System and method for automatically adjusting game controller sensitivity to player inputs

US6053814A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• LOGITECH, INC. · US

Inventors

• Andrei E. Pchenitchnikov · Sunnyvale, US
• Geurt B De Raad · Sammamish, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 4, 1997
• Grant date: Apr 25, 2000
• Expiry date: Dec 4, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A63F2300/6054
• WIPO field: Furniture, games
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

The present invention automatically adjusts the sensitivity of a game controller to a player's input. A n-dimensional speed vector having components that are indicative of the speed of an object in an n-dimensional game environment is read from the output of the game controller. Those speed vector components with small dynamics (e.g., small speeds) relative to the other speed vector components are suppressed, thereby producing a filtered speed vector. The components of the filtered speed vector are then tested for oscillations. Oscillations in the components of the filtered speed vector are indicative of small displacements made by the player while focusing on a game task requiring additional controller precision (e.g., focusing on a target). When such oscillations are detected, the ratio of the speed of the object, over the displacement of the game controller (e.g., deflection) is adjusted to some predetermined value. The adjusted sensitivity allows the player to make more precise movements of the object in the game environment without a priori information about the game scenario. When the oscillations exceed a predetermined threshold, the game controller sensitivity is returned t…