# US 10,245,506 B2 · Video gaming system and method of operation

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,245,506 B2
- Document ID: US10245506B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/585,538
- Filed: 2017-05-03
- Published: 2017-11-09
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2016-05-03
- Assignees: Performance Designed Products LLC
- Applicants: Performance Designed Products LLC
- Inventors: Steve Lavache; Richard Baxter; Thomas John Roberts
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245506B2

## CPC

- A63F 13/219: for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
- A63F 13/213: comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence)
- A63F 13/235: using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
- A63F 13/25: Output arrangements for video game devices
- A63F 13/40: Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
- A63F 13/837: Shooting of targets
- G02B 5/208: {for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation}
- G02B 7/006: {Filter holders}
- H04N 7/183: {for receiving images from a single remote source}
- H04N 17/002: {for television cameras}
- H04N 17/02: for colour television signals
- H04N 23/10: for generating image signals from different wavelengths
- H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means
- H04N 23/6812: {based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors}
- H04N 23/683: {performed by a processor, e.g. controlling the readout of an image memory}
- A63F 2300/1018: Calibration; Key and button assignment
- G02F 1/23: for the control of the colour (G02F1/03 - G02F1/21 take precedence)
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS

## Abstract

A video game system can include a console, a camera and a light targeting peripheral (LTP), where the LPT can direct non-visible light (e.g., infrared (IR) light) onto a display screen. The camera is positioned so that is can view the display screen, and can locate a non-visible light dot on the display screen during video game play. The system can be used with any size or type of electronic display (e.g., any type of television, computer screen, etc.), or any type of non-electronic display (e.g., projector screen) on which the video game can be projected.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A video game system, comprising:
a console configured to transmit one or more visual or aural effects of a video game to a display screen;
a camera freely positionable in a plurality of positions in front of the display screen so that it can view the display screen, the camera having one or more sensors configured to sense motion of the camera, wherein the position of the camera is calibrated relative to the display screen when the one or more sensors detect that the camera has been moved and prior to operation of the camera, the camera configured to communicate with the console; and
a light targeting peripheral disposed on the front side of the display screen, the light targeting peripheral comprising a housing, a trigger movably coupled to the housing, and a non-visible light source, the light targeting peripheral configured to direct a non-visible light onto the display screen and to communicate with one or both of the console and the camera when the trigger is actuated by a user to move the trigger relative to the housing, the camera configured to locate a position on the display screen targeted by the light targeting peripheral upon the actuation of the trigger irrespective of a size and type of the display screen and to communicate said position to the console.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The video game system of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises an optical filter configured to filter out visible light while allowing non-visible light to pass through a lens of the camera.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The video game system of claim 2, wherein the optical filter is selectively actuated to filter out visible light during operation of the video game.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The video game system of claim 2, wherein the optical filter is actuatable between a position in front of the lens to filter out visible light and a position out of alignment with the lens to allow visible light to pass through the lens.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The video game system of claim 4, wherein the optical filter is positioned out of the way of the lens to allow visible light to pass through the lens during a calibration of the camera.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The video game system of claim 1, wherein the light targeting peripheral is configured to cause an infrared light to be directed onto the display screen when the trigger is actuated by the user.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The video game system of claim 1, wherein the light targeting peripheral communicates wirelessly with the camera.

### Claim 8

A video game system, comprising:
a console configured to transmit one or more visual or aural effects of a video game to an electronic display screen;
a camera freely positionable in a plurality of positions in front of the display screen so that it can view the electronic display screen, the camera having one or more sensors configured to sense motion of the camera, wherein the position of the camera is calibrated relative to the display screen when the one or more sensors detect that the camera has been moved and prior to operation of the camera, the camera configured to communicate with the console, the camera comprising an optical filter mechanically actuatable to filter out visible light while allowing non-visible light to pass through a lens of the camera; and
a light targeting peripheral comprising a housing, a trigger pivotally coupled to the housing, and a non-visible light source, the light targeting peripheral configured to direct a non-visible light onto the display screen and to communicate with one or both of the console and the camera when the trigger is actuated by a user, the camera configured to locate a position on the display screen targeted by the light targeting peripheral upon the actuation of the trigger irrespective of a size and type of the display screen and to communicate said position to the console.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The video game system of claim 8, wherein the optical filter is selectively actuated to filter out visible light during operation of the video game.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The video game system of claim 8, wherein the optical filter is actuatable between a position in front of the lens to filter out visible light and a position out of alignment with the lens to allow visible light to pass through the lens.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The video game system of claim 10, wherein the optical filter is positioned out of the way of the lens to allow visible light to pass through the lens during a calibration of the camera.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The video game system of claim 8, wherein the light targeting peripheral is configured to cause an infrared light to be directed onto the display screen when the trigger is actuated by the user.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The video game system of claim 8, wherein the light targeting peripheral communicates wirelessly with the camera.

### Claim 14

A video game system, comprising:
a camera freely positionable in a plurality of positions in front of a display screen so that it can view the display screen, the camera having one or more sensors configured to sense motion of the camera, wherein the position of the camera is calibrated relative to the display screen when the one or more sensors detect that the camera has been moved and prior to operation of the camera, the camera comprising an optical filter movable in front of a lens of the camera to filter out visible light while allowing infrared light and configured to communicate with a console; and
one or more light targeting peripherals comprising a housing, a trigger movably coupled to the housing, and an infrared light source, the one or more light targeting peripherals configured to direct an infrared light onto the display screen and configured to communicate with one or both of the console and the camera when the trigger is actuated, the camera configured to locate a position on the display screen targeted by the one or more light targeting peripherals upon the actuation of the trigger irrespective of a size and type of the display screen and to communicate said position to the console.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The video game system of claim 14, wherein the optical filter is selectively actuated to filter out visible light during operation of the video game.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The video game system of claim 14, wherein the optical filter is actuatable between a position in front of the lens to filter out visible light and a position out of alignment with the lens to allow visible light to pass through the lens.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The video game system of claim 16, wherein the optical filter is positioned out of the way of the lens to allow visible light to pass through the lens during a calibration of the camera.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The video game system of claim 14, wherein the one or more light targeting peripherals communicate wirelessly with the camera.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The video game system of claim 14, wherein the one or more light targeting peripherals are two light gun controllers.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The video game system of claim 14, wherein the one or more light targeting peripherals comprises a sensor that communicates one or both of location and orientation information of the one or more light targeting peripherals to control circuitry thereof, the control circuitry configured to communicate said information to one or both of the console and the camera to facilitate inertial tracking of the one or more light targeting peripherals.