Trampoline for use as an input device for an electronic game
AssigneeTgoma Nz Limited
InventorsEdward Noel Dalley, John Robert Howe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trampoline as a controller or an input device for playing games, comprising a frame having a flexible mat divided into input zones and one or more neutral zones, a sensor arrangement to detect activity on V the flexible mat, a controller configured to determine the bounce location and bounce zone of the activity and provide this information to a feedback generator for playing games on the trampoline, such that a user uses the trampoline to play games by jumping on the input and neutral zones.
Claims13
A trampoline for use as an input device for an electronic game, the trampoline comprising:
- a flexible bouncing mat having an input zone and a neutral zone, the neutral zone located in the middle of the mat and the input zone closer to a periphery of the mat than the neutral zone,
- a sensor arrangement comprising at least one sensor configured to provide output indicating activity of a user on the mat,
- a controller configured to:
- determine a zone location of the user on the mat based on output from the sensor arrangement, and
- provide an input to the electronic game based on the determined zone location, an actuating input when a user bounces in the input zone and a neutral input when a user is in the neutral zone;
- and
- a feedback generator controllable by the controller for providing visual or audio feedback to the user,
- wherein the neutral input causes the controller or the game to provide feedback to the user indicating the user's cadence level.
A method of operating a trampoline controller, the method comprising:
- determining activity of a user on a trampoline based on measurements from a sensor arrangement, the trampoline comprising a flexible mat having an input zone and a neutral zone, the neutral zone located in the middle of the mat and the input zone closer to a periphery of the mat than the neutral zone,
- determining a zone location of the user based on output from the sensor arrangement,
- providing an input to an electronic game based on the determined zone location, an actuating input when a user bounces in the input zone and a neutral input when a user is in the neutral zone;
- wherein the neutral input causes feedback to be provided to the user indicating the user's cadence level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.