The present invention relates to an entertainment system that includes a portable hand-held entertainment system with an integral display that further communicates to a non-integral display.
Portable hand-held game or entertainment units are well known in the industry; such units include a primary display, integrated circuit(s) for running programs, storing information, and/or displaying visual graphics on the primary display, and a control mechanism for a user to interact and/or control the game play, information, or other data on the hand-held unit. The hand-held units are mostly designed for playing games, however, other hand-held units known in the industry include PDA's, music players, wireless email devices, and any other electronic consumer devices.
While these entertainment units are known, the level of interactivity or connectivity to other devices is limited. U.S. Pat. No. 6,773,349 discloses a hand-held controller with an integrated or removable display. However, the '349 patent has many limitations. For example, the hand-held controller links with a main entertainment game console or system. The main entertainment system includes all the programming and circuits to create a game that is controlled through the hand-held controller. The display on the hand-held controller is only capable of displaying video images created by the main entertainment system. The hand-held controller is incapable of functioning as a stand-alone unit.
Other entertainment systems are found in the prior art, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,931,656 provides for a virtual creature that is displayed on a television screen. The virtual creature is capable of transitioning between different states that are controlled by various events in the audio or video signals from the actual video program on the television. The control of the virtual creature is done more through programming controls then through a hand-held controller. Moreover, any hand-held controller units discussed in the '656 patent do not provide for an integrated LCD screen with functionality to entertain a user separate and apart from the television set.
Various other entertainment systems such as those found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,937,329; 6,510,557; and 5,610,665; are designed to provide satellite communication of community systems do not provide for a hand-held entertainment system with an integrated display to provide the user with a first instance of entertainment and that is further capable of communicating with a non integrated display to provide the user with a second instance of entertainment. The present invention creates two separate and distinct instances of entertainment: one portable, light weight and inexpensive and a second robust, enriched, and enlarged entertainment.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention there is provided an entertainment system that includes a first controller having a hand-held body, a first plurality of operation members positioned for external manipulation, and an integral display included in the hand-held body. The first controller includes the capability to generate content. The content is controlled in accordance to a program and/or input received from the first plurality of operation members. The content has or includes graphic and/or audio information or data. The information or data may be generated or converted into any type of signal or format needed for playing the content, such as but not limited to digital, analog, wav, mpeg, mov, etc. The content includes data for display on the integral display and data for display on a display that is non-integral to the first controller. Furthermore, an interface is provided from the first controller to the non-integral display such that data is capable of being displayed thereon or emitted therefrom.
In another embodiment, a second controller is provided with a larger body than the first controller. The first controller when operably connected to the second controller communicates information and/or power between the two controllers such that the content is controlled with a plurality of second operation members on the second controller. The second controller in this embodiment communicates with the non-integral display, whereby data is communicated from the first controller through the second controller to the non-integral display.
In another embodiment, a first controller communicates with an interface control unit, which is in communication with a non-integral display. The first controller has its own display and generates first content with data for display on the integral display. The interface control unit receives input commands from the first controller to generate second content. The second content includes data for display on the non-integral display.
In yet another embodiment, a first controller slides into a second larger controller. The second larger controller communicates its input to an interface control unit for the generation of second content.
Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.
A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated.
Referring now to
As further illustrated in
In the first embodiment, the first controller 105 generates first content in accordance to a program or programs and/or in accordance to the input received from the operation members 135. The generated content if for a video game would be considered interactive or evolving with a play pattern designed in the programming. In any environment, the generated content would at least include graphic and/or audio information or data. The information or data may be generated or converted into any type of signal or format needed for playing the content, such as but not limited to digital, analog, wav, mpeg, mov, etc. The content would include data for display on the integral display 140 and data for emitting through the speaker (or headphones). The content may even include vibrations or other motorized movement (such as that found in email alerts or more sophisticated gaming systems).
As mentioned, the first controller 105 communicates with an interface control unit 115. The means of communication 110 is shown as a wireless communication facilitated by well known wireless components such as a transmitter/receiver. However, it is extremely well known in the industry to provide for wired communication rather than wireless communication. The components needed to facilitate either modes of communication are widely available and known in the art, such that further reference is not needed. However, what does become important is the information being communicated from the first controller 105 to the interface control unit 115.
