(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention provides an improved game device enabling three-dimensional movement that is designed with an extremely thin and small game device that is easy to operate, has a light, portable and simple structure, and has a small main game machine similar in size to a card, which is not only provided with telecommunication transmission functionality, moreover, is provided with game remote control functionality.
(b) Description of the Prior Art
The game machine, named Wii, currently marketed by Nintendo and enjoying extreme popularity, is provided with three-dimensional operation, as well as viewing functionality similar to a television set, including watching general videos and movies, reading webpages, news, and so on, And its greatest characteristic is its ability to make left, right, up, down, far and near three-dimensional movement relative to the front of the aforementioned functions, thereby enabling remote control of every kind of game scene displayed on the screen, and thus achieve game playing objective.
However, careful study of the Wii game machine reveals a somewhat complex structure, as depicted in
However, if the household already has a computer, then there is no need for the additional functionality of online Internet browsing of webpages, news, and the like, provided by the Wii game machine. What current game players attach importance to is game functionality, and although the general television and network functionality supplemented by the Wii game machine have their effectiveness, however, it results in many additional units, such as the connecting line set 2, which requires an additional increase of 4 connecting lines, as well as the supplementary infrared optical sensor 3. Moreover, the main game machine 1 primarily receives signals from the remote control 4 and reads data to control the display of images on the screen; hence, if the Wii game machine is only used by the game player to play games, then the aforementioned unit contrivances are clearly unnecessary, and are the reasons for the Wii game machine being bulky, occupy space and have a high cost. Moreover, the Wii game machine must be connected to a television set in order to use, and is another primary cause for its inconvenience in use.
A design objective of an improved game device enabling three-dimensional movement of the present invention is to meet the demands for a main game machine that provides simplicity of operation, has a light and portable structure, does not occupy space, and is slim and small in size
The improved game device enabling three-dimensional movement of the present invention can be used with devices able to display images, including television sets, portable computers or overhead projectors, and so on.
A remote control signal transmitter of the improved game device enabling three-dimensional movement of the present invention is applicable for use in a television remote control, a cellular phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a wireless intercom, and the like.
Operating units of the improved game device enabling three-dimensional movement of the present invention are simple, and only include a video control device having television functionality and a remote control signal transmitter used to control game outcome.
The video control device of the improved game device enabling three-dimensional movement of the present invention is structured to comprise a microprocessor, a video control unit, a video display unit, a memory, a data reader device, a wireless receiver, a signal input terminal, and electronic gyroscopes, wherein the remote control signal transmitter is used to remotely control wireless reception and the electronic gyroscopes, and realize use for general operation or for use in game playing mode.
The remote control signal transmitter of the improved game device enabling three-dimensional movement of the present invention is structured to comprise basic units, including an optical sensor, a switch, a key set, a calculating machine, a microprocessor and a wireless transmitter unit, wherein the optical sensor is used to receive infrared signals emitted by the electronic gyroscopes of the video control device, and the calculating machine analyzes far and near distance data of infrared rays sensed by the wireless transmitter unit, and the data is transmitted to the video control device, thereby achieving the objective of three-dimensional game control.
The remote control signal transmitter of the improved game device enabling three-dimensional movement of the present invention can also be configured with an externally connected small video display, unit, a speaker and a card reader, thereby enabling stand-alone use of the remote control signal transmitter.
To enable a further understanding of said objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, a brief description of the drawings is provided below followed by a detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
The design of an improved game device enabling three-dimensional movement of the present invention includes a slim, lightweight and portable main game machine which is simple to operate and does not occupy space, and is structured to comprise a microprocessor, a memory and a wireless transceiver, and which together with a remote control signal transmitter and a video display unit constitutes a system. Moreover, the main game machine can be directly inserted into an Input/Output interface slot of the video display unit. Referring to an embodiment of the present invention as depicted in
Referring to
Whereas, if the wireless transceiver 86 receives wireless signals from the remote control signal transmitter 6, then the microprocessor 81 is notified to activate the switching units 883 of the electronic gyroscopes 88 to close operation of the receiver unit 882 and cause the transmitter unit 881 to transmit infrared rays to enable the remote control signal transmitter 6 to implement analysis of infrared rays received for game operation enabling three-dimensional movement. The electronic gyroscopes 88 are disposed at least two different positions (as depicted in
Function of the switching unit 883 is to ensure that the video control device 8 is only implementing one operating mode at one time, that is, either operating as a television set or operating as a game machine, thereby providing the present invention with a safety function which prevents an adverse effect from occurring due to an operator mistakenly pressing the television set switch while playing a game.
The data reader device 85 refers to a device able to read a CD-ROM disk or a memory card such as a CF card (Compact Flash card), SD card (Secure Digital card), SDHC card (Secure Digital High Capacity card), MMC card (Multi Media card), MSPro card (Memory Stick Pro card), MINI SD card (Mini Secure Digital card), USB (Universal Serial Bus) mobile disk, and the like, thereby facilitating input of the accessed game programs into the memory 84 for immediate capture by the microprocessor 81 to provide the video control unit 82 with a basis for output to the video display unit 83.
Referring to
If the game key 622 is pressed down, then the infrared receiver unit 612 is simultaneously activated via the microprocessor 66, and the wireless transmitter unit 67 transmits a signal to the video control device 8, at which time, the user is able to select game rules, type, and so on, according to the functions of the predetermined key set 63, and after making selections, a start key 631 (see the embodiment depicted in
Apart from use for three-dimensional games, the remote control signal transmitter 6 and the video control device 8 can also be designed for two-dimensional games.
Devices, including a card reader having a game interface (not shown in the drawings), a speaker 69 and the memory 84 can be located in the remote control signal transmitter 6, as well as having an internal display unit interface installed thereto, and by merely using an additional screen 7 device and inserting the game machine 681, then the remote control signal transmitter 6 can be used as a game machine (as depicted in
Functionality of the aforementioned remote control signal transmitter 6 (with reference to
Effectiveness achieved by the improved game device enabling three-dimensional movement of the present invention is evident from the following:
1. Structure is light, portable and simple, and eliminates the need for additional devices required by the Wii game machine of the prior art, such as a main machine, connecting lines, and so on.
2. The video control device 8 used is not restricted to a television set (which Wii is), but is a design that has widespread application in video devices able to control video pictures, including overhead projectors, and the like.
3. Can be designed for use in a household television remote control, cellular phone, PDA, and related products without affecting original functional use thereof.
4. Applicable for use in portable computers, thereby enabling game playing anytime, anywhere.
5. Because the present invention is designed for use in existing products, apart from increasing additional game functionality, moreover, cost is low.
In conclusion, the improved game device enabling three-dimensional movement of the present invention is undoubtedly provided with improved inventiveness and advancement, convenience and practicability. Accordingly, a new patent application is proposed herein.
It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.