U.S. Pat. No. 12,226,695

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A video gaming communication system is utilized in conjunction with a gaming chair such as illustrated at10inFIG.1. In addition to including components such as a seat portion, a back portion, a base and arm rests, the gaming chair10includes a control panel20.

In certain embodiments, the control panel20is mounted on a side surface of the seat portion so that the control panel20can be readily accessed by a person sitting on the gaming chair10while not otherwise interfering with the use of the gaming chair10while playing video games.

The control panel20that facilitates connection of the gaming chair10to the gaming system12and components used in conjunction with the gaming system such as headphones22and a gaming controller24, which are illustrated inFIG.2.

The control panel20may include a variety of components relating to the operation of the gaming chair10. Examples of these components include a power switch, a volume control, a bass control and a vibration control.

The control panel20also includes a headphone port40that for operably connecting the headphones22to the gaming chair10and an input port42for operably connecting the gaming controller24to the gaming chair10.

The gaming controller24is connected to the input port42using an accessory cable30having a first communications plug32and a second communications plug34at opposite ends thereof.

The headphone port40has a shape and a size that are similar to a shape and a size of a plug attached to a cable that extends from the headphones22so that a portion of the headphone plug can be received in the headphone port40and once the headphone plug is inserted into the headphone port40, the headphone plug resists separation from the headphone port40.

The gaming controller24includes a port with a shape and a size that are similar to a shape and a size of the first communications plug32so that a portion of the first communications plug32can be received in the gaming controller port and once the first communications plug32is inserted into the gaming controller port, the first communications plug32resists separation from the gaming controller port.

The input port42has a shape and a size that are similar to a shape and a size of the second communications plug34so that a portion of the second communications plug32can be received in the input port42and once the second communications plug34is inserted into the input port42, the second communications plug34resists separation from the input port42.

The first communications plug32includes a tip with four conductive sections as illustrated inFIG.3. In certain embodiments, the first tip section50is for the microphone, the second tip section52is for ground, the third tip section54is for the left headphone speaker and the fourth tip section56is for the right headphone speaker.

In one such configuration, the first communications plug32is a 4-pin CTIA compliant plug. The headphone plug and the second communications plug34may be configured similar to the first communications plug32. A person of skill in the art will appreciate that the headphone plug, the first communications plug32and the second communications plug34may have a variety of other configurations using the concepts of the invention. An example of one suitable alternative configuration is a universal serial bus (“USB”) connection.

Using the preceding interconnection of components in the video gaming communication system enables sounds associated with the video game being played to be received into the control panel20through attachment of the gaming controller24to the input port42using the accessory cable30and then transmitted to the headphones22through the headphone port40as illustrated by the right directed arrows62inFIG.4.

The invention also enables audio input from a microphone60that is associated with the headphones22to be received into the control panel20through attachment of the headphones22to the headphone port40and then transmitted to the gaming system using the gaming controller24through the input port42as illustrated by the left directed arrows64inFIG.4.

It is also possible for the headphones22to be connected to a computer such that the person sitting on the gaming chair10and playing the video games can communicate (talk and listen) to person(s) who are playing the same video game. Alternatively, the person sitting on the gaming chair10can communicate with person(s) other than the person(s) who are playing the same video game.

In such a situation, sounds relating to the video game being played may be emitted from the speakers on the gaming chair10instead of speakers in the headphones22. It is also possible for the sounds relating to the video game being played to be emitted from the speakers in the headphones22.

In such situations, the sounds relating to the video game being played may be emitted at a lower level so that the person playing the video game can hear what is being said by the person with whom the person playing the video game is talking.

Through the use of the video gaming communication system, the person playing the video game does not have to choose between hearing sounds relating to the video game being played while also hearing sounds from the person with which the person playing the video games is communicating.

There are a variety of mechanisms through which the communications may be routed between the person sitting in the gaming chair10and the other person. In one configuration, the communications is routed through the gaming system12such as by passing from the headphones22to the control panel20, from the control panel20to the gaming controller24and then from the gaming controller24to the gaming system12.

In still other embodiments, the communications may be routed through a computer, portable communication device or a phone system that is separate from the gaming system or computer12that is being used to play the video game.

A person of skill in the art will appreciate that the video games may also be played using a computer having functionality that is similar to the gaming system12. As such, the structure identified with reference number12is intended to be construed sufficiently broad to encompass gaming systems and computers.

A person of skill in the art will appreciate that these communications may be between two persons or may be between larger groups or people.

To enhance the ability of the person playing the video game system while sitting in the gaming chair10to distinguish between sounds relating to the video game and sounds relating to the communication, the control panel20may cause a tone to be emitted when switching between the sounds relating to the video game and sounds relating to the communication.

The tone that is emitted when switching from the sounds relating to the video game to the sounds relating to the communication may be different from the tone that is emitted when switching from the sounds relating to the communication to the sounds relating to the video game.

At proximate to the time that the sounds relating to the video game are switched from being emitted by the speakers in the headphones22to the speakers in the gaming chair10, the control panel20may cause a notification to be played using at least one of the speakers in the headphones22and the speakers in the gaming chair10so that the person playing the video game while sitting in the gaming chair10is aware of the change. In certain embodiments, the notification indicates “video game sounds are only being emitted through the gaming chair speakers.”

Similarly, at proximate to the time that the sounds relating to the video game are switched from being emitted by the speakers in the gaming chair10to the speakers in the headphone22, the control panel20may cause a notification to be played using at least one of the speakers in the headphones22and the speakers in the gaming chair10so that the person playing the video game while sitting in the gaming chair10is aware of the change. In certain embodiments, the notification indicates “video game sounds are being emitted through the headphone speakers and the gaming chair speakers.”

To enhance the ability of the person playing the video game system while sitting in the gaming chair10to hear sounds relating to the video game that are emitted from speakers in the gaming chair10, the control panel20may turn off and/or reduce intensity of noise cancelling of the headphones22.

In the preceding detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “leading,” “trailing,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. Because components of embodiments can be positioned in a number of different orientations, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The preceding detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

It is contemplated that features disclosed in this application, as well as those described in the above applications incorporated by reference, can be mixed and matched to suit particular circumstances. Various other modifications and changes will be apparent to those of ordinary skill.