U.S. patent application number 10/431867 was filed with the patent office on 2003-10-16 for method and device for optical gun interaction with a computer system.
Invention is credited to McCauley, Jack Jean.
Application Number | 20030195041 10/431867 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25486202 |
Filed Date | 2003-10-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030195041 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
McCauley, Jack Jean |
October 16, 2003 |
Method and device for optical gun interaction with a computer
system
Abstract
A device and a method for integrating an optical gun with a
computer game system and within a computer game scenario are
provided. The preferred embodiment includes an optical gun, or gun,
with a communications interface, such as a USB interface, with the
computer game system. The gun has sensors that sense when (1) a
player is grasping a gun handle, or (2) the gun is holstered. The
gun simulates a recoil force when a simulated round is fired. A
battery is charged between game periods and drawn down during play.
A laser beam is emitted from the gun only when the gun is pointed
at a game video screen. Green and red LED's on the gun indicate the
presence of a friend or foe character or avatar. The gun includes a
zoom control that affects the screen representation of the player's
view and visibility in the game scenario. The gun may have
bi-directional or unidirectional wireless communications with the
computer game system, a battery charger and multi-channel radio
carrier frequency auto detect. The gun can determine the nature of
the game video screen. A video sampling or tapping wire may enable
further enhanced features of the gun.
Inventors: |
McCauley, Jack Jean;
(Danville, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATRICK REILLY
BOX 7218
SANTA CRUZ
CA
95061-7218
US
|
Family ID: |
25486202 |
Appl. No.: |
10/431867 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10431867 |
May 8, 2003 |
|
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09947479 |
Sep 6, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/37 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2300/1025 20130101;
A63F 13/219 20140901; A63F 13/285 20140902; A63F 13/213 20140902;
G06F 3/0386 20130101; A63F 13/06 20130101; A63F 13/837 20140902;
A63F 2300/1062 20130101; A63F 13/04 20130101; A63F 2300/8076
20130101; F41A 33/02 20130101; A63F 2300/1037 20130101; A63F
2300/1043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/37 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An optical gun for use with a computer game system, the computer
game system having a game computer, a video display and a video
signal bus coupling the game computer and the video display, the
optical gun comprising: a control module, the control module having
a processor and a memory; and a serial interface, the serial
interface coupling the control module and the computer game
system.
2. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface
comprises a voltage power line, a ground line, and at least one
signal line.
3. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface
comprises a USB.
4. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface
comprises a USB compatible communications bus.
5. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface
comprises a bi-directional communications bus.
6. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface
comprises a substantially USB compliant bus.
7. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface
comprises a communications bus selected from the group consisting
of a MICROSOFT XBOX game system compatible communications
interface, a MICROSOFT XUSB compatible communications interface, a
NINTENDO game system compatible communications bus, an IBM computer
system standards compatible communications bus, an APPLE COMPUTER
computer system standards compatible communications bus, a SONY
CORPORATION PLAYSTATION computer system standards compatible
communications bus, a NINTENDO CORPORATION GAME CUBE computer
system standards compatible communications bus, a SEGA CORPORATION
DREAMCAST computer system standards compatible communications bus,
and an IEEE technology society standard compatible communications
bus.
8. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a hand detect sensor, the hand detect sensor for
detecting a proximity of a human hand to the optical gun and
informing the processor of the hand detection.
9. The optical gun of claim 8, wherein the hand detect sensor is
selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, a pressure
sensor, an infrared detector, a motion detector, a light detector
and an electro-mechanical switch.
10. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further
comprises: a holster, the holster sized to substantially house a
barrel of the optical gun; and a holster sensor, the holster detect
sensor for detecting an insertion of the barrel of the optical gun
into the holster, and the holster sensor informing the processor of
the holster insertion.
11. The optical gun of claim 10, wherein the holster sensor is
selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, a pressure
sensor, an infrared detector, a motion detector, a light detector
and an electro-mechanical switch.
12. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a recoil simulator generator, the recoil simulator
generator for delivering a simulated recoil to a game player as
directed by the computer game system.
13. The optical gun of claim 12, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a battery, the battery for delivering power to the recoil
simulator generator.
14. The optical gun of claim 13, wherein the serial interface
comprises a power line, the power line for delivering power to the
battery.
15. The optical gun of claim 14, the optical gun further
comprising: a holster, the holster sized to substantially house a
barrel of the optical gun; a holster sensor, the holster detect
sensor for detecting an insertion of the optical gun into the
holster, and the holster sensor informing the processor of the
holster insertion; and wherein the battery is charged when the
holster sensor informs the processor of an insertion of the barrel
into the holster.
16. The optical gun of claim 15, wherein the holster sensor is
selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, a pressure
sensor, an infrared detector, a motion detector, a light detector
and an electro-mechanical switch.
17. The optical gun of claim1, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a laser pointer, the laser emitting light when the
optical gun determines that the optical gun is pointed at the video
screen.
18. The optical gun of claim1, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a visual indicator, the visual indicator informing the
user when the optical gun determines that the optical gun is
pointed at a friend character.
19. The optical gun of claim1, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a visual indicator, the visual indicator informing the
user when the optical gun determines that the optical gun is
pointed at a foe character.
20. The optical gun of claim 19, wherein the visual indicator
informs the user when the optical gun determines that the optical
gun is pointed at a friend character.
21. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a zoom control, whereby the user directs the computer
game system to increase a magnification of the visual display as
presented to the user.
22. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface
includes a wireless communications link between the optical gun and
the computer game system.
23. The optical gun of claim 22, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a multiple wireless communications channel auto
detect.
24. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface
comprises a wireless uni-directional communications link, whereby
the optical gun provides data to the computer game system.
25. The optical gun of claim 24, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a multiple channel auto detect.
26. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a video sampling cable, the video sampling cable for
providing a video frames as sent to the video display to the
optical gun.
27. The optical gun of claim 22, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a battery and a battery charger, whereby the battery
provide power to the optical gun and the battery charger transmits
power to the battery.
28. The optical gun of claim 27, the optical gun further
comprising: a holster, the holster sized to substantially house a
barrel of the optical gun; a holster sensor, the holster detect
sensor for detecting an insertion of the optical gun into the
holster, and the holster sensor informing the processor of the
holster insertion; and wherein the battery is charged when the
holster sensor informs the processor of an insertion of the barrel
into the holster.
29. The optical gun of claim 28, wherein the holster sensor is
selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, a pressure
sensor, an infrared detector, a motion detector, a light detector
and an electro-mechanical switch.
