WO2009026538A1

WO2009026538A1 - Oral controller apparatus and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2009026538A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/074060
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Conrad Molhoek; Jon D. Kittelsen; Paul Anthony Broadbent; William Cook
Original assignee: Bite Tech. Inc.
Priority date: 2007-08-22
Filing date: 2008-08-22
Publication date: 2009-02-26

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for the control of a video game 240 are disclosed. The apparatus generally includes an oral controller 100 adapted to fit, at least in part, within the mouth and to transmit a control signal 97, 192, 292. 302 to the video game 240 in response to manipulation by the user's mouth and/or motions of the user's head. The apparatus can include a response element 180 that allows the video game 240 to impart a sensory response to the user, and the sensory response may be imparted to the user within the user's mouth. Systems employing the various apparatus and generally corresponding methods of use are also disclosed.

Description

ORAL CONTROLLER APPARATUS AND METHODS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS r^] he present application claims the benefit and priority of U, S, provisional patent application number 60/965.894 filed on August 22, 2007 and entitled ORAL APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR USE WITH VIDEO GAMES, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention:

The present inventions relate to oral apparatus and, more particularly, to oral apparatus and methods for providing control signals to a video game and/or receiving sensory stimuli from a video game,

Back ground of the Re 1 aτed Art Various controllers are used to control the performance of video games. The controllers have typically been actuated by one or both hands of user to control actions in a video game. As video games become more complex, additional input and feedback devices and systems are needed to fully experience the potential of the video games. Accordingly, a need exists for additional control apparatus for the control of the video game to allow the user to provide control input to the video game and/or receive additional sensory feedback in order to realize the full experience presented by the video game.

SUMMARY

These and other needs and disadvantages are overcome by the apparatus and methods disclosed herein. Additional improvements and advantages may be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of the present disclosure. An oral controller is disclosed herein. In various aspects, the oral controller includes a body, at least a portion of which is adapted to be positionable within the mouth of a user, and a control element positioned about the body to be manipulateable by the user. The control element generates a control signal adapted to alter the performance of a video game in response to manipulation, In various aspects, the control element includes a strain gauge manipulateable by the mouth. In various aspects, the control element includes a strain gauge, and the control element is adapted to be manipulated by the tongue. In various aspects, the control element includes a goniometer, and the control element is adapted to be manipulated by motion of the head. In various aspects, the control element includes a goniometer, the control element adapted to be manipulated by the mouth. In various aspects, the control element is manipulateable by the voice.

In various aspects, the oral controller further includes a wireless interface disposed generally about the body and adapted to receive the control signal from the control element and communicate the control signal to the video game by wireless communications. In various asepcts, the oral controller further includes a wired interface disposed generally about the body and adapted to receive the control signal from the control element and communicate the control signal to the video game over a cable. In various aspects, a response element is positioned about the body to impart a stimulus to the user in response to a response signal communicated thereto from a video game.

A gaming system is disclosed herein. The gaming system, in various aspects, includes, comprising a video game, a hand controller, and an oral controller. The hand controller, in various aspects, is configured for manipulation by at least one hand of a user, and the hand controller generates a hand controller control signal adapted to alter the performance of a video game in response to manipulation by the user. The hand controller, in various aspects is in communication with the video game to communicate the hand controller control signal to the video game. At least a portion of the oral controller, in various aspects, is positionable within the mouth of the user and adapted to be manipulated by the user. The oral controller generates a control signal adapted to alter the performance of the video game in response to manipulation by the user in various aspects. The oral controller is in communication with the video game to communicate the control signal to the video game in various aspects. In some aspects, the oral controller is adapted to be manipulated by the mouth. In some aspects, the oral controller is adapted to be manipulated by motions of the head. In various aspects, the gaming system includes a response element positioned about the oral controller to impart a stimulus to the user in response to a response signal communicated thereto from a video game. The stimulus may be imparted to the user generally within the mouth of the user.

