Abstract:
A gaming peripheral for use during play of an electronic video game includes a releasably engageable release element which disengages in accordance with game play. Disengagement of the release element is selectably controllable and based on receipt of an electronic trigger signal transmitted from a gaming console on which the game is being played. The release element is engaged by a player applying a manual force to the peripheral.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Some peripherals for gaming software include motion sensing devices that transmit, to a gaming console, information representative of movement, and direction of the movement, of the peripheral. For example, a peripheral may be used to simulate a bat in a video game, wherein the ball is hit by using the peripheral to mimic the movement of a bat at the right moment. Some peripherals include feedback force devices, such as a piezoelectric element, that are used to vibrate the peripheral at particular moments to increase the simulation experience. 
         [0002]    The goal for many gaming peripherals is to be small and light enough to be easily held in the hand. Many peripherals are also wireless, which places a greater emphasis on minimizing power consumption because of the limited battery power. Accordingly, these size, weight and power constraints limit the types of motors, piezoelectric or similar kinetic elements that can be used to provide feedback elements to the user. 
         [0003]    Therefore, there exists a need for a gaming peripheral which simulates actual physical events with more realistic force and motion, while maintaining the peripheral in a form pleasing to a player. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a gaming peripheral for use during play of an electronic video game includes a base and a release element releasably engageable to the base, and where the release element disengages from the base in accordance with game play. The release element at least partially disengages from the base, based on an electronic release signal the peripheral receives from a gaming console on which the game is being played. The release element preferably disengages from the base to simulate a physical event occurring during game play. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the release element is coupled to the base by a resilient element, such as a compressible spring, and an application of force to the peripheral is required for engaging the release element with the base. In a further embodiment, a manual force provided by a user of the peripheral is required for engaging the release element with the base. In still a further embodiment, the peripheral includes an electronically powered device, such as a motor, operable for engaging the release element with the base. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, the release element is selectively disengageable from the base. In a preferred embodiment, the release element is at least partially disengageable from the base. In a further embodiment, each of the direction of the movement of the release element, and the amount of force acting upon the release element, when the release element disengages from the base is controllable. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a system diagram in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a baseball-bat shaped peripheral in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a peripheral in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a peripheral in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  indicates the motion of a moveable element in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  indicates the motion of a moveable element in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  indicates the motion of a moveable element in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a diagram of a gun-shaped peripheral in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a flow chart in accordance with an aspect of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a system  100  in accordance with one aspect of the invention comprises a game console  110 , display  140 , peripheral  150  and other components typically present in game consoles. The system is used by a user. 
         [0017]    Game console  110  preferably includes a processor  115  and memory  120 . Memory  120  stores information accessible by processor  130 , including instructions  125  for execution by the processor  115 , and data  130  which is retrieved, manipulated or stored by the processor. The memory may be of any type capable of storing information accessible by the processor; by way of example, hard-drives, ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, DVD, write-capable memories, and read-only memories. 
         [0018]    The instructions  125  may comprise any set of instructions to be executed directly (e.g., machine code) or indirectly (e.g., scripts) by the processor. The terms “instructions,” “steps” and “programs” may be used interchangeably herein. The functions, methods and routines of the program in accordance with the present invention are explained in more detail below. 
         [0019]    Data  130  may be retrieved, stored or modified by processor  115  in accordance with the instructions  125 . The data may be stored in any manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art such as in computer registers, in records contained in tables and relational databases, or in XML files. The data may also be formatted in any computer readable format such as, but not limited to, binary values, ASCII or EBCDIC (Extended Binary-Coded Decimal Interchange Code). Moreover, any information sufficient to identify the relevant data may be stored, such as descriptive text, proprietary codes, pointers, or information which is used by a function to calculate the relevant data. 
         [0020]    Although the processor and memory are functionally illustrated in  FIG. 1  as within the same block, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the processor and memory may actually comprise multiple processors and memories that may or may not be stored within the same physical housing. For example, some of the instructions and data may be stored on a removable DVD, CD-ROM and others within a read-only computer chip. Some or all of the instructions and data may be stored in a location physically remote from, yet still accessible by, the processor. For example, some or all of the instructions may be downloaded or accessed over a network (not shown). Similarly, the processor may actually comprise a collection of processors which may or may not operate in parallel. 
         [0021]    All or a portion of the instructions  125  may comprise game instructions  135 , which may be a specific to a particular game, such as a baseball or first-person shooter video game. 
         [0022]    As noted above, system  100  may comprise additional components typically found in a game console or computer system such as a display  140  (e.g., an LCD screen), microphone, modem (e.g., telephone or cable modem), camera, speakers, and all of the components used for connecting these elements to one another. Accordingly, the console is preferably capable of outputting audio and video signals for rendering by displays and speakers or the like. Game console  110  preferably communicates with the Internet via a modem or some other communication component such as a network card. 
