Base Station Position Tracking for Game Controllers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The video game industry faces challenges in accurately tracking user movements with wireless game controllers due to decreased sensor performance at greater distances from cameras, especially with larger televisions and monitors, leading to a less immersive gaming experience.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a base station that establishes a reference plane to determine the relative movement of controllers, providing visual and audible feedback, and includes processing circuitry to relay motion data from controllers to a game console, allowing for improved interactivity and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If users stand further away from the television to view the entire picture, then users can see the full display, but sensor performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay areaVSAvoidsensor performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a base station as an intermediary device between the controller and the game console. The base station includes sensors that closely track controller movements and wirelessly transmit this data to the game console, eliminating the need for cameras mounted on or near the television to track controllers from a distance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the optical tracking system (cameras and visual sensors) with a wireless communication system. The controller contains motion sensing devices that directly measure movement, and this data is transmitted electronically to the base station and then to the game console, substituting mechanical/optical tracking with electronic sensing and communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If video cameras are placed further from the controller, then users can move further from the console, but tracking accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser movement freedomVSAvoidtracking accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The base station serves as an intermediary that receives highly accurate movement data from the controller's motion sensing devices and relays it to the game console. This allows the controller to be tracked precisely regardless of its distance from the console, as the measurement occurs at the controller itself rather than from a remote camera.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller performs self-measurement of its own movements through integrated motion sensing devices. Rather than relying on an external camera to observe and calculate position, the controller autonomously detects its movement and transmits this data, eliminating the need for external tracking infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If cameras are placed closer to the controller, then tracking accuracy improves, but device placement complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidsensor placement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the sensing function from the television/console system and places it directly in the controller. The motion sensing devices are integrated into the controller itself, eliminating the need for separate cameras, mounting structures, and calibration systems that would be required to achieve accurate tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Area of stationary object

If larger televisions and monitors are used, then display quality improves, but the distance between user and console increases, reducing sensor performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay sizeVSAvoidsensor performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the camera-based optical tracking system with wireless communication between the controller's motion sensors and the game console. This substitution allows accurate controller tracking independent of the distance between the user/console and the television, enabling large display formats without compromising tracking performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8393964B2Base station for position location

Publication Date: 2013.03.12 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a system to interface with a game console to control a video game is disclosed. The system includes a game console and a base station that is interfaced with the game console. The base station has processing circuitry that is configured to send and receive data between the base station and the game console. The base station is also configured to process position data. The system also includes a controller that is interfaced with the base station. The controller has hardware to process movement data of the controller and communicate the movement data to the base station. The base station processes the position data of the controller, and relays the position data from the base station to the game console to determine a relative position of the controller to the base station. Wherein changes in the relative position of the controller facilitate interactive control with the video game.