Methods for control of a video game are disclosed herein. The methods in various aspects include positioning at least portions of an oraJ controller within the mouth, manipulating a control element secured to the oral controller thereby generating a control signal, and transmitting the control signal from the oral controller to a video game thereby controlling the performance of the video game. The methods may include wirelessly transmitting the control signal from the oral controller to the video game. The methods may include manipulating the control element using the mouth, and/or manipulating the control element control using motions of the head. The methods, in various aspects, include transmitting a response signal from the video game to a response element secured to the oral controller, and delivering a stimulus to the user by the response element as prompted by the response signal. The methods may include delivering the stimulus within the mouth of the user.

BRJEF DFSCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure IA illustrates by perspective view an exemplar)' implementation of the oral controller; Figure IB illustrates by perspective view an alternative exemplary implementation of the oral controller;

Figure 1 C illustrates by perspective view another alternative exemplary implementation of the oral controller;

Figure 2A illustrated by schematic diagram portions of the exemplary implementation of the oral controller of Figure 3 A;

Figure 2 B illustrated by schematic diagram portions of the exemplary implementation of the oral controller of Figure IB;

Figure 2C illustrated by schematic diagram portions of the exemplary implementation of the oral controller of Figure 1C; Figure 3 A illustrates by a frontal cut-away view portions of an exemplary implementation of the oral controller:

Figure 3B illustrates by side view portions of the exemplary implementation of the oral controller of Figure 3A; and

Figure 4 illustrates by perspective view portions of an exemplary implementation of the oral controller.

The Figures are to facilitate explanation of the present invention. The number, position, relationship and dimensions of the parts shown in the Figures to form the various implementations described herein, as well as dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, flow and similar requirements, are explained herein or are understandable to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. Where used in various Figures, the same numerals designate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms "top," "bottom," "right," "left," "forward," "rear," "first," "second," "inside," "outside," and similar terms are used, the terms should be understood in reference to the orientation of the structures shown in the drawings and utilized to facilitate understanding. Similarly, when the terms "proximal," "distal," and similar positional terms are used, the terms should be understood in reference to the structures shown in the drawings and utilized to facilitate understanding.

DEl AILED DESCRiPUON OF THE INVENTIONS

An oral controller and associated methods that allow the communication of signals between a user and a video game are provided. The oral controller includes a body and at least one of a control element and a response element. The body is generally formed to secure the oral controller to the mouth of the user. The control element, when included, is positioned about the oral controller such that the control element may be manipulated by, for example, the mouth, head, and/or voice. The user may manipulate the control element to generate signals in the form of control signals. The control signals are communicated from the control element positioned about the oral controller to the video game to control various functions and/or features of the video game or otherwise interact with the video game. The response element, when included, is positioned about the oral controller, such that the response element may deliver a stimulus to the user. The response element allows signals in the form of response signals generated by the video game to be communicated to the user as a sensory stimulus. The control signals and/or response signals may be communicated between the oral controller and the video game either by cable or by wireless technologies.

In various aspects, the oral controller includes one or more microcontrollers that, for example, control the control element(s) and the response βlement(s), allow communications between the control element(s) and the response element(s), and process signals passing between the oral controller and the video game. In various aspects, the oral controller may include a wired interface, a wireless interface, and a power source.

Methods for using the oral controller are also provided. The methods may include receiving at least a portion of an oral controller within the mouth, generating the control signal by manipulating the mouth and/or head and transmitting the control signal from the oral controller to the video game thereby controlling various features and/or functions of the video game. The methods may include the video game delivering a stimulus to the user by transmitting a response signal to a response element secured to the oral controller.

The Figures generally illustrate various exemplary implementations of the oral controller that have been chosen for ease of explanation and understanding. These illustrated implementations are for illustrative purposes only, and are not meant to limit the scope of coverage, but, instead, to assist in understanding the context of the language used in this specification and the appended claims, Accordingly, variations of the oral controller that differ from the illustrated implementations may be encompassed by the appended claims.

As illustrated generally throughout the Figures, the oral controller may be formed in a variety of shapes with at least a portion of the oral controller formed to be received within a mouth of a user. In various aspects, the oral controller includes a body with a control element and/or an response element secured thereto. When secured to the body, at least a portion of the control element and/or the response element is received within the mouth when the body is received within the mouth.

