AU2008229663B2 - A support apparatus for a hand held motion sensitive game controller - Google Patents

Abstract

A support apparatus for a hand held motion sensitive game controller, said apparatus including, a main body, fastening means to fasten the main body to a substantially planar base or platform, a first arm member rotatably and pivot 5 ably supported within the main body for substantial spherical movement about said main body support, a second arm member pivot ably fasten able to said first arm member for either/or, lateral or vertical rotation in conjunction with the said spherical movement of said first arm, said second arm adapted to have said hand held motion sensitive game controller mounted thereto, such that 10 when the hand held motion sensitive game controller is mounted to the user support apparatus, the relative movement of the first and second arm mimic the motion sensitivity of the player suitable for the required manipulated simulation expected by the player within the game environment. In~ rJl rnl

Description

58455 JOM:JP P/00/01I AUSTRALIA Regulation 3.2 Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: GORAN NIKOLIC Actual Inventor: GORAN NIKOLIC Address for Service: COLLISON & C0., 117 King William Street, Adelaide, S.A. 5000 Invention Title: A SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR A HAND HELD MOTION SENSITIVE GAME CONTROLLER Details of Associated Provisional Application: Australian Patent Application No. 2007905352 dated 28 September 2007 The following statement is a full description of this invention, Including the best method of performing it known to me: 2 This invention relates generally to electronic games the kinds of which the player sits at a distance from the screen to which the virtual situation has been presented, and utilises a hand held controller to manipulate or simulate action within the game environment. 5 More particularly this invention relates to a support apparatus particularly for improving upon the usability of hand held motion sensitive game controllers used for such electronic games as referred to above. With the rapid development of relatively low cost, digital electronic devices, including low cost micro processors and memory devices, substantial gains 10 have been achieved recently in the field of electronic games. For the most part these electronic game environments includes a monitor or screen which presents as part of its representation the virtual game environment to which a player then manipulates or simulates there within. To manipulate and simulate within the game environment the player takes 15 control of a hand held apparatus, commonly referred to as a game controller, of which is relatively small in size and housed to typically include a plurality of input buttons or other features so that the user can input their direction and the like during game play. Nonetheless it has been found that when playing the game the microprocessor 20 responds to a user's inputs during the game by the player pressing or moving various buttons or levers, in essence the player themselves are not physically motioning their hands in a natural simulating procedure. For example it the player was required to turn a corner, the player does this by pulling a lever or pressing a button to move in that virtual direction. 25 In order to make games more realistic and provide the player with that essence of feel that they are in fact virtually involved within the game environment, efforts have been made to introduce hand held motion sensitive game controllers.

3 Nonetheless these hand held motion sensitive game controllers when selected by the player for use with the game environment, have meant the players ability to manipulate or simulate its required action with inside the game environment is dramatically reduced. 5 A problem being in that while motion sensitivity provides a greater feel for virtual simulation, as the player moves the hand held device to create the effect of moving in a particular direction, the micro processor is unable to totally mimic the required intention of the player, as the player's movement is often too exaggerated. 10 Essentially speaking, the natural movement of the player on the hand held motion sensitive game controller, is not controlled and the intentions of the player cannot be compensated or recognised by the electronic game. Besides the major problem of inappropriate manipulation and ability to mimic the required actioning effect of the player onto the game environment, there are 15 also additional problems with the utilisation of the currently available hand held motion sensitive game controllers. As the person skilled in the art will appreciate, as the player attempts to continually manipulate the game environment through the movement of their hands in unrestricted movement, it does not take long for the joints within the 20 bones of the hands to become uncomfortable, and potentially damaged through prolonged use. Again the person skilled in the art would be aware of repetitive strain use injuries of which would be the combination of the unrestricted use of the hand held motion sensitive game controller as the player attempts to manipulate with 25 inside the virtual game environment by unrestrained turning and flipping of the controller would be most unwelcome and uncomfortable. This invention represents the realistic motions and dynamics of driving, flying, motor biking, first person shooters and the like.

4 Therefore there remains a need in the relevant art associated with these recently introduced hand held motion sensitive game controllers, to in fact control further the use of such game controllers such that the motion simulation provided for by the player is appropriately mimicked to present the desired 5 effect in the game environment. Accordingly one torm of the invention, there is provided a support apparatus for a hand held motion sensitive game controller, said apparatus including, a main body, fastening means to fasten the main body to a substantially planar base or 10 platform, a first arm member rotatably and pivot ably supported within the main body for substantial spherical movement about said main body support, a second arm member pivot ably fasten able to said first arm member for either/or, lateral or vertical rotation in conjunction with the said spherical 15 movement of said first arm, said second arm adapted to have said hand held motion sensitive game controller mounted thereto, such that when the hand held motion sensitive game controller is mounted to the user support apparatus, the relative movement of the first and 20 second arm mimic the motion sensitivity of the player suitable for the required manipulated simulation expected by the player within the game environment. An advantage of such an arrangement is that for the first time the benefits of hand held motion sensitive game controllers can be utilised by a player such that the player's motion movement can be appropriately controlled by the 25 support apparatus to allow the elimination of unrestrained exaggeration as the player attempts to move the hand held motion sensitive game controller so as to manipulate or simulate the action within the game environment.

