Video game position and orientation detection system
AssigneeMidway Games West
InventorsPeter W. Morkris, Michael E. Albaugh, Minh Nguyen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A position sensing apparatus and method includes a targeting device with a plurality of infrared transmitters or photodiode receivers attached to the targeting device and with corresponding receivers or transmitters mounted near a display monitor. The transmitters emit light signals that are received by the photodiode receivers. Receiver circuitry converts the light signals into signals representing the distance of the transmitters from the receivers. A processor then calculates the three-dimensional position and vector of the targeting device relative to the display monitor.
Claims25
A position sensing apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of transmitters for emitting light signals;
- a plurality of receivers capable of detecting the light signals from said transmitters;
- at least one targeting device, the targeting device having either a portion of the plurality of transmitters or a portion of the plurality of receivers attached thereto;
- a receiver circuit connected to said receivers, the receiver circuit developing signals representing the distance of the transmitters from the receivers;
- and
- a processor for processing the distance signals to determine the three-dimensional coordinate position and orientation of the targeting device.
A targeting game machine comprising:
- a display monitor for displaying a target;
- at least one targeting device;
- at least three transmitters for emitting infrared light signals, wherein at least three transmitters are mounted on the at least one targeting device;
- at least three photodiode receivers capable of detecting the light signals from said transmitters, wherein the receivers are mounted about the display monitor;
- a receiver circuit electrically connected to said receivers, wherein the receiver circuit generates signals in relation to the intensity of the infrared light signals detected by the receivers, the generated signals representing the distance of the transmitters from the receivers;
- and
- a processor for processing the signals to determine the three-dimensional coordinate position and orientation of the targeting device with respect to the display monitor.
A method of detecting the position and orientation of a targeting device relative to a display monitor, said targeting device having a plurality of transmitters or receivers connected to said targeting device, and said display monitor having a plurality of receivers or transmitters fixedly mounted thereto, said method comprising:
- emitting light signals from the transmitters;
- detecting the light signals emitted from the transmitters at the receivers;
- calculating the distance between the transmitters and the receivers using the light signals detected by the receivers;
- determining the three-dimensional position and orientation of the targeting device with respect to the display monitor using the distance between the transmitters and receivers.
A method of displaying the targeted location of a targeting device relative to a display monitor for use in a targeting game machine, said targeting device having a plurality of transmitters connected to said targeting device, and said display monitor having a plurality of receivers fixedly mounted to said monitor, said method comprising:
- emitting light signals from the transmitters connected to the targeting device;
- detecting light signals emitted from the transmitters at the receivers;
- calculating three-dimensional positions of the transmitters connected to the targeting device;
- calculating a vector of the targeting device from the positions of the transmitters;
- and
- displaying a line pointer that depicts the vector of the targeting device with respect to the display monitor, wherein the line pointer starts from a front surface of the monitor and projects into a three-dimensional scene displayed on said monitor.
A position sensing device comprising:
- a targeting device;
- means for emitting infrared light signals;
- means for detecting the light signals emitted from the means for emitting light signals;
- and
- means responsive to the light signals for determining a three-dimensional position and orientation of the targeting device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.