U.S. patent application number 10/803655 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-17 for motion sensing applications.
Invention is credited to Kim, Taek Sung.
Application Number | 20050059489 10/803655 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46301908 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050059489 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Taek Sung |
March 17, 2005 |
Motion sensing applications
Abstract
A gaming device includes sensors, display, and an interface
device. At least first and second sensors are operatively
configured to provide position information of at least first and
second points, respectively. The position information should be
sufficiently accurate to distinguish the first point from the
second point, such that the provided position information of the
first point with respect to the position information of the second
point provides enough information to determine motions of a user.
The interface device is configured to couple the sensors to the
user so that the motions of the user can be visually displayed on
the display.
Inventors: |
Kim, Taek Sung; (Syosset,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SAMUEL S. LEE
P.O. BOX 927959
SAN DIEGO
CA
92192-7959
US
|
Family ID: |
46301908 |
Appl. No.: |
10/803655 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10803655 |
Mar 17, 2004 |
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10661732 |
Sep 12, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/36 ;
348/E5.103; 386/E5.069 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 21/42204 20130101;
H04B 1/202 20130101; H04N 5/4448 20130101; H04N 5/77 20130101; H04N
21/4334 20130101; G01S 19/14 20130101; H04N 21/47 20130101; H04N
21/4126 20130101; H04N 21/4316 20130101; H04N 5/44582 20130101;
H04N 5/4403 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/036 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A motion sensing device for providing visual display of motions
to a user, comprising: at least first and second sensors
operatively configured to provide position information of at least
first and second points, respectively, on the motion sensing
device, the position information being sufficiently accurate to
distinguish the first point from the second point, such that the
provided position information of the first point with respect to
the position information of the second point provides enough
information to determine motions of the motion sensing device with
respect to a visual axis of the user; a display; and an interface
device coupled to said display and said at least first and second
sensors, said interface device operating to transmit the motions of
the motion sensing device to said display.
2. The motion sensing-device of claim 1, wherein said at least
first and second sensors are configured as a headset device.
3. The motion sensing device of claim 1, wherein said interface
device includes at least one wireless transceiver.
4. The motion sensing device of claim 1, wherein said interface
device includes a display driver.
5. The motion sensing device of claim 1, wherein said interface
device includes a computer.
6. The motion sensing device of claim 1, wherein said display
includes a computer monitor.
7. The motion sensing device of claim 1, wherein the motions of the
motion sensing device includes roll, pitch, and yaw motions.
8. The motion sensing device of claim 1, wherein the motions of the
motion sensing device includes vertical and horizontal translation
motions.
9. A gaming device, comprising: at least first and second sensors
operatively configured to provide position information of at least
first and second points, respectively, the position information
being sufficiently accurate to distinguish the first point from the
second point, such that the provided position information of the
first point with respect to the position information of the second
point provides enough information to determine motions of a user; a
display; and an interface device configured to couple said at least
first and second sensors to the user so that the motions of the
user can be visually displayed on said display.
10. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said interface device
includes a headset to be worn around the user's head to sense the
motions of the user's head.
11. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said interface device and
said display include a pair of glasses configured to sense the
motions of the user's head and display the motions on said pair of
glasses.
12. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein said interface device
includes an attachment device.
13. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein said attachment device
is a waist strap.
14. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein said attachment device
includes a wrist strap.
15. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein said attachment device
includes an ankle hook-and-loop device.
16. A gaming method, comprising: providing at least first and
second sensors to compute position information of at least first
and second points, respectively, the position information being
sufficiently accurate to distinguish the first point from the
second point, such that the computed position information of the
first point with respect to the position information of the second
point provides enough information to determine motions of a user;
and coupling said at least first and second sensors to the user so
that the motions of the user can be visually displayed.
17. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein said coupling includes
attaching a headset, containing said first and second sensors, to
be worn around the user's head to sense the motions of the user's
head.
18. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein said coupling includes
wearing a pair of glasses configured to sense the motions of the
user's head such that the motions of the user can be visually
displayed on said pair of glasses.
19. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein said coupling includes
strapping said first and second sensors to the user's waist.
20. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein said coupling includes
strapping said first and second sensors to the user's wrist.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/661,732, entitled
"Remote Control Device Capable of Sensing Motion", filed Sep. 12,
2003. Benefit of priority of the filing date of Sep. 12, 2003 is
hereby claimed for common material, and the disclosure of the U.S.
