of the mass relative to one or more directions. Signals from the sensors that are dependent on the displacement of the mass may be used to determine an acceleration of the joystick controller 430 .
- Such techniques may be implemented by program code instructions 404 which may be stored in the memory 402 and executed by the processor 401 .
- an accelerometer suitable as the inertial sensor 432 may be a simple mass elastically coupled at three or four points to a frame, e.g., by springs.
- Pitch and roll axes lie in a plane that intersects the frame, which is mounted to the joystick controller 430 .
- the mass will displace under the influence of gravity and the springs will elongate or compress in a way that depends on the angle of pitch and/or roll.
- the displacement and of the mass can be sensed and converted to a signal that is dependent on the amount of pitch and/or roll.
- Angular acceleration about the yaw axis or linear acceleration along the yaw axis may also produce characteristic patterns of compression and/or elongation of the springs or motion of the mass that can be sensed and converted to signals that are dependent on the amount of angular or linear acceleration.
- Such an accelerometer device can measure tilt, roll angular acceleration about the yaw axis and linear acceleration along the yaw axis by tracking movement of the mass or compression and expansion forces of the springs.
- resistive strain gauge material including resistive strain gauge material, photonic sensors, magnetic sensors, hall-effect devices, piezoelectric devices, capacitive sensors, and the like.
- the joystick controller 430 may include one or more light sources 434 , such as light emitting diodes (LEDs).
- the light sources 434 may be used to distinguish one controller from the other.
- one or more LEDs can accomplish this by flashing or holding an LED pattern code.
- 5 LEDs can be provided on the joystick controller 430 in a linear or two-dimensional pattern.
- the LEDs may alternatively, be arranged in a rectangular pattern or an arcuate pattern to facilitate determination of an image plane of the LED array when analyzing an image of the LED pattern obtained by the image capture unit 423 .
- the LED pattern codes may also be used to determine the positioning of the joystick controller 430 during game play.
- the LEDs can assist in identifying tilt, yaw and roll of the controllers. This detection pattern can assist in providing a better user/feel in games, such as aircraft flying games, etc.
- the image capture unit 423 may capture images containing the joystick controller 430 and light sources 434 . Analysis of such images can determine the location and/or orientation of the joystick controller. Such analysis may be implemented by program code instructions 404 stored in the memory 402 and executed by the processor 401 . To facilitate capture of images of the light sources 434 by the image capture unit 423 , the light sources 434 may be placed on two or more different sides of the joystick controller 430 , e.g., on the front and on the back (as shown in phantom). Such placement allows the image capture unit 423 to obtain images of the light sources 434 for different orientations of the joystick controller 430 depending on how the joystick controller 430 is held by a user.
- the light sources 434 may provide telemetry signals to the processor 401 , e.g., in pulse code, amplitude modulation or frequency modulation format. Such telemetry signals may indicate which joystick buttons are being pressed and/or how hard such buttons are being pressed. Telemetry signals may be encoded into the optical signal, e.g., by pulse coding, pulse width modulation, frequency modulation or light intensity (amplitude) modulation. The processor 401 may decode the telemetry signal from the optical signal and execute a game command in response to the decoded telemetry signal. Telemetry signals may be decoded from analysis of images of the joystick controller 430 obtained by the image capture unit 423 .
- the apparatus 401 may include a separate optical sensor dedicated to receiving telemetry signals from the lights sources 434 .
- a separate optical sensor dedicated to receiving telemetry signals from the lights sources 434 .
- the use of LEDs in conjunction with determining an intensity amount in interfacing with a computer program is described, e.g., in commonly-owned U.S patent application Ser. No. ______, to Richard L. Marks et al., entitled “USE OF COMPUTER IMAGE AND AUDIO PROCESSING IN DETERMINING AN INTENSITY AMOUNT WHEN INTERFACING WITH A COMPUTER PROGRAM” (Attorney Docket No. SONYP052), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- analysis of images containing the light sources 434 may be used for both telemetry and determining the position and/or orientation of the joystick controller 430 .
- Such techniques may be implemented by program code instructions 404 which may be stored in the memory 402 and executed by the processor 401 .
- the processor 401 may use the inertial signals from the inertial sensor 432 in conjunction with optical signals from light sources 434 detected by the image capture unit 423 and/or sound source location and characterization information from acoustic signals detected by the microphone array 422 to deduce information on the location and/or orientation of the joystick controller 430 and/or its user.
- “acoustic radar” sound source location and characterization may be used in conjunction with the microphone array 422 to track a moving voice while motion of the joystick controller is independently tracked (through the inertial sensor 432 and or light sources 434 ).
- Any number of different combinations of different modes of providing control signals to the processor 401 may be used in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention.
- Such techniques may be implemented by program code instructions 404 which may be stored in the memory 402 and executed by the processor 401 .
- Signals from the inertial sensor 432 may provide part of a tracking information input and signals generated from the image capture unit 423 from tracking the one or more light sources 434 may provide another part of the tracking information input.
- such “mixed mode” signals may be used in a football type video game in which a Quarterback pitches the ball to the right after a head fake head movement to the left.
- a game player holding the controller 430 may turn his head to the left and make a sound while making a pitch movement swinging the controller out to the right like it was the football.
- the microphone array 420 in conjunction with “acoustic radar” program code can track the user's voice.
- the image capture unit 423 can track the motion of the user's head or track other commands that do not require sound or use of the controller.
- the sensor 432 may track the motion of the joystick controller (representing the football).
- the image capture unit 423 may also track the light sources 434 on the controller 430 .
- the user may release of the “ball” upon reaching a certain amount and/or direction of acceleration of the joystick controller 430 or upon a key command triggered by pressing a button on the joystick controller 430 .
- an inertial signal e.g., from an accelerometer or gyroscope may be used to determine a location of the joystick controller 430 .
- an acceleration signal from an accelerometer may be integrated once with respect to time to determine a change in velocity and the velocity may be integrated with respect to time to determine a change in position. If values of the initial position and velocity at some time are known then the absolute position may be determined using these values and the changes in velocity and position.
- the inertial sensor 432 may be subject to a type of error known as “drift” in which errors that accumulate over time can lead to a discrepancy D between the position of the joystick 430 calculated from the inertial signal (shown in phantom) and the actual position of the joystick controller 430 .
- drift a type of error known as “drift” in which errors that accumulate over time can lead to a discrepancy D between the position of the joystick 430 calculated from the inertial signal (shown in phantom) and the actual position of the joystick controller 430 .
- Embodiments of the present invention allow a number of ways to deal with such errors.
- the drift may be cancelled out manually by re-setting the initial position of the joystick controller 430 to be equal to the current calculated position.
- a user may use one or more of the buttons on the joystick controller 430 to trigger a command to re-set the initial position.
- image-based drift may be implemented by re-setting the current position to a position determined from an image obtained from the image capture unit 423 as a reference.
- image-based drift compensation may be implemented manually, e.g., when the user triggers one or more of the buttons on the joystick controller 430 .
- image-based drift compensation may be implemented automatically, e.g., at regular intervals of time or in response to game play.
- Such techniques may be implemented by program code instructions 404 which may be stored in the memory 402 and executed by the processor 401 .
- the signal from the inertial sensor 432 may be oversampled and a sliding average may be computed from the oversampled signal to remove spurious data from the inertial sensor signal.
- a sliding average may be computed from the oversampled signal to remove spurious data from the inertial sensor signal.
- other data sampling and manipulation techniques may be used to adjust the signal from the inertial sensor to remove or reduce the significance of spurious data. The choice of technique may depend on the nature of the signal, computations to be performed with the signal, the nature of game play or some combination of two or more of these.
- Such techniques may be implemented by program code instructions 404 which may be stored in the memory 402 and executed by the processor 401 .
- the processor 401 may perform digital signal processing on signal data 406 in response to the data 406 and program code instructions of a program 404 stored and retrieved by the memory 402 and executed by the processor module 401 .
- Code portions of the program 404 may conform to any one of a number of different programming languages such as Assembly, C++, JAVA or a number of other languages.
- the processor module 401 forms a general-purpose computer that becomes a specific purpose computer when executing programs such as the program code 404 .
- the program code 404 is described herein as being implemented in software and executed upon a general purpose computer, those skilled in the art will realize that the method of task management could alternatively be implemented using hardware such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other hardware circuitry. As such, it should be understood that embodiments of the invention can be implemented, in whole or in part, in software, hardware or some combination of both.
- ASIC application specific integrated circuit
- the program code 404 may include a set of processor readable instructions that implement any one or more of the methods and techniques described herein or some combination of two or more of such methods and techniques.
- the program code 404 may be configured to implement the image analyzer function described herein.
- the image analyzer function described herein may be implemented in hardware.
- the image analyzer function described above is illustrated as the image analyzer 450 .
- the image analyzer 450 may receive its input from a camera, such as for example the image capture unit 423 or the camera 112 ( FIG. 1A ).
- the output of the video camera 112 or the image capture unit 423 may be coupled to the input of the image analyzer 450 .
- the output of the image analyzer 450 may be provided to the system of the apparatus 400 . This way, either commands themselves or information needed to see if a command or gesture has been recognized is provided to the apparatus 400 .
- the image analyzer 450 may be coupled to the rest of the apparatus 400 in many different ways; as such, the illustrated connections are just one example.
- the image analyzer 450 may be coupled to the system bus 420 , which will allow it to receive its input data from the image capture unit 423 and provide its output to the apparatus 400 .
- the image analyzer 450 may optionally be included in the apparatus 400 or the entertainment system or console 102 , or the image analyzer 450 may be located separately from these devices and systems. And again, it should be well understood that the image analyzer 450 may be implemented, in whole or in part, in software, hardware or some combination of both. In the scenario where the image analyzer 450 is implemented in software, then the block 450 represents the image analyzer function implemented in software.
- the program code 404 may generally include one or more instructions that direct the one or more processors to select a pre-calibrated listening zone at runtime and filter out sounds originating from sources outside the pre-calibrated listening zone.
- the pre-calibrated listening zones may include a listening zone that corresponds to a volume of focus or field of view of the image capture unit 423 .
- the program code may include one or more instructions which, when executed, cause the apparatus 400 to select a pre-calibrated listening sector that contains a source of sound. Such instructions may cause the apparatus to determine whether a source of sound lies within an initial sector or on a particular side of the initial sector. If the source of sound does not lie within the default sector, the instructions may, when executed, select a different sector on the particular side of the default sector. The different sector may be characterized by an attenuation of the input signals that is closest to an optimum value. These instructions may, when executed, calculate an attenuation of input signals from the microphone array 422 and the attenuation to an optimum value. The instructions may, when executed, cause the apparatus 400 to determine a value of an attenuation of the input signals for one or more sectors and select a sector for which the attenuation is closest to an optimum value.
- the program code 404 may optionally include one or more instructions that direct the one or more processors to produce a discrete time domain input signal x m (t) from the microphones M 0 . . . M X , determine a listening sector, and use the listening sector in a semi-blind source separation to select the finite impulse response filter coefficients to separate out different sound sources from input signal x m (t) .
- the program 404 may also include instructions to apply one or more fractional delays to selected input signals x m (t) other than an input signal x 0 (t) from a reference microphone M 0 . Each fractional delay may be selected to optimize a signal to noise ratio of a discrete time domain output signal y(t) from the microphone array.
- the fractional delays may be selected to such that a signal from the reference microphone M 0 is first in time relative to signals from the other microphone(s) of the array.
- the program code 404 may optionally include processor executable instructions including one or more instructions which, when executed cause the image capture unit 423 to monitor a field of view in front of the image capture unit 423 , identify one or more of the light sources 434 within the field of view, detect a change in light emitted from the light source(s) 434 ; and in response to detecting the change, triggering an input command to the processor 401 .
- processor executable instructions including one or more instructions which, when executed cause the image capture unit 423 to monitor a field of view in front of the image capture unit 423 , identify one or more of the light sources 434 within the field of view, detect a change in light emitted from the light source(s) 434 ; and in response to detecting the change, triggering an input command to the processor 401 .
- the program code 404 may optionally include processor executable instructions including one or more instructions which, when executed, use signals from the inertial sensor and signals generated from the image capture unit from tracking the one or more light sources as inputs to a game system, e.g., as described above.
- the program code 404 may optionally include processor executable instructions including one or more instructions which, when executed compensate for drift in the inertial sensor 432 .
- the program code 404 may optionally include processor executable instructions including one or more instructions which, when executed adjust the gearing and mapping of controller manipulations to game a environment.
- processor executable instructions including one or more instructions which, when executed adjust the gearing and mapping of controller manipulations to game a environment.
- Such a feature allows a user to change the “gearing” of manipulations of the joystick controller 430 to game state.
- a 45 degree rotation of the joystick controller 430 may be geared to a 45 degree rotation of a game object.
- this 1:1 gearing ratio may be modified so that an X degree rotation (or tilt or yaw or “manipulation”) of the controller translates to a Y rotation (or tilt or yaw or “manipulation”) of the game object.
- Gearing may be 1:1 ratio, 1:2 ratio, 1:X ratio or X:Y ratio, where X and Y can take on arbitrary values.
- mapping of input channel to game control may also be modified over time or instantly. Modifications may comprise changing gesture trajectory models, modifying the location, scale, threshold of gestures, etc. Such mapping may be programmed, random, tiered, staggered, etc., to provide a user with a dynamic range of manipulatives. Modification of the mapping, gearing or ratios can be adjusted by the program code 404 according to game play, game state, through a user modifier button (key pad, etc.) located on the joystick controller 430 , or broadly in response to the input channel.
- the input channel may include, but may not be limited to elements of user audio, audio generated by controller, tracking audio generated by the controller, controller button state, video camera output, controller telemetry data, including accelerometer data, tilt, yaw, roll, position, acceleration and any other data from sensors capable of tracking a user or the user manipulation of an object.
- the program code 404 may change the mapping or gearing over time from one scheme or ratio to another scheme, respectively, in a predetermined time-dependent manner.
- Gearing and mapping changes can be applied to a game environment in various ways.
- a video game character may be controlled under one gearing scheme when the character is healthy and as the character's health deteriorates the system may gear the controller commands so the user is forced to exacerbate the movements of the controller to gesture commands to the character.
- a video game character who becomes disoriented may force a change of mapping of the input channel as users, for example, may be required to adjust input to regain control of the character under a new mapping.
- Mapping schemes that modify the translation of the input channel to game commands may also change during gameplay. This translation may occur in various ways in response to game state or in response to modifier commands issued under one or more elements of the input channel.
- Gearing and mapping may also be configured to influence the configuration and/or processing of one or more elements of the input channel.
- a speaker 436 may be mounted to the joystick controller 430 .
- the speaker 436 may provide an audio signal that can be detected by the microphone array 422 and used by the program code 404 to track the position of the joystick controller 430 .
- the speaker 436 may also be used to provide an additional “input channel” from the joystick controller 430 to the processor 401 .
- Audio signals from the speaker 436 may be periodically pulsed to provide a beacon for the acoustic radar to track location. The audio signals (pulsed or otherwise) may be audible or ultrasonic.
- the acoustic radar may track the user manipulation of the joystick controller 430 and where such manipulation tracking may include information about the position and orientation (e.g., pitch, roll or yaw angle) of the joystick controller 430 .
- the pulses may be triggered at an appropriate duty cycle as one skilled in the art is capable of applying. Pulses may be initiated based on a control signal arbitrated from the system.
- the apparatus 400 (through the program code 404 ) may coordinate the dispatch of control signals amongst two or more joystick controllers 430 coupled to the processor 401 to assure that multiple controllers can be tracked.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a type of cell processor 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the cell processor 500 may be used as the processor 401 of FIG. 4 .
- the cell processor 500 includes a main memory 502 , power processor element (PPE) 504 , and a number of synergistic processor elements (SPEs) 506 .
- the cell processor 500 includes a single PPE 504 and eight SPE 506 .
- a cell processor may alternatively include multiple groups of PPEs (PPE groups) and multiple groups of SPEs (SPE groups). In such a case, hardware resources can be shared between units within a group. However, the SPEs and PPEs must appear to software as independent elements. As such, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to use with the configuration shown in FIG. 5 .
- the main memory 502 typically includes both general-purpose and nonvolatile storage, as well as special-purpose hardware registers or arrays used for functions such as system configuration, data-transfer synchronization, memory-mapped I/O, and I/O subsystems.
- a signal processing program 503 may be resident in main memory 502 .
- the signal processing program 503 may run on the PPE.
- the program 503 may be divided up into multiple signal processing tasks that can be executed on the SPEs and/or PPE.
- the PPE 504 may be a 64-bit PowerPC Processor Unit (PPU) with associated caches L 1 and L 2 .
- the PPE 504 is a general-purpose processing unit, which can access system management resources (such as the memory-protection tables, for example). Hardware resources may be mapped explicitly to a real address space as seen by the PPE. Therefore, the PPE can address any of these resources directly by using an appropriate effective address value.
- a primary function of the PPE 504 is the management and allocation of tasks for the SPEs 506 in the cell processor 500 .
- the cell processor 500 may have multiple PPEs organized into PPE groups, of which there may be more than one. These PPE groups may share access to the main memory 502 . Furthermore the cell processor 500 may include two or more groups SPEs. The SPE groups may also share access to the main memory 502 . Such configurations are within the scope of the present invention.
- CBEA cell broadband engine architecture
- Each SPE 506 is includes a synergistic processor unit (SPU) and its own local storage area LS.
- the local storage LS may include one or more separate areas of memory storage, each one associated with a specific SPU.
- Each SPU may be configured to only execute instructions (including data load and data store operations) from within its own associated local storage domain.
- data transfers between the local storage LS and elsewhere in a system 500 may be performed by issuing direct memory access (DMA) commands from the memory flow controller (MFC) to transfer data to or from the local storage domain (of the individual SPE).
- DMA direct memory access
- MFC memory flow controller
- the SPUs are less complex computational units than the PPE 504 in that they do not perform any system management functions.
- the SPU generally have a single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) capability and typically process data and initiate any required data transfers (subject to access properties set up by the PPE) in order to perform their allocated tasks.
- SIMD single instruction, multiple data
- the purpose of the SPU is to enable applications that require a higher computational unit density and can effectively use the provided instruction set.
- a significant number of SPEs in a system managed by the PPE 504 allow for cost-effective processing over a wide range of applications.
- Each SPE 506 may include a dedicated memory flow controller (MFC) that includes an associated memory management unit that can hold and process memory-protection and access-permission information.
- MFC provides the primary method for data transfer, protection, and synchronization between main storage of the cell processor and the local storage of an SPE.
- An MFC command describes the transfer to be performed. Commands for transferring data are sometimes referred to as MFC direct memory access (DMA) commands (or MFC DMA commands).
- DMA direct memory access
- Each MFC may support multiple DMA transfers at the same time and can maintain and process multiple MFC commands.
- Each MFC DMA data transfer command request may involve both a local storage address (LSA) and an effective address (EA).
- LSA local storage address
- EA effective address
- the local storage address may directly address only the local storage area of its associated SPE.
- the effective address may have a more general application, e.g., it may be able to reference main storage, including all the SPE local storage areas, if they are aliased into the real address space.
- the SPEs 506 and PPE 504 may include signal notification registers that are tied to signaling events.
- the PPE 504 and SPEs 506 may be coupled by a star topology in which the PPE 504 acts as a router to transmit messages to the SPEs 506 .
- each SPE 506 and the PPE 504 may have a one-way signal notification register referred to as a mailbox.
- the mailbox can be used by an SPE 506 to host operating system (OS) synchronization.
- OS operating system
- the cell processor 500 may include an input/output (I/O) function 508 through which the cell processor 500 may interface with peripheral devices, such as a microphone array 512 and optional image capture unit 513 .
- I/O input/output
- Element Interconnect Bus 510 may connect the various components listed above.
- Each SPE and the PPE can access the bus 510 through a bus interface units BIU.
- the cell processor 500 may also includes two controllers typically found in a processor: a Memory Interface Controller MIC that controls the flow of data between the bus 510 and the main memory 502 , and a Bus Interface Controller BIC, which controls the flow of data between the I/O 508 and the bus 510 .
- a Memory Interface Controller MIC that controls the flow of data between the bus 510 and the main memory 502
- BIC Bus Interface Controller
- the cell processor 500 may also include an internal interrupt controller IIC.
- the IIC component manages the priority of the interrupts presented to the PPE.
- the IIC allows interrupts from the other components the cell processor 500 to be handled without using a main system interrupt controller.
- the IIC may be regarded as a second level controller.
- the main system interrupt controller may handle interrupts originating external to the cell processor.
- certain computations such as fractional delays, may be performed in parallel using the PPE 504 and/or one or more of the SPE 506 .
- Each fractional delay calculation may be run as one or more separate tasks that different SPE 506 may take as they become available.
- Some embodiments provide a tracking device for use in obtaining information for controlling an execution of a game program by a processor for enabling an interactive game to be played by a user.
- the tracking device can include a body and at least one PD element.
- the body can further include a section to be oriented towards a screen when a progress of a game provided via execution of the game apparatus is displayed upon the screen.
- the at least one PD element can additionally be assembled with the body.