30. The optical gun of claim 4, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a battery and a battery charger, whereby the battery
provide power to the optical gun and the battery charger transmits
power to the battery.
31. The optical gun of claim 30, the optical gun further
comprising: a holster, the holster sized to substantially house a
barrel of the optical gun; a holster sensor, the holster detect
sensor for detecting an insertion of the optical gun into the
holster, and the holster sensor informing the processor of the
holster insertion; and wherein the battery is charged when the
holster sensor informs the processor of an insertion of the barrel
into the holster.
32. The optical gun of claim 31, wherein the holster sensor is
selected from the group consisting of a thermal sensor, a pressure
sensor, an infrared detector, a motion detector, a light detector
and an electro-mechanical switch.
33. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial interface
further comprises at least a first connector and a second
connector, and where the first connector and the second connector
are configured to enable a hardware communication connection with a
communications bus.
34. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the gun further comprises a
peripheral input module, the peripheral input module operatively
connected with the optical gun and the peripheral input module for
providing a game player a means to transmit information to the
optical gun.
35. The optical gun of claim 34, wherein the peripheral input
module further comprises an input device selected from the group
consisting of a thumbpad, a foot pedal an optical wheel and a
mouse.
36. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a laser pointer, the laser emitting light as directed by
the computer game system and as the computer game system determines
that the optical gun is pointed at the video screen.
37. The optical gun of claim 22, wherein the optical gun further
comprises at least two wireless communications channel selections
and manual switch to select one of the at least two wireless
communications channel selections for use in wireless
communications between the optical gun and the computer game
system.
38. The optical gun of claim 37, wherein the at least two wireless
communications channel selections comprise unidirectional
communications channel selections for use in wireless
communications from the optical gun and to the computer game
system.
39. The optical gun of claim 37, wherein the at least two wireless
communications channel selections comprise bi-directional
communications channel selections for use in wireless
communications between the optical gun and to the computer game
system.
40. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial further
comprises a cable bundle, the cable bundle having at least two
hardware connectors, each hardware connector for connection with a
computer game system.
41. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the serial further
comprises a cable bundle, the cable bundle having at least two
hardware connectors, each hardware connector for connection with a
computer game system, and each connector selected from the group
consisting of a MICROSOFT XBOX game system compatible
communications interface, a MICROSOFT XUSB compatible
communications interface, a NINTENDO game system compatible
communications bus, an IBM computer system standards compatible
communications bus, an APPLE COMPUTER computer system standards
compatible communications bus, a SONY CORPORATION PLAYSTATION
computer system standards compatible communications bus, a NINTENDO
CORPORATION GAME CUBE computer system standards compatible
communications bus, a SEGA CORPORATION DREAMCAST computer system
standards compatible communications bus, and an IEEE technology
society standard compatible communications bus.
42. The optical gun of claim 1, further comprising a zoom control,
wherein the zoom control activates a zoom function, whereby the
interaction of the game player within a computer game scenario is
affected by manual manipulations of the zoom control.
43. The optical gun of claim 42, wherein a screen image of the
video display of the computer game system is affected by manual
manipulations of the zoom control.
44. The optical gun of claim 22, wherein the optical gun further
comprises a battery and a battery charger, the battery for storing
electrical power and providing electrical power to the optical gun,
and the battery charger for providing electrical power to the
battery, and the battery charger is detachably attached to the
battery, whereby the optical gun is detachably attached to the
battery charger to recharge the battery and detached from the
battery charger for use in game play.
45. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the control module is
integrated on a single substrate.
46. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the control module is an
integrated semiconductor device.
47. The optical gun of claim 1, wherein the control module is a
multi-chip module.
Description
CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation to application Ser. No.
09/947,479 filed on Sep. 6, 2001 and claims the benefit of the
priority date of application Ser. No. 09/366,390, filed on Aug. 3,
1999.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to optical guns that simulate
the generation of ballistic gunfire and methods of use of optical
guns with computer game systems. More particularly, the present
invention relates to the features of optical guns and the degree of
realism provided by the methods of use of optical guns within a
computer game scenario.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0003] The market for computer game systems is now well established
and growing. Improvements in the design and performance of computer
game system peripherals can provide significant competitive and
economic benefits to several large multinational corporations, such
as IBM, SEGA, SONY and MICROSOFT. Inventive work in the area of
optical gun design and performance increases as the computer game
industry matures. U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,190, Thanasack, Jan. 9, 2001,
for example, discloses a light gun to be used with a conventional
personal computer without having to modify the computer with
additional circuit boards and operating system changes. The
invention of Thanasack, et al. teaches that the light gun can be
configured to derive the location on the screen at which the gun is
pointing, when the invented light gun is used with a computer
system having a VGA card and raster scanning video. Yet the field
utility of Thanasack is severely limited to providing light guns
that work with computer systems having particular and specific
video display methodologies.
[0004] Additional features that add to the uniqueness of game play
are also of interest to game system manufacturers. U.S. Pat. No.
5,569,085, Igarashi, et al., Oct. 29, 1996 describes an
articulating cover on a model gun that is powered to move during
game play. Yet the invention of Igarashi, et al. is limited to gun
models that have covers driven towards the player during simulated
firing of the gun, and directly in response to each trigger
actuation or firing session generated by the game player.
[0005] Prior art methods of operating optical guns with a digital
television present functional difficulties when the actual image
displayed on the screen is out of phase with the composite sync
signal on the monitor. Prior art guns expect that the composite
sync signal and the displayed image on the screen are out of phase
by a few billionths-of-a-radian or less. Phase angles greater than
this cause the gun to loose sync with the image and thus the gun
pointer will wander to a large degree and cease to be of use to the
player.
[0006] There is, therefore, a long felt need in the computer gaming
industry to provide a method and apparatus that improve the
enjoyment of a player using an optical gun within a computer game
scenario and increases the adaptability of the optical gun for use
with digital televisions. There is a further long felt need to
provide an optical apparatus and method of design and use thereof
that enables a computer game designer to introduce novel features
and aspects of peripheral systems that can enhance the novelty and
enjoyment of the game player.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
optical gun that interacts with a computer game system.
[0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
method of use of an optical gun within a computer game
scenario.
[0009] It is an object of certain preferred embodiments of the
present invention to provide an optical gun that senses when a
player's hand is grasping or proximate to a gun handle or gun
trigger.
[0010] It is a further object of certain preferred embodiments of
the present invention to provide an optical gun that sense when the
gun is substantially placed into a holster.