Patent Application is hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to motion sensing
applications, and more specifically, to using GPS-based motion
sensing in such applications.
[0003] Typically, electronic motion sensing has been configured
with a plurality of accelerometers and at least one gyroscope to
provide translation motion readings on three axes, and roll, pitch,
and yaw readings. This configuration can be used in various motion
sensing applications, including virtual reality applications and
other interactive games.
[0004] Recently, several game developers (e.g., Sony Playstation)
have been using built-in video cameras to optically capture and
incorporate the motions of the player into the game. However, these
motion sensing devices using accelerometers and gyroscopes, or
video cameras can be cumbersome and expensive.
[0005] For example, to sense the motion of a player in an
interactive game, the motion sensing device should be placed or
worn on the body of the player. However, motion sensing devices
configured with gyroscopes and accelerometers can be relatively
heavy and bulky to be placed or worn on the body of the player.
Further, motion sensing devices configured with built-in cameras
are relatively expensive and require complex software to interpret
the captured motions into useable digital signals.
SUMMARY
[0006] A motion sensing device provides visual display of motions
to a user. In one aspect, the motion sensing device includes
sensors, display, and an interface device. At least first and
second sensors are operatively configured to provide position
information of at least first and second points, respectively, on
the motion sensing device. The position information should be
sufficiently accurate to distinguish the first point from the
second point, such that the provided position information of the
first point with respect to the position information of the second
point provides enough information to determine motions of the
motion sensing device with respect to a visual axis of the user.
The interface device is coupled to the display and the sensors, and
operates to transmit the motions of the motion sensing device to
the display.
[0007] In another aspect, a gaming device includes sensors,
display, and an interface device. At least first and second sensors
are operatively configured to provide position information of at
least first and second points, respectively. The position
information should be sufficiently accurate to distinguish the
first point from the second point, such that the provided position
information of the first point with respect to the position
information of the second point provides enough information to
determine motions of a user. The interface device is configured to
couple the sensors to the user so that the motions of the user can
be visually displayed on the display.
[0008] In a further aspect, a gaming method is disclosed. The
gaming method includes providing at least first and second sensors
to compute position information of at least first and second
points, respectively. The position information should be
sufficiently accurate to distinguish the first point from the
second point, such that the computed position information of the
first point with respect to the position information of the second
point provides enough information to determine motions of a user.
The gaming method also includes coupling the sensors to the user so
that the motions of the user can be visually displayed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Different aspects of the disclosure will be described in
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a motion sensing device according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a motion sensing device
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a roll motion sensed by a motion sensing
device in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 4A illustrates movement of a player's head on a screen
in response to the roll motion of the motion sensing device
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 4B through FIG. 4D illustrate movements of an entire
display in response to the roll motion of the motion sensing
device.
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates a pitch motion sensed by a motion sensing
device in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 6A illustrates visual displays for the pitch
motion.
[0017] FIG. 6B through FIG. 6D illustrate movements of an entire
display in response to the pitch motion of the motion sensing
device.
[0018] FIG. 7 illustrates a yaw motion sensed by a motion sensing
device in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 8A illustrates visual displays for the yaw motion.
[0020] FIG. 8B through FIG. 8D illustrate movements of an entire
display in response to the yaw motion of the motion sensing
device.
[0021] FIG. 9 illustrates a horizontal translation motion sensed by
a motion sensing device in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 10A illustrates visual displays for the horizontal
translation motion.
[0023] FIG. 10B through FIG. 10F illustrate movements of an entire
display in response to the horizontal translation motion of the
motion sensing device.
[0024] FIG. 11 illustrates a vertical translation motion sensed by
a motion sensing device in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0025] FIG. 12A illustrates visual displays for the vertical
translation motion.
[0026] FIG. 12B through FIG. 12D illustrate movements of an entire
display in response to the vertical translation motion of the
motion sensing device.
[0027] FIG. 13A through FIG. 13C illustrate different
implementations of the motion sensing device in accordance with
various embodiments.