At least portions of the body may be made from a compliant material selected for comfort when positioned within the mouth of the user. The body may be formed as a unitary construction of the compliant material, or may be formed as a composite and the composite may include rigid and compliant materials in combination. When formed as a composite, the one or more rigid materials may be generally surrounded by the one or more compliant materials to form the body such that the body is comfortable when placed in the user's mouth. Materials may also be selected that fit about the teeth in a comfortable fashion, or that allow the user to comfortably bite down thereupon.

Portions of the body may be formed to receive the teeth of the user and may be generally secured within the mouth about the teeth of the user. The body, in various aspects, may be received by portions of the upper mandible including one or more upper teeth, portions of the lower mandible including one or more lower teeth, or both the upper mandible and the lower mandible. The body may be generally bilaterally symmetrical to be positioned within both the left side and right side of the user's mouth or may be bilaterally asymmetrical such that the body is predominately or entirely received in either the left side or the right side of the user's mouth.

The body may include portions that extend forth from the user's mouth when the body is received within the mouth. These portions may include a power source, microcontroller, and/or at least portions of the wireless interface. The control element, which is positioned about the oral controller, provides a control signal for controlling a function or feature of the video game program in response to manipulation of the control element by the user. In some aspects, the control element is raanipulateable by features or functions of the user's mouth such as, for example, the tongue, teeth, and lips. In other aspects, the control element is manipulateable by, for example, the orientation and/or movement of the user's head, ϊn still other aspects, the control element is manipulateable by features or functions of the mouth in combination with orientation and/or head movement. The control element, for example, may include one or more of various switches, buttons, pressure transducers, or strain gauges manipulateable, for example, by the user's tongue or by relative motions between the upper mandible and the lower mandible, As additional examples, the control element may include a microphone or suchlike that responds to sounds orally generated by the user. The control element may include, for example, an accelcrometer, a veloeimεter, a goniometer, or suchlike capable of manipulation by the orientation or movement of the user's head. A goniometer, in the present context, include a sensor that detects, for example, orientation with respect to the horizontal or vertical, alterations of orientation with respect to the horizontal or vertical, or rales of alteration of orientation with respect to the horizontal or vertical, horizontal and vertical acceleration, rotation, rate of rotation, and rotational (angular) acceleration. The control element may also cooperate with the video game console or other components of a video game system to establish the relative position of the control element to the video game system or other components, such as for example by triangulation.

The response element, which is positioned about the oral controller, delivers a sensory stimulus to the user to allow the video game to respond to the user thereby. The sensory stimulus includes various mechanical and/or electrical stimuli as well as thermal stimuli. For example, the response element could be configured to generate a sensory stimulus in the form of vibrations including sound waves that would be audible by propagation from the mouth generally through the sinus structures to the inner ear. As a further example, the response element could be configured to change temperature to provide a sensory stimulus in the form of heat and/or cold.

Turning now to the specific Figures, as illustrated in the exemplary implementation of oral controller 10 of Figure IA, the oral controller 10 includes body 12. The body 12 includes side 30 that defines a buccal-iabial surface 31 and a lingual surface 32, and side 35 that defines buccal-labial surface 37 and lingual surface 36. The body 12 includes side 40 that defines upper surface 41 and lower surface 42. Side 30, side 35, and side 40 are interconnected with side 40 interposed between side 30 and side 35. The lingual surface 32 of side 30. upper surface 41 of side 40, and buccal-labial surface 37 of side 35 define channel 33 in this implementation, which is formed to engage a portion of at least some of the teeth of the upper mandible therein. The body 12 is positionable within the mouth in a generally anterior position, and, when so positioned, the channel 33 engages at least a portion of at least some of the teeth of the upper mandible to secure the body 12 in position within the mouth. In this implementation, the body 12 is generally symmetrical so that the body 12 engages at least some of the teeth of both hemispheres of the upper mandible in a corresponding manner. When the body 12 is placed in the mouth and the channel 33 engaged with at least some of the teeth of the upper mandible, the buccal-labial surface 31 is generally biased about the cheek and lips of the user. Lingual surface 36 of side 35 generally defines aperture 38, and the tongue may be generally accommodated within aperture 38.