[0011] It is another object of certain preferred embodiments of the
present invention to provide a gun that simulates a recoil force to
the user when a simulated round is fired from the gun.
[0012] It is still another object of certain preferred embodiments
of the present invention to provide a battery that may be used by
the gun during game play and optionally refreshed during a
relatively quiet time of gun use.
[0013] It is yet another object of certain preferred embodiments of
the present invention to provide one or more LED's that indicate
the presence of characters or avatars in a game scenario, such as
may be categorized as friend or foe or by other qualities or
distinctions.
[0014] It is a further object of certain preferred embodiments of
the present invention to provide a zoom control on the gun, whereby
the player's virtual position within a game scenario may be
altered, or the field of view presented on a game video screen is
affected.
[0015] It is yet a further object of certain preferred embodiments
of the present invention to provide a wireless communications
method and system whereby the gun may unidirectionally communicate
with a computer game system.
[0016] It is still a further object of certain preferred
embodiments of the present invention to provide a wireless
communications method and system whereby the gun may
bi-directionally communicate with a computer game system.
[0017] It is yet another object of certain preferred embodiments of
the present invention to provide a wireless communications method
and system whereby the system has a multiple radio frequency auto
detect for integrating communications with a computer game
system.
[0018] It is still another object of certain preferred embodiments
of the present invention to provide a method and system whereby the
gun may determine the type of video screen of the computer game
system with which the gun is interacting, i.e. distinguishing a 100
Hertz television screen output, or a 120 Hertz television screen
output, 1080I line output television, or a high definition
television screen output.
[0019] It is yet another further object of certain preferred
embodiments of the present invention to provide a video sampling
cable whereby the gun may actualize enhanced features in
interaction with the computer game system, composite video, VGA,
SVGA, RGB, S-video or other analog or digital transmission
means.
[0020] It is an additional object of certain preferred embodiments
of the present invention to provide a method to increase the
performance of the optical gun with computer games that include
digital television
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0021] An optical gun designed in accordance with the method of the
present invention includes a body shaped substantially similar to a
rifle, a machine gun, a bazooka, a light projectile or missile
launcher, a handgun, a pistol, a crossbow, a machine pistol, a
grenade launcher, an electrical stun gun, an energy emitter, a
particle beam or a light beam gun, or another suitable manually
fired weapon known in the art. The preferred embodiment includes an
optical gun having a light sensor, a microprocessor, and a gun body
shaped like a semi-automatic pistol with a handgrip, a trigger and
a barrel. The preferred embodiment, or invented gun, has a thermal
energy detector sensor that registers the proximity of a game
player's hand by sensing heat generated from the hand. The thermal
energy detector, or hand detector, may be located at or near the
trigger. The hand detector may include or be a micro-switch, an
Infrared thermal energy detector, or another suitable hand
proximity sensor known in the art. The hand detector communicates
with the microprocessor. The microprocessor, or gun processor,
determines from this communication with the hand sensor, when the
player's hand is proximate to the gun body.
[0022] The invented gun has a holster switch on the body. The
holster switch senses when the invented gun is placed into a
holster. The invented gun may react to indications from the holster
switch and the hand detector to improve power management of the
invented gun.
[0023] The invented gun further comprises a communications and
electrical power interface, such as a Universal Serial Bus, a
derivative of the Universal Serial Bus, or another suitable
communications and electrical power interface known in the art,
such as, for example, a suitable industry standard or proprietary
communications bus or a game port system as stipulated by MICROSOFT
CORPORATION, SONY, NINTENDO, IBM, NINTENDO CORPORATION, SEGA
CORPORATION or the IEEE. The communications and electrical power
interface, or comms bus, provides bi-directional communications
between the invented gun and the computer game system.
[0024] The preferred embodiment includes a small electric motor or
actuator that is used to simulate the recoil of an actual weapon.
The simulated recoil function is directed by the computer game
system and the command to simulate a weapon's recoil is transmitted
over the comms bus and from the computer game system. The simulated
recoil function may be used in various preferred embodiments of the
method of the present invention to inform, reinforce or add to a
game scenario ambience, when the computer game system determines
(1) that the game player has effected a simulated hit on a target,
(2) that the game player has been hit within the context of the
game scenario, or (3) whenever the game player has effected a
simulated firing of the invented gun.
[0025] The preferred embodiment includes a battery that delivers
electrical energy to electric motor or actuator. The energy
delivered from the battery to the motor or actuator may be
supplemented by electrical power provided via the comms bus to the
motor or actuator. The battery is recharged by comms bus and
optionally under the direction of the microprocessor at times when
the recoil function is not engaged.
[0026] The preferred embodiment includes a laser pointer that is
turned on and emits light only when the invented gun is pointed at
a video screen of the computer game system. In certain preferred
embodiments of the present invention the comms bus is a Universal
Serial Bus, or USB, and the optical gun receives instructions from
the computer game system to turn on or turn off the laser point via
information enclosed in a USB OUT packet or packets. Additionally
or alternatively, the motor or control can be actuated by the comms
bus, as found in certain Sony PlayStation games.
[0027] The preferred embodiment includes a character or avatar
detector. The character or avatar detector, or presence detector,
indicates to the game player the presence or approach of a
character or avatar within the game scenario, and may indicate a
characteristic of the character or avatar, such as by using colored
light to indicate whether a particular avatar or character is a
friend, an ally, a foe, a neutral entity or an innocent party. In
certain preferred embodiments of the present invention the presence
detector indicates the characteristic when the optical gun is
pointed at the character or avatar.
[0028] The preferred embodiment includes a zoom function, whereby
the orientation or simulated location of the game player within a
game scenario is affected by manual manipulations of zoom control
features positioned on the optical gun. Alternatively or
additionally, the zoom function may affect the field of view
presented to the game player by the computer game system, whereby
the game player may elect to have a more limited field of view but
with a larger presentation of one or more visual elements of the
game scenario.
[0029] The invented gun can determine the type of image presented
by the video screen of the computer game system. The invented gun
determines if the video screen is a 50 Hz, 60 Hz, 100 Hz.
television image, a 120 Hz. television image, digitally enhanced or
a high definition television image. The inventive technique applied
by the invented gun includes the creation of a virtual time base in
a software representation, and using this time base to measure the
gun pointing position during a particular frame.
