Abstract: Systems and methods for executing a game presented on a screen of a head mounted display include executing a game. The execution of the game renders interactive scenes of the game on the screen of the HMD. Images identifying a shift in gaze direction of the user wearing the HMD, are received. The gaze shift is detected during viewing of the interactive scenes presented on the HMD screen. Real-world images that are in line with the gaze direction of the user, are captured from a forward-facing camera of the HMD. A portion of the screen is transitioned from a non-transparent mode to a semi-transparent mode in response to the shift in the gaze direction such that at least part of the real world images are presented in the portion of the screen rendering the interactive scenes of the game. The transparent mode is discontinued after a period of time.

Abstract: Consumer electronic devices have been developed with enormous information processing capabilities, high quality audio and video outputs, large amounts of memory, and may also include wired and/or wireless networking capabilities. Additionally, relatively unsophisticated and inexpensive sensors, such as microphones, video camera, GPS or other position sensors, when coupled with devices having these enhanced capabilities, can be used to detect subtle features about users and their environments. A variety of audio, video, simulation and user interface paradigms have been developed to utilize the enhanced capabilities of these devices. These paradigms can be used separately or together in any combination. One paradigm automatically creating user identities using speaker identification. Another paradigm includes a control button with 3-axis pressure sensitivity for use with game controllers and other input devices.

Abstract: A game controller includes an image capture unit; a body; at least one input device assembled with the body, the input device manipulable by a user to register an input from the user; an inertial sensor operable to produce information for quantifying a movement of said body through space; and at least one light source assembled with the body; and a processor coupled to the image capture unit and the inertial sensor. The processor is configured to track the body by analyzing a signal from the inertial sensor and analyzing an image of the light source from the image capture unit. The processor is configured to establish a gearing between movement of the body and actions to be applied by a computer program.

Abstract: Active shutter 3D glasses with multiple optical detectors, such as photodiodes, are described that detect a frame rate of a 3D television or other 3D display by using independent component analysis. The detected frame rate is used to update a clock onboard the 3D glasses that times the active shutters, thereby synchronizing the shutters to the 3D display. A switch can reverse the shutters in case the left eye/right eye images are shown oppositely.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems, are described for tracking a video game player's head under different ambient lighting conditions and switching between tracking techniques as lighting conditions change. Based on measurements of ambient lighting conditions, a camera hooked to a game console can (1) track a player's face using facial tracking techniques, (2) track reflective material on the player's 3-D glasses, or (3) turn on or up illumination LEDs mounted on the 3-D glasses.

Abstract: Consumer electronic devices have been developed with enormous information processing capabilities, high quality audio and video outputs, large amounts of memory, and may also include wired and/or wireless networking capabilities. Additionally, relatively unsophisticated and inexpensive sensors, such as microphones, video camera, GPS or other position sensors, when coupled with devices having these enhanced capabilities, can be used to detect subtle features about users and their environments. A variety of audio, video, simulation and user interface paradigms have been developed to utilize the enhanced capabilities of these devices. These paradigms can be used separately or together in any combination. One paradigm automatically creating user identities using speaker identification. Another paradigm includes a control button with 3-axis pressure sensitivity for use with game controllers and other input devices.

Abstract: A game controller is disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic input apparatus and method for a computer device are disclosed. A grid pattern of magnetic sensors can include a plurality of Hall elements. Each Hall element is selectively coupled to a Hall voltage sensor. A source of magnetic field can be placed in proximity to the grid pattern and one or more Hall voltage measurements for one or more of the regions can be collected with the Hall voltage sensor. The measurements can be analyzed to determine a position of the source of the magnetic field with respect to the grid pattern. Input can be provided to the computer program based on the determined position of the source of the magnetic field.

Abstract: Methods for tracking a controller of a video game and for providing inputs to a system are disclosed.

Abstract: Images of a least a portion of a structurally encoded pattern formed on a surface from a camera can be analyzed to determine a position of a camera. The structurally encoded pattern can include a plurality of elements. Each element can be encoded with information identifying a location and orientation of the element with respect to the surface. A computer program can identify at least a portion of one or more pattern elements in the image and determine the position of the camera relative to the surface from the information encoded in the one or more pattern elements in the image.

