U.S. Pat. No. 8,070,571

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a control device particularly well suited for use by a player of a “first person shooter” type of video game. In such video games, the player typically is presented with a first person view of an environment in the video game and is asked to aim at and shoot various targets. The user is commonly provided with a fixed point of view, typically, in the center of the display. The point of view of the user in the game typically moves left, right, up, down, etc. based on the input from the computer mouse, keyboard, etc. to allow the user to aim at various targets in the video game. Targeting or aiming is typically accomplished by positioning the center of the fixed point of view at the desired position, generally using the computer mouse or keyboard or gamepad controls to change the point of view of the user in the video game. Shooting the target is typically accomplished by pressing a dedicated shoot button. The dedicated shoot button is typically one of the mouse buttons or a key on the keyboard or gamepad. Similarly, joysticks may also be used to change the point of view of the user in the game, and shooting is typically accomplished by pressing a shoot button, generally located on the top of the joystick or on a base of the joystick.

The control device of the present invention can quickly change the point of view of the user by simply moving the control device provides more intuitive and realistic interaction with the video game.

While the control device of the present invention is particularly well suited for use in such video games, the control device is preferably operable with any video game and may be used as a mouse-type device in conventional computer applications as well.

In addition, the control device of the present invention is preferably compatible with video game systems such as the SONY PLAYSTATION®, a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Similarly, the control device may be utilized with other computer simulations and virtual reality systems such as those commonly used by law enforcement and military agencies as training aids.

More specifically, a control device according of the present invention is described with reference toFIGS. 1,2and3, which illustrate a block diagram and first and second embodiments of a particular form/shape for a control device as shown in my prior PCT application PCT/US04/41396, which establish an environment useful for carrying out the improvements of the present invention, which are described inFIGS. 4-9

Referring first toFIG. 1, a coordinate control unit12is used to input information regarding the desired horizontal and vertical point of view of the user in the video game. More specifically, the coordinate control unit12may be used to provide information related to pitch, the vertical tilt, and yaw, the horizontal tilt, of the control device to indicate the desired horizontal and vertical point of view of the display of the computer system. A mouse-type control unit14provides traditional computer mouse button input information, such as to mimic left and right mouse keys. A game play control unit16provides additional conventional game play input information. Controller18receives information from the coordinate control unit12, mouse control unit14and game play control unit16and provides game play information to the computer system. In this manner, the control device of the present application includes substantially all of the functionality required to play today's advanced video games.

As disclosed in my above-noted PCT application PCT/US04/41396, the control device is preferably shaped as a firearm, which preferred shape is described further with reference toFIG. 2. As shown therein, the control device includes a hand grip20positioned below a rear section of a central body22. A trigger24extends down from the central body22in front of the hand grip20. A barrel26extends forward from the central body22. An adjustable fore grip28may extend downward from the barrel26in front of the trigger. For increased reality, the control device may include a removable stock29, which can be used to steady the control device10against the user's shoulder. This will increase stability of the control device. The control device may also be configured as a pistol, another firearm, a pointer or the like. While a firearm is the desired shape of the control device, other shapes may be used, and the invention is not limited to that shape.

The game play control unit16preferably includes game play controls and is illustrated inFIG. 1. Game play controls include controls for inputting information related to other aspects of the video game, for example, character movement in space in the video game, also referred to as longitudinal and lateral movement. Referring again toFIGS. 2& 3, hat switch50and/or a directional switch51are preferably used to control the lateral and longitudinal movement of a character in the game. While the hat switch50and the directional switch51may both be used to control lateral movement, they function in a slightly different manner. The hat switch50typically includes four momentary contact switches with a pad mounted over them. Each momentary contact switch is activated when the user presses down on the section of the pad that is over the respective momentary contact switch. Typically, only one momentary contact switch may be activated at a time, that is, input from more than one momentary contact switch is generally ignored. The directional switch51, however, typically allows input regarding motion in two directions at the same time. The direction switch51preferably includes four independent contact switches51a,51b,51c,51d, generally in a diamond shaped configuration. Each of the independent contact switches51a,51b,51c,51dtypically is used to provide for movement in a particular direction in the video game. Unlike the hat switch50, users are generally able to activate more than one of the contact switches at the same time. More specifically, most video games will allow for movement in the right and forward direction at the same time, for example. The result is diagonal movement in the video game. For example, conventional video games will allow such movement when the keyboard is used as the control device. The independent contact switches51a,51b,51c,51dof the directional switch51may mimic such control from the keyboard. This allows a user of the video game to move the character forward, backward, left, right and diagonally in space in the video game environment. In addition, where the user uses the hat switch50for longitudinal and lateral movement in the vide game, for example, the direction switch51may be used for other functions which increases the flexibility of the control device. Alternatively, where the direction switch51is used longitudinal and lateral movement in the video game, for example, the hat switch50may be used for other functions.