         [0023]    The game console may comprise a dedicated gaming system, such as a Sony Playstation. The game console may also comprise any device capable of processing instructions and transmitting data to and from humans and other computers or devices, including general purpose computers, network computers lacking local storage capability, PDA&#39;s with modems and Internet-capable wireless phones, digital video recorders, cable television set-top boxes or consumer electronic devices. 
         [0024]    Peripheral  150  includes two elements such that one is capable of movement with respect to the other. For example, peripheral  150  may include releasable element  250  and base  280  and a member  180  to engage and/or disengage the releasable element  250 . The peripheral may also include a sensor  185  for providing information related to the position of the releasable element relative to the base. 
         [0025]    Peripheral  150  also includes user input such as buttons  165 , a detector  170  for determining the position and orientation of the peripheral with respect to console  110 , or any other device for receiving input from the user such as a joystick, game pad, or touch-sensitive screen. In one aspect, the peripheral includes a processor  175  for controlling or receiving signals from the other elements. It will be understood that the processor  175  may also comprise a controller for relaying, and translating as necessary, signals from the console that are applicable to the other elements. 
         [0026]    The peripheral is in communication with the console via a communication link  190 , which may be wired or wireless. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates one aspect of a peripheral in accordance with the current invention. The peripheral  200  is in the shape of a baseball bat. It includes a base  250  and top  280 , the top  280  being capable of being engaged or disengaged from the base  250 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  illustrates one possible aspect of the baseball bat of  FIG. 2  in more detail and cross-section. The top  280  includes a stop  310  and a barrel  330 . The base  250  has an aperture  380  for receiving the barrel  330 . (The top  280  is shown distanced from the base  250  for the purposes of illustration only. When assembled, the barrel  330  would reside in the aperture  380 .) 
         [0029]    The base  250  and top  280  are reasonably connected to one another via a tension device, such as a spring, elastic cord, resilient devices, compressible gases or liquids (such as a hydraulics or bladder) and other devices wherein the application of force causes the device to exert a counter-force. For example, a spring is attached to top  280  at connection  340 , wraps around the barrel  330 , and is connected to the base  250  at connection  350  such that when the top is rotated with respect to the base in one direction, the spring is wound and exerts a force in the opposite direction. In one aspect, spring  320  has a relatively large spring constant k and able to quickly unwind at a great deal of speed. 
         [0030]    The moveable element and base may engage one another at various areas. For example, the top and base may be arranged such that a device is able to selectively engage or disengage the top and base to one another. By way of further example, base  280  may include a piezoelectric element  370  which is able to extend component  360  into a hole  265  in top  280 , thus preventing the top from rotating with respect to the base. Element  370  may be controlled by processor  175 . 
         [0031]    The top and base may also include a mechanism for limiting the range of movement of the top to the base. For example, the top  280  may include a flange  390  which resides in the base&#39;s groove  395 , thus allowing the top  280  to rotate with respect to the base  395 , but not otherwise be removed from the base  380 . The top and base may also include top stop  310  and base stop  315  respectively. These stops may further limit the range of rotational movement, such that the top may not be wound, or unwind, more than on complete rotation. 
         [0032]    In addition to the operations illustrated in  FIG. 9 , an operation in accordance with a variety of aspects of the invention will now be described. It should be understood that the following operations do not have to be performed in the precise order described below. Rather, various steps can be handled in reverse order or simultaneously. 
         [0033]    A user manually moves the moveable element relative to the base. For example, the user may rotate top  280  with respect to base  250  so as to tension the spring  320 . The user continues to wind the top until the top is engaged to the base, such as until the component  360  of the base is able to—and does—extend into the hole  365  of the top. Accordingly, in this and other aspects of the invention, the user primes the peripheral for further operation by applying manual force. 
         [0034]    While playing a game, the game instructions determine whether a release signal should be sent to disengage the moveable element from the base based on the state of the game and the user input signals received from the peripheral. For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , instructions  125 , including game instructions  135 , may display a ball being pitched to a batter—played by the user—on display  140 . In response, the user moves the bat  200  and the changing position or orientation is detected by position detector  170 . The position is communicated to the console  110  via link  190 . If instructions  135  determine that the user&#39;s manipulation of the peripheral indicates that the user has hit the ball, a release signal is transmitted to peripheral  150 . 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , in response to the release signal from the console, the moveable element is automatically released. For example, in response to receiving the release signal, processor  175  may instruct piezoelectric element  370  to withdraw component stop  360  into the base. As a result, the top is disengaged from the base  250 , and unwinds without further manual assistance from the user. 
