US 2003/0199317 A1 · Method and device for timing offset in an optical gun interaction with a computer game system

Abstract

A device and a method for integrating an optical gun with a computer game system and within a computer game scenario are provided. The preferred embodiment includes an optical gun, or gun, with a communications interface, such as a USB interface, with the computer game system. The gun has sensors that sense when (1) a player is grasping a gun handle, or (2) the gun is holstered. The gun simulates a recoil force when a simulated round is fired. A battery is charged between game periods and drawn down during play. A laser beam is emitted from the gun only when the gun is pointed at a game video screen. Green and red LED's on the gun indicate the presence of a friend or foe character or avatar. The gun includes a zoom control that affects the screen representation of the player's view and visibility in the game scenario. The gun may have bi-directional or unidirectional wireless communications with the computer game system, a battery charger and multi-channel radio carrier frequency auto detect. The gun can determine the nature of the game video screen. A video sampling or tapping wire may enable further enhanced features of the gun.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method of determining a time offset introduced by a digital television after receipt of video display information from a computer game system, the digital television having a video display and the video display signal having Vsync and Hsync information, the method consisting of:

a. providing an optical gun having a processor, a memory, a communications channel, and an optical sensor,
i. the memory for use by the processor in capturing and analyzing data;
ii. the communications channel for providing the video display information to the optical gun and providing bi-directional communications between the optical gun and the computer game system;
iii. the optical sensor for detecting pixel brightening of an area of the video display;
b. transmitting the video display information to the optical gun via the video display cable;
c. pointing the optical sensor at the video display screen;
d. detecting pixel brightening by the optical gun of the area of the video display screen;
e. determining the time period between two brightness peaks detected by the optical sensor;
f. deriving a phase angle shift value of the video display screen;
and
g. transmitting the phase angle shift value from the optical gun to the computer game system.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and device for timing offset in an optical gun interaction with a computer game system

Life of this patent

Method and device for timing offset in an optical gun interaction with a computer game system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11