Abstract: 3-D or other glasses with an illuminated light guide for tracking with a camera are presented. The light guide can be a light guide plate (LGP) or other transparent and/or translucent material that conveys light through its interior. LEDs embedded within the frames illuminate the light guide and optionally can be dimmed or brightened depending on ambient lighting.

Abstract: A capacitive input apparatus and method are disclosed. The apparatus includes a mat and a probe. The mat has a dielectric layer sandwiched between a common conductive layer and a patterned conductive layer having a grid pattern containing plural conductive regions. Each conductive region is selectively coupled to a corresponding capacitance sensor that is responsive to a signal capacitively coupled to a corresponding one of the conductive regions. The probe can be worn on a user's feet and can change a capacitive coupling of the signal. A degree of the change of the signal varies with a degree of proximity of the probe to the corresponding one of the conductive regions. In the method, a capacitive coupling of the signal can be changed with the probe. Measurements collected from the capacitance sensor can provide input to a computer program based on values of one or more measurements.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of use are presented for a smart shell that can be fitted by an end user to a video game controller that routes signals from various buttons or other sensors on the smart shell to a video game console. Signals can flow from the video game console back to the shell to operate tactile feedback motors, lights, or speakers. The smart shell can be clipped to the game controller by the end user and released after a game is played. The smart shell can be in the shape of a gun with sensors to determine which grips are being held and a sensor to determine if a player is holding the gun's scope to his face. Logic using the three sensors can robustly determine whether the user is holding the gun as a pistol, machine gun, or a sniper rifle, and can reflect the player's choice of style in the video game.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing input to an interactive program are presented. An interactive system includes a server for executing the interactive program, and a game client interfaced with the server over a network. The game client is configured to send, over the network, position data defining a position of a controller device. The server is configured to define interactive zones, each interactive zone being defined by a spatial region having an associated specified function for an action of the controller device when the controller device is located within that interactive zone. The server is further configured to set the functionality of the action of the controller device to the specified function associated with the interactive zone within which the controller device is located.

Abstract: A controller provides inputs to control execution of a program by combining controller input information and supplementary information utilizing a value of a first one of the controller input information or the supplementary input information as a modifying input to the game program for modifying a mapping or gearing of an input controlling a still active function activated in accordance with at least one of a second one of the controller input information or the supplementary input information or vice versa. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Stereoscopic 3-D active shutter glasses with multiple IR, RF, and other receivers configured for different TV brands are presented. In some embodiments, the multiple receivers and their accompanying logic circuits can be embedded in the glasses and selected automatically from a lookup table. Various logic for demodulating or otherwise decoding signals can be downloaded off the Internet for different brands. In other embodiments, each receiver and accompanying logic circuit can be plugged in to the glasses as a separate module corresponding to each brand or TV model.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing input to an interactive program are presented. An interactive system includes a display for displaying an interactive program and a controller device. The position and motion of the controller device are determined based on perspective distortion of the display in captured images of the display taken at the controller. In an interactive region, various interactive zones are defined, each of which have an associated specified function for an action of the controller device. When the controller device is determined to be within one of the interactive zones, the functionality of the action of the controller device is set to the specified function associated with that interactive zone.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating information through a USB device with A/D converters are presented. Active components which provide analog signals to the A/D converters are switched off to cause spikes in the analog signals/channels. The spikes are digitized by the A/D converters and sent to the host through a USB interface. The active components are switched on and off in a pattern corresponding to a message, such that the host can determine the message from the resulting spikes. If multiple active components and A/D converters are used, then multiple ‘bits’ can be transmitted simultaneously using the different channels.

Abstract: Methods and systems for communicating information through a USB device using suspend/resume states are presented. A USB host stops transmitting Start-of-Frame (SOF) packets to a USB device, causing the USB device to enter a sleep/suspend state. The USB host then restarts the transmission of SOF packets to trigger the USB device back into a normal/resume state. The USB host repeats this process in a temporal pattern corresponding to a message, such that a circuit monitoring the USB device can determine the message.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) antenna assembly having a metal shroud and a method of making the same are presented. The shroud reduces radio frequency (RF) interference from the rear of the PCB antenna while not introducing unwanted nulls in front of the antenna. The metal shroud has a back panel and two angled side panels and is set so that the back panel is parallel to the PCB antenna and set at a determined distance from the PCB antenna. The shroud can be formed by applying a metallized paint to a non-conducting cover with properly oriented surfaces.