The oral controller 10, as illustrated, includes a wireless interface 63 for communication between the oral controller 10 and the video game 240. The video game may include a video display, speakers for sound generation, microprocessors, memory, input/output channels, and so forth. The wireless interface 63 communicates using antenna 60 to send/receive signals between the oral controller 10 and the video game 240, and may employ either analog or digital communication in various implementations. The wireless interface 163 may communicate with the video game 240 by radio waves, by infrared, or other such forms of wireless communication. The wireless interface 63, for example, may employ Bluetooth^'™, ZigBee, or Wibree™ wireless communication protocols for communication between the oral controller 10 and the video game 240.

As illustrated in Figure J A, support 50 extends forth from a medial portion of the buccal-labial surface 31 of the body 12 and antenna 60, which is part of the wireless interface 63, is secured to the opposing end of the support 50. The support 50 may be generally sized and shaped to accommodate portions of the upper lip thereabout as well as between the buccal-labial surface 31 and an antenna surface 61 of the antenna 60 when the body 12 is engaged with the teeth of the upper mandible. Accordingly, when the body 12 is engaged with the teeth of the upper mandible, support 50 extends from the buccal-labial surface 31 of body 12 to a point generally external to the mouth so that the antenna 60 is resident external to the mouth in this implementation.

In this illustrated implementation, housing 70 is secured to portions of the antenna 60, and the housing 70 is resident external to the mouth when the body 12 is engaged with the teeth of the upper mandible. The housing 70, in this implementation, includes portions of the wireless interface 63. power source 69 (Figure 2A), and microcontroller 67 (Figure 2A). By being resident external to the mouth, the housing 70 can, for example, dissipate heat from the microcontroller 67 and-'or wireless interface 63 directly to the ambient environment, and the housing 70 can be sized and/or shaped without need of being accommodated within the mouth.

Control element 90 extends lingually from a medial portion of the lingual surface 36 generally into aperture 38 to be manipulatable by portions of the tongue proximate the tongue tip in the implementation of Figure IA. Control element 90, in this implementation, includes a strain gauge 95 (Figure 2A) to measure the magnitude of force 92 applied to the control element by the user's tongue as well as the direction of force 92, and the control element 90 generates a control signal 97 as a function thereof. The control element 90 cooperates with the wireless interface 63 to transmit the control signal 97 to the video game 240.

Accordingly, in operation, the oral controller is inserted into the mouth so that the channel 33 engages at least a portion of at least some of the teeth of the upper mandible to secure the body 12 in position within the mouth. As the user manipulates the control element 90 with the tongue, the control element 90 cooperates with the power source 69, and microcontroller 67 to form control signal 97 that is transmitted to the video game 240 via wireless interface 63. The control signal 97 varies as the force 92 applied to the control element 90 varies and/or as the direction of the force 92 applied to the control element 90 varies to alter the performance including features and/or functions of the video game 240 or otherwise allow the user to interact with the video game 240. Figure IB illustrates an exemplar)_' implementation of an oral controller 100 positionable about the upper mandible. The oral controller, in this implementation, includes body 112. As illustrated, the body 1 12 defines bite pad 124 and bite pad 126 connected by bridge 130, The body 112 defines lower surface 114 and upper surface 116. Channel 134 and channel 136 are defined by portions of the upper surface 1 16 about bite pad 124 and bite pad 126, respectively, to engage portions of at least some of the teeth of the upper mandible in order to secure the body 1 12 within the mouth. When so engaged, portions of the upper surface 1 16 maybe generally biased against portions of the hard pallet and/or soft pallet. Portions of the lower surface 114 about bite pad 124 and bite pad 126 may engage teeth of the lower mandible in various ways such as by the inclusion of channels thai engage the teeth therein or by being formed of compliant material that engages the teeth thereby.