- a position of the PD element within an image can be recordable by an image capture device when the section is oriented at least partly towards the screen. In operation, positions of the PD element at different points in time are quantifiable to quantify movement of the body in space.
- the body can be mountable to a game controller.
- the game controller can include a game controller body and at least one input device assembled with the game controller body.
- the input device can be manipulable by a user such that an input from the user can be registered.
- the apparatus includes both the tracking device and the game controller.
- the PD element can include a retro-reflector. Additionally or alternatively, the PD element can have a color that has a high contrast relative to a color of a portion of the body adjacent to the PD element. Further, each of the at least one PD element can include a pattern that includes at least two different textures. For example, the textures can differ in at least one of brightness, color, roughness and/or other such relevant textures. In some embodiments, the PD element includes a light source, and in some implementations the light source can include at least one LED.
- some embodiments include two, three, four or more PD elements. These multiple PD elements can be oriented in one or more configurations. For example, in implementations with two PD elements, the PD elements can be oriented to define a line, and in some implementations with three PD elements, the elements can be oriented in a triangle. In other implementations having four PD elements, the elements can be arranged or positioned to define four lines. The four lines can define, for example, a rectangle or other relevant configuration.
- the PD elements can include light sources and at least one of the light sources can be distinguishable from the other light sources by a characteristic relating to the light output by the at least one light source.
- the at least one light source can be distinguishable from the other light sources, for example, by at least one of a strobe frequency, an on-off duty cycle, a timing of an on interval within an on-off cycle, a spectral content of the output of the light source, and/or other such relevant distinctions and/or combinations of distinctions.
- the body of the tracking device is mountable to the user's body.
- the tracking devices can further include a communications interface that can conduct digital communications with at least one of the processor, the game controller and/or both the processor and the game controller.
- the communications interface can be substantially any relevant interface, such as a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (“UART”), universal serial bus (“USB”) controller, and/or other such relevant interfaces and/or combinations of interfaces.
- UART universal asynchronous receiver transmitter
- USB universal serial bus
- the interface is operable to perform at least one of receiving a control signal for controlling an operation of the tracking device, for transmitting a signal from the tracking device for communication with another device, and/or other such communication functionality.
- Some embodiments further include a processor operable to execute a game program to display a progress of a game on a screen to enable the game to be interactively played by a user.
- the position of one or more PD elements can be recordable by an image capture device located, for example, in a vicinity of the screen, and the processor can be configured to detect the position of the PD element within the image using information outputted by the image capture device.
- the processor can be operable to detect user input information for controlling execution of the game program from the information outputted by the image capture device, to obtain a series of samples representative of acceleration of the body in space at different points in time from information outputted by the image capture device, and/or to determine a velocity of the body using the series of samples, for example by integrating acceleration values obtained from the series of samples over an interval of time.
- the processor can, in some instances, can determine a displacement of the body in space by first integrating acceleration values obtained from the series of samples over an interval of time and then integrating a result of the first integrating. Additionally or alternatively, the processor can determine a position of the body in space by determining the displacement in relation to a previously determined position.
- the processor can obtain a series of samples representative of acceleration of the body in at least two degrees of freedom in space using the information outputted by the image capture device.
- the processor can obtain a series of samples representative of acceleration of the body in at least three degrees of freedom using the information outputted by the image capture device.
- the three degrees of freedom for example, can include movement along three orthogonal axes x, y and z, and/or pitch, yaw and roll.
- the processor can quantify the movement in six degrees of freedom, which can include, for example, three degrees of freedom and pitch, yaw and roll.
- the controller can include a body, one or more buttons disposed on the body, and one or more detectable elements disposed on the body that are arranged in an array. Additionally in some implementations, the array is a linear array.
- the apparatus 600 may comprise a controller 602 and a structure 604 coupled to the controller 602 .
- the controller 602 may comprise any of the controllers described herein above.
- the controller 602 may comprise any of the various different versions or combinations thereof of the controller 110 shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B , 1 C, 1 D, and/or 1 E described herein above.
- the controller 602 may comprise any of the controllers disclosed in any of the above-referenced patent applications that are incorporated herein by reference.
- the controller 602 may include the ability to be detected and tracked as described above and in the above-referenced patent applications.
- other channels of tracking may be used, such as for example, optical tracking, acoustical tracking, inertial tracking, etc.
- the apparatus 600 may allow for the ergonomic transformation of a tracked controller.
- the structure 604 that is coupled to the controller 602 may comprises a structure that can be grasped or held by a user.
- the structure 604 may comprise a structure that can create an exhilarating and entertaining experience for the user or player. Such experience can result by providing the ability to couple a handle or other structure associated with many different types of real world activities, sports or games to the controller 602 so that such real world activities, sports or games can be simulated by the entertainment system or console in a more realistic manner.
- the user or player can grasp the structure 604 in a way that more closely simulates the activity than would be possible by grasping only the controller 602 itself.
- the structure 604 may implement a one-handed operation rather than a two-handed operation normally associated with a traditional controller.
- the structure 604 may comprise a plastic molding or the like. It may comprise an item that can be sold later and that can be removeably attached onto a traditional controller, and then detached by the user.
- a wireless controller By attaching the structure 604 to a wireless controller, the user can grasp and hold it and move freely with it around a room or space, so as to simulate many different real world activities. Coupling such a structure to a tracked controller allows the feel of the controller to be changed. That is, it allows the user to change the feel of the controller and in some embodiments do one handed operations with the controller with sweeps of the hand.
- the controller that is used may be a wireless controller with a traditional design or a modified or different type of controller.
- the structure 604 may be of any length, width or diameter, as is indicated by the dashed lines.
- the structure 604 may optionally include a handle or the like 606 .
- the handle 606 may comprise any type of material, such as for example rubber, plastic, urethane, etc., or any other material. Such handle 606 may assist the user or player and provide a more entertaining and comfortable experience. Such handle 606 may allow the user or player to have a more firm grip on the structure 604 .
- the structure 604 may comprise any type of material and be of any type of shape.
- the structure may comprise plastic, metal, aluminum, wood, steel, etc. It may be molded or forged into any shape.
- the structure 604 may be coupled to the controller 602 in many different ways. For example, clamps, clips, fasteners, screws, bolts, molded connectors, other fasteners, etc., may be used to couple the structure 604 to the controller 602 .
- the structure 604 may be coupled to the controller 602 such that it is easily attachable and detachable by the user.
- the structure 604 may have the ability to clip-on or hook-on to the controller 602 . This would allow the structure to be sold as an add-on or extra item to be used at the user or player's option.
- the structure 604 is coupled to the controller 602 with an orientation such that the length of the structure 604 is generally perpendicular to the direction of LEDs or other detectors or elements that may be attached to the controller 602 as described above. It should be well understood, however, that in other embodiments the structure 604 may be coupled to the controller 602 in numerous other orientations.
- the apparatus 700 may comprise a controller 702 and a structure 704 coupled to the controller 702 .
- the apparatus 700 may be made of materials and coupled together similar or different than the apparatus 600 described above.
- the structure 704 is coupled to the controller 702 with an orientation such that the length of the structure 704 is generally in-line or parallel with the direction of LEDs or other detectors or elements that may be attached to the controller 702 as described above. This embodiment may help change the user's grip or orientation if desired.
- the structure 704 may be coupled to the controller 702 in numerous other orientations.
- the structure may be pivotally attached to a controller. This would allow the structure to pivot with respect to the controller and have different orientations.
- the controller may face one orientation and then be able to rotate so that the length of the controller lies along the length of the handle. This may help the apparatus to feel more like, for example, a sword and not like an awkward airplane on a stick or the like.
- Some embodiments may allow the user or player to sweep a controller around in the air. This can be used to simulate many different types of activities, such as for example like engaging in a sword fight or like playing tennis.
- a controller such as for example a tennis racket hand grip
- the user or player can swing the controller around in the air like a tennis racket.
- FIG. 8 there is illustrated an apparatus 800 made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- the apparatus 800 may comprise a controller 802 and a structure 804 coupled to the controller 802 .
- the structure 804 may be configured to simulate a tennis racket or the like as illustrated.
- the structure 804 may comprise a full or partial tennis racket grip structure, that for example has a little clamp, that may be used to clamp the grip structure onto the controller 802 .
- the structure 804 may also include a handle 806 similar or like a real tennis racket handle.
- the apparatus 900 may comprise a controller 902 and a structure 904 coupled to the controller 902 .
- the structure 904 may be configured to simulate a baseball bat or the like as illustrated.
- the structure 904 may also include a handle 906 similar or like a real baseball bat handle.
- a controller may be mounted onto a real tennis racket or other device.
- a controller may be mounted to a real tennis racket, real wiffle ball bat, real hockey stick, Numb chucks, steering wheel or the like, etc., or any other body or moldable body or the like.
- a controller may be strapped to a body part, such as for example like a wrist watch or around an ankle.
- a controller may be strapped to a body part, such as for example like a wrist watch or around an ankle.
- FIG. 10 there is illustrated a scenario 1000 made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
- the scenario 1000 may comprise a controller 1002 that is strapped to a person's arm or wrist 1004 . This may be accomplished by means of, for example, straps or the like 1006 .
- the scenario 1100 may comprise a controller 1102 that is strapped to a person's leg or ankle 1104 . This may be accomplished by means of, for example, straps or the like as described above.
- controllers By coupling a controller to various body parts, such as for example like a wrist watch or around an ankle, various other different types of activities, sports, games, etc., may be simulated.
- the apparatus 1200 may comprise a controller 1202 and a structure 1204 coupled to the controller 1202 .
- the structure 1204 may be configured to simulate sword, weapon, or the like as illustrated.
- the structure 1204 may include a realistic handle 1206 . This may make the user or player feel like he or she is brandishing or gesturing a real sword, which will contribute to an energetic and exciting entertainment experience. Namely, with the structure 1204 attached to a tracked controller as described above, the movements of the simulated “sword” structure 1204 will be detected and tracked and can be used as input and translated to commands for a video game as described above. This may make for a very exciting experience for the user or player.
- the structure 1204 may comprise a bracket 1208 for attachment to the controller 1202 . But it should be understood that any attachment scheme may be used, such as clips, clamps, fasteners, etc., as described above.
- a structure 1304 may be coupled to a controller 1302 by using hose clamp type devices or the like 1308 or similar clamps.
- hose clamp type devices 1308 may be formed of any material, such as for example plastic, rubber, urethane, metal, stainless steel, etc.
- Such hose clamp type devices 1308 may be tightened or sized by way of a screw driver or the like 1312 , or other mechanism, or by hand tightening mechanism. It should be well understood, however, that the use of such hose clamp type devices 1308 are just one example coupling method and that many, many other types of coupling methods may be used.
- the structure 1304 may be coupled to the controller 1302 by way of clips, fasteners, screws, bolts, clamps, molded connectors, other fasteners, etc.
- the controller 1302 and the structure 1304 may be manufactured such that one or each of them has preformed therein attachment mechanisms or means. Again, such attachment mechanisms or means may be such that they are easily attachable and detachable by the user or player.
- Any other type of clamp may be used on the structure to clamp onto a controller.
- a traditional hose clamp like device may be used, like a stainless steel or plastic host clamp, to couple a structure or similar device to the controller.
- the structure 1304 may be or include a telescoping portion 1320 .
- the portion 1320 may make the structure 1304 retractable and/or telescoping. This would allow the structure to be made different sizes by the user, to accommodate different users.
- the structure may comprise a little stick that is detractable. In other embodiments the structure may comprise a steering wheel or the like.
- the ability to change the weight of the structure may be provided. This may help to simulate a more real experience.
- the structure may allow pouring of sand or water into it to adjust its weight. This may help to change the weight of a structure for different games, so that the user can have different effects.
- a structure may have a weight inside, so that the weight moves as the user manipulates the structure. In some embodiments the movements move a mass inside, and through the movement of the mass it creates different effects, such as for example even sounds, which is another manipulation tracking potential for the system.
- the structure may have little weights that the user can drop in to change the weight of the structure.
- means can be included so that as it moves around it creates a sound, but this is optional.
- another structure may be attached to a hand-held controller or the like.
- the structure may be any device or the like and may allow a user or player to feel like he or she is holding a real word device in his or her hand while playing a game or other simulation.
Abstract
Description
- This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/718,145, entitled “AUDIO, VIDEO, SIMULATION, AND USER INTERFACE PARADIGMS”, filed Sep. 15, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
- This application is also related to all of the following applications which are all hereby fully incorporated herein by reference in their entireties: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/207,677, entitled, “MANMACHINE INTERFACE USING A DEFORMABLE DEVICE”, filed on Jul. 27, 2002; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/650,409, entitled, “AUDIO INPUT SYSTEM”, filed on Aug. 27, 2003; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/663,236, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING A VIEW OF A SCENE BEING DISPLAYED ACCORDING TO TRACKED HEAD MOTION”, filed on Sep. 15, 2003; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/759,782, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHT INPUT DEVICE”, filed on Jan. 16, 2004; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/820,469, entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS TO DETECT AND REMOVE AUDIO DISTURBANCES”, filed on Apr. 7, 2004; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/301,673, entitled “METHOD FOR USING RELATIVE HEAD AND HAND POSITIONS TO ENABLE A POINTING INTERFACE VIA CAMERA TRACKING”, filed on Dec. 12, 2005, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
- This application is also related to all of the following applications which are all hereby fully incorporated herein by reference in their entireties: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/381,729, to Xiao Dong Mao, entitled ULTRA SMALL MICROPHONE ARRAY, (Attorney Docket SCEA05062US00), filed on May 4, 2006, application Ser. No. 11/381,728, to Xiao Dong Mao, entitled ECHO AND NOISE CANCELLATION, (Attorney Docket SCEA05064US00), filed on May 4, 2006, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/381,725, to Xiao Dong Mao, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TARGETED SOUND DETECTION”, (Attorney Docket SCEA05072US00), filed on May 4, 2006, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/381,727, to Xiao Dong Mao, entitled “NOISE REMOVAL FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH FAR FIELD MICROPHONE ON CONSOLE”, (Attorney Docket SCEA05073US00), filed on May 4, 2006, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/381,724, to Xiao Dong Mao, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TARGETED SOUND DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION”, (Attorney Docket SCEA05079US00), filed on May 4, 2006, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/381,721, to Xiao Dong Mao, entitled “SELECTIVE SOUND SOURCE LISTENING IN CONJUNCTION WITH COMPUTER INTERACTIVE PROCESSING”, (Attorney Docket SCEA04005JUMBOUS), filed on May 4, 2006; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
- This application is also related to all of the following applications which are all hereby fully incorporated herein by reference in their entireties: co-pending application Ser. No. ______, to Xiao Dong Mao, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR ADJUSTING A LISTENING AREA FOR CAPTURING SOUNDS”, (Attorney Docket SCEA-00300) filed on May 4, 2006; co-pending application Ser. No. ______, to Xiao Dong Mao, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR CAPTURING AN AUDIO SIGNAL BASED ON VISUAL IMAGE”, (Attorney Docket SCEA-00400), filed on May 4, 2006; co-pending application Ser. No. ______, to Xiao Dong Mao, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR CAPTURING AN AUDIO SIGNAL BASED ON A LOCATION OF THE SIGNAL”, (Attorney Docket SCEA-00500), filed on May 4, 2006; co-pending application Ser. No. ______, to Richard Marks et al., entitled “SELECTIVE SOUND SOURCE LISTENING IN CONJUNCTION WITH COMPUTER INTERACTIVE PROCESSING”, (Attorney Docket SCEA04005US01-SONYP045), filed on May 4, 2006; and co-pending application Ser. No. ______, to Richard Marks et al., entitled “Computer Image and Audio Processing of Intensity and Input Devices for Interfacing With A Computer Program”, (Attorney Docket SONYP052), filed on May 4, 2006, all of the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to all of the following applications which are all hereby fully incorporated herein by reference in their entireties: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,031, entitled “MULTI-INPUT GAME CONTROL MIXER”, (Attorney Docket SCEA06MXR1), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,032, entitled “SYSTEM FOR TRACKING USER MANIPULATIONS WITHIN AN ENVIRONMENT”, (Attorney Docket SCEA06MXR2), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,033, entitled “SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL INPUT CONTROL”, (Attorney Docket SCEA06INRT1), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,035, entitled “INERTIALLY TRACKABLE HAND-HELD CONTROLLER”, (Attorney Docket SCEA06INRT2), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,036, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR APPLYING GEARING EFFECTS TO VISUAL TRACKING”, (Attorney Docket SONYP058A), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,041, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR APPLYING GEARING EFFECTS TO INERTIAL TRACKING”, (Attorney Docket SONYP058B), filed on May 7, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,038, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR APPLYING GEARING EFFECTS TO ACOUSTICAL TRACKING”, (Attorney Docket SONYP058C), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,040, entitled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR APPLYING GEARING EFFECTS TO MULTI-CHANNEL MIXED INPUT”, (Attorney Docket SONYP058D), filed on May 7, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,034, entitled “SCHEME FOR DETECTING AND TRACKING USER MANIPULATION OF A GAME CONTROLLER BODY”, (Attorney Docket 86321 SCEA05082US00), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,037, entitled “SCHEME FOR TRANSLATING MOVEMENTS OF A HAND-HELD CONTROLLER INTO INPUTS FOR A SYSTEM”, (Attorney Docket 86324), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,043, entitled “DETECTABLE AND TRACKABLE HAND-HELD CONTROLLER”, (Attorney Docket 86325), filed on May 7, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/382,039Z, entitled “METHOD FOR MAPPING MOVEMENTS OF A HAND-HELD CONTROLLER TO GAME COMMANDS”, (Attorney Docket 86326), filed on May 7, 2006; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “CONTROLLER WITH INFRARED PORT”, (Attorney Docket SCEA0600US00), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “CONTROLLER WITH TRACKING SENSORS”, (Attorney Docket SCEA06008US00), filed on May 6, 2006; U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “DYNAMIC TARGET INTERFACE”, (Attorney Docket SCEA06009US00), filed on May 6, 2006; and U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “TRACKED CONTROLLER DEVICE”, (Attorney Docket SCEA06010US00), filed on May 6, 2006; all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S patent application Ser. No. ______, to Gary Zalewski and Riley R. Russell, entitled “Profile Detection”, (Attorney Docket SCEA05059US00), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S patent application Ser. No. ______, to Gary Zalewski and Riley R. Russell, entitled “Using Audio/Visual Environment To Select Ads On Game Platform”, (Attorney Docket SCEAJP 3.0-003 CIP V), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/400,997, filed on Apr. 10, 2006, to Larsen and Chen, entitled “System And Method For Obtaining User Information From Voices”, (Attorney Docket SCEA05040US00), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S patent application Ser. No. 11/382,259, to Gary Zalewski et al., entitled “Method and apparatus for use in determining lack of user activity in relation to a system”, (Attorney Docket 86327), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S patent application Ser. No. 11/382,258, to Gary Zalewski et al., entitled “Method and apparatus for use in determining an activity level of a user in relation to a system”, (Attorney Docket 86328), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S patent application Ser. No. 11/382,251, to Gary Zalewski et al., entitled “Hand-held controller having detectable elements for tracking purposes”, (Attorney Docket 86329), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “TRACKING DEVICE FOR USE IN OBTAINING INFORMATION FOR CONTROLLING GAME PROGRAM EXECUTION”, (Attorney Docket SCEA06INRT3), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “TRACKING DEVICE WITH SOUND EMITTER FOR USE IN OBTAINING INFORMATION FOR CONTROLLING GAME PROGRAM EXECUTION”, (Attorney Docket SCEA06A CRA2), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “OBTAINING INPUT FOR CONTROLLING EXECUTION OF A GAME PROGRAM”, (Attorney Docket SCEA06COMB), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S. Design Patent Application Number 29/246,744, entitled “VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER FRONT FACE”, (Attorney Docket SCEACTR-D3), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S. Design Patent Application Number 29/246,743, entitled “VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER”, (Attorney Docket SCEACTRL-D2), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER”, (Attorney Docket SONYP059A), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER”, (Attorney Docket SONYP059B), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “ERGONOMIC GAME CONTROLLER DEVICE WITH LEDS AND OPTICAL PORTS”, (Attorney Docket PA3760US), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “GAME CONTROLLER DEVICE WITH LEDS AND OPTICAL PORTS”, (Attorney Docket PA3761US), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “DESIGN FOR OPTICAL GAME CONTROLLER INTERFACE”, (Attorney Docket PA3762US), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “DUAL GRIP GAME CONTROL DEVICE WITH LEDS AND OPTICAL PORTS”, (Attorney Docket PA3763US), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S. Design patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “GAME INTERFACE DEVICE WITH LEDS AND OPTICAL PORTS”, (Attorney Docket PA3764US), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- This application is also related to co-pending U.S. Design patent Ser. NO. ______, entitled “ERGONOMIC GAME INTERFACE DEVICE WITH LEDS AND OPTICAL PORTS”, (Attorney Docket PA3765US), filed on May 8, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates generally to computer entertainment systems, and more specifically to a user's manipulation of a controller for such computer entertainment systems.