[0030] Certain alternate preferred embodiments of the method of the
present invention couple the detection by the optical gun of a
frame presentation on a television cathode ray tube of the computer
game system. A series of digital and analog signal processors
embedded in the television substantially modify the input signal
and alter the VIDEO timing of the video console input signal and
therefrom render the console input signal out of synchronization
with an image displayed on the cathode ray tube, or CRT. The gun
processor analyzes the video console signal, and generates a phase
timing offset signal dynamically while the game is running, then
compares this gun processor generated signal to the detector input
and therefrom determines an accurate timing for the detector input
vis-a-vis the out-of-phases video sampling cable input. Referred to
herein are the terms of art of "100 Hz", "120 Hz", "480 p", "760
p", "1080 il", "Comb Filter", "Progressive Scan", "HDTV" and
"DSP".
[0031] The invented system further comprises a video sampling
cable, the video sampling cable coupled with the microprocessor,
and the video sampling cable provides the microprocessor with
information about a video file prior to the presentation of the
video file on the video screen. The information provided by the
video sampling cable to the microprocessor is used by the invented
system to enable advanced gaming features. The video sampling cable
may be comprised within, added to or included with the comms bus,
such as a substantially USB compliant comms bus.
[0032] The preferred embodiment, or invented system uses the data
received from the computer game system, and via the video sampling
cable, to improve the interaction of the present invention with a
computer game system that includes a digital television. A digital
television rasterizes the composite signal. The composite signal is
generated by the computer game system and is transmitted to the
digital television via a small signal coaxial cable, a twisted pair
or other suitable signal transmission means known in the art. An
analog television retrieves the composite sync signal and displays
the TV signal on the screen in a pure analog form. PAL, NTSC and
SECAM are the world-wide standards for composite signals and are
roughly similar in form. The standards may dictate a maximum frame
rate of 25 and 30 frames/sec for each signal, respectively. To
reduce flicker, analog composite sync signals are displayed on the
phosphor screen at interleaved half frames to yield a resultant
sync rate of 50 and 60 frames/sec (Hz) on the screen. Each frame is
divided into two display data sets and each set, or one half of
each frame is sequentially displayed at {fraction (1/60)} (17
milliseconds) each. The frame rates of 25 and 30 frames/sec
correspond to the actual frame capture rate of a motion picture
film camera and, for simplicity's sake, this is why these two rates
may be selected when appropriate.
[0033] Alternatively, a digital television system digitizes the
composite video signal and stores the digitized video data into a
RAM memory. The digital television then performs digital signal
processing, or DSP, on the digital video file with the use of the
RAM memory. After DSP actions on the RAM memory are executed, a DSP
processor transmits a resultant video data file as output to a
Digital to Analog converter, or DAC, and from the DAC to an analog
video screen. One can think of the DSP circuitry of the digital TV
as the brain within the television.
[0034] Digital televisions are built and marketed in various forms,
such as 100 Hz, 120 Hz, HiDefinition, Progressive Scan, Wide Screen
HDTV, 1080 il, and HDTV, but these video display systems all work
in principally the same way. Most of these digital television
embodiments DSP the video data file to enhance the resolution,
frame rate, color brightness and provide what's know as a Comb
Filter Convolution function to increase sharpness. All of these DSP
operations create obstacles for using prior art optical guns in
combination with computer game or entertainment systems. A core
problem encountered in using an optical gun with a digital
television is that the actual image displayed on the digital
television video screen is out of phase with the composite sync
signal of the monitor. Prior art guns expect that the composite
sync signal and the displayed image on the screen are out of phase
by a few billionths-of-a-radian or less. Phase angles greater than
this cause prior art optical guns to lose sync with the image and
thus the gun pointer will wander to a large degree and cease to be
of use to the player. A preferred embodiment of the method of the
present invention removes the phase angle in software from the gun
by (1) recognizing that the gun and the screen are to a large
degree always out of phase, (2) calculating this phase angle on a
composite sync per-frame basis and then (3) mathematically reducing
the offset to zero. The software and high-speed digital hardware
components in the gun are both employed to actualize this optional
aspect of the method of the present invention. The identification
and measurement of these components, the calculation of phase
angles, frame rates and the resultant accuracy to a large degree
depend on a physical principle in mathematics called the beat
frequency.
[0035] The following discussion explores the calculation of the
phase angle according to a preferred embodiment of the method of
the present invention. The current composite sync signal (single
pixel) can be represented by the function:
FS(t)=k*Sin(w1*t+y) where f=w/2Pi or 17 ms (60Hz) and y is the
phase angle.
[0036] And let the image on the digital television video screen
(single pixel) be represented by the function:
FI(t)=p*Sin(w2*t+q) where f=w/2Pi could equal 60 Hz, 100 Hz, 120
Hz, etc., and q is the phase angle.
[0037] And let the photo detector of the optical gun of the present
invention observe the following:
P(t)=FI(t)+FS(t).
[0038] The beat frequency may be a substantially square-wave,
impulse or sinusoidal function having a fundamental frequency of
approximately 100 Hz.
[0039] The photo detector of the present invention will detect a
beat frequency which is the composite of these two signals, i.e.
FI(t) and FS(t). The beat frequency may have a vertical or
horizontal retrace signal generated by a digital television as a
component. The preferred embodiment of the method of the present
invention is directed to find the values of w2, y and q. The
processor in the invented gun does not, in all preferred
embodiments of the method of the present invention, attempt to
solve the equation. In fact, because of the digital nature of the
method of the present invention, it is often simpler and more cost
effective to use a table driven method whereby the magnitude
.vertline.P.vertline. peak is collected across a period of one
frame. The highest point of this peak is the pointed position on
the screen of the gun. The table contains time offsets from the
start of the frame (w1*t)=0.
[0040] As the value of phase angle y is at zero, or may be assumed
to be zero, in the instant application, the value of q may be
derived from these relationships:
P(t)=2*sin(t*(w1-w2)*cos(-q/2)
q=-2*csec(1/(2*sin(t*(w1-w2)))
[0041] The value of q is therefore determinable where two
fundamental frequencies w1 and w2 are quantified. The value of w1
is either supplied to the optical gun by the computer game system
or derived by the optical gun by information supplied to the
optical gun by the computer game system. The value of w2 is
determinable by detecting the time period T between peaks of
maximal pixel brightening, or Pmax, of an area or pixel of the
video screen. The value of Pmax may be determined by multiple
observations of maximal pixel brightening and by applying averaging
and other suitable mathematical or statistical methods of
determining an approximate value of T.
[0042] The preferred embodiment takes the following relationship
into account:
T=1/w2, where w is expressed in hertz.