         [0036]    In one aspect, disengaging the moveable element simulates both a sound and motion in the game. By way of example, if spring  320  is such that it unwinds with sufficient speed, stop  310  and  315  will clap together, making a loud audible sound and causing the bat to shudder, thus simulating the sound and feel of a bat when it collides with a ball. The sounds and motion of the peripheral may be synchronized with audio and visual signals from the console, e.g., the ball will be shown as being hit and moving on the screen at the same time the top is moving. The console may also play crowd noise in response to the hit, or enhance the sound emitted by the peripheral with audio of a ball being hit. 
         [0037]    The foregoing process may be repeated. For example, the user may wind the top for the next pitch and, if the ball is hit, the moveable top will be disengaged. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  illustrates another peripheral in accordance with an aspect of the invention, wherein the top may be completely disengaged from the base and its direction of movement selectably controlled. By way of example and similar to the bat shown in  FIG. 3 , peripheral  400  simulates a baseball bat and includes a moveable top  480  with a barrel  430  extending into an aperture  485  within base  450 . It also includes a plurality of elements  460 - 463  (such as piezoelectric element) that can move relative to the base and the moveable element  480 , and may engage holes or groove  465  on disposed on the barrel. The base may also include switch  490 , which signals to processor  475  that the top is completely inserted into the base whenever the switch is depressed. The spring  420  is attached to the base  450 , but not the top  480 . 
         [0039]    In one method of operation, the user engages the moveable top  480  to the base by inserting the barrel  430  into the base&#39;s aperture  485 . The user may place the top of the bat on the floor and lean on the bottom of bat, compressing spring  420  until elements  461  and  463  on the base engage groove  465 . Processor  475  may instruct elements  461 ,  463  to engage the holes in response to receiving a signal from switch  490  that the top is completely inserted into the base. 
         [0040]    When a release signal is received by the peripheral, the moveable member may be allowed to move a portion of its full range of movement rather than the entire range. For example, in response to a “partial” release signal, elements  461 ,  463  will disengage from the groove  465 , the spring will decompress, and the top will be forced out of the base. However, the processor  475 , in response to a partial release signal from the console, may also cause elements  460 ,  462  to engage the barrel  430  as soon as elements  461 ,  463  disengage from the barrel. Accordingly, the elements  460 ,  462  will move their components into groove  465  as soon as the groove moves opposite the elements, thus causing the top to stop shortly after it leaves the base. A partial release signal may be associated with a foul ball, wherein the user input signals from the peripheral indicate that the virtual position of the ball indicate that the user hit the ball, but not accurately.  FIG. 5  illustrates a top  480  that has partially disengaged from the base after being released. 
         [0041]    A different release signal from the base may indicate that the moveable element should be allowed its full range of movement. For example, in response to a “complete” release signal, the processor  475  may cause all of the elements  460 - 463  to disengage, thus allowing the top to fly out of the barrel. Preferably, in such an embodiment, the top of the bat is made of a soft material. A complete release signal may be associated with a fair ball, and is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0042]    Yet another aspect of the invention controls the direction of the moveable element. For example, if an “angle” release signal is received by the peripheral, some the moveable member may be allowed to move a portion of its full range of movement rather than the entire range. For example, in response to the angle release signal, elements  461 ,  463  will disengage from the groove  465 , the spring will decompress, and the top will be forced out of the base. However, the processor  475 , in response to an angle release signal from the console, may also cause one of the elements  460  or  462  to momentarily engage the barrel  430  after the top is released but before the groove  465  is opposite element  460  or  462 . By pushing the barrel  430  in one direction as it is leaving the aperture  485 , the direction of the top may be controlled as shown in  FIG. 7 . Preferably, in such an aspect, the width of aperture  485  of the base will be greater than the width of the barrel  430 . It will be understood that different and additional control elements may be added to finely control the distance and direction of the moveable element. 
         [0043]    Another aspect of the invention provides for multiple moveable elements.  FIG. 8  shows an example of such an aspect in the context of gun-shaped peripheral  800 . There are multiple apertures  861 - 864  for holding and releasing multiple moveable elements, such as bullet shaped elements  880 ,  881 . Each of the elements may be individually and selectively-released in response to instructions from the console. For example, all of the moveable elements may be released at once, one at a time, or in timed patterns or combinations depending on the user&#39;s manipulation of the user-input trigger  890  relative to game characters being displayed by the console. 
         [0044]    One of the advantages of the present invention is its ability to accommodate a wide variety of alternatives to the example structural elements and operations discussed above. For example, in some aspects, a motor could be added to the peripheral to return the moveable element into engagement with the base, though such an addition may, in many circumstances, be less advantageous because the power and size constraints of the motor may not be able to match the force that may be applied by a person. The motor may also be used to impede or control the motion of the moveable element, such as by slowing the ejection of the top of the bat. 
         [0045]    In another aspect of the invention, the tension in the spring or other tension device is not created by attaching the moveable part to the base. Rather, the spring may be compressed or elongated by the user-operated by operating a crank, level or other mechanism to create the tension, and the moveable part attached before or afterwards. 
         [0046]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.