- 2. Discussion of the Related Art Computer entertainment systems typically include a hand-held controller, game controller, or other controller. A user or player uses the controller to send commands or other instructions to the entertainment system to control a video game or other simulation being played. For example, the controller may be provided with a manipulator which is operated by the user, such as a joy stick. The manipulated variable of the joy stick is converted from an analog value into a digital value, which is sent to the game machine main frame. The controller may also be provided with buttons that can be operated by the user.
- It is with respect to these and other background information factors that the present invention has evolved.
- One embodiment provides an apparatus for use with a system, comprising: a controller having an ability to have its movements detected and tracked by the system; and a structure attached to the controller that is graspable by a user and which allows the user to move the controller around.
- Another embodiment provides a method for use with a system, comprising the steps of: attaching a structure to a controller for the system; moving the controller around with the structure; determining position information for the controller; and providing input to the system based on the determined position information for the controller.
- A better understanding of the features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings which set forth an illustrative embodiment in which principles of embodiments of the invention are utilized.
- The above and other aspects, features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:
-
FIG. 1A is a pictorial diagram illustrating a system that operates in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a controller made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 1C is a perspective view of a controller made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 1D is a perspective view of a controller made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 1E is a perspective view of a controller made in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention; -
FIG. 2A is a pictorial diagram illustrating a manner for determining position information for a controller in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2B is a planar view of an image plane illustrating a manner for determining position information for a controller in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 3A is a flow diagram illustrating a method for use in obtaining information in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 3B is a flow diagram illustrating a method for use in providing input to a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a system that may be used to run, implement and/or execute the methods and techniques shown and described herein in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; -
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a processor that may be used to run, implement and/or execute the methods and techniques shown and described herein in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an apparatus made in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. - The user or player of a video game typically holds the game controller with one or both hands in order to operate the buttons, joy stick, etc., located on the controller. Often times while playing the game the user will also move the entire controller itself around in the air as he or she simultaneously operates the buttons, joy stick, etc. Some users tend to get excited while playing the game and attempt to control actions or aspects of the game by moving the entire controller itself around in the air.
- Various embodiments of the methods, apparatus, schemes and systems described herein provide for the detection, capture and tracking of the movements, motions and/or manipulations of the entire controller body itself by the user. The detected movements, motions and/or manipulations of the entire controller body by the user may be used as additional commands to control various aspects of the game or other simulation being played.
- Detecting and tracking a user's manipulations of a game controller body may be implemented in different ways. For example, in some embodiments a camera peripheral can be used with the computer entertainment system to detect motions of the hand-held controller body and transfer them into actions in a game. The camera can be used to detect many different types of motions of the controller, such as for example up and down movements, twisting movements, side to side movements, jerking movements, wand-like motions, plunging motions, etc. Such motions may correspond to various commands such that the motions are transferred into actions in a game.
- Detecting and tracking the user's manipulations of a game controller body can be used to implement many different types of games, simulations, etc., that allow the user to, for example, engage in a sword or lightsaber fight, use a wand to trace the shape of items, engage in many different types of sporting events, engage in on-screen fights or other encounters, etc.
- Referring to
FIG. 1A , there is illustrated asystem 100 that operates in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, a computer entertainment system orconsole 102 uses a television orother video display 104 to display the images of the video game or other simulation thereon. The game or other simulation may be stored on a DVD, CD, flash memory, USB memory, orother memory media 106 that is inserted into theconsole 102. A user or player 108 manipulates agame controller 110 to control the video game or other simulation. - A camera or other video
image capturing device 112 is positioned so that thecontroller 110 is within the camera's field ofview 114. As illustrated, thecamera 110 may be placed on thevideo display 104, but it should be well understood that the camera may be located elsewhere. By way of example, thecamera 112 may comprise a camera peripheral device such as the commercially available iToy™ product. But it should be well understood that any type or brand of camera may be used, such as for example a web-cam camera, add-on USB camera, infrared (IR) capability camera, fast frame capture rate camera, etc. - During operation, the user 108 physically moves the
controller 110 itself. That is, the user 108 physically moves theentire controller 110 around in the air. For example, thecontroller 110 may be moved in any direction by the user 108, such as up, down, to one side, to the other side, twisted, rolled, shaken, jerked, plunged, etc. These movements of thecontroller 110 itself may be detected and captured by thecamera 112 by way of tracking through image analysis in a manner described below. - In general, the detected and captured movements of the
controller 110 are used to generate position and orientation data for thecontroller 110. Because this data is gathered on an image frame-by-frame basis, the data can be used to calculate many physical aspects of the movement of thecontroller 110, such as for example its acceleration and velocity along any axis, its tilt, pitch, yaw, roll, as well as any telemetry points of thecontroller 110. - The ability to detect and track the movements of the
controller 110 makes it possible to determine whether any predefined movements of thecontroller 110 are performed. That is, certain movement patterns or gestures of thecontroller 110 may be predefined and used as input commands for the game or other simulation. For example, a plunging downward gesture of thecontroller 110 may be defined as one command, a twisting gesture of thecontroller 110 may be defined as another command, a shaking gesture of thecontroller 110 may be defined as another command, and so on. In this way the manner in which the user 108 physically moves thecontroller 110 itself is used as another input for controlling the game, which provides a more stimulating and entertaining experience for the user. Examples of how movements of thecontroller 110 can be mapped to input commands for the game will be discussed below. - Referring to
FIG. 1B , there is illustrated a more detailed view of thecontroller 110 that is made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Thecontroller 110 includes abody 111. Thebody 111 is the part of thegame controller 110 that one would hold by hand (or wear if it were a wearable game controller). An input device manipulable by a user is something such as, for example, a button or multi-axis control stick on the controller. One or more buttons may be disposed on thebody 111. The body may include a housing holdable by hand. The housing may include a handgrip graspable by hand. Thus, during operation when the user 108 physically moves thecontroller 110 itself, the user 108 physically moves thebody 111 of thecontroller 110. The user moves thebody 111 around in the air, or in free-space. - The
body 111 may have a forward section to be oriented towards a screen when a progress of a game controlled in accordance with the game controller is displayed upon the screen. At least one input device may be assembled with thebody 111 with the input device manipulable by a user to register an input from the user. - One or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) may be disposed on the body that are arranged in a geometric shape. Or, another type of photonically detectable (“PD”) element may be assembled with the
body 111. A position of the photonically detectable element may be within an image being recorded by an image capture device when the forward section is oriented at least generally towards the screen. The positions of the PD element at different points in time may be quantifiable at quantify movement of thebody 111 in space. - In this embodiment, the
controller 110 includes four light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 122, 124, 126, 128. As illustrated, the fourLEDs controller 110 between the R1 and L1 buttons. Thus, in this embodiment the geometric shape comprises a substantially square or rectangular pattern. The square or rectangular pattern formed by the fourLEDs - It should be well understood that the geometric shape may comprise many different shapes. For example, the geometric shape may comprise any linear or two-dimensional pattern. Although a linear array of LEDs is preferred, the LEDs may alternatively, be arranged in a rectangular pattern or an arcuate pattern to facilitate determination of an image plane of the LED array when analyzing an image of the LED pattern obtained by an image capture camera.
- While the illustrated embodiment of the controller utilizes four LEDs, it should be well understood that other embodiments may utilize more than four LEDs or less than four LEDs. For example, three LEDs will work, and two LEDs will also work to provide tracking information. Even one LED can provide position information. Furthermore, the LEDs may be located on a different part of the
controller 110. - The LEDs may be positioned or disposed on the
controller 110 in a variety of ways, including in a cluster, a line, a triangle, and/or other such configurations. One LED may be used or multiple LEDs can be used. In the case of multiple LEDs, in one configuration, the plane that is formed that intersects the LEDs may be tilted with respect to the orientation of the controller. The actual orientation of the controller may be determined by performing a transformation of data received in the image plane to determine the controller orientation. Additionally or alternatively, the LEDs can be removable, attachable and/or detachable. For example, the LEDs can be included on a plate or separate casing that is detachable from thebody 111. - Referring to
FIG. 1C , there is illustrated a view of thecontroller 110 that is made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Thecontroller 110 includes thebody 111 and a cluster or array ofLEDs LEDs controller 110 between the R1 and L1 buttons. Thus, in this embodiment the geometric shape comprises a substantially linear pattern. Further in some embodiments, one or more of the LEDs can be implemented through infrared LEDs. For example, infrared LEDs can be paired with the visible LEDs. The visible LEDs can, for example, show a player ID. In some implementations, the LEDs may be surface mounted, with the infrared LEDs peeking through small windows that allow both visible LED and infrared LED transmission. - Referring to
FIG. 1D , there is illustrated a view of thecontroller 110 that is made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Thecontroller 110 includes thebody 111 and a communications interface and/orport 132. The interface, in some embodiments, allows the controller to couple directly with a tracking device and/or theconsole 102. The tracking devices at least in part can allow for the detection of movement of thecontroller 110, by optical, audio and/or inertia. Theinterface 132 can be substantially any relevant communication interface, such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART), and/or other such relevant interface. Theinterface 132 can be positioned on thecontroller 110 in substantially any position. As illustrated, theinterface 132 may be located on the bridge of thecontroller 110 between the R1 and L1 buttons. - Referring to
FIG. 1E , there is depicted a perspective view of thecontroller 110 that is made in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention. The controller includes thebody 111, the R1 and L1 buttons, the one ormore LEDs LEDs interface 132 can be removable, attachable and/or detachable. - The four
LEDs FIG. 1A ). Because thecamera 112 is looking at the player 108 with thecontroller 110 in his hands, thecamera 112 is able to track the movement of thecontroller 110 by tracking the movement of the dots produced by the fourLEDs - Namely, as the user 108 twists and rotates the
controller body 110 the projection of the four dots are cast on the image plane of thecamera 112's outputs. Image analysis is used to track the user's manipulations of the controller and to determine controller position and orientation. Thus, the fourLEDs -
FIG. 2A illustrates an example of how the bounding box is used to track the movements of the controller. Specifically, the controller, and thus the fourLEDs view 114 of thecamera 112. The fourLEDs bounding box 202 when the controller is in a first position. When the controller is moved to a second position the fourLEDs second bounding box 204. In addition, when the controller is moved from the first to the second position, the intermediate positions of the bounding boxes are also captured, depending on the speed of the movement and the frame rate of thecamera 112. - The bounding
boxes LEDs camera 112.FIG. 2B illustrates an example of theimage plane 220 of thecamera 112 showing the boundingboxes - Referring to
FIG. 3A , there is illustrated amethod 300 for use in obtaining information from a controller in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Themethod 300 may be executed and performed by many different types of systems and devices, such as for example entertainment systems and consoles, computers, consumer electronics device, etc. An example of a system that may be used to perform themethod 300 will be described below. - The
method 300 begins instep 302 in which a projection of a geometric shape established on the controller is received on an image plane of a camera. This step may be performed as has already been described above. - In step 304 the movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape are analyzed. Namely, the four dots of the bounding box are tracked and analyzed. Field and frame analysis is performed on the image plane of the camera output to analyze the manipulation of the four reference points to determine position orientation, tilt, yaw, roll, etc. of the controller. In addition, acceleration of the controller can be tracked in any direction. Analysis of the frames of the image can give the acceleration along any axis. Telemetry points of the controller can also be computed. It can also be determined whether or not the controller is in a resting position or resting state, such as for example when the controller is in a neutral or steady state near the user's waist.
- As the controller rolls the image translates in the plane. Changes in the width of the rectangle of the bounding box indicate the controller is rolling. As the yaw of the controller is adjusted, the width of the rectangle changes. Yaw maps to the width of the rectangle. Tilt of the controller influences the height of the rectangle.
- For example, the bounding box 202 (
FIG. 2B ) indicates that the controller was initially positioned looking fairly straight ahead at the camera. Thebounding box 204 indicates that the controller was then moved downward, rolled and turned to the user's left. - It is difficult to know which side of the “ground plane” the controller is positioned on because the image plane only sees a deformed rectangle. For example, this issue can occur if someone walks in front of and occludes the camera during a time when the user manipulates the controller and moves the controller to an equal distance on the other side of an axis horizon line. This may cause the bounding box to look the same in the image plane. This can also happen if the controller travels outside of the viewing region of the image capture device.
- As such, a determination may need to be made as to whether the deformation is caused by positive or negative tilt or roll (positive and negative being related to up/down and left/right movements away from the steady state origin position). This can be solved by reading other telemetry from the controller or by strobing or modulating the LEDs to enable the video analyzer system to discriminate individual corners of the bounding box rectangle for tracking purposes. The LEDs may be strobed or modulated as an aid for discerning the different corners of the bounding box. Or, each LED may have its own frequency as an aid for discerning the different corners of the bounding box. By identifing each specific corner of a bounding region, i.e. each LED, it can be determined which side of a horizontal line the controller is on at any point in time. In this way problems associated with the controller passing through the camera plane can be handled.
- Tracking the movements and rotations of the bounding box on the screen is based on a frame-by-frame analysis. The camera's output creates the frames of image data. The projection of the bounding box is captured in software. The movements of the controller across the frames is based on the translation of the box.
- The use of a high frame rate provides the ability to accurately track acceleration and changes in acceleration of the movement of the controller. That is, by projecting the image on the plane at high rates, the delta movements of the controller can be tracked. This provides the ability to plot the acceleration, the points where the acceleration peaks out, the points where gravity zeros out, and the points of inflection. The points of inflection are the transition points where the controller stops and changes direction. All of this analysis is performed by analyzing the frames of the image and determining the position and deformation of the bounding box. By way of example, frame rates of 120 frames per second or higher may be used, but it should well understood that any frame rate may be used.
- As will be discussed below, the history of previous frames may be mapped. This allows the previous telemetry of the controller to be looked at for determining certain parameters such as, for example, in tracking acceleration, velocity, and stopping points.
- In step 306 (
FIG. 3A ) position information for the controller is determined based on the analysis of the movements and deformities in the projection of the geometric shape. By way of example, an image analyzer may be used to perform one or both of steps 304 and 306. Namely, an image analyzer may be used to perform the analysis of the movements and deformations of the bounding boxes in the image plane of the camera. The output of the video camera may be coupled to the input of an image analyzer. An example of a system which may incorporate an image analyzer for implementing one or more of the methods, schemes and functions described herein will be discussed below. - The image analyzer monitors the bounding box formed by the reference LEDs as captured in the image plane of the camera. The image analyzer analyzes the position, rotation, horizontal and vertical deformation of the bounding box to determine the physical user manipulation of the controller, its position, roll, tilt and yaw coordinates. At the end of the image analysis the data may be output in the form of an output ID or the like. Such output IDs from the image analysis may include data such as the x, y, z coordinates, acceleration and velocity along any axis, that the controller is in a resting position or state, etc. Thus, at the end of image analysis the image analyzer can indicate where the controller is and whether a command is issued. And the image analyzer may be pinged at any instant of time and it may provide position, orientation, last command, etc.
- By way of example, the image analyzer may provide, but shall not be limited to providing the following outputs:
- CONTROLLER POSITION (X, Y, Z coordinates);
- CONTROLLER ORIENTATION alpha, beta, gamma (radians);
- CONTROLLER X-AXIS VELOCITY;
- CONTROLLER Y-AXIS VELOCITY;
- CONTROLLER Z-AXIS VELOCITY;
- CONTROLLER X-AXIS ACCELERATION;
- CONTROLLER Y-AXIS ACCELERATION;
- CONTROLLER Z-AXIS ACCELERATION;
- RESTING POSITION OF STEADY STATE Y/N (at waist as described, but may be defined as any position);
- TIME SINCE LAST STEADY STATE;
- LAST GESTURE RECOGNIZED;
- TIME LAST GESTURE RECOGNIZED; and
- INTERRUPT ZERO-ACCELERATION POINT REACHED.
- Each of these outputs may be generated by analyzing the movements and deformations of the bounding box as described above. These outputs may be further processed in order to track the movement of the controller. Such tracking will allow certain movements of the controller to be recognized, which can then be used to trigger certain commands as described below. It should be well understood that many other outputs may be used in addition to or in replacement of the above-listed outputs.
- Additional inputs to the image analyzer may optionally be provided. Such optional inputs may include but shall not be limited the following:
- SET NOISE LEVEL (X,Y or Z AXIS) (this is a reference tolerance when analyzing jitter of hands in the game);
- SET SAMPLING RATE (how often frames of the camera are being taken in and analyzed);
- SET GEARING; and
- SET MAPPING CHAIN.
- As mentioned above, the ability to detect and track the movements of the
controller 110 makes it possible to determine whether any predefined movements of thecontroller 110 are performed. That is, certain movement patterns or gestures of thecontroller 110 may be mapped to input commands for the game or other simulation. - Referring to
FIG. 3B , there is illustrated amethod 320 for use in providing input to a system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Themethod 320 begins instep 322 in which position information for a controller for the system is determined. This step may be performed using the methods and techniques described above. - In
step 324, the determined position information for the controller is compared with predetermined position information associated with commands. That is, any number of different movements, gestures or manipulations of the controller may be mapped to various commands. This allows different movements, gestures or manipulations of the controller to be mapped into game models. For example, moving the controller up may be mapped to one command, moving the controller down may be mapped to another command, and moving the controller in any other direction may be mapped to other commands. - Similarly, shaking the controller once may be mapped to one command, shaking the controller twice may be mapped to another command, and similarly, shaking the controller three, four, five, etc., times may be mapped to other commands. That is, various gestures may be established based on shaking the controller a certain number of times. Still other gestures may be established based on shaking the controller up and down vigorously a certain number of times. Other movements of the controller such as twisting, rolling, etc., may be mapped to still other commands.
- Thus, various different trajectories of the game controller may be mapped onto gestures, which trigger commands in the game. Each command is mapped to a predetermined movement of the controller. Such predetermined movements of the controller will have associated predetermined position information. In this embodiment the determined position information for the controller is compared with the predetermined position information to see if a command should be triggered.
- By way of example, such mapping of gestures to game commands may be implemented as follows. The outputs of the image analyzer may be used to determine position and orientation information for the controller. The image analyzer may output various different IDs that are indicative of position and orientation of the controller. For example, one ID may be output for a steady state determination, another ID may be output to indicate shaking of the controller, and various other IDs may be output to indicate other orientations. Thus, the use of such IDs may be used to output whether the controller is in steady state or is moving. If the controller is in steady state, an ID may indicate how long the controller has been in steady state.
- The determined position and orientation information for the controller may then be compared with predetermined position information associated with input commands for the game. If the determined position information matches the predetermined position information for a command, then the command is provided to the entertainment system. Again, various gestures such as pushing the controller up or down, twisting in a circle, right or left, twisting while pulling it up or down, rolling right or left, etc., may all be mapped to various commands.
- When a new command or gesture is recognized the image analyzer may trigger an interrupt. The triggering of such an interrupt may be used as part of the process of providing the command to the entertainment system. The system may optionally be configured so that zero acceleration points in the axes, stop points, and/or other events also trigger interrupts.
- In comparing the determined position and orientation information with the predetermined position information associated with input commands to see if there is a match, it may often be the case that there is not an exact match. This is because with movement of the controller in free-space it may be difficult to precisely recreate a predefined movement. Therefore, the predetermined position information associated with input commands may be defined in terms of ranges, tolerances, and/or thresholds that are considered to be close enough to the predetermined position information such as to activate the command. That is, commands may be defined in terms of the thresholds or ranges. Thus, in determining whether or not any commands or gestures have been identified, the system may check to see if the determined position and orientation information falls within a range of a gesture. Thus, the defined commands may have thresholds that can be looked at in determining whether or not to invoke the command.
- Furthermore, in comparing the determined position and orientation information with the predetermined position information associated with input commands to see if there is a match, histories of previous frames may be saved or mapped. For example, the frame buffer may be monitored or the system may otherwise keep running records of the history of the previous frames. The previous frames may be looked at to determine if any commands are met. The mapping of frame histories may allow the telemetry of the controller at a specific time to be determined to provide the position orientation in determining if a command is met.
- Finally, in
step 326 if the determined position information for the controller matches predetermined position information for a command, the command is provided to the system. Such command may be used to cause an event to occur or not occur in a video game or other simulation. - In other embodiments, the movements of a game controller may mapped to game commands, such as for example in video game. With such a method, which may be used in video games or other simulations, position information for a controller that is being manipulated by a user is received. The position information is analyzed to determine whether a predetermined movement of the controller associated with a command has been performed. This analysis may be performed as described above. If the predetermined movement of the controller associated with a command has been performed, then the command is executed by the game. The execution of the command may cause a visual effect or the like to occur on the video display that the game is being displayed on.
- While the discussion herein is directed to the use of LEDs on the controller for a game or other entertainment system, it should be well understood that the teachings provided herein may be applied to detect and track the movements of controllers for other types of systems, devices, consumer electronics, etc. That is, the LEDs of the game controller described above can be used to perform remote control functions for consumer electronics devises or any device. LEDs may be used on the controllers for many other types of systems and devices in order to detect and track the controllers so that such movements may be mapped to commands for those systems and device. Examples of such other types of systems and devices may include, but are not limited to, televisions, stereos, telephones, computers, home or office networks, hand-held computing or communication device, etc.
