Patent ID: 7942745
Filing Date: 2011-05-17
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 second light emitting marker each mounted spaced from, but in the vicinity of, the display screen, said handheld controller comprising: an elongated housing having forward and rearward ends and a longitudinal axis defining at least one longitudinal center line, and sized to be operated by one hand of a user, an upper surface of said housing lying substantially in a first plane and provided with a power switch in a corner at said forward end of said housing; a four-way direction switch proximate said forward end of said housing substantially aligned with said longitudinal center line; a first push-button switch located substantially aligned with said longitudinal center line adjacent and rearward of said four-way direction switch; a plurality of push-button switches substantially symmetrically disposed about said longitudinal center line; at least one further push-button switch substantially aligned with said longitudinal center line and located rearward of said first push-button switch; and a plurality of lights located adjacent said rearward end of said housing; a lower surface of said housing having a concave portion provided with a trigger switch ; a processor enclosed within said housing; an imaging device located in said forward end of said housing at least substantially aligned with said longitudinal center line and including a filter, a lens, and a CMOS sensor for in use detecting light from the first light emitting marker and the second light emitting marker and for generating image device data related to coordinates of the first light emitting marker and the second light emitting marker; and an image processing device in said housing coupled to said CMOS sensor and operable in use to receive and process said image device data related to the coordinates of the first light emitting marker and the second light emitting marker, and to output processed image device data to said processor to provide rotational-related input; linear accelerometer circuitry for detecting acceleration of the controller along each of three axes and for generating acceleration data along each of said three axes, said linear accelerometer circuitry being, in use, in communication with said processor and arranged within said housing in an area from the vicinity of the trigger switch rearward, said linear accelerometer circuitry generating acceleration data to provide rotational-related input, said acceleration data being sufficient to indicate changes in acceleration of the controller along each of three axes over time, said linear accelerometer circuitry operable to output acceleration data to said processor; a connector disposed in said rearward end of said housing, said connector operable in use to couple the handheld controller to another controller and to output data from said another controller to said processor; and a wireless communication device disposed within said housing operatively connected to said processor and operable in use to transmit signals to said electronic game machine representing operational states of at least said first push-button switch and said trigger switch, said processed image data, said acceleration data, and data received through said connector from said another controller.