System and method for interfacing a simulation device with a gaming device

Abstract

A system and method for interfacing a simulation device with a gaming device is disclosed. The system comprises a video game controller and a sensor. The controller is configured to mimic certain aspects of standard game controllers, providing control functions to a video game, with added functionality to accept input of an external control signal. The game controller is further configured to allow one or more of its control functions to be overridden by control functions provided by the external control signal. The sensor measures simulation parameters representative of actions performed on the simulation device and outputs simulation control signals representative of the simulation parameters. The sensor simulation control signals may be input to the game controller to provide control functions to the video game using both the simulation device and the game controller.

1 . A video game controller for use with a gaming device capable of playing a video game, comprising: 
 a body dimensioned to be held in the hands of a user of the video game controller;    a plurality of user-actuated controls, wherein actuation of the controls provides a first plurality of control functions for the gaming device, and wherein the video game controller is capable of receiving an external control signal which provides a second plurality of control functions for the gaming device and    and wherein the video game controller outputs a third plurality of control functions for the gaming device comprising at least one of the first and second plurality of control functions.    
   
   
       2 . The video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein the video game controller overrides at least one of the first plurality of control functions with at least one of the second plurality of control functions.  
   
   
       3 . The video game controller of  claim 2 , wherein the controller further comprises a switch that allows the user to select the at least one control function from the second plurality of control functions which overrides the at least one control function of the first plurality of control functions.  
   
   
       4 . The video game controller of  claim 2 , wherein the first plurality of control functions are not overridden by second plurality control functions when game controller does not receive the at least one video game controller.  
   
   
       5 . The video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein the external control signal provides control functions representative of at least one motion parameter of a user-actuated device for simulating a physical activity.  
   
   
       6 . The video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein the controls are selected from the group consisting of buttons, triggers, thumbsticks, and directional pads.  
   
   
       7 . The video game controller of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming device comprises a video game console selected from the group consisting of Sony Playstation™ video game consoles, Sony Playstation 2™ video game consoles, Sony Playstation 3™ video game consoles, Nintendo GameCube™ video game consoles, Microsoft XBox™ video game consoles, and Microsoft Xbox 360™ video game consoles.  
   
   
       8 . A system for interfacing an exercise bicycle having a rotating portion with a gaming device capable of playing a video game, comprising: 
 at least one sensor in communication with the rotating portion of the bicycle, comprising a generally circular rotatable member segmented into two substantially mating sections which may be reversibly separated to secure the rotatable member to a mounting location on the exercise bicycle at the aperture, wherein contact of the rotatable member with at least a portion of the rotating portion of the bicycle transfers rotational motion from the rotating portion to the rotatable member and a sensing element positioned substantially adjacent to the rotatable member which measures the rotational motion of the rotatable member, wherein the sensor generates at least one simulation control signal providing a first plurality of control functions for the gaming device representative of the at least one rotational parameter; and    at least one video game controller housing a plurality of user-actuated controls capable of single- and multi-dimensional actuation, wherein actuation of the controls by a user provides a second plurality of control functions for the gaming device and wherein the video game controller communicates with the at least one sensor to receive the at least one simulation control signal;    and wherein the at least one video game controller outputs a third plurality of control functions for the gaming device comprising at least one of the first and second plurality of control functions.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first plurality of control functions overrides at least one of the second plurality of control functions.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one rotational parameter comprises a rotational speed at which the user pedals the bike.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the sensor further comprises a rotatable member which transfers rotational motion from the crankshaft to the rotatable member and a sensing element positioned substantially adjacent to the rotatable member which measures the rotational motion of the crankshaft.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the rotating portion comprises the bicycle crankshaft.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the sensing element comprises an optical sensor.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is reversibly coupled to the exercise bicycle.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one simulation control signal is user-scalable.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the gaming device comprises a video game console selected from the group consisting of Sony Playstation™ video game consoles, Sony Playstation 2™ video game consoles, Sony Playstation 3™ video game consoles, Nintendo GameCube™ video game consoles, Microsoft XBox™ video game consoles, and Microsoft Xbox 360™ video game consoles.  
   