- Furthermore, the teachings described herein may be applied to universal remote controls that have the ability to control several or many different devices. That is, such universal remote controls may include LEDs as described herein such that movements of the universal remote control body may be used as input commands for several or many different devices or systems.
- Moreover, a game controller may have a universal remote function. For example, such may comprise a body having a forward section to be oriented towards a screen when a progress of a game controlled in accordance with the game controller is displayed upon the screen. At least one input device may be assembled with the body with the input device manipulable by a user to register an input from the user. A signal encoder may be included. An infrared signal transmitter operable to transmit an infrared signal over the air using a signal generated by the signal encoder may be included. The signal encoder may be programmable to encode the signal with a selected one of a plurality of signaling codes for reception by an electronic device having an infrared receiver and a signal decoder operable with the selected one signaling code.
- Moreover, battery operated toys (including toys molded into a form and style of a branded game) can be formed having LEDs and form a tracked user manipulated body in the sensed environment.
- In some embodiments the image analyzer can recognize a user or process audio authenticated gestures, etc. A user may be identified by an analyzer in the system through a gesture and a gesture may be specific to a user. Gestures may be recorded by users and stored in models. The recordation process may optionally store audio generated during recordation of a gesture. The sensed environment may be sampled into a multi-channel analyzer and processed. The processor may reference gesture models to determine and authenticate user identity or objects based on voice or acoustic patterns and to a high degree of accuracy and performance.
- According to embodiments of the present invention, the methods and techniques described herein may be implemented as part of a
signal processing apparatus 400, as depicted inFIG. 4 . Theapparatus 400 may include aprocessor 401 and a memory 402 (e.g., RAM, DRAM, ROM, and the like). In addition, thesignal processing apparatus 400 may havemultiple processors 401 if parallel processing is to be implemented. Thememory 402 may include data and code configured as described above. - Specifically, the
memory 402 may includesignal data 406. Thememory 402 may also containcalibration data 408, e.g., data representing one or more inverse eigenmatrices C−1 for one or more corresponding pre-calibrated listening zones obtained from calibration of amicrophone array 422. By way of example thememory 402 may contain eignematrices for eighteen 20 degree sectors that encompass amicrophone array 422. - The
apparatus 400 may also include well-known support functions 410, such as input/output (I/O)elements 411, power supplies (P/S) 412, a clock (CLK) 413 andcache 414. Theapparatus 400 may optionally include amass storage device 415 such as a disk drive, CD-ROM drive, tape drive, or the like to store programs and/or data. The controller may also optionally include adisplay unit 416 and user interface unit 418 to facilitate interaction between thecontroller 400 and a user. Thedisplay unit 416 may be in the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT) or flat panel screen that displays text, numerals, graphical symbols or images. The user interface 418 may include a keyboard, mouse, joystick, light pen or other device. In addition, the user interface 418 may include a microphone, video camera or other signal transducing device to provide for direct capture of a signal to be analyzed. Theprocessor 401,memory 402 and other components of thesystem 400 may exchange signals (e.g., code instructions and data) with each other via asystem bus 420 as shown inFIG. 4 . - The
microphone array 422 may be coupled to theapparatus 400 through the I/O functions 411. The microphone array may include between about 2 and about 8 microphones, preferably about 4 microphones with neighboring microphones separated by a distance of less than about 4 centimeters, preferably between about 1 centimeter and about 2 centimeters. Preferably, the microphones in thearray 422 are omni-directional microphones. An optional image capture unit 423 (e.g., a digital camera) may be coupled to theapparatus 400 through the I/O functions 411. One or more pointing actuators 425 that are mechanically coupled to the camera may exchange signals with theprocessor 401 via the I/O functions 411. - As used herein, the term I/O generally refers to any program, operation or device that transfers data to or from the
system 400 and to or from a peripheral device. Every data transfer may be regarded as an output from one device and an input into another. Peripheral devices include input-only devices, such as keyboards and mouses, output-only devices, such as printers as well as devices such as a writable CD-ROM that can act as both an input and an output device. The term “peripheral device” includes external devices, such as a mouse, keyboard, printer, monitor, microphone, game controller, camera, external Zip drive or scanner as well as internal devices, such as a CD-ROM drive, CD-R drive or internal modem or other peripheral such as a flash memory reader/writer, hard drive. - In certain embodiments of the invention, the
apparatus 400 may be a video game unit, which may include ajoystick controller 430 coupled to the processor via the I/O functions 411 either through wires (e.g., a USB cable) or wirelessly. Thejoystick controller 430 may have analog joystick controls 431 andconventional buttons 433 that provide control signals commonly used during playing of video games. Such video games may be implemented as processor readable data and/or instructions which may be stored in thememory 402 or other processor readable medium such as one associated with themass storage device 415. - The joystick controls 431 may generally be configured so that moving a control stick left or right signals movement along the X axis, and moving it forward (up) or back (down) signals movement along the Y axis. In joysticks that are configured for three-dimensional movement, twisting the stick left (counter-clockwise) or right (clockwise) may signal movement along the Z axis. These three axis—X Y and Z—are often referred to as roll, pitch, and yaw, respectively, particularly in relation to an aircraft.
- In addition to conventional features, the
joystick controller 430 may include one or moreinertial sensors 432, which may provide position and/or orientation information to theprocessor 401 via an inertial signal. Orientation information may include angular information such as a tilt, roll or yaw of thejoystick controller 430. By way of example, theinertial sensors 432 may include any number and/or combination of accelerometers, gyroscopes or tilt sensors. In a preferred embodiment, theinertial sensors 432 include tilt sensors adapted to sense orientation of the joystick controller with respect to tilt and roll axes, a first accelerometer adapted to sense acceleration along a yaw axis and a second accelerometer adapted to sense angular acceleration with respect to the yaw axis. An accelerometer may be implemented, e.g., as a MEMS device including a mass mounted by one or more springs with sensors for sensing displacement of the mass relative to one or more directions. Signals from the sensors that are dependent on the displacement of the mass may be used to determine an acceleration of thejoystick controller 430. Such techniques may be implemented byprogram code instructions 404 which may be stored in thememory 402 and executed by theprocessor 401. - By way of example an accelerometer suitable as the
inertial sensor 432 may be a simple mass elastically coupled at three or four points to a frame, e.g., by springs. Pitch and roll axes lie in a plane that intersects the frame, which is mounted to thejoystick controller 430. As the frame (and the joystick controller 430) rotates about pitch and roll axes the mass will displace under the influence of gravity and the springs will elongate or compress in a way that depends on the angle of pitch and/or roll. The displacement and of the mass can be sensed and converted to a signal that is dependent on the amount of pitch and/or roll. Angular acceleration about the yaw axis or linear acceleration along the yaw axis may also produce characteristic patterns of compression and/or elongation of the springs or motion of the mass that can be sensed and converted to signals that are dependent on the amount of angular or linear acceleration. Such an accelerometer device can measure tilt, roll angular acceleration about the yaw axis and linear acceleration along the yaw axis by tracking movement of the mass or compression and expansion forces of the springs. There are a number of different ways to track the position of the mass and/or or the forces exerted on it, including resistive strain gauge material, photonic sensors, magnetic sensors, hall-effect devices, piezoelectric devices, capacitive sensors, and the like. - In addition, the
joystick controller 430 may include one or morelight sources 434, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs). Thelight sources 434 may be used to distinguish one controller from the other. For example one or more LEDs can accomplish this by flashing or holding an LED pattern code. By way of example, 5 LEDs can be provided on thejoystick controller 430 in a linear or two-dimensional pattern. Although a linear array of LEDs is preferred, the LEDs may alternatively, be arranged in a rectangular pattern or an arcuate pattern to facilitate determination of an image plane of the LED array when analyzing an image of the LED pattern obtained by theimage capture unit 423. Furthermore, the LED pattern codes may also be used to determine the positioning of thejoystick controller 430 during game play. For instance, the LEDs can assist in identifying tilt, yaw and roll of the controllers. This detection pattern can assist in providing a better user/feel in games, such as aircraft flying games, etc. Theimage capture unit 423 may capture images containing thejoystick controller 430 andlight sources 434. Analysis of such images can determine the location and/or orientation of the joystick controller. Such analysis may be implemented byprogram code instructions 404 stored in thememory 402 and executed by theprocessor 401. To facilitate capture of images of thelight sources 434 by theimage capture unit 423, thelight sources 434 may be placed on two or more different sides of thejoystick controller 430, e.g., on the front and on the back (as shown in phantom). Such placement allows theimage capture unit 423 to obtain images of thelight sources 434 for different orientations of thejoystick controller 430 depending on how thejoystick controller 430 is held by a user. - In addition the
light sources 434 may provide telemetry signals to theprocessor 401, e.g., in pulse code, amplitude modulation or frequency modulation format. Such telemetry signals may indicate which joystick buttons are being pressed and/or how hard such buttons are being pressed. Telemetry signals may be encoded into the optical signal, e.g., by pulse coding, pulse width modulation, frequency modulation or light intensity (amplitude) modulation. Theprocessor 401 may decode the telemetry signal from the optical signal and execute a game command in response to the decoded telemetry signal. Telemetry signals may be decoded from analysis of images of thejoystick controller 430 obtained by theimage capture unit 423. Alternatively, theapparatus 401 may include a separate optical sensor dedicated to receiving telemetry signals from the lights sources 434. The use of LEDs in conjunction with determining an intensity amount in interfacing with a computer program is described, e.g., in commonly-owned U.S patent application Ser. No. ______, to Richard L. Marks et al., entitled “USE OF COMPUTER IMAGE AND AUDIO PROCESSING IN DETERMINING AN INTENSITY AMOUNT WHEN INTERFACING WITH A COMPUTER PROGRAM” (Attorney Docket No. SONYP052), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In addition, analysis of images containing thelight sources 434 may be used for both telemetry and determining the position and/or orientation of thejoystick controller 430. Such techniques may be implemented byprogram code instructions 404 which may be stored in thememory 402 and executed by theprocessor 401. - The
processor 401 may use the inertial signals from theinertial sensor 432 in conjunction with optical signals fromlight sources 434 detected by theimage capture unit 423 and/or sound source location and characterization information from acoustic signals detected by themicrophone array 422 to deduce information on the location and/or orientation of thejoystick controller 430 and/or its user. For example, “acoustic radar” sound source location and characterization may be used in conjunction with themicrophone array 422 to track a moving voice while motion of the joystick controller is independently tracked (through theinertial sensor 432 and or light sources 434). Any number of different combinations of different modes of providing control signals to theprocessor 401 may be used in conjunction with embodiments of the present invention. Such techniques may be implemented byprogram code instructions 404 which may be stored in thememory 402 and executed by theprocessor 401. - Signals from the
inertial sensor 432 may provide part of a tracking information input and signals generated from theimage capture unit 423 from tracking the one or morelight sources 434 may provide another part of the tracking information input. By way of example, and without limitation, such “mixed mode” signals may be used in a football type video game in which a Quarterback pitches the ball to the right after a head fake head movement to the left. Specifically, a game player holding thecontroller 430 may turn his head to the left and make a sound while making a pitch movement swinging the controller out to the right like it was the football. Themicrophone array 420 in conjunction with “acoustic radar” program code can track the user's voice. Theimage capture unit 423 can track the motion of the user's head or track other commands that do not require sound or use of the controller. Thesensor 432 may track the motion of the joystick controller (representing the football). Theimage capture unit 423 may also track thelight sources 434 on thecontroller 430. The user may release of the “ball” upon reaching a certain amount and/or direction of acceleration of thejoystick controller 430 or upon a key command triggered by pressing a button on thejoystick controller 430. - In certain embodiments of the present invention, an inertial signal, e.g., from an accelerometer or gyroscope may be used to determine a location of the
joystick controller 430. Specifically, an acceleration signal from an accelerometer may be integrated once with respect to time to determine a change in velocity and the velocity may be integrated with respect to time to determine a change in position. If values of the initial position and velocity at some time are known then the absolute position may be determined using these values and the changes in velocity and position. Although position determination using an inertial sensor may be made more quickly than using theimage capture unit 423 andlight sources 434 theinertial sensor 432 may be subject to a type of error known as “drift” in which errors that accumulate over time can lead to a discrepancy D between the position of thejoystick 430 calculated from the inertial signal (shown in phantom) and the actual position of thejoystick controller 430. Embodiments of the present invention allow a number of ways to deal with such errors. - For example, the drift may be cancelled out manually by re-setting the initial position of the
joystick controller 430 to be equal to the current calculated position. A user may use one or more of the buttons on thejoystick controller 430 to trigger a command to re-set the initial position. Alternatively, image-based drift may be implemented by re-setting the current position to a position determined from an image obtained from theimage capture unit 423 as a reference. Such image-based drift compensation may be implemented manually, e.g., when the user triggers one or more of the buttons on thejoystick controller 430. Alternatively, image-based drift compensation may be implemented automatically, e.g., at regular intervals of time or in response to game play. Such techniques may be implemented byprogram code instructions 404 which may be stored in thememory 402 and executed by theprocessor 401. - In certain embodiments it may be desirable to compensate for spurious data in the inertial sensor signal. For example the signal from the
inertial sensor 432 may be oversampled and a sliding average may be computed from the oversampled signal to remove spurious data from the inertial sensor signal. In some situations it may be desirable to oversample the signal and reject a high and/or low value from some subset of data points and compute the sliding average from the remaining data points. Furthermore, other data sampling and manipulation techniques may be used to adjust the signal from the inertial sensor to remove or reduce the significance of spurious data. The choice of technique may depend on the nature of the signal, computations to be performed with the signal, the nature of game play or some combination of two or more of these. Such techniques may be implemented byprogram code instructions 404 which may be stored in thememory 402 and executed by theprocessor 401. - The
processor 401 may perform digital signal processing onsignal data 406 in response to thedata 406 and program code instructions of aprogram 404 stored and retrieved by thememory 402 and executed by theprocessor module 401. Code portions of theprogram 404 may conform to any one of a number of different programming languages such as Assembly, C++, JAVA or a number of other languages. Theprocessor module 401 forms a general-purpose computer that becomes a specific purpose computer when executing programs such as theprogram code 404. Although theprogram code 404 is described herein as being implemented in software and executed upon a general purpose computer, those skilled in the art will realize that the method of task management could alternatively be implemented using hardware such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other hardware circuitry. As such, it should be understood that embodiments of the invention can be implemented, in whole or in part, in software, hardware or some combination of both. - In one embodiment, among others, the
program code 404 may include a set of processor readable instructions that implement any one or more of the methods and techniques described herein or some combination of two or more of such methods and techniques. For example, theprogram code 404 may be configured to implement the image analyzer function described herein. Or alternatively, the image analyzer function described herein may be implemented in hardware. - In the illustrated embodiment the image analyzer function described above is illustrated as the
image analyzer 450. Theimage analyzer 450 may receive its input from a camera, such as for example theimage capture unit 423 or the camera 112 (FIG. 1A ). Thus, the output of thevideo camera 112 or theimage capture unit 423 may be coupled to the input of theimage analyzer 450. The output of theimage analyzer 450 may be provided to the system of theapparatus 400. This way, either commands themselves or information needed to see if a command or gesture has been recognized is provided to theapparatus 400. Theimage analyzer 450 may be coupled to the rest of theapparatus 400 in many different ways; as such, the illustrated connections are just one example. As another example, theimage analyzer 450 may be coupled to thesystem bus 420, which will allow it to receive its input data from theimage capture unit 423 and provide its output to theapparatus 400. - The
image analyzer 450 may optionally be included in theapparatus 400 or the entertainment system orconsole 102, or theimage analyzer 450 may be located separately from these devices and systems. And again, it should be well understood that theimage analyzer 450 may be implemented, in whole or in part, in software, hardware or some combination of both. In the scenario where theimage analyzer 450 is implemented in software, then theblock 450 represents the image analyzer function implemented in software. - The
program code 404 may generally include one or more instructions that direct the one or more processors to select a pre-calibrated listening zone at runtime and filter out sounds originating from sources outside the pre-calibrated listening zone. The pre-calibrated listening zones may include a listening zone that corresponds to a volume of focus or field of view of theimage capture unit 423. - The program code may include one or more instructions which, when executed, cause the
apparatus 400 to select a pre-calibrated listening sector that contains a source of sound. Such instructions may cause the apparatus to determine whether a source of sound lies within an initial sector or on a particular side of the initial sector. If the source of sound does not lie within the default sector, the instructions may, when executed, select a different sector on the particular side of the default sector. The different sector may be characterized by an attenuation of the input signals that is closest to an optimum value. These instructions may, when executed, calculate an attenuation of input signals from themicrophone array 422 and the attenuation to an optimum value. The instructions may, when executed, cause theapparatus 400 to determine a value of an attenuation of the input signals for one or more sectors and select a sector for which the attenuation is closest to an optimum value. - The
program code 404 may optionally include one or more instructions that direct the one or more processors to produce a discrete time domain input signal xm(t) from the microphones M0 . . . MX, determine a listening sector, and use the listening sector in a semi-blind source separation to select the finite impulse response filter coefficients to separate out different sound sources from input signal xm(t) . Theprogram 404 may also include instructions to apply one or more fractional delays to selected input signals xm(t) other than an input signal x0(t) from a reference microphone M0. Each fractional delay may be selected to optimize a signal to noise ratio of a discrete time domain output signal y(t) from the microphone array. The fractional delays may be selected to such that a signal from the reference microphone M0 is first in time relative to signals from the other microphone(s) of the array. Theprogram 404 may also include instructions to introduce a fractional time delay A into an output signal y(t) of the microphone array so that: y(t+Δ)=x(t+Δ)*b0+x(t−1+Δ)*b1+x(t−2+Δ)*b2+ . . . + x(t−N+Δ)bN, where A is between zero and ±1. - The
program code 404 may optionally include processor executable instructions including one or more instructions which, when executed cause theimage capture unit 423 to monitor a field of view in front of theimage capture unit 423, identify one or more of thelight sources 434 within the field of view, detect a change in light emitted from the light source(s) 434; and in response to detecting the change, triggering an input command to theprocessor 401. The use of LEDs in conjunction with an image capture device to trigger actions in a game controller is described e.g., in commonly-owned, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/759,782 to Richard L. Marks, filed Jan. 16, 2004 and entitled: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LIGHT INPUT DEVICE, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. - The
program code 404 may optionally include processor executable instructions including one or more instructions which, when executed, use signals from the inertial sensor and signals generated from the image capture unit from tracking the one or more light sources as inputs to a game system, e.g., as described above. Theprogram code 404 may optionally include processor executable instructions including one or more instructions which, when executed compensate for drift in theinertial sensor 432. - In addition, the
program code 404 may optionally include processor executable instructions including one or more instructions which, when executed adjust the gearing and mapping of controller manipulations to game a environment. Such a feature allows a user to change the “gearing” of manipulations of thejoystick controller 430 to game state. For example, a 45 degree rotation of thejoystick controller 430 may be geared to a 45 degree rotation of a game object. However this 1:1 gearing ratio may be modified so that an X degree rotation (or tilt or yaw or “manipulation”) of the controller translates to a Y rotation (or tilt or yaw or “manipulation”) of the game object. Gearing may be 1:1 ratio, 1:2 ratio, 1:X ratio or X:Y ratio, where X and Y can take on arbitrary values. Additionally, mapping of input channel to game control may also be modified over time or instantly. Modifications may comprise changing gesture trajectory models, modifying the location, scale, threshold of gestures, etc. Such mapping may be programmed, random, tiered, staggered, etc., to provide a user with a dynamic range of manipulatives. Modification of the mapping, gearing or ratios can be adjusted by theprogram code 404 according to game play, game state, through a user modifier button (key pad, etc.) located on thejoystick controller 430, or broadly in response to the input channel. The input channel may include, but may not be limited to elements of user audio, audio generated by controller, tracking audio generated by the controller, controller button state, video camera output, controller telemetry data, including accelerometer data, tilt, yaw, roll, position, acceleration and any other data from sensors capable of tracking a user or the user manipulation of an object. - In certain embodiments the
program code 404 may change the mapping or gearing over time from one scheme or ratio to another scheme, respectively, in a predetermined time-dependent manner. Gearing and mapping changes can be applied to a game environment in various ways. In one example, a video game character may be controlled under one gearing scheme when the character is healthy and as the character's health deteriorates the system may gear the controller commands so the user is forced to exacerbate the movements of the controller to gesture commands to the character. A video game character who becomes disoriented may force a change of mapping of the input channel as users, for example, may be required to adjust input to regain control of the character under a new mapping. Mapping schemes that modify the translation of the input channel to game commands may also change during gameplay. This translation may occur in various ways in response to game state or in response to modifier commands issued under one or more elements of the input channel. Gearing and mapping may also be configured to influence the configuration and/or processing of one or more elements of the input channel. - In addition, a
speaker 436 may be mounted to thejoystick controller 430. In “acoustic radar” embodiments wherein theprogram code 404 locates and characterizes sounds detected with themicrophone array 422, thespeaker 436 may provide an audio signal that can be detected by themicrophone array 422 and used by theprogram code 404 to track the position of thejoystick controller 430. Thespeaker 436 may also be used to provide an additional “input channel” from thejoystick controller 430 to theprocessor 401. Audio signals from thespeaker 436 may be periodically pulsed to provide a beacon for the acoustic radar to track location. The audio signals (pulsed or otherwise) may be audible or ultrasonic. The acoustic radar may track the user manipulation of thejoystick controller 430 and where such manipulation tracking may include information about the position and orientation (e.g., pitch, roll or yaw angle) of thejoystick controller 430. The pulses may be triggered at an appropriate duty cycle as one skilled in the art is capable of applying. Pulses may be initiated based on a control signal arbitrated from the system. The apparatus 400 (through the program code 404) may coordinate the dispatch of control signals amongst two ormore joystick controllers 430 coupled to theprocessor 401 to assure that multiple controllers can be tracked. - By way of example, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented on parallel processing systems. Such parallel processing systems typically include two or more processor elements that are configured to execute parts of a program in parallel using separate processors. By way of example, and without limitation,
FIG. 5 illustrates a type ofcell processor 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Thecell processor 500 may be used as theprocessor 401 ofFIG. 4 . In the example depicted inFIG. 5 , thecell processor 500 includes amain memory 502, power processor element (PPE) 504, and a number of synergistic processor elements (SPEs) 506. In the example depicted inFIG. 5 , thecell processor 500 includes asingle PPE 504 and eightSPE 506. In such a configuration, seven of theSPE 506 may be used for parallel processing and one may be reserved as a back-up in case one of the other seven fails. A cell processor may alternatively include multiple groups of PPEs (PPE groups) and multiple groups of SPEs (SPE groups). In such a case, hardware resources can be shared between units within a group. However, the SPEs and PPEs must appear to software as independent elements. As such, embodiments of the present invention are not limited to use with the configuration shown inFIG. 5 . - The
main memory 502 typically includes both general-purpose and nonvolatile storage, as well as special-purpose hardware registers or arrays used for functions such as system configuration, data-transfer synchronization, memory-mapped I/O, and I/O subsystems. In embodiments of the present invention, asignal processing program 503 may be resident inmain memory 502. Thesignal processing program 503 may run on the PPE. Theprogram 503 may be divided up into multiple signal processing tasks that can be executed on the SPEs and/or PPE. - By way of example, the
PPE 504 may be a 64-bit PowerPC Processor Unit (PPU) with associated caches L1 and L2. ThePPE 504 is a general-purpose processing unit, which can access system management resources (such as the memory-protection tables, for example). Hardware resources may be mapped explicitly to a real address space as seen by the PPE. Therefore, the PPE can address any of these resources directly by using an appropriate effective address value. A primary function of thePPE 504 is the management and allocation of tasks for theSPEs 506 in thecell processor 500. - Although only a single PPE is shown in
FIG. 5 , some cell processor implementations, such as cell broadband engine architecture (CBEA), thecell processor 500 may have multiple PPEs organized into PPE groups, of which there may be more than one. These PPE groups may share access to themain memory 502. Furthermore thecell processor 500 may include two or more groups SPEs. The SPE groups may also share access to themain memory 502. Such configurations are within the scope of the present invention. - Each
SPE 506 is includes a synergistic processor unit (SPU) and its own local storage area LS. The local storage LS may include one or more separate areas of memory storage, each one associated with a specific SPU. Each SPU may be configured to only execute instructions (including data load and data store operations) from within its own associated local storage domain. In such a configuration, data transfers between the local storage LS and elsewhere in asystem 500 may be performed by issuing direct memory access (DMA) commands from the memory flow controller (MFC) to transfer data to or from the local storage domain (of the individual SPE). The SPUs are less complex computational units than thePPE 504 in that they do not perform any system management functions. The SPU generally have a single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) capability and typically process data and initiate any required data transfers (subject to access properties set up by the PPE) in order to perform their allocated tasks. The purpose of the SPU is to enable applications that require a higher computational unit density and can effectively use the provided instruction set. A significant number of SPEs in a system managed by thePPE 504 allow for cost-effective processing over a wide range of applications. - Each
SPE 506 may include a dedicated memory flow controller (MFC) that includes an associated memory management unit that can hold and process memory-protection and access-permission information. The MFC provides the primary method for data transfer, protection, and synchronization between main storage of the cell processor and the local storage of an SPE. An MFC command describes the transfer to be performed. Commands for transferring data are sometimes referred to as MFC direct memory access (DMA) commands (or MFC DMA commands). - Each MFC may support multiple DMA transfers at the same time and can maintain and process multiple MFC commands. Each MFC DMA data transfer command request may involve both a local storage address (LSA) and an effective address (EA). The local storage address may directly address only the local storage area of its associated SPE. The effective address may have a more general application, e.g., it may be able to reference main storage, including all the SPE local storage areas, if they are aliased into the real address space.