[0028] FIG. 14A through FIG. 14D illustrate different placements of
the motion sensing device within the player's body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] Various embodiments are described for a motion sensing
device that can sense five degrees of freedom motions, which may
include roll, pitch, and yaw directional motions, and horizontal
and vertical translation motions. These motions can be illustrated
on an electronic screen (e.g., a TV screen or a computer monitor)
of a game or simulation as movements of an icon (e.g., an
electronic depiction of a person) or as movements of an entire
screen. The details of applications using the motion sensing device
are described below.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a motion sensing device 100 according to an
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 also illustrates a
block diagram of an external device 120 and a screen 122 that
interfaces with the external device. In one embodiment, the
external device 120 is a computer. In another embodiment, the
external device 120 is a television. In a further embodiment, the
external device 120 includes any driver that can drive a display
device to graphically illustrate the movement of the motion sensing
device 100.
[0031] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1, the motion sensing
device 100 includes an antenna 110 and a corresponding electronic
circuitry, which are used to transmit or receive radio frequency
signals to and from the external device 120.
[0032] In FIG. 1, the motion sensing device 100 is configured as a
headset to be worn on the player's head. The sensors 102, 104 of
the device 100 sense the movement of the device 100 with respect to
axis 106 or 108 (an axis that comes out of the page). In other
implementations, a motion sensing device can be configured as any
apparatus having a plurality of sensors that can sense the movement
of the device with respect to some axis fixedly related to the
vision axis of the player. These other implementations are
described in detail below.
[0033] The movement of the device 100 is measured in terms of
movement of an axis (e.g., axis 106) linking the sensors 102, 104.
Thus, in FIG. 1, the movement of the axis 106 with respect to the
axis 108 can be used to control and move a graphical icon, such as
a person, or an entire image displayed on the screen 122. Details
of various motions of the device are described below.
[0034] Various motions of the motion sensing device 100 are
visually fed back to a user by the movement of the graphical icon
displayed on the screen 122, or by the movement of the entire
display shown on the screen 122. Movement of the icon or the entire
display copies the motions of the motion sensing device 100. Thus,
roll, pitch, yaw, horizontal translation, and vertical translation
motions are combined and processed to produce a resultant movement
of the icon or the entire display on the screen 122.
[0035] A block diagram of a motion sensing device 200 according to
an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 2. The
motion sensing device 200 comprises a main processor 202 and at
least first and second sensors 220, which are operatively
configured to provide position information of at least first and
second positions, such as 112, 114 on the motion sensing device 100
of FIG. 1. The position information provided by the sensors 220
should be sufficiently accurate to distinguish the first position
(e.g., position 112) from the second position (e.g., position 114),
such that the provided position information of the first position
with respect to the second position provides enough information to
the processor 202 to determine roll, pitch, yaw, horizontal and
vertical translation motions of the motion sensing device.
[0036] The main processor 202 receives the position information of
the first and second positions. The main processor 202 includes a
motion converter 230 that processes the position information to
determine angle and distance of the roll, pitch, yaw, horizontal
and vertical translation motions. The processor 202 also includes a
movement converter 232 which converts these motions into an amount
of icon or display movement on the main screen. The main processor
202 interfaces with external devices (e.g., a computer 120 shown in
FIG. 1) through a transceiver 208 and an antenna 210. Thus, the
amount of icon or display movement is transmitted to an external
device through the transceiver 208. The transceiver 208 also
receives commands and messages from the external device.
[0037] FIGS. 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11 illustrate various motions sensed
by a motion sensing device in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 3, the
motion sensing device 300 is shown in a configuration in which a
device axis 306 (i.e., the axis that connects the two sensors 310,
312) makes a "roll" motion 302 with respect to the visual axis 308
(i.e., the axis that is coming out of the person's nose or eyes).
Therefore, the "roll" motion 302 is defined in this specification
as a counter-clockwise angular movement of the axis 306 linking the
sensors 310 and 312 with respect to the visual axis 308.
[0038] As will be describe further below, the axis 306 can be
calculated by precisely computing the positions of the sensors 310,
312 and taking the difference between the positions. By
successively taking the differences as the sensors 310, 312 move,
the angular movement of the axis 306 with respect to the visual
axis 308 can be calculated.
[0039] FIG. 4A illustrates movement of a player's head 400 on a
screen in response to the roll motion of the motion sensing device
according to an embodiment of the present invention. Thus, when the
player makes a roll motion 302 as shown in FIG. 3, the player's
head 400 in FIG. 4A moves between directions B and D through
direction C. In other embodiments, the roll motion of the motion
sensing device can produce movement of different parts of the
player or movement of icon other than the player, such as a
directional arrow or cursor.
[0040] In further embodiments, FIG. 4B through FIG. 4D illustrate
movement of an entire display in response to the roll motion of the
motion sensing device. For example, visual display of FIG. 4B
corresponds to player vision in direction B, visual display of FIG.
