Patent ID: 7931535
Filing Date: 2011-04-26
Classification: A63F

Abstract:
1. A handheld controller for use in wirelessly communicating with an electronic game machine having an associated display screen, a first light emitting marker and a second light emitting marker in substantially horizontal alignment with said first light emitting marker and each mounted spaced from but in the vicinity of the display screen, said handheld controller comprising: an elongated housing having a longitudinal center axis, said housing defining an upper surface, a lower surface having a concave portion formed therein, a forward surface and a rearward surface; a first manipulable game control switch disposed on the housing upper surface proximate said forward surface and substantially aligned with said longitudinal center axis, the housing being dimensioned and the first manipulable game control switch being positioned for manipulation of said first manipulable game control switch by contact with a thumb of a user's single hand; a second manipulable game control switch disposed within said concave portion, also substantially aligned with said longitudinal center axis, said housing being dimensioned and the second manipulable game control switch being positioned for manipulation by contact with an index finger of the user's single hand; said housing being dimensioned to be held by a palm and remaining middle, ring and small fingers of the user's single hand while the thumb is in operational contact with said first manipulable game control switch and while the index finger is in operational contact with said second manipulable game control switch, the housing enclosing: a processor; an imaging device located in a forward end of said housing and including an image sensor for in use detecting light from the first light emitting marker and the second light emitting marker, said image device being operable to generate image data related to the positional coordinates of the first light emitting marker and the second light emitting marker, said imaging device being operable in use to generate image data to provide rotation-related input in response to the handheld controller being disposed such that the said imaging device is directed towards the first and second light emitting markers; a three-axis linear accelerometer in communication with said processor and arranged within said housing for generating acceleration data along each of three axes to provide rotation-related input and to output acceleration data to said processor; and a wireless communication device disposed within said housing operatively connected to said processor and adapted to transmit signals to the electronic game machine representing operational states of at least said first manipulable game control switch and said second manipulable game control switch, said image data and said acceleration data.