- To facilitate communication between the
SPEs 506 and/or between theSPEs 506 and thePPE 504, theSPEs 506 andPPE 504 may include signal notification registers that are tied to signaling events. ThePPE 504 andSPEs 506 may be coupled by a star topology in which thePPE 504 acts as a router to transmit messages to theSPEs 506. Alternatively, eachSPE 506 and thePPE 504 may have a one-way signal notification register referred to as a mailbox. The mailbox can be used by anSPE 506 to host operating system (OS) synchronization. - The
cell processor 500 may include an input/output (I/O) function 508 through which thecell processor 500 may interface with peripheral devices, such as amicrophone array 512 and optionalimage capture unit 513. In addition anElement Interconnect Bus 510 may connect the various components listed above. Each SPE and the PPE can access thebus 510 through a bus interface units BIU. Thecell processor 500 may also includes two controllers typically found in a processor: a Memory Interface Controller MIC that controls the flow of data between thebus 510 and themain memory 502, and a Bus Interface Controller BIC, which controls the flow of data between the I/O 508 and thebus 510. Although the requirements for the MIC, BIC, BIUs andbus 510 may vary widely for different implementations, those of skill in the art will be familiar their functions and circuits for implementing them. - The
cell processor 500 may also include an internal interrupt controller IIC. The IIC component manages the priority of the interrupts presented to the PPE. The IIC allows interrupts from the other components thecell processor 500 to be handled without using a main system interrupt controller. The IIC may be regarded as a second level controller. The main system interrupt controller may handle interrupts originating external to the cell processor. - In embodiments of the present invention, certain computations, such as fractional delays, may be performed in parallel using the
PPE 504 and/or one or more of theSPE 506. Each fractional delay calculation may be run as one or more separate tasks thatdifferent SPE 506 may take as they become available. - Some embodiments provide a tracking device for use in obtaining information for controlling an execution of a game program by a processor for enabling an interactive game to be played by a user. The tracking device can include a body and at least one PD element. The body can further include a section to be oriented towards a screen when a progress of a game provided via execution of the game apparatus is displayed upon the screen. The at least one PD element can additionally be assembled with the body. A position of the PD element within an image can be recordable by an image capture device when the section is oriented at least partly towards the screen. In operation, positions of the PD element at different points in time are quantifiable to quantify movement of the body in space.
- Further, the body can be mountable to a game controller. The game controller can include a game controller body and at least one input device assembled with the game controller body. The input device can be manipulable by a user such that an input from the user can be registered. In some instances the apparatus includes both the tracking device and the game controller.
- In some embodiments, the PD element can include a retro-reflector. Additionally or alternatively, the PD element can have a color that has a high contrast relative to a color of a portion of the body adjacent to the PD element. Further, each of the at least one PD element can include a pattern that includes at least two different textures. For example, the textures can differ in at least one of brightness, color, roughness and/or other such relevant textures. In some embodiments, the PD element includes a light source, and in some implementations the light source can include at least one LED.
- Further, some embodiments include two, three, four or more PD elements. These multiple PD elements can be oriented in one or more configurations. For example, in implementations with two PD elements, the PD elements can be oriented to define a line, and in some implementations with three PD elements, the elements can be oriented in a triangle. In other implementations having four PD elements, the elements can be arranged or positioned to define four lines. The four lines can define, for example, a rectangle or other relevant configuration.
- The PD elements can include light sources and at least one of the light sources can be distinguishable from the other light sources by a characteristic relating to the light output by the at least one light source. The at least one light source can be distinguishable from the other light sources, for example, by at least one of a strobe frequency, an on-off duty cycle, a timing of an on interval within an on-off cycle, a spectral content of the output of the light source, and/or other such relevant distinctions and/or combinations of distinctions. In some embodiments, the body of the tracking device is mountable to the user's body.
- The tracking devices according to some embodiments can further include a communications interface that can conduct digital communications with at least one of the processor, the game controller and/or both the processor and the game controller. The communications interface can be substantially any relevant interface, such as a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (“UART”), universal serial bus (“USB”) controller, and/or other such relevant interfaces and/or combinations of interfaces. Typically, the interface is operable to perform at least one of receiving a control signal for controlling an operation of the tracking device, for transmitting a signal from the tracking device for communication with another device, and/or other such communication functionality.
- Some embodiments further include a processor operable to execute a game program to display a progress of a game on a screen to enable the game to be interactively played by a user. The position of one or more PD elements can be recordable by an image capture device located, for example, in a vicinity of the screen, and the processor can be configured to detect the position of the PD element within the image using information outputted by the image capture device. Additionally or alternatively, the processor can be operable to detect user input information for controlling execution of the game program from the information outputted by the image capture device, to obtain a series of samples representative of acceleration of the body in space at different points in time from information outputted by the image capture device, and/or to determine a velocity of the body using the series of samples, for example by integrating acceleration values obtained from the series of samples over an interval of time.
- The processor can, in some instances, can determine a displacement of the body in space by first integrating acceleration values obtained from the series of samples over an interval of time and then integrating a result of the first integrating. Additionally or alternatively, the processor can determine a position of the body in space by determining the displacement in relation to a previously determined position.
- In some instances where the tracking device includes at least two of PD elements, the processor can obtain a series of samples representative of acceleration of the body in at least two degrees of freedom in space using the information outputted by the image capture device. When the tracking device includes at least three of the PD elements, the processor can obtain a series of samples representative of acceleration of the body in at least three degrees of freedom using the information outputted by the image capture device. The three degrees of freedom, for example, can include movement along three orthogonal axes x, y and z, and/or pitch, yaw and roll. In some embodiments, the processor can quantify the movement in six degrees of freedom, which can include, for example, three degrees of freedom and pitch, yaw and roll.
- Further, some embodiments provide a controller. The controller can include a body, one or more buttons disposed on the body, and one or more detectable elements disposed on the body that are arranged in an array. Additionally in some implementations, the array is a linear array.
- Referring to
FIG. 6 , there is illustrated anapparatus 600 made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Theapparatus 600 may comprise acontroller 602 and a structure 604 coupled to thecontroller 602. By way of example, thecontroller 602 may comprise any of the controllers described herein above. For example, in some embodiments thecontroller 602 may comprise any of the various different versions or combinations thereof of thecontroller 110 shown inFIGS. 1A, 1B , 1C, 1D, and/or 1E described herein above. In other embodiments thecontroller 602 may comprise any of the controllers disclosed in any of the above-referenced patent applications that are incorporated herein by reference. In such embodiments thecontroller 602 may include the ability to be detected and tracked as described above and in the above-referenced patent applications. For example, other channels of tracking may be used, such as for example, optical tracking, acoustical tracking, inertial tracking, etc. As such theapparatus 600 may allow for the ergonomic transformation of a tracked controller. - The structure 604 that is coupled to the
controller 602 may comprises a structure that can be grasped or held by a user. The structure 604 may comprise a structure that can create an exhilarating and entertaining experience for the user or player. Such experience can result by providing the ability to couple a handle or other structure associated with many different types of real world activities, sports or games to thecontroller 602 so that such real world activities, sports or games can be simulated by the entertainment system or console in a more realistic manner. The user or player can grasp the structure 604 in a way that more closely simulates the activity than would be possible by grasping only thecontroller 602 itself. In some embodiments the structure 604 may implement a one-handed operation rather than a two-handed operation normally associated with a traditional controller. - In some embodiments the structure 604 may comprise a plastic molding or the like. It may comprise an item that can be sold later and that can be removeably attached onto a traditional controller, and then detached by the user. By attaching the structure 604 to a wireless controller, the user can grasp and hold it and move freely with it around a room or space, so as to simulate many different real world activities. Coupling such a structure to a tracked controller allows the feel of the controller to be changed. That is, it allows the user to change the feel of the controller and in some embodiments do one handed operations with the controller with sweeps of the hand. In some embodiments the controller that is used may be a wireless controller with a traditional design or a modified or different type of controller.
- The structure 604 may be of any length, width or diameter, as is indicated by the dashed lines. The structure 604 may optionally include a handle or the like 606. The
handle 606 may comprise any type of material, such as for example rubber, plastic, urethane, etc., or any other material.Such handle 606 may assist the user or player and provide a more entertaining and comfortable experience.Such handle 606 may allow the user or player to have a more firm grip on the structure 604. - The structure 604 may comprise any type of material and be of any type of shape. By way of example, the structure may comprise plastic, metal, aluminum, wood, steel, etc. It may be molded or forged into any shape. The structure 604 may be coupled to the
controller 602 in many different ways. For example, clamps, clips, fasteners, screws, bolts, molded connectors, other fasteners, etc., may be used to couple the structure 604 to thecontroller 602. The structure 604 may be coupled to thecontroller 602 such that it is easily attachable and detachable by the user. For example, the structure 604 may have the ability to clip-on or hook-on to thecontroller 602. This would allow the structure to be sold as an add-on or extra item to be used at the user or player's option. - As shown, the structure 604 is coupled to the
controller 602 with an orientation such that the length of the structure 604 is generally perpendicular to the direction of LEDs or other detectors or elements that may be attached to thecontroller 602 as described above. It should be well understood, however, that in other embodiments the structure 604 may be coupled to thecontroller 602 in numerous other orientations. - For example, referring to
FIG. 7 , there is illustrated anapparatus 700 made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Theapparatus 700 may comprise acontroller 702 and astructure 704 coupled to thecontroller 702. Theapparatus 700 may be made of materials and coupled together similar or different than theapparatus 600 described above. In this embodiment thestructure 704 is coupled to thecontroller 702 with an orientation such that the length of thestructure 704 is generally in-line or parallel with the direction of LEDs or other detectors or elements that may be attached to thecontroller 702 as described above. This embodiment may help change the user's grip or orientation if desired. Again, it should be well understood, however, that in other embodiments thestructure 704 may be coupled to thecontroller 702 in numerous other orientations. - For example, in some embodiments the structure may be pivotally attached to a controller. This would allow the structure to pivot with respect to the controller and have different orientations. For example, the controller may face one orientation and then be able to rotate so that the length of the controller lies along the length of the handle. This may help the apparatus to feel more like, for example, a sword and not like an awkward airplane on a stick or the like.
- Some embodiments may allow the user or player to sweep a controller around in the air. This can be used to simulate many different types of activities, such as for example like engaging in a sword fight or like playing tennis. For example, by coupling different hand grip type structures to a controller, such as for example a tennis racket hand grip, the user or player can swing the controller around in the air like a tennis racket. For example, referring to
FIG. 8 , there is illustrated anapparatus 800 made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Theapparatus 800 may comprise a controller 802 and astructure 804 coupled to the controller 802. Thestructure 804 may be configured to simulate a tennis racket or the like as illustrated. For example, thestructure 804 may comprise a full or partial tennis racket grip structure, that for example has a little clamp, that may be used to clamp the grip structure onto the controller 802. Thestructure 804 may also include a handle 806 similar or like a real tennis racket handle. - As another example, referring to
FIG. 9 , there is illustrated anapparatus 900 made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Theapparatus 900 may comprise acontroller 902 and astructure 904 coupled to thecontroller 902. Thestructure 904 may be configured to simulate a baseball bat or the like as illustrated. Thestructure 904 may also include ahandle 906 similar or like a real baseball bat handle. - Thus, by clamping or otherwise attaching different structures or hand grip type structures to a controller many different types of activities can be simulated. In some embodiments a controller may be mounted onto a real tennis racket or other device. For example, a controller may be mounted to a real tennis racket, real wiffle ball bat, real hockey stick, Numb chucks, steering wheel or the like, etc., or any other body or moldable body or the like.
- In other embodiments a controller may be strapped to a body part, such as for example like a wrist watch or around an ankle. For example, referring to
FIG. 10 , there is illustrated ascenario 1000 made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Thescenario 1000 may comprise acontroller 1002 that is strapped to a person's arm orwrist 1004. This may be accomplished by means of, for example, straps or the like 1006. - As another example, referring to
FIG. 11 , there is illustrated ascenario 1100 made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Thescenario 1100 may comprise acontroller 1102 that is strapped to a person's leg or ankle 1104. This may be accomplished by means of, for example, straps or the like as described above. - By coupling a controller to various body parts, such as for example like a wrist watch or around an ankle, various other different types of activities, sports, games, etc., may be simulated.
- Referring to
FIG. 12 , there is illustrated anapparatus 1200 made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Theapparatus 1200 may comprise acontroller 1202 and astructure 1204 coupled to thecontroller 1202. Thestructure 1204 may be configured to simulate sword, weapon, or the like as illustrated. Thestructure 1204 may include arealistic handle 1206. This may make the user or player feel like he or she is brandishing or gesturing a real sword, which will contribute to an energetic and exciting entertainment experience. Namely, with thestructure 1204 attached to a tracked controller as described above, the movements of the simulated “sword”structure 1204 will be detected and tracked and can be used as input and translated to commands for a video game as described above. This may make for a very exciting experience for the user or player. In some embodiments thestructure 1204 may comprise abracket 1208 for attachment to thecontroller 1202. But it should be understood that any attachment scheme may be used, such as clips, clamps, fasteners, etc., as described above. - Referring to
FIG. 13 , there is illustrated an apparatus 1300 made in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. By way of example, astructure 1304 may be coupled to acontroller 1302 by using hose clamp type devices or the like 1308 or similar clamps. Such hoseclamp type devices 1308 may be formed of any material, such as for example plastic, rubber, urethane, metal, stainless steel, etc. Such hoseclamp type devices 1308 may be tightened or sized by way of a screw driver or the like 1312, or other mechanism, or by hand tightening mechanism. It should be well understood, however, that the use of such hoseclamp type devices 1308 are just one example coupling method and that many, many other types of coupling methods may be used. For example, thestructure 1304 may be coupled to thecontroller 1302 by way of clips, fasteners, screws, bolts, clamps, molded connectors, other fasteners, etc. By way of further example thecontroller 1302 and thestructure 1304 may be manufactured such that one or each of them has preformed therein attachment mechanisms or means. Again, such attachment mechanisms or means may be such that they are easily attachable and detachable by the user or player. Thus, there are many different ways that can be used to couple an add-on structure to a controller. Any other type of clamp may be used on the structure to clamp onto a controller. In some embodiments a traditional hose clamp like device may be used, like a stainless steel or plastic host clamp, to couple a structure or similar device to the controller. - As also illustrated in
FIG. 13 , in some embodiments thestructure 1304 may be or include atelescoping portion 1320. Theportion 1320 may make thestructure 1304 retractable and/or telescoping. This would allow the structure to be made different sizes by the user, to accommodate different users. In some embodiments the structure may comprise a little stick that is detractable. In other embodiments the structure may comprise a steering wheel or the like. - In some embodiments the ability to change the weight of the structure may be provided. This may help to simulate a more real experience. By way of example, the structure may allow pouring of sand or water into it to adjust its weight. This may help to change the weight of a structure for different games, so that the user can have different effects. A structure may have a weight inside, so that the weight moves as the user manipulates the structure. In some embodiments the movements move a mass inside, and through the movement of the mass it creates different effects, such as for example even sounds, which is another manipulation tracking potential for the system. In some embodiments the structure may have little weights that the user can drop in to change the weight of the structure. In some embodiments means can be included so that as it moves around it creates a sound, but this is optional.
- Thus, in some embodiments another structure may be attached to a hand-held controller or the like. The structure may be any device or the like and may allow a user or player to feel like he or she is holding a real word device in his or her hand while playing a game or other simulation.
- While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.
