TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to gaming systems and more particularly to game controllers used for interacting with a game console and an associated display.

BACKGROUND

Home gaming systems typically include a game controller that includes one or more buttons or a joy stick that allows a user to provide input to a game console that runs one or more games. The game console is coupled to a display device such as a television set to provide audio and video output from the game.

In IR communication systems, an IR device includes a transmitter, a light emitting diode, a receiver, and a silicon photo diode. In operation, the transmitter modulates a signal, which drives the LED to emit infrared radiation which is focused by a lens into a narrow beam. The receiver, via the silicon photo diode, receives the narrow beam infrared radiation and converts it into an electric signal.

IR communications are used video games to detect the direction in which a game controller is pointed. As an example, an IR sensor is placed near the game display, where the IR sensor to detect the IR signal transmitted by the game controller. If the game controller is too far away, too close, or angled away from the IR sensor, the IR communication will fail.

Further advances in video gaming include three accelerometers in the game controller to detect motion by way of acceleration. The motion data is transmitted to the game console via a Bluetooth wireless link. The Bluetooth wireless link may also transmit the IR direction data to the game console and/or convey other data between the game controller and the game console.

While the above technologies allow video gaming to include motion sensing, they do so with limitations. As mentioned, the IR communication has a limited area in which a player can be for the IR communication to work properly. Further, the accelerometer only measures acceleration such that true one-to-one detection of motion is not achieved. Thus, the gaming motion is limited to a handful of directions (e.g., horizontal, vertical, and a few diagonal directions.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a gaming object including an orientation sensor that generates orientation data in response to the orientation of the gaming object. An actuator generates interaction data in response to an action of a user. A transceiver sends an RF signal to a game device that indicates the orientation data and the interaction data. The game device generates display data for display on a display device that contains at least one interactive item, and the at least one interactive item is interactive in response to the orientation data and the interaction data.

The apparatus and methods of operation are further described in the following Brief Description of the Drawings, the Detailed Description and the claims. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