5 Advantageously it will now no longer see the situation wherein the motion sensitive selection of the game controller is turned off, and the preference now will be for players to utilise this feature of motion sensitivity as an alternative to the pushing of buttons and the like, because the translation of their motion will 5 be appropriately mimicked and reproduced within the game environment because of the support provided for by this apparatus. Again a further advantage will be that the development of software to try and eliminate this over compensation of a player's motion so that the appropriate manipulation is taking place within the game environment rather than 10 exaggeration, no longer needs to be developed. In preference the first arm includes a defined hook shape wherein respective ends are each adaptable to be rotatably and pivot ably supported within the main body. An advantage of such an arrangement is that as the arm hooks around this 15 means that varying height levels of the hand held motion sensitive game controller relative to the main body can be provided for. Therefore in some game environments where a very comfortable, tight or restrictive motion movement is required, for example in a simulation of a motor cycle game and the like, the player can be assured of improved comfort and 20 appropriate mimicking of their motion as they simulate the movement of a motor bike within the game environment. Advantageously by having the first arm being adapted to rotate and pivotally move in a substantially spherical arrangement of which can be further controlled by the simultaneous lateral or vertical movement of the second arm, means that 25 every plausible axis of defined movement can be achieved in a comfortable controlled and restricted environment to allow the player to realise all desired movements, of which can be then mimicked accordingly within the game environment.

6 In order to describe the invention now more fully and to introduce some further advantageous features of which would not be considered essential to the invention, a preferred embodiment will be presented herewith, with the assistance of the accompanying illustrations. 5 In a further form of the invention the first arm is fixed in a circumferential rotatable position adapted to have the game controller attached at one end for controlled rotation, for the example the use of steering well the like.. Figure 1 is a perspective exploded view of the support apparatus for the hand held motion sensitive game controller of this invention. 10 Figure 2 shows a top view of Figure 1 showing the allowed spherical movement of the first arm and the relative lateral or vertical movement, which in this embodiment is vertical movement provided for by the second arm member. Figure 3 shows a side perspective view of Figure 1. Figure 4 shows the application of the support apparatus fastened to a platform 15 when used by a player. Figures 5 and 6 show the further form of the invention wherein the first arm is fixed in a circumferential rotatable position adapted to have the game controller attached at one end for controlled rotation. Referring to the drawings now in greater detail where there is provided a 20 support apparatus 10 of which is adapted to be fastened to a hand held motion sensitive game controller 12, in this preferred embodiment by couplings 38a or 38b. Nonetheless as the person skilled in the art will appreciate the actual mechanism, design or structure, of fastening the hand held motion sensitive 25 game controller is not critical to this invention. It is the respective and relative movements of the first and second arm members once the hand held motion 7 sensitive game controller 12 is attached thereto the support apparatus 10 that remains important. The support apparatus includes a main body 14 which includes a base platform 16 of which is equipped with means 18 to be fastened to a substantially planer 5 or flat surface when in use. The main body 14 is able to receive the first arm member 20 within the defined spacing 24, of which the fixation of the first arm member within the main body 14 to allow complete spherical and pivotal movement to be achieved through the locking mechanism 26. io In this preferred embodiment the first arm member takes on the appearance of a hook shape wherein the respective ends 28, 30 of the first arm member 20 are easily insert able into the receiving chamber 24 of the main body 14 of the support apparatus 10. In this preferred embodiment the abutting end 28 has a circular shoulder to is assist in the general flexibility of the first arm as it is rot ably or pivot ably spherically moved about the main body 14. To position the first arm 20 in place the locking mechanism 26 would simply rotate in order to provide a frictional tight fit between the first arm member 20 and the main body 14. In this embodiment the second arm member is shown as 32. Fastening means 20 34, 36 are then able to fix the second arm 32 to the first arm 20. Items 26 and 34 assist in the adjusting for a user's realistic feel. The items are primarily used to strengthen and tighten the apparatus but also to adjust tension and steering feedback, for example in drive games one could loosen the tension for a more realistic effect or in more higher end games like formula one where 25 speed is of essence, a user could adjust for tighter tension for the control at these higher speeds. In this particular embodiment shown in Figure 1, 2 and 3 the first arm would allow substantial unrestricted spherical movement and then the vertical and 8 down movement of the second arm simultaneously, would allow a player not only the ability to turn, pivot or reverse, advantageously it would also allow the player to dive forward or elevate upwards through the introduction of the controlled first and second arms. 5 In some embodiments the second arm could in fact be fixed along the bend of the hooking arrangement for lateral movement which would make it particularly appropriate for a motor vehicle steering wheel simulation. Also as introduced above, the user's support apparatus allows for both ends of the second arm to be positioned within the main body 14 wherein should 10 abutting end 30 be fixed within the main body, tighter restriction and comfort to be provided for to a player during simulations for motor cycle games and the like. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3 by way of the respective arrows 40, 42, controlled and comfortable movement is provided for in all directions by virtue of 15 the spherical movement provided for by the first arm and the relative vertical movement by the second arm, which also as introduced above could be lateral movement in some embodiments when the second arm is fixed at other locations along the first arm member. Figure 4 shows the application of the user's support apparatus with the player 20 playing an electronic game. The main body 14 of the apparatus is fastened to a platform 46 of which has extending chutes 48 so as to be comfortably positioned inside the players 44 legs. An advantage of the platform 46 means that a ready-made base is provided for to the player for further comfort and control. By having the extending chutes 48, 25 the platform can be fixed in place, while at the same time the main body can be fastened at any location about the platform, again depending on the user's selected comfort ability.