Claims (21)
Priority Applications (15)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/382,699 US20070265075A1 (en) | 2006-05-10 | 2006-05-10 | Attachable structure for use with hand-held controller having tracking ability |
EP07761296.8A EP2022039B1 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2007-04-25 | Scheme for detecting and tracking user manipulation of a game controller body and for translating movements thereof into inputs and game commands |
PCT/US2007/067437 WO2007130833A2 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2007-04-25 | Scheme for detecting and tracking user manipulation of a game controller body and for translating movements thereof into inputs and game commands |
EP20171774.1A EP3711828B1 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2007-04-25 | Scheme for detecting and tracking user manipulation of a game controller body and for translating movements thereof into inputs and game commands |
EP12156402A EP2460569A3 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2007-04-25 | Scheme for Detecting and Tracking User Manipulation of a Game Controller Body and for Translating Movements Thereof into Inputs and Game Commands |
EP12156589.9A EP2460570B1 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2007-04-25 | Scheme for Detecting and Tracking User Manipulation of a Game Controller Body and for Translating Movements Thereof into Inputs and Game Commands |
JP2009509960A JP5301429B2 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2007-04-25 | A method for detecting and tracking user operations on the main body of the game controller and converting the movement into input and game commands |
JP2009509977A JP2009535179A (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2007-04-27 | Method and apparatus for use in determining lack of user activity, determining user activity level, and / or adding a new player to the system |
EP07797288.3A EP2012891B1 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2007-04-27 | Method and apparatus for use in determining lack of user activity, determining an activity level of a user, and/or adding a new player in relation to a system |
PCT/US2007/067697 WO2007130872A2 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2007-04-27 | Method and apparatus for use in determining lack of user activity, determining an activity level of a user, and/or adding a new player in relation to a system |
EP20181093.4A EP3738655A3 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2007-04-27 | Method and apparatus for use in determining lack of user activity, determining an activity level of a user, and/or adding a new player in relation to a system |
PCT/US2007/067961 WO2007130999A2 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2007-05-01 | Detectable and trackable hand-held controller |
JP2012057132A JP5726793B2 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2012-03-14 | A method for detecting and tracking user operations on the main body of the game controller and converting the movement into input and game commands |
JP2012057129A JP2012135642A (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2012-03-14 | Scheme for detecting and tracking user manipulation of game controller body and for translating movement thereof into input and game command |
JP2012120096A JP5726811B2 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2012-05-25 | Method and apparatus for use in determining lack of user activity, determining user activity level, and / or adding a new player to the system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/382,699 US20070265075A1 (en) | 2006-05-10 | 2006-05-10 | Attachable structure for use with hand-held controller having tracking ability |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070265075A1 true US20070265075A1 (en) | 2007-11-15 |
Family
ID=38685803
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/382,699 Abandoned US20070265075A1 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2006-05-10 | Attachable structure for use with hand-held controller having tracking ability |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070265075A1 (en) |
Cited By (72)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060233389A1 (en) * | 2003-08-27 | 2006-10-19 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatus for targeted sound detection and characterization |
US20060269072A1 (en) * | 2003-08-27 | 2006-11-30 | Mao Xiao D | Methods and apparatuses for adjusting a listening area for capturing sounds |
US20070257884A1 (en) * | 2006-05-08 | 2007-11-08 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game program and game system |
US20070260340A1 (en) * | 2006-05-04 | 2007-11-08 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Ultra small microphone array |
US20080076565A1 (en) * | 2006-09-13 | 2008-03-27 | Nintendo Co., Ltd | Game apparatus and storage medium storing game program |
US20080120115A1 (en) * | 2006-11-16 | 2008-05-22 | Xiao Dong Mao | Methods and apparatuses for dynamically adjusting an audio signal based on a parameter |
US20080242385A1 (en) * | 2007-03-30 | 2008-10-02 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game device and storage medium storing game program |
US20090062943A1 (en) * | 2007-08-27 | 2009-03-05 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatus for automatically controlling the sound level based on the content |
US20090149256A1 (en) * | 2007-12-07 | 2009-06-11 | Kam Lim Lui | Joystick for Video Game Machine |
US20090149255A1 (en) * | 2007-12-07 | 2009-06-11 | Qiang Fu | Glow Stick for Video Game Machine |
US20090191966A1 (en) * | 2008-01-28 | 2009-07-30 | William Ross | Video Game Controller |
US20090258704A1 (en) * | 2006-08-25 | 2009-10-15 | Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. | Game device, notification method, information recording medium, and program |
US20090281765A1 (en) * | 2008-05-09 | 2009-11-12 | Shrenik Deliwala | Method of locating an object in 3d |
US20090279107A1 (en) * | 2008-05-09 | 2009-11-12 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Optical distance measurement by triangulation of an active transponder |
US20090326850A1 (en) * | 2008-06-30 | 2009-12-31 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Coordinate calculation apparatus and storage medium having coordinate calculation program stored therein |
US7774155B2 (en) | 2006-03-10 | 2010-08-10 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Accelerometer-based controller |
US7783061B2 (en) | 2003-08-27 | 2010-08-24 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatus for the targeted sound detection |
US20100225582A1 (en) * | 2009-03-09 | 2010-09-09 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Information processing apparatus, storage medium having information processing program stored therein, information processing system, and display range control method |
US20100231513A1 (en) * | 2008-12-03 | 2010-09-16 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Position measurement systems using position sensitive detectors |
US7803050B2 (en) | 2002-07-27 | 2010-09-28 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Tracking device with sound emitter for use in obtaining information for controlling game program execution |
US20100279771A1 (en) * | 2009-04-23 | 2010-11-04 | Gerard Lambert Block | Video Game Controller Attachment Apparatus |
US20100305418A1 (en) * | 2009-05-27 | 2010-12-02 | Shrenik Deliwala | Multiuse optical sensor |
US20110034250A1 (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2011-02-10 | Jordan Brandt | Interactive sports gaming device |
US7927216B2 (en) | 2005-09-15 | 2011-04-19 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Video game system with wireless modular handheld controller |
US7931535B2 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2011-04-26 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game operating device |
US7942745B2 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2011-05-17 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game operating device |
US20110195785A1 (en) * | 2006-05-09 | 2011-08-11 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game controller |
WO2011119052A1 (en) | 2010-03-23 | 2011-09-29 | Industrial Research Limited | Exercise system and controller |
US8089458B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2012-01-03 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Toy devices and methods for providing an interactive play experience |
US8139793B2 (en) | 2003-08-27 | 2012-03-20 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatus for capturing audio signals based on a visual image |
US8157651B2 (en) | 2005-09-12 | 2012-04-17 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Information processing program |
US8226493B2 (en) | 2002-08-01 | 2012-07-24 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Interactive play devices for water play attractions |
US8233642B2 (en) | 2003-08-27 | 2012-07-31 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatuses for capturing an audio signal based on a location of the signal |
US8267786B2 (en) | 2005-08-24 | 2012-09-18 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game controller and game system |
US8308563B2 (en) | 2005-08-30 | 2012-11-13 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game system and storage medium having game program stored thereon |
US8313379B2 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2012-11-20 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Video game system with wireless modular handheld controller |
US20130085410A1 (en) * | 2011-09-30 | 2013-04-04 | Motorola Mobility, Inc. | Method and system for identifying location of a touched body part |
EP2140915A3 (en) * | 2008-06-30 | 2013-05-01 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Orientation calculation apparatus, storage medium having orientation calculation program stored therein, game apparatus, and storage medium having game program stored therein |
US20130131836A1 (en) * | 2011-11-21 | 2013-05-23 | Microsoft Corporation | System for controlling light enabled devices |
US8475275B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2013-07-02 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Interactive toys and games connecting physical and virtual play environments |
US8570378B2 (en) | 2002-07-27 | 2013-10-29 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Method and apparatus for tracking three-dimensional movements of an object using a depth sensing camera |
US8608535B2 (en) | 2002-04-05 | 2013-12-17 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Systems and methods for providing an interactive game |
US8702515B2 (en) | 2002-04-05 | 2014-04-22 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Multi-platform gaming system using RFID-tagged toys |
US8708821B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2014-04-29 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Systems and methods for providing interactive game play |
US8753165B2 (en) | 2000-10-20 | 2014-06-17 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless toy systems and methods for interactive entertainment |
US8758136B2 (en) | 1999-02-26 | 2014-06-24 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Multi-platform gaming systems and methods |
US20140327784A1 (en) * | 2006-05-23 | 2014-11-06 | Microsoft Corporation | Computer vision-based object tracking system |
US8947347B2 (en) | 2003-08-27 | 2015-02-03 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Controlling actions in a video game unit |
WO2013074322A3 (en) * | 2011-11-17 | 2015-06-25 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Angle measurement by use of multiple oriented light sources |
EP2090346B1 (en) * | 2008-02-11 | 2015-07-08 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Method and apparatus for simulating games involving a ball |
US9174119B2 (en) | 2002-07-27 | 2015-11-03 | Sony Computer Entertainement America, LLC | Controller for providing inputs to control execution of a program when inputs are combined |
US20160089610A1 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2016-03-31 | Universal City Studios Llc | Video game ride |
US9381424B2 (en) | 2002-07-27 | 2016-07-05 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Scheme for translating movements of a hand-held controller into inputs for a system |
US9429398B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2016-08-30 | Universal City Studios Llc | Optical tracking for controlling pyrotechnic show elements |
US9433870B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2016-09-06 | Universal City Studios Llc | Ride vehicle tracking and control system using passive tracking elements |
US9446319B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2016-09-20 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Interactive gaming toy |
US9600999B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2017-03-21 | Universal City Studios Llc | Amusement park element tracking system |
US9616350B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2017-04-11 | Universal City Studios Llc | Enhanced interactivity in an amusement park environment using passive tracking elements |
US20170123510A1 (en) * | 2010-02-23 | 2017-05-04 | Muv Interactive Ltd. | System for projecting content to a display surface having user- controlled size, shape and location/direction and apparatus and methods useful in conjunction therewith |
US9702690B2 (en) | 2011-12-19 | 2017-07-11 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Lens-less optical position measuring sensor |
US10025990B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2018-07-17 | Universal City Studios Llc | System and method for tracking vehicles in parking structures and intersections |
US10061058B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2018-08-28 | Universal City Studios Llc | Tracking system and method for use in surveying amusement park equipment |
US10134267B2 (en) | 2013-02-22 | 2018-11-20 | Universal City Studios Llc | System and method for tracking a passive wand and actuating an effect based on a detected wand path |
US10146335B2 (en) | 2016-06-09 | 2018-12-04 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Modular extension of inertial controller for six DOF mixed reality input |
US10146334B2 (en) | 2016-06-09 | 2018-12-04 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Passive optical and inertial tracking in slim form-factor |
US10207193B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2019-02-19 | Universal City Studios Llc | Optical tracking system for automation of amusement park elements |
US10328339B2 (en) * | 2017-07-11 | 2019-06-25 | Specular Theory, Inc. | Input controller and corresponding game mechanics for virtual reality systems |
US10412456B2 (en) | 2008-04-24 | 2019-09-10 | Sony Interactive Entertainment, LLC | Method and apparatus for real-time viewer interaction with a media presentation |
US20200241655A1 (en) * | 2019-01-30 | 2020-07-30 | Disney Enterprises, Inc. | Model and detachable controller for augmented reality / virtual reality experience |
US10950227B2 (en) | 2017-09-14 | 2021-03-16 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Sound processing apparatus, speech recognition apparatus, sound processing method, speech recognition method, storage medium |
US11674797B2 (en) | 2020-03-22 | 2023-06-13 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Self-aligned light angle sensor using thin metal silicide anodes |
US20240094831A1 (en) * | 2022-09-21 | 2024-03-21 | Apple Inc. | Tracking Devices for Handheld Controllers |
Citations (101)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3561272A (en) * | 1968-12-20 | 1971-02-09 | Grady B Davis | Speed indicator for clubs, bats and the like |
US3943277A (en) * | 1969-02-20 | 1976-03-09 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Digital memory area correlation tracker |
US4313227A (en) * | 1979-01-29 | 1982-01-26 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Light energy information transmission system |
US4718663A (en) * | 1985-01-23 | 1988-01-12 | Shepherd Keith E | Exercising apparatus |
US4802227A (en) * | 1987-04-03 | 1989-01-31 | American Telephone And Telegraph Company | Noise reduction processing arrangement for microphone arrays |
US5233544A (en) * | 1989-10-11 | 1993-08-03 | Maruman Golf Kabushiki Kaisha | Swing analyzing device |
US5297061A (en) * | 1993-05-19 | 1994-03-22 | University Of Maryland | Three dimensional pointing device monitored by computer vision |
US5296871A (en) * | 1992-07-27 | 1994-03-22 | Paley W Bradford | Three-dimensional mouse with tactile feedback |
US5394168A (en) * | 1993-01-06 | 1995-02-28 | Smith Engineering | Dual-mode hand-held game controller |
US5485273A (en) * | 1991-04-22 | 1996-01-16 | Litton Systems, Inc. | Ring laser gyroscope enhanced resolution system |
US5611000A (en) * | 1994-02-22 | 1997-03-11 | Digital Equipment Corporation | Spline-based image registration |
US5611731A (en) * | 1995-09-08 | 1997-03-18 | Thrustmaster, Inc. | Video pinball machine controller having an optical accelerometer for detecting slide and tilt |
US5706364A (en) * | 1995-04-28 | 1998-01-06 | Xerox Corporation | Method of producing character templates using unsegmented samples |
US5724106A (en) * | 1995-07-17 | 1998-03-03 | Gateway 2000, Inc. | Hand held remote control device with trigger button |
US5861910A (en) * | 1996-04-02 | 1999-01-19 | Mcgarry; E. John | Image formation apparatus for viewing indicia on a planar specular substrate |
US5870100A (en) * | 1995-11-22 | 1999-02-09 | Compaq Computer Corporation | Filling of graphical regions |
US5883616A (en) * | 1996-03-04 | 1999-03-16 | Alps Electric Co., Ltd. | Input apparatus |
US5889672A (en) * | 1991-10-24 | 1999-03-30 | Immersion Corporation | Tactiley responsive user interface device and method therefor |
US6014167A (en) * | 1996-01-26 | 2000-01-11 | Sony Corporation | Tracking apparatus and tracking method |
US6021219A (en) * | 1997-01-07 | 2000-02-01 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Methods and apparatus for distinguishing among several visual patterns |
US6022274A (en) * | 1995-11-22 | 2000-02-08 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Video game system using memory module |
US6031545A (en) * | 1993-09-10 | 2000-02-29 | Geovector Corporation | Vision system for viewing a sporting event |
US6031934A (en) * | 1997-10-15 | 2000-02-29 | Electric Planet, Inc. | Computer vision system for subject characterization |
US6037942A (en) * | 1998-03-10 | 2000-03-14 | Magellan Dis, Inc. | Navigation system character input device |
US6044181A (en) * | 1997-08-01 | 2000-03-28 | Microsoft Corporation | Focal length estimation method and apparatus for construction of panoramic mosaic images |
US6173059B1 (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 2001-01-09 | Gentner Communications Corporation | Teleconferencing system with visual feedback |
US6175343B1 (en) * | 1998-02-24 | 2001-01-16 | Anivision, Inc. | Method and apparatus for operating the overlay of computer-generated effects onto a live image |
US6191773B1 (en) * | 1995-04-28 | 2001-02-20 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Interface apparatus |
US6195104B1 (en) * | 1997-12-23 | 2001-02-27 | Philips Electronics North America Corp. | System and method for permitting three-dimensional navigation through a virtual reality environment using camera-based gesture inputs |
US20020010655A1 (en) * | 2000-05-25 | 2002-01-24 | Realitybuy, Inc. | Real time, three-dimensional, configurable, interactive product display system and method |
US6346929B1 (en) * | 1994-04-22 | 2002-02-12 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Display apparatus which detects an observer body part motion in correspondence to a displayed element used to input operation instructions to start a process |
US20020022519A1 (en) * | 2000-08-15 | 2002-02-21 | Toshikazu Ogino | Video game control adapter apparatus |
US20020023027A1 (en) * | 2000-08-18 | 2002-02-21 | Grant Simonds | Method and system of effecting a financial transaction |
US6351661B1 (en) * | 1991-01-28 | 2002-02-26 | Sherwood Services Ag | Optically coupled frameless stereotactic space probe |
US20020024500A1 (en) * | 1997-03-06 | 2002-02-28 | Robert Bruce Howard | Wireless control device |
US20020036617A1 (en) * | 1998-08-21 | 2002-03-28 | Timothy R. Pryor | Novel man machine interfaces and applications |
US6504535B1 (en) * | 1998-06-30 | 2003-01-07 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Display techniques for three-dimensional virtual reality |
US20030014212A1 (en) * | 2001-07-12 | 2003-01-16 | Ralston Stuart E. | Augmented vision system using wireless communications |
US6513160B2 (en) * | 1998-06-17 | 2003-01-28 | Opentv, Inc. | System and method for promoting viewer interaction in a television system |
US20030020718A1 (en) * | 2001-02-28 | 2003-01-30 | Marshall Carl S. | Approximating motion using a three-dimensional model |
US20030022716A1 (en) * | 2001-07-24 | 2003-01-30 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Input device for computer games including inertia sensor |
US6516466B1 (en) * | 1996-05-02 | 2003-02-04 | Vincent C. Jackson | Method and apparatus for portable digital entertainment system |
US6519359B1 (en) * | 1999-10-28 | 2003-02-11 | General Electric Company | Range camera controller for acquiring 3D models |
US20030032466A1 (en) * | 2001-08-10 | 2003-02-13 | Konami Corporation And Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc. | Gun shooting game device, method of controlling computer and program |
US20030032484A1 (en) * | 1999-06-11 | 2003-02-13 | Toshikazu Ohshima | Game apparatus for mixed reality space, image processing method thereof, and program storage medium |
US20030038778A1 (en) * | 2001-08-13 | 2003-02-27 | Siemens Information And Communication Mobile, Llc | Tilt-based pointing for hand-held devices |
US6533420B1 (en) * | 1999-01-22 | 2003-03-18 | Dimension Technologies, Inc. | Apparatus and method for generating and projecting autostereoscopic images |
US20040001082A1 (en) * | 2002-06-26 | 2004-01-01 | Amir Said | System and method of interaction with a computer controlled image display system using a projected light source |
US6674415B2 (en) * | 2000-03-16 | 2004-01-06 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Image display device |
US6677967B2 (en) * | 1997-11-20 | 2004-01-13 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Video game system for capturing images and applying the captured images to animated game play characters |
US6676522B2 (en) * | 2000-04-07 | 2004-01-13 | Igt | Gaming system including portable game devices |
US6677987B1 (en) * | 1997-12-03 | 2004-01-13 | 8×8, Inc. | Wireless user-interface arrangement and method |
US20040017355A1 (en) * | 2002-07-24 | 2004-01-29 | Youngtack Shim | Cursor control systems and methods |
US20040023736A1 (en) * | 2002-07-18 | 2004-02-05 | Cardinale Ronald S. | Training device and method of training a batter |
US20040029640A1 (en) * | 1999-10-04 | 2004-02-12 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game system and game information storage medium used for same |
US20040035925A1 (en) * | 2002-08-19 | 2004-02-26 | Quen-Zong Wu | Personal identification system based on the reading of multiple one-dimensional barcodes scanned from PDA/cell phone screen |
US6699123B2 (en) * | 1999-10-14 | 2004-03-02 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Entertainment system, entertainment apparatus, recording medium, and program |
US20040047464A1 (en) * | 2002-09-11 | 2004-03-11 | Zhuliang Yu | Adaptive noise cancelling microphone system |
US20040046736A1 (en) * | 1997-08-22 | 2004-03-11 | Pryor Timothy R. | Novel man machine interfaces and applications |
US20040054512A1 (en) * | 2000-12-20 | 2004-03-18 | Byung-Su Kim | Method for making simulator program and simulator system using the method |
US6709108B2 (en) * | 2001-08-31 | 2004-03-23 | Adaptive Optics Associates, Inc. | Ophthalmic instrument with adaptive optic subsystem that measures aberrations (including higher order aberrations) of a human eye and that provides a view of compensation of such aberrations to the human eye |
US6712703B2 (en) * | 1998-11-19 | 2004-03-30 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Video game apparatus and information storage medium for video game |
US6811491B1 (en) * | 1999-10-08 | 2004-11-02 | Gary Levenberg | Interactive video game controller adapter |
US6846238B2 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2005-01-25 | Igt | Wireless game player |
US6847311B2 (en) * | 2002-03-28 | 2005-01-25 | Motorola Inc. | Method and apparatus for character entry in a wireless communication device |
US6850221B1 (en) * | 1995-09-05 | 2005-02-01 | Interlink Electronics, Inc. | Trigger operated electronic device |
US20050037844A1 (en) * | 2002-10-30 | 2005-02-17 | Nike, Inc. | Sigils for use with apparel |
US20050047611A1 (en) * | 2003-08-27 | 2005-03-03 | Xiadong Mao | Audio input system |
US6863609B2 (en) * | 2000-08-11 | 2005-03-08 | Konami Corporation | Method for controlling movement of viewing point of simulated camera in 3D video game, and 3D video game machine |
US20050054457A1 (en) * | 2003-09-08 | 2005-03-10 | Smartswing, Inc. | Method and system for golf swing analysis and training |
US20050059488A1 (en) * | 2003-09-15 | 2005-03-17 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Method and apparatus for adjusting a view of a scene being displayed according to tracked head motion |
US6870526B2 (en) * | 2002-07-11 | 2005-03-22 | Frank Zngf | Glove mouse with virtual tracking ball |
US6873747B2 (en) * | 2000-07-25 | 2005-03-29 | Farid Askary | Method for measurement of pitch in metrology and imaging systems |