In addition, game play controls may include a jump button52, a run button53, a crouch button54and a special action button55. These game play controls may be positioned on a side surface of the hand grip20of the control device such that they are easily operated by the thumb of the user as it wraps around the hand grip (SeeFIG. 3). Shoot buttons56and56amay also be considered a game play control. Naturally, different games may have different game play options, and thus, it is impossible to list all possible game play controls, however, the control device of the present application is intended to be compatible with most every video game.

The coordinate control unit12ofFIG. 1may be implemented using a gyroscope40(seeFIG. 3) or other motion sensing devices. The gyroscope40, may be mounted on or in the control device. A solid state gyroscope may be utilized to determine the pitch and yaw of the control device10in the present application.

A coordinate activation button57, shown inFIG. 3, is preferably included in the game play control unit16. The activation button57activates the input of information from the coordinate control unit12while depressed. That is, ordinarily the information from the coordinate control unit is not used to control the display of the computer system. In this manner, inadvertent jostling or movement of the control device10by the user is not used to alter the point of view of the user in the video. The user depresses the activation button57when they wish to change the point of view. Generally, this operation is intuitive to the user in that the user depresses a button when he or she desires to change the display of the computer system and otherwise inadvertent movements do not affect the display of the computer screen. In this manner, a user can reposition the control device for comfort without changing the point of view of the user in the computer game. Alternatively, the activation button57may be used as a kill button, that is, the information from the coordinate control unit12is utilized to control the display normally, unless the kill button is depressed. This is slightly less intuitive for a user, however, it sill provides a way for the user to adjust his or her position or grip without affecting the display of the computer system when necessary. In addition, the activation button57may be a lever type switch positioned on the rear or front of the hand grip20.

In the present embodiment a lever type button58as shown inFIG. 2, may be included to provide input when pressure is applied. The lever type button58may be positioned on the rear of the hand grip20such that it can be easily activated by the hand of the user gripping the hand grip. The lever type button may also be positioned on a front side of the hand grip20on the lower portion below the trigger24. The lever type button58is preferably utilized as the coordinate activation button57. In this case, as shown inFIG. 2, the button57described above may be used to control another function.

In accordance with a first improvement to a controller of the type noted above, an LCD mounted to the body of the controller, for use as a primary display of the video game.

As shown in more detail inFIG. 4, video data is supplied from the pc or video game console to the LCD mounted to the controller, such that no other monitor is required, whether pc or television screen. The LCD is placed such that the user can easily see the face of the screen when the gun is held in a shooting position. Being that the motion sensor in the controller detects tilt and rotation of the device, and that this movement is used by the video game to determine point of view in the game environment, the resulting affect is that as the player repositions the controller and the viewpoint in the game changes accordingly. Thus, the player gets the impression of aiming the controller at the game images displayed on the LCD, such as one would normally sense when they aim a firearm. This embodiment could be correlated to such precision that rotating the controller a given degree would cause a change of viewpoint to the same degree, to the extent that if in the game world, a target is, for example, 20 degrees to the player's left, the player would then need to rotate the controller 20 degrees to the left in order to bring the target into the center of the player's view point. The amount of correlation between real world and game environment could be adjustable. The LCD could be used with multiple conventionally displays, or projected images, or other LCDs mounted on the device.

In accordance with a second improvement to a controller of the type noted above, an LCD embedded within the sighting scope of the controller, is used for supplying additional visual data for game play.

