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Electronic deviceRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance ApplicationElectronic device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070225058, Electronic device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The invention to which this application relates is to a device which can be hand held and used as a gaming device, typically by a child, although it should be appreciated that the particular game or range of games which may be played using the device can be tailored to suit specific markets such as, for example, the games may be directed towards boys, girls, adults or any combination of the same. [0002] The provision of gaming devices is well known and the same can typically be split into two types of hand held devices. A first type is that which is a relatively large hand held size and which incorporates a screen and a series of keys or buttons and/or stylus, at least some of which are directional buttons such as for example as used in the gaming device sold under the trade mark PSP. These type of devices tend to be a relatively larger size and have a larger range of functions, with the particular game to be planed chosen by the user deciding which of a range of game cartridges to insert into the device. Thus, the software for the playing of a particular game, is carried on the cartridge which can selectively be inserted and, once inserted, the buttons or keys can be depressed selectively to interact with the game and control the playing of the same. [0003] The second type of device tends to be relatively smaller and again has a series of keys which can be selectively depressed, to bring about the operation of the game. In this type of device, such as that sold under the trade mark TAMAGOTCHI, the software for the playing of the game is incorporated within the device and therefore, while there may be a series of games which can be selected to be played, each game is defined within the device and cannot be changed by the subsequent removal or insertion of games cartridges. [0004] The aim of the present invention is to provide a gaming device and apparatus which add a further dimension to operation of the same and which can be incorporated within either form of device as herein described. A further aim is to provide a control system which allows user interaction with a device in an effective and easy to use manner. [0005] In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic game device, said device having a display screen for depicting a particular state of interaction with the device, means to allow a game or games to be played using the device, a power source to allow the device to be operable, and control means to allow user interaction with the device, and wherein the control means includes one, or an array of, sensors, the location of which is/are identifiable on at least one surface of the device wherein user interaction with the device is achieved via activation of at least one sensor at an identifiable location to generate a control signal for the device in a particular manner determined by the particular sensor or sequence of sensors activated by the user. [0006] In one embodiment, the sensors are arranged near a first external surface of the device in an identified configuration and in one embodiment are masked from the external surface by a covering layer in order to protect the same from damage but are provided sufficiently close to the external surface so as to allow detection of the presence of a person's finger to be achieved. [0007] In one embodiment, the configuration and spacing of the sensors is typically geometrical and is selected so as to allow one finger of a user's hand to be able to reach each of the sensors in the array when the device is being held in the hand. [0008] In one embodiment, user interaction with the device is achieved by the placement of a user's finger on or in the vicinity of, each of the sensor locations in a desired sequence. In one embodiment there is provided an integrated circuit which allows a particular game or games to be provided on the device and an integrated circuit connected thereto which allows detection and control of the game in sequence to the sensor operation. The two integrated circuit chips are then linked by control circuitry to allow the sensor and game operation to be controlled. [0009] In one embodiment there is provided an analog circuit in the Integrated Circuit for the sensor which can detect the change of the capacitance at the sensor. This change in capacitance is a result of a person's finger being placed on or in proximity to the particular sensor, and this allows, firstly the detection to be achieved and secondly, for the detection to be attributed to particular one of the plurality of sensors. [0010] In addition or alternatively, the user can use a stylus which is held in the hand and which is placed on particular locations with respect to the sensor array rather than using the finger directly. [0011] In one embodiment, the interaction with the device is achieved via one of the sensors in the array or alternatively, by the sequential activation of the sensors in the array by controlled movement of the user's finger. Particular sensor locations and different sequences of contact with the sensors result in different control signals being generated and hence different interaction with the device being achieved. [0012] In one embodiment, the interaction with the device which is achieved, is used to control the playing of a particular game, the selection of a particular game from a range of games, and/or the switching on and off, or selection of other control features of the device. [0013] In one embodiment, the device includes further control means which may be actuated using buttons or keys. It is envisaged that preferably the control signals which are required to be used most frequently and during the playing with the device are generated via the sensor array and those control means which are not required to be used as frequently, such as, for example, switching on or off, or reset features, may be operated using the depression of buttons. [0014] In one embodiment, the power source can be either or both of batteries and/or or a mains power supply. [0015] In one embodiment, the software which allows the playing of the game is integrated within the device or, alternatively, the software for the playing of a game is provided in a cartridge which can be selectively inserted into the device. [0016] The display screen used can be of any suitable form but can for example, be an LCD screen on which features of the game or games which are played using the device can be displayed. [0017] Typically, the device is hand held and can be held in one hand and interaction with the device can be achieved with the same hand. [0018] In one embodiment, the game which is played using the device is in the form of training and controlling the activities of a virtual companion such as a pet animal. [0019] In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic game device, said device having a display screen for depicting a particular state of interaction with the device, at least one integrated circuit to allow a game or games to be played using the device, a power source to allow the device to be operable and control means to allow user interaction with the device, and wherein the control means includes one, or an array of, sensors, the location of which is/are identifiable on at least one surface of the device so as to allow user interaction via at least one sensor at an identifiable location with the device to control the game which includes controlling the activity of a virtual companion depicted on the display screen. [0020] In one embodiment the virtual companion is an animal depicted as a pet animal. [0021] In one embodiment the particular sensor or sequence of sensor activations which are required to be followed by the user to generate a particular control signal is displayed on the display screen to allow the user to follow the display and activate the sensor or sensor depicted. [0022] In another embodiment the person using the device can determine a particular sensor activation or sequence of sensor activations and then allocate said activation(s) to a particular function which is to be performed by the device. In this embodiment typically the sensor or sequence of sensor activations is stored in a memory, in the device such that when the same is subsequently generated by the person, the designated function is performed by the device automatically. [0023] In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a game device, said device having a display, screen for depicting a particular state of interaction with the device, means to allow a game or games to be played using the device, a power source to allow the device to be operable and control means to allow user interaction with the device, and wherein the device is provided to be held in one hand and control of the same is achieved by movement of a finger of the hand placed selectively with respect to one or a plurality of sensor control means provided on or adjacent at least one surface of the device. [0024] Typically the sensors are provided on the same surface as the display screen. Continue reading about Electronic device... Full patent description for Electronic device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Electronic device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Electronic device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Poker game system Next Patent Application: Redundant gaming system Industry Class: Amusement devices: games ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Electronic device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11562 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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