[0043] The value of q is therefore determinable as the value of w1
is contained in the software values of the computer game system and
the value of w2 can be calculated from pixel brightening detections
of the optical gun.
[0044] In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention,
all computational mathematics performed by the invented optical gun
processor is executed with 32-bit, two's complement, fixed point
notation. The single measurement point may be taken at random.
[0045] The preferred embodiment further observes the number of
Vsync counts that occur between the start of a frame and the
detection of a particular instance of pixel or area brightening of
the video display and transmits the Vsync count to the computer
game system. The preferred embodiment additionally detects the
Hsync count of a width of an area brightening of the video display
screen and transmits this Hsync count to the computer game system.
The Hsync count is then used to determine the center of the
brightening of the area of the display screen, from which
determination the orientation of the optical gun to the video
display screen is more closely determined.
[0046] In addition, the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, makes use of standardized frequencies for w1 of 15 Khz
by the NTSC and PAL standards for broadcast television, and that w1
can be measured from successive time bases for the SYNC signal as a
further empirical method of deriving w1. W2 as noted, can be
measured from successive pixel brightening sequences. For that
matter, w2 can be derived by making the observation that:
w2=w1/2.
[0047] An alternate preferred embodiment of the method of the
present invention, or unidirectional wireless gun, includes a
wireless transmitter in the optical gin assembly and a wireless
receiver in the computer system. The transmitter sends information
about the optical gun's state or detected conditions and sends the
information to the receiver of the computer game system by infrared
or radio frequency, or other suitable wireless transmission link or
means known in the art. The receiver includes a wireless receiver
module, a digital logic module and a receiver-to-game system
interface. The receiver accepts the information transmitted from
the optical gun via the wireless receiver module. The digital logic
module then formats a receiver data report that includes the
transmitted information. The receiver then sends the receiver data
report to the computer game system via the receiver-to-game system
interface. The receiver-to-game system interface and the receiver
data report may be USB compliant or substantially USB compliant, or
function in accordance with a suitable industry standard or
proprietary communications bus or game port system as stipulated by
MICROSOFT CORPORATION, SONY, SEGA, NINTENDO, IBM or the IEEE, or
another suitable communications protocol known in the art.
[0048] A second alternate preferred embodiment of the method of the
present invention, or bi-directional wireless gun, includes a
transceiver in the bi-directional wireless gun and a game
transceiver coupled with the computer game system. The optical gun
transceiver sends and receives information from and to the game
transceiver. The optical gun transceiver sends gun information
about the optical gun's state or detected conditions and sends the
gun information to the transceiver of the computer game system by
infrared or radio frequency, or other suitable wireless
transmission means known in the art. The game transceiver includes
a wireless transceiver module, a digital logic module and a
receiver-to-game system interface. The game transceiver accepts the
gun information transmitted from the optical gun via the wireless
transceiver module. The digital logic module then formats a
receiver data report that includes the transmitted gun information.
The game transceiver then sends the receiver data report to the
computer game system via the transceiver-to-game system interface.
The transceiver-to-game system interface and the receiver data
report may be USB compliant or substantially USB compliant, or
function in accordance with a suitable industry standard or
proprietary communications bus or game port system as stipulated by
MICROSOFT CORPORATION, SONY, SEGA, NINTENDO, IBM or the IEEE, or
another suitable communications protocol or system known in the
art. The game transceiver may additionally transmit data or
instruction to the optical gun by suitable industry standard or
proprietary wireless transmission means or link known in the art,
such as radio frequency or infrared transmission.
[0049] The unidirectional wireless gun and the bi-directional
wireless gun each have a multiple channel detect to select a radio
frequency for information transmission to and/or from the computer
game system. The detection of the wireless communications frequency
may be done by an automatic function of the bi-directional or the
unidirectional wireless, or may alternatively or additionally be
controlled by the user by means of manual input, such as buttons,
or another suitable manual input means known in the art.
[0050] The receiver, transmitter and transceivers may each further
comprise a channel selector, whereby a user decides which channel
may be used by a particular wireless optical gun to transmit or
receive wireless signals to and from the computer game system. This
optional capability facilitates the use of two or more optical guns
simultaneously with the computer game system by dedicated separate
wireless transmission frequencies or band to individual optical
guns.
[0051] The optical gun includes an interface harness that presents
two or more optional hardware connectors to computer game systems.
The addition of more than one type of connector allows the optical
gun to be electrically connected with computer game systems of
differing make, model or standardized communications bus
compatibility. For example, the optical gun may be mass produced
with a plurality of interface connectors, where each connector is
selected from a connector type that is compatible with a suitable
interface standard known in the art, to include a USB, or a bus
that is substantially a USB, or a derivative of a USB, or a
variation of a USB, or a modified USB, or a suitable a game port
system, a MICROSOFT XBOX game system compatible communications
interface, or a NINTENDO game system compatible communications bus,
or a SONY PLAYSTATION game system compatible communications bus, or
an IBM computer system standards compatible communications bus, or
an APPLE COMPUTER computer system standards compatible
communications bus known in the art, or an IEEE technology society
standard compatible communications bus known in the art, or another
suitable standard or proprietary communications bus known in the
art. The inclusion of one or more additional interface connectors
with the mass-produced optical gun raises the economic value of the
optical gun above the prior art by causing the optical gun to have
a more ubiquitous range of application and compatibility with
commercially available computer game systems.
[0052] The optical gun may optionally include a peripheral input
module that communicates with the gun microprocessor by wired or
wireless means. The gun peripheral input may include a thumbpad, a
thumbpad with switches, an optical wheel, a foot pedal, a mouse, or
another suitable peripheral input device known in the art.
[0053] Certain preferred wireless embodiments of the present
invention may also have a battery charger, whereby the battery of
the optical gun is charged with electrical power by removably
connecting a power source or outlet to the battery.
[0054] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages
will be apparent from the following description of the preferred
embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0055] These, and further features of the invention, may be better
understood with reference to the accompanying specification and
drawings depicting the preferred embodiment, in which:
[0056] FIG. 1 illustrates an optical gun designed and used in
accordance with the method of the present invention and having a
wired connection with a computer game system.
[0057] FIG. 2 shows an optical gun with a hand detect module of the
optical gun of FIG. 1.
[0058] FIG. 3 presents a holster proximity-sensing module of the
optical gun of FIG. 1.
[0059] FIG. 4 illustrates a recoil module of the optical gun of
FIG. 1.
[0060] FIG. 5 shows a battery charging system of the optical gun of
FIG. 1, and presents a laser pointer module, a character or avatar
detector, and a zoom control of the optical gun of FIG. 1.
