Self-contained Inertial Navigation System for Interactive Game Controllers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current movable controllers for computer display games, such as the Nintendo Wii Remote, lack self-contained inertial navigation systems to accurately track relative linear and angular motion, relying on external light sources and imposing movement restrictions on users.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a combination of self-contained inertial sensors, including tri-axial accelerometers and gyroscopes, or additional sensors attached to existing controllers to enable tracking along six axes, allowing for accurate detection of linear and angular motion without external setup or constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single tri-axial accelerometer is used in the controller, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of linear and angular motion is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (tri-axial accelerometer and tri-axial gyroscope) into a unified sensor system within the controller. This merging of sensors allows the system to simultaneously measure both linear acceleration and angular velocity, achieving complete six-degree-of-freedom motion tracking without requiring separate sensor systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions: the tri-axial accelerometer measures linear acceleration along three axes, while the tri-axial gyroscope measures angular velocity around three axes. This multi-functional sensor configuration enables the single controller to track all six degrees of freedom (three linear and three angular) without requiring additional specialized sensors.
2Measurement precision
If external infra-red light sources are used for position tracking, then the measurement precision of controller position is improved, but the ease of operation is reduced due to setup requirements and movement restrictions
Solution Approach 1:
The controller becomes self-sufficient for motion tracking by incorporating self-contained inertial sensors (accelerometer and gyroscope) that do not require external infrastructure. The system serves itself by measuring its own linear acceleration and angular velocity internally, eliminating the need for external infra-red light sources and associated setup requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the motion tracking function from the external environment (infra-red light sources) and relocates it into the controller itself through integrated inertial sensors. This extraction removes the dependency on external setup and allows unrestricted user movement while maintaining position tracking precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If assumptions are made about controller holding and movement axes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to different game applications is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The six-axis sensor system (tri-axial accelerometer plus tri-axial gyroscope) provides universal motion sensing capability that works across all game applications without requiring application-specific configurations or assumptions. The system can track any combination of linear and angular movements in three-dimensional space, making it adaptable to diverse game genres and control schemes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables unrestricted user movement and precise tracking of controller motion, enhancing interactive control in games by providing a self-contained system capable of sensing and interpreting motion in three-dimensional space.
Implementation Method 1
Self-contained INS systems typically use sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes
Implementation Method 2
Self-contained INS systems typically use sensors like accelerometers and gyroscopes
Data Source
AI summary
A movable game controller for controlling aspects of a computer controlled game display with apparatus for determining the linear and angular motion of that movable controller. The apparatus includes a plurality of self-contained inertial sensors for sensing the tri-axial linear and tri-axial angular motion of the moving controller. Each sensor is mounted at a fixed linear position and orientation with respect to the others. The linear and angular motion of the controller is computed from the correlated motion sensor readings of each of the plurality of self-contained inertial sensors.