US6990639B2 (en) * | 2002-02-07 | 2006-01-24 | Microsoft Corporation | System and process for controlling electronic components in a ubiquitous computing environment using multimodal integration |
US20060035710A1 (en) * | 2003-02-21 | 2006-02-16 | Festejo Ronald J | Control of data processing |
US20060038819A1 (en) * | 2003-02-21 | 2006-02-23 | Festejo Ronald J | Control of data processing |
US7006009B2 (en) * | 2002-04-01 | 2006-02-28 | Key Energy Services, Inc. | Servicing system for wells |
US7016411B2 (en) * | 2001-07-04 | 2006-03-21 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. | Image signal coding method, image signal coding apparatus and storage medium |
US7016532B2 (en) * | 2000-11-06 | 2006-03-21 | Evryx Technologies | Image capture and identification system and process |
US7156311B2 (en) * | 2003-07-16 | 2007-01-02 | Scanbuy, Inc. | System and method for decoding and analyzing barcodes using a mobile device |
US7161634B2 (en) * | 2003-03-06 | 2007-01-09 | Huaya Microelectronics, Ltd. | Encoding system for error diffusion dithering |
US7164413B2 (en) * | 1999-05-19 | 2007-01-16 | Digimarc Corporation | Enhanced input peripheral |
US20070015559A1 (en) * | 2002-07-27 | 2007-01-18 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. | Method and apparatus for use in determining lack of user activity in relation to a system |
US20070015558A1 (en) * | 2002-07-27 | 2007-01-18 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. | Method and apparatus for use in determining an activity level of a user in relation to a system |
US7168042B2 (en) * | 1997-11-14 | 2007-01-23 | Immersion Corporation | Force effects for object types in a graphical user interface |
US20070021208A1 (en) * | 2002-07-27 | 2007-01-25 | Xiadong Mao | Obtaining input for controlling execution of a game program |
US20070025562A1 (en) * | 2003-08-27 | 2007-02-01 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatus for targeted sound detection |
US7174312B2 (en) * | 2001-08-16 | 2007-02-06 | Trans World New York Llc | User-personalized media sampling, recommendation and purchasing system using real-time inventory database |
US7183929B1 (en) * | 1998-07-06 | 2007-02-27 | Beep Card Inc. | Control of toys and devices by sounds |
US7182691B1 (en) * | 2000-09-28 | 2007-02-27 | Immersion Corporation | Directional inertial tactile feedback using rotating masses |
US20070061413A1 (en) * | 2005-09-15 | 2007-03-15 | Larsen Eric J | System and method for obtaining user information from voices |
US20070060336A1 (en) * | 2003-09-15 | 2007-03-15 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and systems for enabling depth and direction detection when interfacing with a computer program |
US7193607B2 (en) * | 1995-11-17 | 2007-03-20 | Immersion Corporation | Flexure mechanism for interface device |
US20070072675A1 (en) * | 2003-02-20 | 2007-03-29 | Konami Digital Entertainment Co. Ltd | Game system |
US20080056561A1 (en) * | 2006-08-30 | 2008-03-06 | Fujifilm Corporation | Image processing device |
US20090010494A1 (en) * | 1997-04-02 | 2009-01-08 | Gentex Corporation | System for controlling vehicle equipment |
US20090016642A1 (en) * | 2000-07-14 | 2009-01-15 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Method and system for high resolution, ultra fast 3-d imaging |
US20090118012A1 (en) * | 2006-02-10 | 2009-05-07 | Sternberg Aaron B | Configurable manual controller |
US20100004896A1 (en) * | 2008-07-05 | 2010-01-07 | Ailive Inc. | Method and apparatus for interpreting orientation invariant motion |
US7646372B2 (en) * | 2003-09-15 | 2010-01-12 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and systems for enabling direction detection when interfacing with a computer program |
US7665041B2 (en) * | 2003-03-25 | 2010-02-16 | Microsoft Corporation | Architecture for controlling a computer using hand gestures |
-
2006
- 2006-05-10 US US11/382,699 patent/US20070265075A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (102)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3561272A (en) * | 1968-12-20 | 1971-02-09 | Grady B Davis | Speed indicator for clubs, bats and the like |
US3943277A (en) * | 1969-02-20 | 1976-03-09 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Digital memory area correlation tracker |
US4313227A (en) * | 1979-01-29 | 1982-01-26 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Light energy information transmission system |
US4718663A (en) * | 1985-01-23 | 1988-01-12 | Shepherd Keith E | Exercising apparatus |
US4802227A (en) * | 1987-04-03 | 1989-01-31 | American Telephone And Telegraph Company | Noise reduction processing arrangement for microphone arrays |
US5233544A (en) * | 1989-10-11 | 1993-08-03 | Maruman Golf Kabushiki Kaisha | Swing analyzing device |
US6351661B1 (en) * | 1991-01-28 | 2002-02-26 | Sherwood Services Ag | Optically coupled frameless stereotactic space probe |
US5485273A (en) * | 1991-04-22 | 1996-01-16 | Litton Systems, Inc. | Ring laser gyroscope enhanced resolution system |
US5889672A (en) * | 1991-10-24 | 1999-03-30 | Immersion Corporation | Tactiley responsive user interface device and method therefor |
US5296871A (en) * | 1992-07-27 | 1994-03-22 | Paley W Bradford | Three-dimensional mouse with tactile feedback |
US5394168A (en) * | 1993-01-06 | 1995-02-28 | Smith Engineering | Dual-mode hand-held game controller |
US5297061A (en) * | 1993-05-19 | 1994-03-22 | University Of Maryland | Three dimensional pointing device monitored by computer vision |
US6031545A (en) * | 1993-09-10 | 2000-02-29 | Geovector Corporation | Vision system for viewing a sporting event |
US5611000A (en) * | 1994-02-22 | 1997-03-11 | Digital Equipment Corporation | Spline-based image registration |
US6346929B1 (en) * | 1994-04-22 | 2002-02-12 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Display apparatus which detects an observer body part motion in correspondence to a displayed element used to input operation instructions to start a process |
US6191773B1 (en) * | 1995-04-28 | 2001-02-20 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Interface apparatus |
US5706364A (en) * | 1995-04-28 | 1998-01-06 | Xerox Corporation | Method of producing character templates using unsegmented samples |
US5724106A (en) * | 1995-07-17 | 1998-03-03 | Gateway 2000, Inc. | Hand held remote control device with trigger button |
US6850221B1 (en) * | 1995-09-05 | 2005-02-01 | Interlink Electronics, Inc. | Trigger operated electronic device |
US5611731A (en) * | 1995-09-08 | 1997-03-18 | Thrustmaster, Inc. | Video pinball machine controller having an optical accelerometer for detecting slide and tilt |
US7193607B2 (en) * | 1995-11-17 | 2007-03-20 | Immersion Corporation | Flexure mechanism for interface device |
US5870100A (en) * | 1995-11-22 | 1999-02-09 | Compaq Computer Corporation | Filling of graphical regions |
US6022274A (en) * | 1995-11-22 | 2000-02-08 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Video game system using memory module |
US6014167A (en) * | 1996-01-26 | 2000-01-11 | Sony Corporation | Tracking apparatus and tracking method |
US5883616A (en) * | 1996-03-04 | 1999-03-16 | Alps Electric Co., Ltd. | Input apparatus |
US5861910A (en) * | 1996-04-02 | 1999-01-19 | Mcgarry; E. John | Image formation apparatus for viewing indicia on a planar specular substrate |
US6516466B1 (en) * | 1996-05-02 | 2003-02-04 | Vincent C. Jackson | Method and apparatus for portable digital entertainment system |
US6021219A (en) * | 1997-01-07 | 2000-02-01 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Methods and apparatus for distinguishing among several visual patterns |
US20020024500A1 (en) * | 1997-03-06 | 2002-02-28 | Robert Bruce Howard | Wireless control device |
US20090010494A1 (en) * | 1997-04-02 | 2009-01-08 | Gentex Corporation | System for controlling vehicle equipment |
US6044181A (en) * | 1997-08-01 | 2000-03-28 | Microsoft Corporation | Focal length estimation method and apparatus for construction of panoramic mosaic images |
US20060033713A1 (en) * | 1997-08-22 | 2006-02-16 | Pryor Timothy R | Interactive video based games using objects sensed by TV cameras |
US20040046736A1 (en) * | 1997-08-22 | 2004-03-11 | Pryor Timothy R. | Novel man machine interfaces and applications |
US6031934A (en) * | 1997-10-15 | 2000-02-29 | Electric Planet, Inc. | Computer vision system for subject characterization |
US7168042B2 (en) * | 1997-11-14 | 2007-01-23 | Immersion Corporation | Force effects for object types in a graphical user interface |
US6677967B2 (en) * | 1997-11-20 | 2004-01-13 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Video game system for capturing images and applying the captured images to animated game play characters |
US6677987B1 (en) * | 1997-12-03 | 2004-01-13 | 8×8, Inc. | Wireless user-interface arrangement and method |
US6195104B1 (en) * | 1997-12-23 | 2001-02-27 | Philips Electronics North America Corp. | System and method for permitting three-dimensional navigation through a virtual reality environment using camera-based gesture inputs |
US6175343B1 (en) * | 1998-02-24 | 2001-01-16 | Anivision, Inc. | Method and apparatus for operating the overlay of computer-generated effects onto a live image |
US6037942A (en) * | 1998-03-10 | 2000-03-14 | Magellan Dis, Inc. | Navigation system character input device |
US6173059B1 (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 2001-01-09 | Gentner Communications Corporation | Teleconferencing system with visual feedback |
US6513160B2 (en) * | 1998-06-17 | 2003-01-28 | Opentv, Inc. | System and method for promoting viewer interaction in a television system |
US6504535B1 (en) * | 1998-06-30 | 2003-01-07 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Display techniques for three-dimensional virtual reality |
US7183929B1 (en) * | 1998-07-06 | 2007-02-27 | Beep Card Inc. | Control of toys and devices by sounds |
US20020036617A1 (en) * | 1998-08-21 | 2002-03-28 | Timothy R. Pryor | Novel man machine interfaces and applications |
US6712703B2 (en) * | 1998-11-19 | 2004-03-30 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Video game apparatus and information storage medium for video game |
US6533420B1 (en) * | 1999-01-22 | 2003-03-18 | Dimension Technologies, Inc. | Apparatus and method for generating and projecting autostereoscopic images |
US7164413B2 (en) * | 1999-05-19 | 2007-01-16 | Digimarc Corporation | Enhanced input peripheral |
US20030032484A1 (en) * | 1999-06-11 | 2003-02-13 | Toshikazu Ohshima | Game apparatus for mixed reality space, image processing method thereof, and program storage medium |
US20040029640A1 (en) * | 1999-10-04 | 2004-02-12 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game system and game information storage medium used for same |
US6811491B1 (en) * | 1999-10-08 | 2004-11-02 | Gary Levenberg | Interactive video game controller adapter |
US6699123B2 (en) * | 1999-10-14 | 2004-03-02 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Entertainment system, entertainment apparatus, recording medium, and program |
US6519359B1 (en) * | 1999-10-28 | 2003-02-11 | General Electric Company | Range camera controller for acquiring 3D models |
US6674415B2 (en) * | 2000-03-16 | 2004-01-06 | Olympus Optical Co., Ltd. | Image display device |
US6676522B2 (en) * | 2000-04-07 | 2004-01-13 | Igt | Gaming system including portable game devices |
US20020010655A1 (en) * | 2000-05-25 | 2002-01-24 | Realitybuy, Inc. | Real time, three-dimensional, configurable, interactive product display system and method |
US20090016642A1 (en) * | 2000-07-14 | 2009-01-15 | Massachusetts Institute Of Technology | Method and system for high resolution, ultra fast 3-d imaging |
US6873747B2 (en) * | 2000-07-25 | 2005-03-29 | Farid Askary | Method for measurement of pitch in metrology and imaging systems |
US6863609B2 (en) * | 2000-08-11 | 2005-03-08 | Konami Corporation | Method for controlling movement of viewing point of simulated camera in 3D video game, and 3D video game machine |
US20020022519A1 (en) * | 2000-08-15 | 2002-02-21 | Toshikazu Ogino | Video game control adapter apparatus |
US20020023027A1 (en) * | 2000-08-18 | 2002-02-21 | Grant Simonds | Method and system of effecting a financial transaction |
US7182691B1 (en) * | 2000-09-28 | 2007-02-27 | Immersion Corporation | Directional inertial tactile feedback using rotating masses |
US7016532B2 (en) * | 2000-11-06 | 2006-03-21 | Evryx Technologies | Image capture and identification system and process |
US20040054512A1 (en) * | 2000-12-20 | 2004-03-18 | Byung-Su Kim | Method for making simulator program and simulator system using the method |
US20030020718A1 (en) * | 2001-02-28 | 2003-01-30 | Marshall Carl S. | Approximating motion using a three-dimensional model |
US7016411B2 (en) * | 2001-07-04 | 2006-03-21 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. | Image signal coding method, image signal coding apparatus and storage medium |
US20030014212A1 (en) * | 2001-07-12 | 2003-01-16 | Ralston Stuart E. | Augmented vision system using wireless communications |
US20030022716A1 (en) * | 2001-07-24 | 2003-01-30 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Input device for computer games including inertia sensor |
US20030032466A1 (en) * | 2001-08-10 | 2003-02-13 | Konami Corporation And Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc. | Gun shooting game device, method of controlling computer and program |
US20030038778A1 (en) * | 2001-08-13 | 2003-02-27 | Siemens Information And Communication Mobile, Llc | Tilt-based pointing for hand-held devices |
US7174312B2 (en) * | 2001-08-16 | 2007-02-06 | Trans World New York Llc | User-personalized media sampling, recommendation and purchasing system using real-time inventory database |
US6709108B2 (en) * | 2001-08-31 | 2004-03-23 | Adaptive Optics Associates, Inc. | Ophthalmic instrument with adaptive optic subsystem that measures aberrations (including higher order aberrations) of a human eye and that provides a view of compensation of such aberrations to the human eye |
US6846238B2 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2005-01-25 | Igt | Wireless game player |
US6990639B2 (en) * | 2002-02-07 | 2006-01-24 | Microsoft Corporation | System and process for controlling electronic components in a ubiquitous computing environment using multimodal integration |
US6847311B2 (en) * | 2002-03-28 | 2005-01-25 | Motorola Inc. | Method and apparatus for character entry in a wireless communication device |
US7006009B2 (en) * | 2002-04-01 | 2006-02-28 | Key Energy Services, Inc. | Servicing system for wells |
US20040001082A1 (en) * | 2002-06-26 | 2004-01-01 | Amir Said | System and method of interaction with a computer controlled image display system using a projected light source |
US6870526B2 (en) * | 2002-07-11 | 2005-03-22 | Frank Zngf | Glove mouse with virtual tracking ball |
US20040023736A1 (en) * | 2002-07-18 | 2004-02-05 | Cardinale Ronald S. | Training device and method of training a batter |
US20040017355A1 (en) * | 2002-07-24 | 2004-01-29 | Youngtack Shim | Cursor control systems and methods |
US20070015559A1 (en) * | 2002-07-27 | 2007-01-18 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. | Method and apparatus for use in determining lack of user activity in relation to a system |
US20070015558A1 (en) * | 2002-07-27 | 2007-01-18 | Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. | Method and apparatus for use in determining an activity level of a user in relation to a system |
US20070021208A1 (en) * | 2002-07-27 | 2007-01-25 | Xiadong Mao | Obtaining input for controlling execution of a game program |
US20040035925A1 (en) * | 2002-08-19 | 2004-02-26 | Quen-Zong Wu | Personal identification system based on the reading of multiple one-dimensional barcodes scanned from PDA/cell phone screen |
US20040047464A1 (en) * | 2002-09-11 | 2004-03-11 | Zhuliang Yu | Adaptive noise cancelling microphone system |
US20050037844A1 (en) * | 2002-10-30 | 2005-02-17 | Nike, Inc. | Sigils for use with apparel |
US20070072675A1 (en) * | 2003-02-20 | 2007-03-29 | Konami Digital Entertainment Co. Ltd | Game system |
US20060038819A1 (en) * | 2003-02-21 | 2006-02-23 | Festejo Ronald J | Control of data processing |
US20060035710A1 (en) * | 2003-02-21 | 2006-02-16 | Festejo Ronald J | Control of data processing |
US7161634B2 (en) * | 2003-03-06 | 2007-01-09 | Huaya Microelectronics, Ltd. | Encoding system for error diffusion dithering |
US7665041B2 (en) * | 2003-03-25 | 2010-02-16 | Microsoft Corporation | Architecture for controlling a computer using hand gestures |
US7156311B2 (en) * | 2003-07-16 | 2007-01-02 | Scanbuy, Inc. | System and method for decoding and analyzing barcodes using a mobile device |
US20050047611A1 (en) * | 2003-08-27 | 2005-03-03 | Xiadong Mao | Audio input system |
US20070025562A1 (en) * | 2003-08-27 | 2007-02-01 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatus for targeted sound detection |
US20050054457A1 (en) * | 2003-09-08 | 2005-03-10 | Smartswing, Inc. | Method and system for golf swing analysis and training |
US20070060336A1 (en) * | 2003-09-15 | 2007-03-15 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and systems for enabling depth and direction detection when interfacing with a computer program |
US20050059488A1 (en) * | 2003-09-15 | 2005-03-17 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Method and apparatus for adjusting a view of a scene being displayed according to tracked head motion |
US7646372B2 (en) * | 2003-09-15 | 2010-01-12 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and systems for enabling direction detection when interfacing with a computer program |
US20070061413A1 (en) * | 2005-09-15 | 2007-03-15 | Larsen Eric J | System and method for obtaining user information from voices |
US20090118012A1 (en) * | 2006-02-10 | 2009-05-07 | Sternberg Aaron B | Configurable manual controller |
US20080056561A1 (en) * | 2006-08-30 | 2008-03-06 | Fujifilm Corporation | Image processing device |
US20100004896A1 (en) * | 2008-07-05 | 2010-01-07 | Ailive Inc. | Method and apparatus for interpreting orientation invariant motion |
Cited By (195)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9186585B2 (en) | 1999-02-26 | 2015-11-17 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Multi-platform gaming systems and methods |
US9468854B2 (en) | 1999-02-26 | 2016-10-18 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Multi-platform gaming systems and methods |
US9861887B1 (en) | 1999-02-26 | 2018-01-09 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Multi-platform gaming systems and methods |
US10300374B2 (en) | 1999-02-26 | 2019-05-28 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Multi-platform gaming systems and methods |
US8758136B2 (en) | 1999-02-26 | 2014-06-24 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Multi-platform gaming systems and methods |
US8888576B2 (en) | 1999-02-26 | 2014-11-18 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Multi-media interactive play system |
US9731194B2 (en) | 1999-02-26 | 2017-08-15 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Multi-platform gaming systems and methods |
US8184097B1 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2012-05-22 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Interactive gaming system and method using motion-sensitive input device |
US9814973B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2017-11-14 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Interactive entertainment system |
US8475275B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2013-07-02 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Interactive toys and games connecting physical and virtual play environments |
US9579568B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2017-02-28 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Dual-range wireless interactive entertainment device |
US8491389B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2013-07-23 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc. | Motion-sensitive input device and interactive gaming system |
US8686579B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2014-04-01 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Dual-range wireless controller |
US8169406B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2012-05-01 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Motion-sensitive wand controller for a game |
US9149717B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2015-10-06 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Dual-range wireless interactive entertainment device |
US8164567B1 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2012-04-24 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Motion-sensitive game controller with optional display screen |
US9713766B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2017-07-25 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Dual-range wireless interactive entertainment device |
US8089458B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2012-01-03 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Toy devices and methods for providing an interactive play experience |
US8790180B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2014-07-29 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Interactive game and associated wireless toy |
US9474962B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2016-10-25 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Interactive entertainment system |
US8814688B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2014-08-26 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Customizable toy for playing a wireless interactive game having both physical and virtual elements |
US8531050B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2013-09-10 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Wirelessly powered gaming device |
US8915785B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2014-12-23 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Interactive entertainment system |
US8368648B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2013-02-05 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Portable interactive toy with radio frequency tracking device |
US10188953B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2019-01-29 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Dual-range wireless interactive entertainment device |
US10307671B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2019-06-04 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Interactive entertainment system |
US8708821B2 (en) | 2000-02-22 | 2014-04-29 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Systems and methods for providing interactive game play |
US9480929B2 (en) | 2000-10-20 | 2016-11-01 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Toy incorporating RFID tag |
US9931578B2 (en) | 2000-10-20 | 2018-04-03 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Toy incorporating RFID tag |
US8753165B2 (en) | 2000-10-20 | 2014-06-17 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless toy systems and methods for interactive entertainment |
US8961260B2 (en) | 2000-10-20 | 2015-02-24 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Toy incorporating RFID tracking device |
US10307683B2 (en) | 2000-10-20 | 2019-06-04 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Toy incorporating RFID tag |
US9320976B2 (en) | 2000-10-20 | 2016-04-26 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless toy systems and methods for interactive entertainment |
US8913011B2 (en) | 2001-02-22 | 2014-12-16 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Wireless entertainment device, system, and method |
US9393491B2 (en) | 2001-02-22 | 2016-07-19 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless entertainment device, system, and method |
US8711094B2 (en) | 2001-02-22 | 2014-04-29 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Portable gaming device and gaming system combining both physical and virtual play elements |
US9737797B2 (en) | 2001-02-22 | 2017-08-22 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless entertainment device, system, and method |
US10179283B2 (en) | 2001-02-22 | 2019-01-15 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless entertainment device, system, and method |
US10758818B2 (en) | 2001-02-22 | 2020-09-01 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless entertainment device, system, and method |
US8248367B1 (en) | 2001-02-22 | 2012-08-21 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Wireless gaming system combining both physical and virtual play elements |
US9162148B2 (en) | 2001-02-22 | 2015-10-20 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless entertainment device, system, and method |
US8384668B2 (en) | 2001-02-22 | 2013-02-26 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Portable gaming device and gaming system combining both physical and virtual play elements |
US10507387B2 (en) | 2002-04-05 | 2019-12-17 | Mq Gaming, Llc | System and method for playing an interactive game |
US10478719B2 (en) | 2002-04-05 | 2019-11-19 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Methods and systems for providing personalized interactive entertainment |
US9272206B2 (en) | 2002-04-05 | 2016-03-01 | Mq Gaming, Llc | System and method for playing an interactive game |
US9463380B2 (en) | 2002-04-05 | 2016-10-11 | Mq Gaming, Llc | System and method for playing an interactive game |
US8702515B2 (en) | 2002-04-05 | 2014-04-22 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Multi-platform gaming system using RFID-tagged toys |
US8608535B2 (en) | 2002-04-05 | 2013-12-17 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Systems and methods for providing an interactive game |
