US20080171596A1

US20080171596A1 - Wireless controller for a video game console capable of measuring vital signs of a user playing a game on the console

Info

Publication number: US20080171596A1
Application number: US11/654,038
Authority: US
Inventors: Kent T.J. Hsu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-01-17
Filing date: 2007-01-17
Publication date: 2008-07-17

Abstract

A wireless controller for a video game console is disclosed and includes a main body including a measurement unit including a control circuit including a first amplification circuit, a control IC, a second amplification circuit, an ADC, a display circuit, and pins for setting, a top recess, a display, two first measurement devices adapted to contact the fingers as the hand holding the main body for measuring pulse and body temperature of a user playing a video game on the video game console, and a rotation counter for counting the number of rotations of the main body; a control unit mounted in the recess; a band including two second measurement devices for measuring blood pressure and pulse respectively by wrapping the band around the wrist; and a cable interconnecting the main body and the band. Blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature values are shown the display while playing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to video game consoles and more particularly to a wireless controller for a video game console capable of measuring vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature of a user playing a video game on the console.
2. Description of Related Art
Video games are widely popular in recent decades. For example, “Wii” A as a video game console released by Nintendo is shown in FIG. 1. A user can operate a wireless controller (i.e., Wii remote) B to play games through the video game console A.
In another respect, sport is very popular among young people. Sports oriented video games by combining video games with sports have been developed and are widely played by people. Thus, continuing improvements in the exploitation of sports oriented video games played on the “Wii” or a similar video game console are constantly being sought.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a wireless controller for a video game console, comprising a main body including a measurement unit including a control circuit including a first amplification circuit, a control IC, a second amplification circuit, an ADC, a display circuit, and a plurality of pins for setting, a top recess, a display, two first measurement devices adapted to contact the fingers as the hand holding the main body for measuring pulse and body temperature of a user playing a video game on the video game console, and a rotation counter for counting the number of rotations of the main body; a control unit mounted in the recess; a band including two second measurement devices for measuring blood pressure and pulse of the user respectively by wrapping the band around the wrist; and a cable interconnecting the main body and the band, wherein the first measurement devices converts the measured pulse and body temperature into first signals which are sent to the first amplification circuit for amplification, and the amplified first signals are sent to the control IC; the second measurement devices convert the measured blood pressure and pulse into second signals which are sent to the second amplification circuit for amplification, the amplified second signals are sent to the ADC for converting into digital signals, and the digital signals are sent to the control IC; the rotation counter sends the count to the control; the control IC sends the received first signals, the second signals, the digital signals, and the count to the display circuit for processing into corresponding data representing blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature values; and the blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature values are sent to the display for display.
In one aspect of the invention the control unit is either releasably mounted in the recess or securely mounted in the recess.
In another aspect of the invention the display circuit is adapted to calculate total calories of the user by substituting the count into an equation and send the total calories to the display for display.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional “Wii” video game console and its separate wireless controller;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the controller of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of the controller of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention which is mounted in a tennis racket;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention which is mounted in a badminton racket;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fifth preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention which is mounted in a golf club;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a sixth preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention which is mounted in a table tennis paddle;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a seventh preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention which is mounted in a baseball bat;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an eighth preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention which is mounted in a steering wheel; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a ninth preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention which is mounted in a fishing rod.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a wireless controller, as a component of the “Wii”, in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. The controller comprises a main body 1, a wrist band 2, and a cable 3 interconnecting the main body 1 and the wrist band 2. Each component is discussed in detailed below.
The main body 1 comprises a recessed measurement unit 11 including an internal control circuit 111, a display 112 on a top surface, two first measurement devices 113 adapted to contact the fingers as the hand holding the main body 1, and a rotation counter 114 for counting the number of rotations of the controller; and a control unit 12 integrally formed in the recess of the measurement unit 11. The wrist band 2 is adapted to put on the wrist and comprises two second measurement devices 21 for measuring blood pressure and pulse respectively by wrapping the wrist band 2 around the wrist.
Referring to FIG. 4, an operation of the invention will be described in detailed below. The first measurement devices 113 are adapted to measure pulse and body temperature of a user playing a video game on, for example, the “Wii” and convert same into signals. The signals are then sent to a first amplification circuit 1111 for amplification. The amplified signals are then sent to a control integrated circuit (IC) 1112. Also, the second measurement devices 21 send measured blood pressure and pulse to a second amplification circuit 1113 for amplification. The amplified signals are then sent to an ADC (analog to digital converter) 1114 for converting into digital signals. The digital signals are then sent to the control IC 1112. Also, the rotation counter 114 sends the count to the control IC 1112. After receiving the above signals and the count, the control IC 1112 sends the same to a display circuit 1115 for processing into corresponding data representing the above vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature which are then sent to the display 112. Finally, values representing blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature of the user are shown on the display 112. The control circuit 111 further comprises a plurality of pins 1116 (not shown in FIG. 2) for setting purpose. Further, total calories of the user can be calculated by the display circuit 1115 by substituting the count sent from the control IC 1112 into an equation and the value of total calories is also shown on the display 112. As a result, the user playing the video game thus can understand his main body condition in real time and the user is thus able to adjust the playing accordingly. Preferably, the first measurement device 113 is implemented as a clinical thermometer. Also, the second measurement devices 21 are implemented as a pulsimeter and a sphygmomanometer respectively.
Referring to FIG. 5, the measurement unit 11 and the control unit 12 are formed as separate units and the control unit 12 is adapted to securely fit in the recess of the measurement unit 11 in a second preferred embodiment of according to the invention. The components and operation of the second preferred embodiment are the same as that described in the first preferred embodiment and a detailed description thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.
Referring to FIG. 6, for bringing the feeling of playing a real game the wireless controller the main body 1 is mounted in a tennis racket in a third preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention. The components and operation of the third preferred embodiment are the same as that described in the first preferred embodiment and a detailed description thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.
Referring to FIG. 7, for bringing the feeling of playing a real game the wireless controller the main body 1 is mounted in a badminton racket in a fourth preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention. The components and operation of the fourth preferred embodiment are the same as that described in the first preferred embodiment and a detailed description thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.
Referring to FIG. 8, for bringing the feeling of playing a real game the wireless controller the main body 1 is mounted in a golf club in a fifth preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention. The components and operation of the fifth preferred embodiment are the same as that described in the first preferred embodiment and a detailed description thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.
Referring to FIG. 9, for bringing the feeling of playing a real game the wireless controller the main body 1 is mounted in a table tennis paddle in a sixth preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention. The components and operation of the sixth preferred embodiment are the same as that described in the first preferred embodiment and a detailed description thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.
Referring to FIG. 10, for bringing the feeling of playing a real game the wireless controller the main body 1 is mounted in a baseball bat in a seventh preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention. The components and operation of the seventh preferred embodiment are the same as that described in the first preferred embodiment and a detailed description thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.
Referring to FIG. 11, for bringing the feeling of playing a real game the wireless controller the main body 1 is mounted in a steering wheel in an eighth preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention. The components and operation of the eighth preferred embodiment are the same as that described in the first preferred embodiment and a detailed description thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.
Referring to FIG. 12, for bringing the feeling of playing a real game the wireless controller the main body 1 is mounted in a fishing rod in a ninth preferred embodiment of wireless controller according to the invention. The components and operation of the ninth preferred embodiment are the same as that described in the first preferred embodiment and a detailed description thereof is therefore deemed unnecessary.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A wireless controller for a video game console, comprising:

a main body including a measurement unit including a control circuit including a first amplification circuit, a control IC, a second amplification circuit, an ADC, a display circuit, and a plurality of pins for setting, a top recess, a display, two first measurement devices adapted to contact the fingers as the hand holding the main body for measuring pulse and body temperature of a user playing a video game on the video game console, and a rotation counter for counting the number of rotations of the main body;

a control unit mounted in the recess;

a band including two second measurement devices for measuring blood pressure and pulse of the user respectively by wrapping the band around the wrist; and

a cable interconnecting the main body and the band,

wherein the first measurement devices converts the measured pulse and body temperature into first signals which are sent to the first amplification circuit for amplification, and the amplified first signals are sent to the control IC;

the second measurement devices convert the measured blood pressure and pulse into second signals which are sent to the second amplification circuit for amplification, the amplified second signals are sent to the ADC for converting into digital signals, and the digital signals are sent to the control IC;

the rotation counter sends the count to the control;

the control IC sends the received first signals, the second signals, the digital signals, and the count to the display circuit for processing into corresponding data representing blood pressure, pulse, and body temperature values; and

the blood pressure, the pulse, and the body temperature values are sent to the display for display.

2. The wireless controller of claim 1, wherein the control unit is releasably mounted in the recess.

3. The wireless controller of claim 1, wherein the control unit is securely mounted in the recess.

4. The wireless controller of claim 1, wherein the display circuit is adapted to calculate total calories of the user by substituting the count into an equation and send the total calories to the display for display.