9 As can be seen from Figure 4 no longer will it be necessary for a player to use unrestrained motion in order to achieve various turns, pivots, dives, elevations and the like when trying to manipulate within the virtual situations of the game environment. 5 The player 44 will now be comfortably positioned and their motion appropriately controlled so it will be mimicked with the same expectation of movement upon all within the game environment. Figures 5 and 6 show a further form of the invention, wherein the first arm 20 is fixed in a circumferential rotatable position adapted to have the game controller 10 attached at one end for controlled rotation. Clip 50 includes wedge member 52 and 54 of which may claw onto the first arm 20 fixing clip 50 to said arm 20. The clip 50 has a protruding rod 54 adapted to be received into slot 58 of holder 56. Once the rod 54 is secured in slot 58, vertical movement is restricted, and arm 20 has controlled circumferential 15 rotation. Advantageously, the restriction provides great control for the use with steering wheels or motorbike simulation, where tight, real to life dynamics are necessary. Advantageously the support apparatus will be universal in its adaptability to fit and be utilised by any hand held motion sensitive game controller provided for 20 manufacturers. The use of the main body and its inter-relationship with the first and second arm members makes the use of the device simplistic and will encourage a player to utilise the motion sensitive feature if available on the game controller. Advantageously this simple design of the apparatus will make it user friendly, 25 cheap and easy to make and assemble to provide realistic simulation features of a game without the requirement by very expensive game accessories, such as purpose built joy sticks, steering wheels and the like.

Advantageously the apparatus will not interfere with any existing wireless system associated with the hand held game controller and can be used just as effectively with those more traditional game controllers that still use cable connected arrangements with the screen. 5 Further cost savings are provided for by this support apparatus in that because of the versatility of the movement provided for by the first and second arm members, the player saves from having to buy several accessories, as introduced above such as steering wheels, joy sticks, flight sticks and the like for specific games. 10

Claims (10)

1. A support apparatus for a hand held motion sensitive game controller, said apparatus including, a main body, 5 fastening means to fasten the main body to a substantially planar base or platform, a first arm member rotatably and pivot ably supported within the main body for substantial spherical movement about said main body support, a second arm member pivot ably fasten able to said first arm member for 10 either/or, lateral or vertical rotation in conjunction with the said spherical movement of said first arm, said second arm adapted to have said hand held motion sensitive game controller mounted thereto, such that when the hand held motion sensitive game controller is 15 mounted to the user support apparatus, the relative movement of the first and second arm mimic the motion sensitivity of the player suitable for the required manipulated simulation expected by the player within the game environment.

2. The support arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first arm includes a defined hook shape wherein respective ends are each adaptable to be rotatably 20 and pivot ably supported within the main body.

3. The support arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first arm is fixed in a circumferential rotatable position adapted to have the game controller attached at one end for controlled rotation. 12

4 The support arrangement of claim 2 or 3 wherein the main body includes a base platform of which is equipped with means to be fastened to a substantially planer or flat surface when in use.

5. The support arrangement of claim 4 wherein the main body is adapted to 5 receive the first arm member within a defined spacing of the main body, of which the fixation of the first arm member within said spacing allows complete spherical and pivotal movement of the first arm with respect to the main body.

6. The support arrangement of claim 5 wherein the first arm member is configured of a hook shape. 10

7. The support arrangement of claim 6 wherein the first arm includes a frictional tight fit between the first arm member and the defined spacing of the main body.

8. The support arrangement of claim 7 wherein the second arm member is fastened to the first arm. 15

9. The support arrangement of claim 8 wherein the first arm allows substantial unrestricted spherical movement with the second arm adapted for the vertical up and down movement simultaneously with the spherical movement of the first arm, allowing a player not only the ability to turn, pivot or reverse, but to dive forward or elevate upwards through the simultaneous 20 interaction of the first and second arms

10. The support arrangement of claim 9 wherein the second is fixed along the bend of the hooking arrangement of the first arm for lateral movement.