U.S. Pat. No. 8,403,754

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 2is a schematic diagram of an interactive game apparatus in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. The interactive game apparatus20comprises a game host21and a game controller22. The game host21is connected to a television (TV)80for showing game plays and includes a game control module211capable of running a game program, and bi-directionally communicates with the game controller22by wireless signals. Furthermore, the game host21comprises a first data conversion circuit212converting the output signals of the game control module211to a first wireless signal complying with an RF format. Afterward, a first transceiver213wirelessly transmits data to the game controller22through an antenna214.

The game controller22comprises a first motion sensor211such as an image sensor, a second motion sensor223such as a tilt sensor and a processor224. The first motion sensor221detects optical motion signals of a player, and is a kind of image sensor capturing images of an object—CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) image sensors or CCD image sensors, for example. The second motion sensor223is a kind of gravity action sensor detecting the motion instructions of the player, or a gyro sensor or an acceleration sensor also can replace the tilt sensor. The first motion sensor221further converts the optical signals of continuous images into the digital signals of plural frames. Sequentially, a digital signal processor222compresses and filters the digital signals, so as to obtain digital signals regarding the number, dimensions, shapes and coordinates of the objects detected in each frame. Such digital signals are transmitted to the processor224, a backend circuit. The digital signal processor222and first motion sensor221are two divided devices or can be integrated into an IC to form a system on chip (SOC). The second motion sensor223is capable of detecting 3-dimensional changes in the postures of the limbs or hands of the player, and the detected optical signal is converted into motion signals for output to the processor224. The processor224comprises a determination circuit229determining the timing for activating either the first motion sensor211or the second motion sensor223. That is, one of the motion sensors is specially activated or both are alternatively activated when some statuses occur or specified games are executed. Moreover, both can be simultaneously activated when certain statuses occur. Therefore, the game apparatus20is adaptive to the instant changes of game manipulation.

The game controller22also comprises a second data conversion circuit226and a second transceiver227, wherein the second data conversion circuit226converts the output signals of the processor224to a second wireless signal complying with the RF format. Afterward, a second transceiver227wirelessly transmits data to the game host21through an antenna228. Furthermore, the game controller22comprises a user control circuit225for the player to set parameters, play modes and conditions of the game.

Referring toFIG. 3, the bi-directional communication between the game host21and game controller22inFIG. 2also can be implemented by a connection cable23. There is a second embodiment shown inFIG. 3. The interactive game apparatus30comprises a game host21′ and a game controller22′. But the first data conversion circuit212′ and a second data conversion circuit226′ are respectively connected to input/output (I/O) ports215and230. The connection cable23connects I/O ports215and230that respectively convert digital signals to a first transmission signals compatible with the I/O port215and convert digital signals to a second transmission signals compatible with the I/O port230.

The aforementioned descriptions of the present invention are intended to be illustrative only. Numerous alternative methods may be devised by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the following claims.