[0061] FIG. 6 illustrates the optical gun of FIG. 1 in use with a
digital television system.
[0062] FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the system operation of the
preferred embodiment of the present invention of the Figures and
comprising optional processes.
[0063] FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate optical guns that alternatively
support bi-directional or unidirectional wireless communication
with a computer game system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0064] The following description is provided to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the
best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his or her
invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily
apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles
of the present invention have been defined herein.
[0065] Referring now generally to the Figures, and particularly to
FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the present invention, or
invented gun 2, is presented. The invented gun 2 has a gun body 4,
a control module 6, a light sensor 8, a trigger circuit 10 with a
trigger 12, and a communications interface 14 to a computer game
system 16. The light sensor 8 detects when a plurality of pixels 18
on a video screen 20 of the computer game system 16 brightens and
informs the control module 6 of a detected pixel plurality
brightening. The control module 6 then processes the time
occurrence of the detected pixels brightening in combination with
signals received from the trigger circuit 10 and information
received over the communications bus 14, and therefrom determines,
or partially determines, a relatedness, or degree of relatedness,
of the detected pixels brightening detection within the context of
a computer game scenario running on the computer game system
16.
[0066] The communications interface 14, or comms bus 14, of the
invented gun 2 may be a USB, or substantially a USB, or a
derivative of a USB, or a variation of a USB, or a modified USB, or
a suitable game port system, a MICROSOFT XBOX game system
compatible communications interface, or a NINTENDO game system
compatible communications bus, or a SONY PLAYSTATION game system
compatible communications bus, or an IBM computer system standards
compatible communications bus, or an APPLE COMPUTER computer system
standards compatible communications bus known in the art, or an
IEEE technology society standard compatible communications bus or
game port system known in the art, or another suitable
communications bus known in the art.
[0067] The control module 6 has a microprocessor 22, a
memory-containing gun operating instructions 24, and a processing
memory 26 that enable the control module 6 to manage information
required for storage and provision to and from the microprocessor
22, or gun processor 22, during the operation of the invented
gun.
[0068] The communications bus 14, or comms bus, provides
bi-directional electrical signal communications between the control
module 6 and the computer game system 16. The comms bus includes a
plurality of signal lines 28, an electrical ground line 30, and a
power line 32. The invented gun 2 optionally includes a video
sampling cable 34 that captures data as this data is transmitted
from a computer game system computer 36 to the computer game video
screen 20 via a video signal line 38. The control module 6
processes this data in view of trigger actuation signals received
from the trigger circuit 10 and pixel brightening detection signals
received from the light sensor 8. The control module 6 thereby
determines where within the video screen 20 the invented gun 2 is
pointed proximate to the time that the trigger 12 of the invented
gun 2 is manually pulled, depressed or actuated by a game system
player.
[0069] The video sampling cable 34 may be included in the comms bus
14 or may be a separate input signal line 34 from the computer game
system 16 and to the control module 6 in certain alternate
preferred embodiments of the method of the present invention.
[0070] Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
FIG. 2 the invented gun 2 further comprises a hand detector 40 that
senses the proximity of the game player's hand to a handle 42 of
the gun body, or additionally or alternatively, senses the
proximity of the game player's hand or finger to the trigger 12 of
the gun body 4. Manual actuation of the trigger 12 causes the
trigger circuit 10 to inform the control module 6 that the game
player has chosen to fire or release a simulated round or a
simulated burst of rounds within the context of the role of the
invented gun 2 within the computer game scenario. The hand detector
40 thereby alerts the control module 6 to a grasping of the
invented gun 2 by the game player, and of the possibility of an
imminent actuation of the trigger 12 by the game player. The
control module 6 may therefrom select a more appropriate readiness
state for the optical gun 2 and thereby more efficiently operate
the invented gun 2. The invented gun 2 further comprises a
peripheral input module 43 that communicates with the optical gun
2, or optionally and more specifically with the gun control module
6, by a communications link 43A. The gun peripheral input 43
includes a data input peripheral 43B, such as a thumbpad, a
thumbpad with switches, a foot pedal, an optical wheel or other
suitable data or signal input peripheral known in the art. The game
player uses the peripheral 43B to indicate choices and selections
within the context of a computer game scenario, or to provide
information to the optical gun 2 or the computer game system
16.
[0071] Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
FIG. 3 the invented optical gun 2 includes a holster 44 and a
holster proximity-sensing module 46. The invented gun 2 has a small
switch 48 of the holster proximity detector 46 attached to the gun
body 4. The switch 48 fits into a corresponding slot or receptacle
50 in the holster. The invented gun 2 detects the state of the
switch 48 and may inform the computer game system 16 that the gun 2
is holstered. The optical gun 2 includes an interface harness 51
that presents two or more optional hardware connectors 51A, 51B to
computer game systems 16. The addition of more than one type
connector 51A, 51B allows the optical gun 2 to be electrically
connected with computer game systems 16 of differing make, model or
standardized communications bus compatibility. For example, the
optical gun 2 may be mass produced with a plurality of interface
connectors 51A, 51B, where each connector 51A, 51B is selected from
a connector type that is compatible with a suitable interface
standard known in the art, to include a USB, or a bus that is
substantially a USB, or a derivative of a USB, or a variation of a
USB, or a modified USB, or a suitable game port system, or a
MICROSOFT XBOX game system compatible communications interface, or
a NINTENDO game system compatible communications bus, or a SONY
PLAYSTATION game system compatible communications bus, or an IBM
computer system standards compatible communications bus, or an
APPLE COMPUTER computer system standards compatible communications
bus known in the art, or an IEEE technology society standard
compatible communications bus known in the art, or another suitable
standard or proprietary communications bus or game port system
known in the art. The inclusion of one or more additional interface
connectors 51A, 51B with the mass-produced optical gun 2 raises the
economic value of the optical gun above the prior art by causing
the optical gun to have a more ubiquitous range of application and
compatibility with commercially available computer game
systems.
[0072] Referring generally to the Figures and particularly to FIG.
4, the invented gun further optionally comprises a recoil simulator
52. The recoil simulator 52 may be or may include a small electric
motor or actuator that is used to generate a mechanical force. The
mechanical force is intended to simulate the recoil of an actual
weapon to the game player. The simulated recoil function may be
directed by the computer game system 16 or the gun processor 22,
and the command to simulate a weapon's recoil may be transmitted
over the comms bus 14 and from the computer game system 16. The
simulated recoil function may be used in various preferred
embodiments of the method of the present invention to inform,
reinforce or add to a game scenario ambience when the control
module 6 and/or computer game system 16 determines (1) that the
game player has effected a simulated hit on a target, (2) that the
game player has been hit within the context of the game scenario,
or (3) whenever the game player has effected a simulated firing of
the invented gun.
