Coincidence Detection Via Electrical Contacts Patents (Class 463/57)
  • Patent number: 9485890
    Abstract: An electrical connector system includes a panel having a plurality of connector openings and a plurality of vent openings interspersed among the connector openings. Cable connectors are coupled to the panel and extend at least partially into the connector openings. The cable connectors have mating interfaces presented at the front for mating with mating connectors and the cable connectors have cables extending from cable ends of the cable connectors and located rearward of a rear of the panel. Air funnels are coupled to the panel at corresponding vent openings. The air funnels extend rearward of the rear of the panel. The air funnels route the cables clear of the space rearward of the vent openings to define an unimpeded flow path through the vent openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan Glenn Lehman, Jeffrey Stewart Simpson, Christopher David Ritter
  • Patent number: 8888594
    Abstract: A game apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU controls a moving object within a virtual space on the basis of acceleration data and angular velocity data which are transmitted from a controller. For example, before the angular velocity data is above a predetermined magnitude, a position and an orientation of the moving object is controlled on the basis of the angular velocity data. When the angular velocity data is above the predetermined magnitude, an initial velocity of the moving object is decided on the basis of the acceleration data, and a moving direction (orientation) of the moving object is decided on the basis of the angular velocity data. Thereafter, the moving object moves within the virtual space according to a general physical behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Hiratake, Takayuki Shimamura, Yoshikazu Yamashita, Masahiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8862431
    Abstract: An apparatus for determining and retrieving positional information including a surface having a plurality of first elements and a plurality of second elements, a first detection element connected to at least one of the plurality of first elements, and a second detection element connected to at least one of the plurality of second elements. The detection elements may include pulse detection elements or current sensing circuits. The plurality of first elements and the plurality of second elements may include conductive and non-conductive threads, and the conductive threads may include piezoelectric crystals embedded within conductive plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Bruce Hodge
  • Patent number: 8529355
    Abstract: A game apparatus includes a CPU, and the CPU controls a moving object within a virtual space on the basis of acceleration data and angular velocity data which are transmitted from a controller. For example, before the angular velocity data is above a predetermined magnitude, a position and an orientation of the moving object is controlled on the basis of the angular velocity data. When the angular velocity data is above the predetermined magnitude, an initial velocity of the moving object is decided on the basis of the acceleration data, and a moving direction (orientation) of the moving object is decided on the basis of the angular velocity data. Thereafter, the moving object moves within the virtual space according to a general physical behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Hiratake, Takayuki Shimamura, Yoshikazu Yamashita, Masahiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8469824
    Abstract: A device combining a gun and target for facilitating a game of tag using infrared light communications and augmented reality with one or more players is provided. The device includes infrared transmitters and infrared receivers to facilitate omni-directional two-way communication between two or more devices and a shaped housing facilitating handling of the device by a user. The housing includes a grip portion with a finger-operable trigger and a barrel portion. A mobile electronic device is used as an accessory to provide single player and multiplayer augmented reality game play and a user-interface including a display and a touch screen for programming the device and controlling various game and device functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Hasbro, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Farley, David Small
  • Publication number: 20120289334
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer programs for determining the location in a field of play of a game controller are provided. A ball section is attached to the game controller to locate the controller using visual information. The method obtains an image of the field of play where the game controller is present, and then finds pixels in the image associated with the ball section. The method further establishes an area encompassing the found pixels and determines a geometric shape based on the area associated with the ball. The location of the controller is calculated based on the geometric shape, with the center of the geometric shape indicating the horizontal and vertical location of the controller, and the size of the geometric shape determining the depth of the controller within the field of play. The location is stored in memory, which is used to drive an action by the computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Anton Mikhailov, Richard Marks
  • Patent number: 7780535
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for actively controlling the impact between a club head and a golf ball. A golf club head has a face with an actuator material or device mechanically coupled to influence face motion. The face actuation controls impact parameters, impact properties, or resulting ball parameters such as speed, direction and spin rates resulting from the impact event between the face of the club and the golf ball. Further, the apparatus has a control device for determining the actuation of the face. Several embodiments are presented for controlling parameters such as ball speed and direction. The invention can use energy derived from the ball impact, converted into electrical energy, and then reapplied in a controlled fashion to influence an aspect of the face, such as position, velocity, deformation, stiffness, vibration, motion, temperature, or other physical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Jason Horodezky
  • Publication number: 20100105475
    Abstract: Methods, systems and computer programs for determining the location in a field of play of a game controller are provided. A ball section is attached to the game controller to locate the controller using visual information. The method obtains an image of the field of play where the game controller is present, and then finds pixels in the image associated with the ball section. The method further establishes an area encompassing the found pixels and determines a geometric shape based on the area associated with the ball. The location of the controller is calculated based on the geometric shape, with the center of the geometric shape indicating the horizontal and vertical location of the controller, and the size of the geometric shape determining the depth of the controller within the field of play. The location is stored in memory, which is used to drive an action by the computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Anton Mikhailov, Richard Marks
  • Patent number: 7611412
    Abstract: A method for coordinate generation to be implemented using an orientation device includes the steps of: providing at least three reference marks on a target; aiming the orientation device at a target point on the target, and operating the orientation device such that the orientation device is able to capture an image of the target that contains the reference marks; assigning absolute coordinates to the reference marks in the image captured by the orientation device; and determining relative coordinates of the target point in a coordinate space of the target with reference to the absolute coordinates assigned to the reference marks. An orientation device that performs the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Hsin Lin, Tzu-Yi Chao, Hsin-Chia Chen
  • Patent number: 6217027
    Abstract: A computerized portable pneumatic target apparatus includes at least one target; a computer located at the firing point of a shooting range and connected by a first wireless radio frequency link to the at least one target for controlling operation of the at least one target; a shot detector located at the firing point and connected by either a second wireless radio frequency link or a wire to the computer; an air operated mechanism for raising and lowering the at least one target; a source of air pressure located near the at least one target and connected to the air operated mechanism; and a source of direct current located near the at least one target and connected to the air operated mechanism and the first wireless radio frequency link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: United States of America
    Inventors: Bruce E. Amrein, Thomas C. Fry, Richard N. Ware, Douglas J. Struve
  • Patent number: 5709604
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ring-swing skill game for play by one or more players. The basic structure of the game apparatus includes an upright game console, a target hook projecting from the front side of the console, a boom projecting from the upper portion of the console, an elongated flexible tether cord suspended from the outer end of the boom, and a ring affixed to the lower free end of the tether cord for swinging movement toward the game console by the one or more players during game play to attain hooking engagement of the ring with the hook. An electrically powered programmable computer board including game scoring circuitry is electrically interconnected to the ring and hook for detecting and recording ring contact with, and ring catches by, the hook as scoring events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Inventors: David K. Coats, Marvin Richey