US8827810B2 (en) | 2002-04-05 | 2014-09-09 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Methods for providing interactive entertainment |
US11278796B2 (en) | 2002-04-05 | 2022-03-22 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Methods and systems for providing personalized interactive entertainment |
US9616334B2 (en) | 2002-04-05 | 2017-04-11 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Multi-platform gaming system using RFID-tagged toys |
US10010790B2 (en) | 2002-04-05 | 2018-07-03 | Mq Gaming, Llc | System and method for playing an interactive game |
US9381424B2 (en) | 2002-07-27 | 2016-07-05 | Sony Interactive Entertainment America Llc | Scheme for translating movements of a hand-held controller into inputs for a system |
US7803050B2 (en) | 2002-07-27 | 2010-09-28 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Tracking device with sound emitter for use in obtaining information for controlling game program execution |
US10220302B2 (en) | 2002-07-27 | 2019-03-05 | Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. | Method and apparatus for tracking three-dimensional movements of an object using a depth sensing camera |
US8570378B2 (en) | 2002-07-27 | 2013-10-29 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Method and apparatus for tracking three-dimensional movements of an object using a depth sensing camera |
US9174119B2 (en) | 2002-07-27 | 2015-11-03 | Sony Computer Entertainement America, LLC | Controller for providing inputs to control execution of a program when inputs are combined |
US8226493B2 (en) | 2002-08-01 | 2012-07-24 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Interactive play devices for water play attractions |
US8961312B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2015-02-24 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Motion-sensitive controller and associated gaming applications |
US11052309B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2021-07-06 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless interactive game having both physical and virtual elements |
US10022624B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2018-07-17 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless interactive game having both physical and virtual elements |
US9039533B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2015-05-26 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Wireless interactive game having both physical and virtual elements |
US10583357B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2020-03-10 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Interactive gaming toy |
US8373659B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2013-02-12 | Creative Kingdoms, Llc | Wirelessly-powered toy for gaming |
US9446319B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2016-09-20 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Interactive gaming toy |
US9707478B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2017-07-18 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Motion-sensitive controller and associated gaming applications |
US9993724B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2018-06-12 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Interactive gaming toy |
US9770652B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2017-09-26 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless interactive game having both physical and virtual elements |
US9393500B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2016-07-19 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless interactive game having both physical and virtual elements |
US10369463B2 (en) | 2003-03-25 | 2019-08-06 | Mq Gaming, Llc | Wireless interactive game having both physical and virtual elements |
US20060233389A1 (en) * | 2003-08-27 | 2006-10-19 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatus for targeted sound detection and characterization |
US8233642B2 (en) | 2003-08-27 | 2012-07-31 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatuses for capturing an audio signal based on a location of the signal |
US8947347B2 (en) | 2003-08-27 | 2015-02-03 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Controlling actions in a video game unit |
US8073157B2 (en) | 2003-08-27 | 2011-12-06 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatus for targeted sound detection and characterization |
US8160269B2 (en) | 2003-08-27 | 2012-04-17 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatuses for adjusting a listening area for capturing sounds |
US20060269072A1 (en) * | 2003-08-27 | 2006-11-30 | Mao Xiao D | Methods and apparatuses for adjusting a listening area for capturing sounds |
US8139793B2 (en) | 2003-08-27 | 2012-03-20 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatus for capturing audio signals based on a visual image |
US7783061B2 (en) | 2003-08-27 | 2010-08-24 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatus for the targeted sound detection |
US9675878B2 (en) | 2004-09-29 | 2017-06-13 | Mq Gaming, Llc | System and method for playing a virtual game by sensing physical movements |
US10155170B2 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2018-12-18 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game operating device with holding portion detachably holding an electronic device |
US10661183B2 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2020-05-26 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game operating device |
US9011248B2 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2015-04-21 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game operating device |
US7942745B2 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2011-05-17 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game operating device |
US9700806B2 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2017-07-11 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game operating device |
US9498728B2 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2016-11-22 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game operating device |
US8313379B2 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2012-11-20 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Video game system with wireless modular handheld controller |
US7931535B2 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2011-04-26 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game operating device |
US10238978B2 (en) | 2005-08-22 | 2019-03-26 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game operating device |
US9227138B2 (en) | 2005-08-24 | 2016-01-05 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game controller and game system |
US9498709B2 (en) | 2005-08-24 | 2016-11-22 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game controller and game system |
US8267786B2 (en) | 2005-08-24 | 2012-09-18 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game controller and game system |
US8834271B2 (en) | 2005-08-24 | 2014-09-16 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game controller and game system |
US11027190B2 (en) | 2005-08-24 | 2021-06-08 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game controller and game system |
US10137365B2 (en) | 2005-08-24 | 2018-11-27 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game controller and game system |
US9044671B2 (en) | 2005-08-24 | 2015-06-02 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game controller and game system |
US8308563B2 (en) | 2005-08-30 | 2012-11-13 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game system and storage medium having game program stored thereon |
US8157651B2 (en) | 2005-09-12 | 2012-04-17 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Information processing program |
US8708824B2 (en) | 2005-09-12 | 2014-04-29 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Information processing program |
US7927216B2 (en) | 2005-09-15 | 2011-04-19 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Video game system with wireless modular handheld controller |
US8430753B2 (en) | 2005-09-15 | 2013-04-30 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Video game system with wireless modular handheld controller |
USRE45905E1 (en) | 2005-09-15 | 2016-03-01 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Video game system with wireless modular handheld controller |
US7774155B2 (en) | 2006-03-10 | 2010-08-10 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Accelerometer-based controller |
US20070260340A1 (en) * | 2006-05-04 | 2007-11-08 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Ultra small microphone array |
US7809145B2 (en) | 2006-05-04 | 2010-10-05 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Ultra small microphone array |
US8068096B2 (en) * | 2006-05-08 | 2011-11-29 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game program and game system |
US20070257884A1 (en) * | 2006-05-08 | 2007-11-08 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game program and game system |
US8591333B2 (en) | 2006-05-09 | 2013-11-26 | Nintendo Co. Ltd. | Game controller with receptor duplicating control functions |
US20110195785A1 (en) * | 2006-05-09 | 2011-08-11 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game controller |
US8550915B2 (en) * | 2006-05-09 | 2013-10-08 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game controller with adapter duplicating control functions |
US20140327784A1 (en) * | 2006-05-23 | 2014-11-06 | Microsoft Corporation | Computer vision-based object tracking system |
US9964624B2 (en) * | 2006-05-23 | 2018-05-08 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Computer vision-based object tracking system |
US20090258704A1 (en) * | 2006-08-25 | 2009-10-15 | Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. | Game device, notification method, information recording medium, and program |
US8162754B2 (en) * | 2006-08-25 | 2012-04-24 | Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd | Game device, notification method, non-transitory information recording medium and program for informing displacement of game controller mat |
US20080076565A1 (en) * | 2006-09-13 | 2008-03-27 | Nintendo Co., Ltd | Game apparatus and storage medium storing game program |
US7938725B2 (en) * | 2006-09-13 | 2011-05-10 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game apparatus and storage medium storing game program |
US20080120115A1 (en) * | 2006-11-16 | 2008-05-22 | Xiao Dong Mao | Methods and apparatuses for dynamically adjusting an audio signal based on a parameter |
US20080242385A1 (en) * | 2007-03-30 | 2008-10-02 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game device and storage medium storing game program |
US9211475B2 (en) * | 2007-03-30 | 2015-12-15 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Game device and storage medium storing game program for performing a game process based on data from sensor |
US20090062943A1 (en) * | 2007-08-27 | 2009-03-05 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Methods and apparatus for automatically controlling the sound level based on the content |
US20090149255A1 (en) * | 2007-12-07 | 2009-06-11 | Qiang Fu | Glow Stick for Video Game Machine |
US20090149256A1 (en) * | 2007-12-07 | 2009-06-11 | Kam Lim Lui | Joystick for Video Game Machine |
US20090191966A1 (en) * | 2008-01-28 | 2009-07-30 | William Ross | Video Game Controller |
EP2090346B1 (en) * | 2008-02-11 | 2015-07-08 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Method and apparatus for simulating games involving a ball |
US10412456B2 (en) | 2008-04-24 | 2019-09-10 | Sony Interactive Entertainment, LLC | Method and apparatus for real-time viewer interaction with a media presentation |
US20090281765A1 (en) * | 2008-05-09 | 2009-11-12 | Shrenik Deliwala | Method of locating an object in 3d |
US20090279107A1 (en) * | 2008-05-09 | 2009-11-12 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Optical distance measurement by triangulation of an active transponder |
US20090278800A1 (en) * | 2008-05-09 | 2009-11-12 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Method of locating an object in 3d |
US9285459B2 (en) | 2008-05-09 | 2016-03-15 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Method of locating an object in 3D |
US9255986B2 (en) * | 2008-05-09 | 2016-02-09 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Method of locating an object in 3D |
US9079102B2 (en) | 2008-06-30 | 2015-07-14 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Calculation of coordinates indicated by a handheld pointing device |
US20090326850A1 (en) * | 2008-06-30 | 2009-12-31 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Coordinate calculation apparatus and storage medium having coordinate calculation program stored therein |
EP2140915A3 (en) * | 2008-06-30 | 2013-05-01 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Orientation calculation apparatus, storage medium having orientation calculation program stored therein, game apparatus, and storage medium having game program stored therein |
US8749490B2 (en) | 2008-06-30 | 2014-06-10 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Orientation calculation apparatus, storage medium having orientation calculation program stored therein, game apparatus, and storage medium having game program stored therein |
US20100231513A1 (en) * | 2008-12-03 | 2010-09-16 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Position measurement systems using position sensitive detectors |
US9746544B2 (en) | 2008-12-03 | 2017-08-29 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Position measurement systems using position sensitive detectors |
US20100225582A1 (en) * | 2009-03-09 | 2010-09-09 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Information processing apparatus, storage medium having information processing program stored therein, information processing system, and display range control method |
US9772694B2 (en) | 2009-03-09 | 2017-09-26 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Coordinate calculation apparatus and storage medium having coordinate calculation program stored therein |
US20100225583A1 (en) * | 2009-03-09 | 2010-09-09 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Coordinate calculation apparatus and storage medium having coordinate calculation program stored therein |
US8614672B2 (en) | 2009-03-09 | 2013-12-24 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Information processing apparatus, storage medium having information processing program stored therein, information processing system, and display range control method |
US8704759B2 (en) | 2009-03-09 | 2014-04-22 | Nintendo Co., Ltd. | Coordinate calculation apparatus and storage medium having coordinate calculation program stored therein |
US8568233B2 (en) * | 2009-04-23 | 2013-10-29 | Performance Designed Products Llc | Video game controller attachment apparatus |
US20100279771A1 (en) * | 2009-04-23 | 2010-11-04 | Gerard Lambert Block | Video Game Controller Attachment Apparatus |
US20100305418A1 (en) * | 2009-05-27 | 2010-12-02 | Shrenik Deliwala | Multiuse optical sensor |
US9304202B2 (en) | 2009-05-27 | 2016-04-05 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Multiuse optical sensor |
US20110034250A1 (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2011-02-10 | Jordan Brandt | Interactive sports gaming device |
EP2461880A4 (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2013-11-27 | Bad Chicken Llc | Interactive sports gaming device |
CN102574016A (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2012-07-11 | 坏小鸡有限公司 | Interactive sports gaming device |
EP2461880A2 (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2012-06-13 | Bad Chicken, Llc | Interactive sports gaming device |
JP2013501537A (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2013-01-17 | バッド チキン エルエルシー | Interactive sports game device |
US8894490B2 (en) * | 2009-08-07 | 2014-11-25 | Jordan Brandt | Interactive sports gaming device |
US10528154B2 (en) * | 2010-02-23 | 2020-01-07 | Touchjet Israel Ltd | System for projecting content to a display surface having user-controlled size, shape and location/direction and apparatus and methods useful in conjunction therewith |
US20170123510A1 (en) * | 2010-02-23 | 2017-05-04 | Muv Interactive Ltd. | System for projecting content to a display surface having user- controlled size, shape and location/direction and apparatus and methods useful in conjunction therewith |
US20130059696A1 (en) * | 2010-03-23 | 2013-03-07 | Industrial Research Limited | Exercise system and controller |
US9387396B2 (en) * | 2010-03-23 | 2016-07-12 | Callaghan Innovation | Exercise system and controller |
CN102933269A (en) * | 2010-03-23 | 2013-02-13 | 工业研究有限公司 | Exercise system and controller |
EP2550582A1 (en) * | 2010-03-23 | 2013-01-30 | Industrial Research Limited | Exercise system and controller |
WO2011119052A1 (en) | 2010-03-23 | 2011-09-29 | Industrial Research Limited | Exercise system and controller |
EP2550582A4 (en) * | 2010-03-23 | 2013-11-20 | Ind Res Ltd | Exercise system and controller |
US20130085410A1 (en) * | 2011-09-30 | 2013-04-04 | Motorola Mobility, Inc. | Method and system for identifying location of a touched body part |
US9924907B2 (en) * | 2011-09-30 | 2018-03-27 | Google Technology Holdings LLC | Method and system for identifying location of a touched body part |
US10932728B2 (en) | 2011-09-30 | 2021-03-02 | Google Technology Holdings LLC | Method and system for identifying location of a touched body part |
US9170657B2 (en) | 2011-11-17 | 2015-10-27 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Angle measurement by use of multiple oriented light sources |
WO2013074322A3 (en) * | 2011-11-17 | 2015-06-25 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Angle measurement by use of multiple oriented light sources |
US9628843B2 (en) * | 2011-11-21 | 2017-04-18 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Methods for controlling electronic devices using gestures |
US20130131836A1 (en) * | 2011-11-21 | 2013-05-23 | Microsoft Corporation | System for controlling light enabled devices |
US9702690B2 (en) | 2011-12-19 | 2017-07-11 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Lens-less optical position measuring sensor |
US10134267B2 (en) | 2013-02-22 | 2018-11-20 | Universal City Studios Llc | System and method for tracking a passive wand and actuating an effect based on a detected wand path |
US11373516B2 (en) | 2013-02-22 | 2022-06-28 | Universal City Studios Llc | System and method for tracking a passive wand and actuating an effect based on a detected wand path |
US10699557B2 (en) | 2013-02-22 | 2020-06-30 | Universal City Studios Llc | System and method for tracking a passive wand and actuating an effect based on a detected wand path |
US10380884B2 (en) | 2013-02-22 | 2019-08-13 | Universal City Studios Llc | System and method for tracking a passive wand and actuating an effect based on a detected wand path |
US10661184B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2020-05-26 | Universal City Studios Llc | Amusement park element tracking system |
US10788603B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2020-09-29 | Universal City Studios Llc | Tracking system and method for use in surveying amusement park equipment |
US10467481B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2019-11-05 | Universal City Studios Llc | System and method for tracking vehicles in parking structures and intersections |
US10207193B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2019-02-19 | Universal City Studios Llc | Optical tracking system for automation of amusement park elements |
US9616350B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2017-04-11 | Universal City Studios Llc | Enhanced interactivity in an amusement park environment using passive tracking elements |
US10061058B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2018-08-28 | Universal City Studios Llc | Tracking system and method for use in surveying amusement park equipment |
US10025990B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2018-07-17 | Universal City Studios Llc | System and method for tracking vehicles in parking structures and intersections |
US9433870B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2016-09-06 | Universal City Studios Llc | Ride vehicle tracking and control system using passive tracking elements |
US9429398B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2016-08-30 | Universal City Studios Llc | Optical tracking for controlling pyrotechnic show elements |
US9839855B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2017-12-12 | Universal City Studios Llc | Amusement park element tracking system |
US9600999B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2017-03-21 | Universal City Studios Llc | Amusement park element tracking system |
US10729985B2 (en) | 2014-05-21 | 2020-08-04 | Universal City Studios Llc | Retro-reflective optical system for controlling amusement park devices based on a size of a person |
US10238979B2 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2019-03-26 | Universal City Sudios LLC | Video game ride |
US20160089610A1 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2016-03-31 | Universal City Studios Llc | Video game ride |
US10807009B2 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2020-10-20 | Universal City Studios Llc | Video game ride |
US11351470B2 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2022-06-07 | Universal City Studios Llc | Video game ride |
US10146334B2 (en) | 2016-06-09 | 2018-12-04 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Passive optical and inertial tracking in slim form-factor |
US10146335B2 (en) | 2016-06-09 | 2018-12-04 | Microsoft Technology Licensing, Llc | Modular extension of inertial controller for six DOF mixed reality input |
US10328339B2 (en) * | 2017-07-11 | 2019-06-25 | Specular Theory, Inc. | Input controller and corresponding game mechanics for virtual reality systems |
US20190299090A1 (en) * | 2017-07-11 | 2019-10-03 | Specular Theory, Inc. | Input controller and corresponding game mechanics for virtual reality systems |
US10950227B2 (en) | 2017-09-14 | 2021-03-16 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Sound processing apparatus, speech recognition apparatus, sound processing method, speech recognition method, storage medium |
US20200241655A1 (en) * | 2019-01-30 | 2020-07-30 | Disney Enterprises, Inc. | Model and detachable controller for augmented reality / virtual reality experience |
US11112886B2 (en) * | 2019-01-30 | 2021-09-07 | Disney Enterprises, Inc. | Model and detachable controller for augmented reality / virtual reality experience |
US11674797B2 (en) | 2020-03-22 | 2023-06-13 | Analog Devices, Inc. | Self-aligned light angle sensor using thin metal silicide anodes |
US20240094831A1 (en) * | 2022-09-21 | 2024-03-21 | Apple Inc. | Tracking Devices for Handheld Controllers |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20070265075A1 (en) | Attachable structure for use with hand-held controller having tracking ability | |
US10220302B2 (en) | Method and apparatus for tracking three-dimensional movements of an object using a depth sensing camera | |
US8313380B2 (en) | Scheme for translating movements of a hand-held controller into inputs for a system | |
US9393487B2 (en) | Method for mapping movements of a hand-held controller to game commands | |
US10086282B2 (en) | Tracking device for use in obtaining information for controlling game program execution | |
US8781151B2 (en) | Object detection using video input combined with tilt angle information | |
US9682320B2 (en) | Inertially trackable hand-held controller | |
US8310656B2 (en) | Mapping movements of a hand-held controller to the two-dimensional image plane of a display screen | |
US20060282873A1 (en) | Hand-held controller having detectable elements for tracking purposes | |
US7854655B2 (en) | Obtaining input for controlling execution of a game program | |
US20060256081A1 (en) | Scheme for detecting and tracking user manipulation of a game controller body | |
US20060264260A1 (en) | Detectable and trackable hand-held controller | |
US20080098448A1 (en) | Controller configured to track user's level of anxiety and other mental and physical attributes | |
US20060287084A1 (en) | System, method, and apparatus for three-dimensional input control | |
WO2007130792A2 (en) | System, method, and apparatus for three-dimensional input control | |
WO2007130999A2 (en) | Detectable and trackable hand-held controller | |
EP2022039B1 (en) | Scheme for detecting and tracking user manipulation of a game controller body and for translating movements thereof into inputs and game commands | |
USRE48417E1 (en) | Object direction using video input combined with tilt angle information | |
EP1852164A2 (en) | Obtaining input for controlling execution of a game program | |
EP2013864A2 (en) | System, method, and apparatus for three-dimensional input control |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC., CALIFORN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ZALEWSKI, GARY;REEL/FRAME:018048/0674 Effective date: 20060713 |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC, CALIFORNI Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA INC.;REEL/FRAME:025829/0275 Effective date: 20100401 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |
|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC, CALIFORNIA Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC;REEL/FRAME:038626/0637 Effective date: 20160331 Owner name: SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC, CALIFO Free format text: CHANGE OF NAME;ASSIGNOR:SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT AMERICA LLC;REEL/FRAME:038626/0637 Effective date: 20160331 |