[0073] Referring now generally to the Figures, and particularly to
FIG. 5 the invented gun includes a battery 54 and a battery
charging system 56. The battery 54 supplies electrical power to the
invented gun 2 and to the recoil simulator 52. The battery 54
enables the optical gun 2 to provide a quantity of electrical power
to elements of the invented gun 2 in excess of the amount of energy
that the communications bus, such as a USB or USB-like
communications bus, can instantaneously provide from the game
system 16 and to the optical gun 2. The battery charging system 56
recharges the battery 54 by channeling electrical power received
from the communications bus 14 into the battery. The invented gun 2
may particularly direct the battery charging system 56 to recharge
the battery 54 when the gun 2 is sensed to be holstered.
[0074] Continuing to refer now generally to the Figures and
particularly to FIG. 5 a laser pointer module 58 of the invented
gun provides a laser indicator on the screen of the video screen by
generating a laser beam that travels from the invented gun 2 and to
the screen 20. The invented gun 2 fires the laser beam when the
optical sensor 8 indicates that the gun 2 is pointed at the screen
20 such that the beam will hit the screen. The invented gun 2 will
turn off the laser, or cause the laser beam to not exit from the
invented gun 2, when the optical sensor 8 indicates that the gun 2
is not pointed at the screen 20. This optional inventive feature of
the method of the present invention enables the invented gun 2 to
reduce or eliminate the intersection of the laser beam with
objects, person or surfaces other than the video screen 20. In game
play, the location of the intersection of the laser beam with the
video screen 20 may be used to aid the player in orienting within a
game scenario or in improving the accuracy of simulated firing of
the invented gun 2. The invented gun 2 receives instructions from
the computer game system 16 to turn on or turn off the laser point
via information enclosed in messages, such as in a USB OUT packet
or packets, comms bus commands or other communication methods.
[0075] Continuing to refer now generally to the Figures and
particularly to FIG. 5 the invented gun 2 includes a character or
avatar detection indicator 60. The character or avatar detection
indicator, or presence indicator 60, indicates to the game player
the presence or approach of a character or avatar within the game
scenario, and may indicate a characteristic or state of the
character or avatar, such as by using colored lighted to indicate
the state of the character or avatar, e.g., wounded, angry, or
sleeping, or whether a particular avatar or character is a friend,
an ally, a foe, a neutral entity or an innocent or unidentified
party. In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention
the presence indicator 60 indicates the characteristic when the
optical gun is pointed at the character or avatar.
[0076] Continuing to refer now generally to the Figures and
particularly to FIG. 5 the invented gun further includes a zoom
control that activates a zoom function, whereby the interaction of
the game player within a computer game scenario is affected by
manual manipulations of the zoom control 62, and a screen image of
the video display 20 of the computer game system 16 is affected.
The orientation or simulated location of the game player within a
game scenario is affected by manual manipulations of zoom control
features 62 positioned on the optical gun 2. Alternatively or
additionally, the zoom function may affect the field of view
presented to the game player by the computer game system 16,
whereby the game player may elect to have a more limited field of
view but with a larger presentation of one or more visual elements
of the game scenario. The actuation and manipulation of the zoom
control feature 62 is reported to the computer game system 16 via
the comms bus 14.
[0077] Referring now generally to the Figures and particularly to
FIG. 6, the invented system 2 uses the data received from the
computer game system 16 and via the video sampling cable 34 to
improve the interaction of the present invention with a computer
game system 16 that includes a digital television 64. The preferred
embodiment of the method of the present invention as actualized in
the invented gun 2 removes the phase angle of a digital television
image calculation in an optional software technique by (1)
recognizing that the invented gun 2 and the screen 20 are to a
large degree always out of phase, (2) calculating this phase angle
on a composite sync per-frame basis and then (3) mathematically
reducing the offset to zero. The software and high-speed digital
hardware elements of the gun 2 are both employed to actualize this
optional aspect of the method of the present invention. The
identification and measurement of certain mathematical values, the
calculation of phase angles, frame rates and the resultant accuracy
to a large degree depend on a physical principle in mathematics
called the beat frequency.
[0078] The following discussion explores the calculation of the
phase angle according to a preferred embodiment of the method of
the present invention. The current composite sync signal (single
pixel) can be represented by the function:
FS(t)=k*Sin(w1*t+y) where f=w/2Pi or 17 ms (60 Hz) and y is the
phase angle.
[0079] And let the image on the digital television video screen
(single pixel) be represented by the function:
FI(t)=p*Sin(w2*t+q) where f=w/2Pi could equal 60 Hz, 100 Hz, 120
Hz, etc., and q is the phase angle.
[0080] And let the photo detector 8 of the invented optical gun 2
of the present invention observe the following:
P(t)=FI(t)+FS(t).
[0081] The photo detector 8 of the invented gun 2 observes a beat
frequency which is the composite of these two signals, i.e. FI(t)
and FS(t). The preferred embodiment of the method of the present
invention is directed to find the values of w2 and q. The
instantaneous phase angle of these two functions as composed to
P(t) is the solution. The processor in the invented optical gun 2
does not attempt to solve the equation. The invented optical gun 2
employs a table driven method whereby the magnitude
.vertline.P.vertline. peak is collected across a period or a
plurality of periods of one or a plurality of frames. The highest
point of this peak is the pointed position on the screen 20 of the
gun 2. The table contains time offsets from the start of the frame
(w1*t)=0.
[0082] Solving then for q, the true offset of time from the
beginning of the screen time is contained in this expression:
q=-2*csec(1/(2*sin(t*(w1-w2)))
[0083] And, given the following relationship:
T=1/w2, where w2 is expressed in hertz.
[0084] The optical gun 2 transmits the value of q and/or T to the
computer game system 16, whereby the computer game system 16 can
calculate the time offset imposed by a digital television and the
images displayed on the video screen 20.
[0085] The optical gun 2 further observes the number of Vsync
counts that occur between the start of a frame and the detection of
a particular instance of pixel or area brightening of the video
screen 20 and transmits the Vsync count to the computer game system
16 via the communications interface 14. The preferred embodiment
additionally detects the Hsync count of a width of an area
brightening of the video screen 20 and transmits this Hsync count
to the computer game system 16 via the communications interface 14.