   
       17 . A boarding-sport simulation device, comprising 
 a board;    a base that supports the board, wherein the base allows movement of the board resulting from one or more boarding maneuvers performed by a player using the gaming device;    at least one sensor which measures at least one motion parameter of the board and generates at least one simulation control signal providing a first plurality of control functions for the gaming device representative of the movement of the board; and    at least one video game controller which houses a plurality of controls, wherein actuation of the controls by a user provides a second plurality of control functions for the gaming device, and wherein the at least one video game controller receives the at least one simulation control signal from the at least one sensor.    
   
   
       18 . The simulation device of  claim 17 , wherein the first plurality of control functions overrides at least two of the second plurality of control functions.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the simulation device further comprises a switch allowing the user to select the control functions from the first plurality of control functions which override the second plurality of control functions.  
   
   
       20 . The simulation device of  claim 17 , wherein the controls of the video game controller are selected from the group consisting of buttons, triggers, thumbsticks, and directional pads.  
   
   
       21 . The simulation device of  claim 17 , wherein the sensor measures at least one motion parameter selected from the group comprising tilt motions in the plane of the board, vertical motions out of the plane of the board, swinging and rotation about an axis substantially normal to the plane of the board, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the base can be deformed in a restorative manner by the user.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the base comprises a rounded member having a rounded contact surface that engages a floor surface and a dampening member positioned about the rounded contact surface so as to provide dampening of rocking motion of the rounded member resulting from tilting of the board.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the rounded member comprises a hemisphere, and the dampening member comprises a donut shaped member that substantially surrounds the rounded contact surface.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the gaming device comprises a video game console selected from the group consisting of Sony Playstation™ video game consoles, Sony Playstation 2™ video game consoles, Sony Playstation 3™ video game consoles, Nintendo GameCube™ video game consoles, Microsoft XBox™ video game consoles, and Microsoft Xbox 360™ video game consoles.  
   
   
       26 . A method of interfacing a simulation device with a gaming device capable of playing video games, comprising: 
 sensing at least one simulation parameter;    generating at least one simulation control signal representative of the at least one simulation parameter which provides a first plurality of control functions for the gaming device;    communicating the at least one simulation control signal to a video game controller housing a plurality of user-actuated controls whose actuation provides a second plurality of control functions for the gaming device;    overriding at least one of the second plurality of control functions with at least one of the first plurality of control functions; and    providing a third plurality of control functions to the gaming device comprising at least one of the first and second pluralities of control functions.    
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the simulation device comprises an exercise device.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one simulation parameter comprises a motion parameter of a moving portion of the simulation device.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the gaming device comprises a video game console selected from the group consisting of Sony Playstation™ video game consoles, Sony Playstation 2™ video game consoles, Sony Playstation 3™ video game consoles, Nintendo GameCube™ video game consoles, Microsoft XBox™ video game consoles, and Microsoft Xbox 360™ video game consoles.  
   
   
       30 . A sensing component for measuring movement of a structure, comprising: 
 a rotatable member comprising a disk possessing a through aperture, a first wall extending outward from the plane of the disk at approximately the periphery of the disk, and a second wall extending outward from the plane of the disk at approximately the periphery of the aperture, wherein the rotatable member is segmented into two substantially mating sections and wherein the sections may be reversibly separated in order to secure the rotatable member to a mounting location at the aperture;    a pattern positioned on the rotatable member, comprising at least two distinguishable regions;    a sensing element position adjacent to the pattern, capable of distinguishing between the at least two regions of the pattern;    a coupling which interconnects the rotatable member and the sensing element so as to allow the rotatable member to rotate with respect to the sensing element;    wherein contact of at least a portion of the rotatable member with the moving structure causes the rotatable member to rotate and wherein the sensing element senses the motion of the pattern on the rotatable member and outputs a sensing component signal representative of the rotational motion of the rotatable member.    
   
   
       31 . The sensing component of  claim 30 , wherein the rotatable member contacts the moving structure at approximately an outer surface of the first wall with respect to the radius of the disk or at approximately an inner surface of the second wall with respect to the radius of the disk.  
   
   
       32 . The sensing component of  claim 30 , wherein the pattern comprises alternating dark and light regions.  
   
   
       33 . The sensing component of  claim 32 , wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor capable of distinguishing between the dark and light regions of the pattern based on differences in reflectivity.  
   
   
       34 . The sensing component of  claim 33 , wherein the sensing component signal is approximately a square waveform.  
   
   
       35 . The sensing component of  claim 33 , wherein the moving structure comprises a bicycle crankshaft.