4C corresponds to player vision in direction C, and visual display
of FIG. 4D corresponds to player vision in direction D.
[0041] FIG. 5 and FIGS. 6A through 6D illustrate visual displays
for a "pitch" motion that correspond to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4A through
4D for the roll motion. Thus, in FIG. 5, the player's visual axis
500 makes a pitch motion 502, and the player's head 600 in FIG. 6A
moves up and down between directions B and D through direction C.
Visual displays in FIGS. 6B through 6D show objects in different
pitch angles, or elevations, corresponding to directions B through
D in FIG. 6A.
[0042] FIG. 7 and FIGS. 8A through 8D illustrate visual displays
for a "yaw" motion that correspond to FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4A through
4D for the roll motion. Thus, in FIG. 7, the player's visual axis
700 makes a yaw motion 702, and the player's head 800 in FIG. 8A
moves angularly sideways between directions B and D through
direction C. Visual displays in FIGS. 8B through 8D show objects in
different yaw angles corresponding to directions B through D in
FIG. 8A.
[0043] FIG. 9 and FIGS. 10A through 10D illustrate visual displays
for a horizontal translation motion that correspond to FIG. 3 and
FIGS. 4A through 4D for the roll motion. FIGS. 10E and 10F
illustrate further movements with the horizontal translation plane.
Thus, in FIG. 9, the player's visual axis 900 makes a horizontal
translation motion 902 or 904, and the player's head 1000 in FIG.
10A moves forward and backward between directions B and D through
direction C, or move laterally sideways between directions E and F
through direction C. Visual displays in FIGS. 10B through 10F show
objects in different horizontal positions corresponding to
directions B through F in FIG. 10A.
[0044] FIG. 11 and FIGS. 12A through 12D illustrate visual displays
for a vertical translation motion that correspond to FIG. 3 and
FIGS. 4A through 4D for the roll motion. Thus, in FIG. 11, the
player's visual axis 1100 makes a pitch motion 1102, and the
player's head 1200 in FIG. 12A vertically moves up and down between
directions B and D through direction C. Visual displays in FIGS.
12B through 12D show objects in different vertical translation
positions corresponding to directions B through D in FIG. 12A.
[0045] FIGS. 13A through 13C illustrate different implementations
of the motion sensing device in accordance with various
embodiments. For example, FIG. 13A illustrates the motion sensing
device 1300 configured as a headset worn on the player's head. FIG.
13B shows a similar configuration in which the sensors of the
motion sensing device 1302 are in communication wirelessly. FIG.
13C shows another configuration in which the motion sensing device
1304 is configured as a pair of visual-display glasses.
[0046] FIGS. 14A through 14D illustrate different placements of the
motion sensing device within the player's body. Thus, depending on
a particular placement, the motion sensing device can be configured
for different games or simulations. For example, FIG. 14A shows the
motion sensing device 1400 worn around the waist area of the
player. Thus, in this configuration, the motion sensing device 1400
can be used in various dancing games or other games that sense
waist movement.
[0047] In one embodiment, the device 1400 can be attached to the
body of the user by a strap. In another embodiment, the device 1400
can be attached to the body of the user by an attachment element
such as hook-and-loop devices.
[0048] The sensors of the device 1402 in FIG. 14B are worn around
the wrists of the player. Thus, in this configuration, the device
1402 can be used in a tennis game. The sensors of the device 1404
in FIG. 14C are worn around the ankles of the player. Thus, in this
configuration, the device 1404 can be used in a soccer game. The
sensors of the device 1406 in FIG. 14D are configured as a
combination of above-described configurations. Thus, this
configuration can be used for games or simulations requiring motion
inputs from multiple sources.
[0049] Various motions of the motion sensing device have been
individually described above to illustrate the different possible
movements of the player's visual axis. However, it should be
understood that the processor 202, and in particular, the motion
converter 230 processes these motions in combination to provide a
resultant movement to the icon or the entire-display for each
instant in time. As described above, the movement converter 232
processes the resultant movement received from the motion converter
230 to generate motion parameters (e.g., a position vector and an
angle) to move the icon or the entire display correspondingly.
Further, it should be understood that the motion sensing device
described above can be use to provide visual display of user's
motions in a game or simulation.
[0050] All these are intended to be encompassed by the following
claims.
* * * * *