The Hsync count is then used to determine the center of the
brightening of the area of the video screen 20, from which
determination the orientation of the optical gun 2 to the video
screen 20 is more closely determined.
[0086] Certain preferred embodiments of the method of the present
invention resolves the true offset T where two fundamental
frequencies w1 and w2 are quantified. Additionally and optionally,
having derived the fundamental beat frequency of these two
functions, this optional aspect of the method of the present
invention can pick any point in a measurement range to produce a
desired result by recognizing and accommodating for a change, and
an instantaneous value, of the phase angle y.
[0087] In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention,
all computational mathematics performed by the invented optical gun
processor 22 are executed with 32-bit, two's complement, fixed
point notation. The single measurement point may be taken at
random.
[0088] In addition, the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, optionally makes use of standardized frequencies for w1
of 15 Khz by the NTSC and PAL standards for broadcast television,
and that w1 can be measured from successive time bases for the SYNC
signal as a further empirical method of deriving w1. W2 as noted,
can be measured from successive pixel brightening sequences. For
that matter, w2 can derived by making the observation that:
w2=w1/2.
[0089] Referring now generally to the Figures, and particularly
FIGS. 8A and 8B, alternative preferred embodiments of the method of
the present invention may comprise bi-directional or unidirectional
wireless communication with the computer game system 16. The
alternate preferred embodiment of the method of the present
invention of FIG. 8A, or unidirectional wireless gun 66, includes a
wireless transmitter 68, and the computer game system 16 includes a
wireless receiver 70. The transmitter 68 sends information about
the optical gun's 66 state or detected conditions and sends the
information to the receiver 70 of the computer game system 16 by
infrared or radio frequency 71, or other suitable wireless
transmission means known in the art. The receiver includes a
wireless receiver module 70A, a digital logic module 70B and a
receiver-to-game system interface 70C. The receiver 70 accepts the
information transmitted from the optical gun 66 via the wireless
receiver module 70A. The digital logic module 70B then formats a
receiver data report that includes the transmitted information. The
receiver 70 then sends the receiver data report to the computer
game system 16 via the receiver-to-game system interface 70C. The
receiver-to-game system interface 70C and the receiver data report
may be USB compliant or substantially USB compliant, or be
configured or function in accordance with a suitable industry
standard or proprietary communications bus as stipulated by
MICROSOFT CORPORATION, SONY, SEGA, NINTENDO, IBM or the IEEE, or
another suitable communications protocol or game port system known
in the art.
[0090] A second alternate preferred embodiment of the method of the
present invention, or bi-directional wireless gun 72, of FIG. 8B,
includes a gun transceiver 74 in the bi-directional wireless gun 72
and a game transceiver 76 coupled with the computer game system 16.
The optical gun transceiver 74 sends and receives information from
and to the game transceiver 76. The optical gun transceiver 74
sends gun information about the optical gun's 72 state or detected
conditions and sends the gun information to the transceiver 76 of
the computer game system 16 by infrared or radio frequency 75, or
other suitable wireless transmission means known in the art. The
game transceiver 76 includes a wireless transceiver module 76A, a
digital logic module 76B and a receiver-to-game system interface
76C. The game transceiver 76 accepts the gun information
transmitted from the optical gun 72 via the wireless transceiver
module 76A. The digital logic module 76B then formats a receiver
data report that includes the transmitted gun information. The game
transceiver 76 then sends the receiver data report to the computer
game system 16 via the transceiver-to-game system interface 76C.
The transceiver-to-game system interface 76C and the receiver data
report may be USB compliant or substantially USB compliant, or be
configured and function in accordance with a suitable industry
standard or proprietary communications bus as stipulated by
MICROSOFT CORPORATION, SONY, SEGA, NINTENDO, IBM or the IEEE, or
another suitable communications protocol or game port system known
in the art. The game transceiver may additionally transmit data or
instruction to the optical gun by suitable wireless transmission
means known in the art, such as radio frequency or infrared
transmission.
[0091] The receiver 70, transmitter 68 and transceivers 74, 76 may
each further comprise a channel selector 77, whereby a user decides
which channel may be used by a particular wireless optical gun 66,
72 to transmit or receive wireless signals to and from the computer
game system 16. This optional capability facilitates the use of two
or more optical guns 66, 72 simultaneously with the computer game
system 16 by dedicated separate wireless transmission frequencies
or band to individual optical guns 66, 72. The channel selector may
be a manual selector, whereby the game player manually selects the
channel for use by the gun 2 by moving a manual switch to a
pre-established position.
[0092] The unidirectional wireless gun 66 and the bi-directional
wireless gun 72 each have a multiple channel auto detect, or a
channel select switch, to select a radio frequency for information
transmission. These wireless embodiments 66, 72 may also have a
battery charger 78, whereby the battery 54 of the optical gun is
charged with electrical power by removably connecting a power
source or outlet to the battery 54 via the battery charger 78.
[0093] The gun control module 6 may be integrated in a single chip
solution that comprises a suitable semiconductor processor device,
such as a Microchip 16C745/16C765, or a Cypress 630001A, or
suitable derivatives thereof, or another suitable electronic device
known in the art. Certain preferred embodiments of the method of
the present invention having a single chip, device or multi-chip
module comprised by gun control module 6 include the following
elements and features within or associated with the gun control
module 6:
[0094] 1) Capture/Compare registers, or CCP. Two CCP first in first
out arrays, or FIFO arrays, each FIFO array having 24 bits that are
16 deep. The CCP structure communicates with an interrupt signal
when a next to last capture has been completed. The source clock
for the CCP is a 24 MHz clock. The clock size is also 24 bits and
is captured into the FIFO array after an event. In addition, the
gun control module 6 includes a hold-off counter which is settable
by an 8-bit register. The hold off counter holds the capture event
until an IRQ occurs. The 16 deep FIFO arrays are readable and
writeable;
[0095] 2) Prioritized interrupt structure. The highest IRQ should
be the RESET, followed by CCPIRQ;
[0096] 3) High speed RISK based CPU core. The core should execute
instructions at 24 Mhz, CPU mathematics at 24 bits; and
[0097] 4) Analog to Digital converters. The thumbpad requires an
8-bit A/D converter.
[0098] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various
adaptations and modifications of the just described preferred
embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that the
invention may be practiced other than as specifically described
herein. The above description is intended to be illustrative, and
not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those
of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope
of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to
the knowledge of one skilled in the art and in light of the
disclosures presented above.
* * * * *