Portable Display Infrared Positioning for Game Controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional game systems restrict the orientation and positioning of controllers due to fixed display setups, limiting user freedom and game playability.
Innovation Solution
A portable display device with an infrared emitter and a controller device equipped with an image-capturing section and inertia sensor, allowing users to operate games by pointing the controller at the portable display device, which can be positioned arbitrarily, and optionally using a marker device for external display, enabling more flexible game operations and improved playability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed display setup is used, then the game system provides stable image display, but the user freedom and controller positioning are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical connection system (fixed display setup with wired controllers) with an optical wireless system. The display device uses an infrared emitter to transmit positioning information wirelessly, and the controller uses an image-capturing section to detect infrared light, eliminating the need for physical alignment and wiring constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The display device serves multiple functions: it acts as both the game display and the positioning reference source through its infrared emitter. The controller also serves dual purposes by capturing infrared light for positioning while simultaneously receiving game control signals, enabling flexible positioning without additional dedicated positioning hardware.
2Weight of moving object
If the portable display device processes all game computations, then the device size and weight increase, but if computations are offloaded, then transmission complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the computational workload into two segments: the game device (home console) handles complex game logic and image generation, while the portable display device handles only image compression and display. This segmentation allows the portable device to remain lightweight while maintaining high transmission speeds through efficient compression algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces compression algorithms as an intermediary process between image generation and transmission. The compression section acts as a mediator that transforms large uncompressed game images into compact compressed data suitable for wireless transmission, thereby increasing transmission speed without requiring the portable device to perform heavy computations.
3Measurement precision
If the controller has fixed orientation requirements, then the image-capturing section can accurately detect the infrared emitter, but user operation freedom is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic positioning system where the controller continuously captures infrared light images and the system calculates real-time positioning information based on the captured images. This dynamic approach allows the controller to be held in various orientations and positions while maintaining accurate detection through continuous image processing and coordinate transformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional line-of-sight detection model to a two-dimensional image-based detection model. By capturing the infrared emitter as an image and analyzing its position within the image frame, the system can determine accurate positioning information regardless of the controller's orientation or distance from the emitter, adding spatial flexibility.
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
Enhances user freedom in game operations by allowing arbitrary positioning of the portable display device and controller, reducing computational load on the device and enabling high-speed wireless transmission of game images, thus improving game playability and reducing device size and weight.
Implementation Method 1
The portable display device includes an infrared emitter, and the controller device includes an image-capturing section capable of detecting infrared light
Data Source
AI summary
An example game system includes a home-console type game device, a controller device, and a portable display device. The portable display device includes an infrared emitter capable of emitting infrared light. The controller device wirelessly transmits to the game device operation image data from an image-capturing section, inertia sensor data, and operation button data. The game device receives the operation data from the controller device, and performs game processes based on the operation data. Moreover, the game device compresses first game images, which are generated based on the game processes, to generate compressed image data. The compressed image data is wirelessly transmitted to the portable display device. The portable display device receives the compressed image data from the game device, expands the compressed image data to obtain the game images, and displays the game images.