Electronic game system with wireless controller
AssigneeElectronic Arts Inc.
InventorRicky Allen Rutkowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic game system includes a game console, which accepts a game cartridge and runs the games stored therein, and a wireless controller for controlling actions in the game. The wireless controller includes a radio frequency transmitter for sending control signals to the console, and the console includes a receiver for receiving the control signals from the controller. Because the controller uses radio frequency signals instead of infrared signals to send information to the console, the controller may be operated at a large distance from the console. Thus, the game system of the invention may be used in long range applications wherein the console and the controller need to be separated by a relatively large distance.
Claims14
In an electronic game system comprising a main console for running a game program, a controller for use in said system for sending control signals to said console, said controller comprising:
- a user interface for detecting input from a user and generating control data in response to said input;
- an encoder for converting said control data into serial data;
- a radio frequency transmitter for transforming said serial data into a first set of radio frequency signals;
- an antenna coupled to said transmitter for sending said radio frequency signals to said console;
- and
- a communication means coupled to said antenna for receiving and transforming a second set of radio frequency signals into a first set of audio signals, and for transforming a second set of audio signals into a third set of radio frequency signals and transmitting said third set of radio frequency signals.
An electronic game console, comprising:
- a game unit for executing a game program;
- and
- a controller interface for receiving and processing radio frequency control signals from at least one controller, said controller interface comprising:
- a receiver for receiving and transforming said radio frequency control signals into serial data signals;
- a decoder coupled to said receiver for converting said serial data signals into parallel data signals;
- and
- an interface control coupled to said game unit and said decoder for receiving a code from said game unit and determining whether said code is valid, and in response to a determination that said code is invalid, said interface control is inactivated to inhibit passage of said parallel data signals to said game unit.
An electronic game system, comprising:
- a game unit for executing a game program;
- a controller interface for receiving and processing a first set of radio frequency control signals to derive parallel data signals, said controller interface coupled to said game unit for receiving a code from said game unit and determining whether said code is valid, and in response to a determination that said code is invalid, at least a portion of said controller interface is inactivated to inhibit passage of said parallel data signals to said game unit;
- and
- at least one controller for sending said radio frequency control signals to said controller interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.