In the first embodiment, the first controller 105 communicates the input commands received from the operation members 135 to the interface control unit 115. The interface control unit includes programming and electronic components to generate a second content. The second content is generated in accordance with programming in the interface control unit 115 and the input commands received from the first controller 105. The second content would include information or data (as explained above) that is communicated through the second communication means 125 to the non-integral display 120.
In the present invention, the second communication means 125 would include cable or wires 142 from output ports 145 on the interface control unit 115 to input ports 150 on the second non-integral display 120. The wires 142 being removable as needed by the user.
Referring now to
As mentioned, however, the first controller 205 is connectable via wires 225 to a non-integral display 210. The content generated by the first controller 205 would include data for display on the non-integral display 210 and data for emitting through the speakers within the non-integral display 210. Therefore, the first controller 205 would generate data for the non-integral display 210 and is able to be directly connectable to the non-integral display 210.
The data for display on the integral display may be different from the data for display on the non-integral display or the data may be identical. Either event would not limit the scope of the invention.
As it is well known that an LCD display would receive digital graphics and the non-integral display such as a television may require analog graphics, the content being generated by the first controller 205 would (in that specific environment) generate analog and digital graphics. The components needed to facilitate the generation of the signals being well known in the industry do not require further reference. However, if the non-integral display is a digital display the data communicated thereto may be digital graphics.
In a third embodiment illustrated in
The third entertainment system 300 also includes a larger second controller 350 with a plurality of second operation members 355. The second controller 350 is in communication with a non-integral display 360, preferably by a wire or wires 365. The first and second controllers 305 and 350, respectively, are operably connected to each other such that information may pass from the two controllers and to the second non-integral display 360. For example, when connected input from the operation members 355 from the second controller 350 will pass to the first controller 305, such that the content can be generated. The data (graphic and/or audio) will then pass from the first controller 305 through the second controller 350 to the non-integral display 360 via the wires 365. The power in the first controller 305 may also pass to the second controller 350, or the second controller 350 may include a separate power supply.
To operably connect the two controllers, the second controller 350 includes a slot 370, or docking station, sized to accommodate at least a portion of the body 302 of the first controller 305. A first connector 375 on the first controller 305 communicates with a second connector 380 on the second controller 350. Various well known connectors to provide for an electrical connection and/or to provide the exchange of information and power may be used. This illustration and description provides but for a single means of connecting the two controllers, numerous methods can be used to operably connect the two controllers. The slot 370 is simply provided as a means to hold the first controller 305 in place when using the second controller 370, preventing the two controllers from accidentally becoming disconnected.
In a fourth embodiment, illustrated as a fourth entertainment system 400 in
The interface control unit 425 is in communication with a display 430 that is non-integral with the first controller 405. The interface control unit 425 will generate second content from a program stored in the interface control unit 425 and/or based upon the input commands received from the second controller 410. The second content will contain data for display on the non-integral display 430.
It is further contemplated by the present invention to provide the programming on a cartridge or other external storage medium that simply connects with the controller or interface units. This could provide a very expansive library of entertainment services such as games, music, information, etc.
Referring now to
Moreover, it is further provided in any of the embodiments discussed herein that the integral LCD display is a smaller less expensive (and even possibly black/white) display than the non-integral display. The data would be created to utilize the graphic capabilities provided, thus the data generated for the non-integral display could be enhanced or have greater contrast, coloring, depth, and/or pixels than the data for display on the integral display. The entertainment system therefore provides for a first controller capable of operating separate and apart from the non-integral display to provide a hand-held portable entertainment system for use with the first integral display, and further provides for the first controller to be used in connection with a non-integral display to provide for a more enriched viewing display.
From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
The present invention is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/906,811 filed Mar. 8, 2005 entitled “Interactive Controller with an Integrated Display and Interface to a Second Controller with Stand-alone Display.”
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10906811 | Mar 2005 | US |
Child | 11328733 | Jan 2006 | US |