As shown inFIG. 5, a small LCD screen is affixed into a sighting scope mounted on the controller, in such a manner that when the scope is held up to eye level and the player looks into the scope, the player is presented with a game image generated from video input from a pc or game console. This image could be a magnified image which has the same point of view normally produced by the game, thereby mimicking the function of a firearm's telescopic sight, or it could be other visual data beneficial to game play. Additional switches could be mounted to the body of the controller, for manipulating the amount of magnification desired. The LCD sight could be used together with conventionally displays, or other projected images, or other LCDs mounted on the device.

In accordance with a third improvement to a controller of the type noted above, a video projector is mounted to the controller, for use as the primary display generating component of the video game.

As shown inFIG. 6, video data is supplied from the pc or video game console to the projector mounted to the controller, such that no other monitor is required, whether pc or television screen. The projector is placed such that the user can easily see the projected image when the gun is held in a shooting position. Being that the motion sensor in the controller detects tilt and rotation of the device, and that this movement is used by the video game to determine point of view in the game environment, the resulting affect is that as the player repositions the controller, and the viewpoint in the game changes accordingly, the player gets the impression of aiming the controller at the projected game images, such as one would normally aim a firearm. This could be correlated to such precision that rotating the controller a given degree would cause a change of viewpoint to the same degree, to the extent that if in the game world, a target is, for example, 20 degrees to the player's left, the player would then need to rotate the controller 20 degrees to the left in order to bring the target into the center of the player's view point. The amount of correlation between real world and game environment could be adjustable. The projector could be used with multiple conventionally displays, or other projected images, or other lcds mounted on the device.

In accordance with a forth improvement to a controller of the type noted above, a curved screen is provided upon which the projected image from improvement three is projected.

As shown inFIG. 7, a curved screen is provided which could partially or fully encompass the game player (to be used in conjunction with a projector mounted on the controller). The curvature would allow the projected image to be displayed anywhere the player aims the controller, the result being that as the player changes the position (tilt and rotation) of the controller, and the projected point of view changes accordingly, the projected game environment will take on the appearance of surrounding the player. The size of the screen could vary, as the distance of the player (at the center of the screen curvature or sphere) from the screen will dictate the size of the projected image.

In accordance with a fifth improvement to a controller of the type noted above, a knee pad mounted switch is provided, which would require the user to place a knee on the ground in order to activate a similar in-game action.

As shown inFIG. 8, a knee pad mounted switch, in which a player would have to have the switch make contact with the floor in order to activate the in-game action of crouching.

Conversely, the switch could be behind the player's knee, and bending of the knee could trigger the same game action. Behind the knee based bending could result in an in-game result of incremental crouching, while the knee pad based switch would be in an either on or off state as the player's knee either touches or removes from the floor. The desire to crouch is a function of the realism of the game environment, as crouching in conjunction with manipulating the tilt and rotation of the controller allows for better control of the view point, which translates to better aiming in the game environment.

In accordance with a sixth improvement to a controller of the type noted above, a realistic reloading and chambering of rounds/ammunition from the controller is provided.

As shown inFIG. 9, a realistic reloading mechanism with corresponding input into the video game or simulation could be mounted on or in the controller. For instance, a sensor detecting a sliding chamber, a revolver's loading mechanism, clip removal and reloading, hammer cocking, safety release, pump action for a shot gun, and similar reloading and calibration including automatic/semi-automatic selection of the weapon could be reproduced by a plurality of switches on or in the controller, which their associated actions taking place in the game or simulation. For example, pressing a switch would release a magazine clip from the controller, while at the same time sending that information to the video console, indicating that the player is reloading. When a new magazine is placed in the controller, a switch would be trigger, sending that information to the video console that the player's weapon has been reloaded. Similarly, a bolt mechanism might have to been reset by the player, with an integrated switch detecting this action, which would send input that a round has been chambered. The controller could have to be reloaded in the proper sequence to allow the user to successfully use the weapon in the virtual environment. This would have benefits for use of the controller in gun safety or military simulations, as shown inFIG. 7.