Game control and exercise system

Abstract

The present invention provides, inter alia, a game control system that comprises: a floor-standing exercise frame, the exercise frame having one or more game control switches; a motion sensing means for control of an external games system; and a control interface having a processor that integrates the control signals from the game control switches with control signals from the motion sensing means synchronising/co-ordinating them with the external games system controls to control game-play.

1 . A game control and exercise system that comprises: a floorstanding exercise frame, the exercise frame having one or more game control switches to generate game control signals, the frame having a dock that de-mountably holds in use a unit of an external games system; and a control interface having a processor that integrates the control signals from the game control switches with control signals from a motion sensor that senses motion of a part or whole of the frame synchronising/co-ordinating them with the external games system controls to control game-play, the unit being a handheld device with a processor whereby the frame with the unit docked to it may control one or more aspects of game play on the games system by the sensed motion of the part or whole of the frame by the motion sensor and by the operation of the one or more game control switches. 
     
     
         2 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the motion sensor is part of the handheld device. 
     
     
         3 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control interface is in or on the exercise frame. 
     
     
         4 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the motion sensor is incorporated in the exercise frame. 
     
     
         5 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the motion sensor comprises one or more accelerometers. 
     
     
         6 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the dock is a socket that is configured to securely accommodate the unit in use so that it will remain securely in place while exercising and yet allowing the unit to be demounted with ease after use. 
     
     
         7 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 1  in combination with a unit of an external games system wherein the unit comprises: an iPhone® or iPod Touch® or other smartphone, PDA, or iPad® or other tablet or handheld computing device configured to play computer games. 
     
     
         8 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the frame incorporates a battery or other electrical energy supplier to power the game control features. 
     
     
         9 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the electrical energy supplier comprises an energy harvesting facility to capture ambient light energy or kinetic energy from moving of the frame. 
     
     
         10 . A game control system and exercise as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the frame incorporates an EMR sensor array for controlling game-play. 
     
     
         11 . A game control system and exercise as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an upstanding portion of the frame has a spanning portion that extends from the user's left to right hand sides and which incorporates the dock. 
     
     
         12 . A game control system and exercise as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the spanning portion incorporates the one or more game control switches. 
     
     
         13 . A game control system and exercise as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the dock is substantially centrally positioned along the length of the spanning portion. 
     
     
         14 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control interface processor is configured to take the control signals of the frame's game control switches and to combine them with the motion sensing signals. 
     
     
         15 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 14  and adapted for console systems having a remote unit, wherein the control interface processor is configured to take the combined control and motion sensing signals as output control signals and for the output control signals to be transmitted by the unit to the console. 
     
     
         16 . A game control system and exercise system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein exercise-related data/health data signals from the exerciser or sensors worn by the user, signals from game control switches and/or sensed motion signals are combined in use to control game-play or be displayed alongside a game visual. 
     
     
         17 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the exercise frame comprises a floor-standing rocking exercise frame having a base portion with a rocker section, the base portion of the frame being adapted to pass around behind a user from their left to right hand sides, the frame having an upstanding portion with hand hold that a user may grip to rock the frame and having the dock therein. 
     
     
         18 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein an upstanding portion of the frame has a spanning portion that extends from the user's left to right hand sides and which incorporates the dock, and wherein the upstanding portion is arched to form the spanning portion that extends from the user's left to right hand sides and which incorporates the dock. 
     
     
         19 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the motion sensor senses movement of a part of the exercise frame relative to another part of the exercise frame. 
     
     
         20 . A game control and exercise system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the motion sensor senses rotary or reciprocating movement.