The oral controller 100, as illustrated, includes a wired interface 163 for communication between the oral controller 100 and the video game 240, The wired interface 163 could, for example, employ Universal Serial Bus (LiSB) or Fire Wire (IEEE 1394) in various implementations. A support 150 extends forth from a medial portion of the body 1 12, and housing 160 that includes portions of the wired interface 163 therein is secured to the opposing end of the support 150, as illustrated. Housing 160 may include microcontroller 167 (Figure 2B) in various implementations. The support 150 may be formed to accommodate the front teeth and lips so that the housing 160 is resident external to the mouth when bite pad 324 and bite pad 126 of the body 1 12 are engaged with the teeth. Cable 370 is connected to the housing 160 and to video game 240 to pass signals between the oral controller 100 and the video game 240, as illustrated. Cable 170 may be, for example, conductive or fiber-optic, and may include more that one channel to allow the simultaneous communication of power, data, and so forth between the oral controller 100 and the video game 240 in various implementations. When conductive, the cable 170 may supply electrical power from the video game to the ora! controller 100 in various implementations. When non-conductive, fiber optic for example, a power supply such as a battery may be included in the housing 360 to provide power to the oral controller 100.

In the implementation of Figure IB, control element 190 (Figure 2B) and response element 180 (Figure 2B) are secured about the lower surface 114 of the body 1 12 to allow communication between the user and the video game 240. The control element 190 is in communication with the wired interface 163 to pass the control signal 192 (Figure 2B) through the wired interface 163 to the video game 240 via the cable 170, The user may generate control signal 192 by manipulation of the control element 190 by the mouth including features or functions of the mouth in order to alter the performance of the video game 240 thereby.

The response eSernenl 180, in the implementation of Figure IB, is in communication with the wired interface 163 and thence with the video game 240 via cable 170 to allow the video game 240 to communicate a response signal 182 (Figure 2B) to the response element 180. The response signal 182 causes the response element 180 to impart a sensory stimulus to the user, and features of the sensory stimulus such as the intensity or the duration of the sensory stimulus are regulated by video game 240 through the response signal 182 in this implementation.

Λ hand controller 500 is included in the implementation of Figure 1 B. The hand controller 500 includes handle 505 with handle button 507 positioned upon the handle 505, The hand controller 500 communicates with the video game 240 over hand controller cable 570. In this implementation, the user may manipulate the hand controller 500 by manipulating the handle 505 and/or handle button 507 to generate a hand controller signal formed to alter the performance of the video game 240, While this implementation of the hand controller 500 may be generally manipulated with one hand, other implementation of the hand controller may be manipulated using both hands, by motions of the arm(s) and/or leg(s), or otherwise as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. The hand controller signal is transmitted to the video game 240 over hand controller cable 570 to alter the performance of the video game 240, as illustrated. In operation, the user inserts portions of oral controller 100 into the mouth such that channel 134 and channel 136 of bite pas 124 and bite pad 126, respectively, engage portions of at least some of the teeth of the upper mandible in order to secure the body 112 within the mouth. In some implementations, bite pad 124 and bite pad 126 may be clenched between the teeth of the upper mandible and the lower mandible to secure the oral controller 100 within the mouth. By manipulation of the control element 190, the user may generate a control signal 192, which is transmitted to the video game 240 via wired interface 163 over cable 170 to alter the performance of the video game 240. The video game may communicate a response signal 1 82 over cable 170 to the wired interface 163 and, thence, to the response element 180. The response element 180 imparts a sensory stimulus Io the user regulated by the video game 240 through the response signal 182. The user may use the hand controiler 500 to generate a hand controller signal. The hand controller signal is communicated from the hand controller 500 to the video game 240 over hand controller cable 570 to alter the performance of the hand controller 500. Accordingly, the user may interact with the video game 240 with both the oral controller 100 and the hand controller 500 in this implementation, and this interaction may be generally simultaneous and/or sequential. Figure 1C illustrates another implementation of the oral controller 200. In this implementation, the oral controller 200 includes a body 212. The body 212 includes a bite pad 224 and bite pad 226 connected to one another by connector 216. Bite pad 224 defines lower surface 246 and upper surface 244. The lower surface 246 is shaped to define channel 247 that is formed to receive one or more teeth of the lower mandible, and the upper surface 244 is shaped to be biased generally against one or more teeth of the upper mandible. Bite pad 226 defines lower surface 236 and upper surface 234. The lower surface 236 is shaped to define channel 237 that is formed to receive one or more teeth of the lower mandible, and the upper surface 234 is shaped to be biased generally against one or more teeth of the upper mandible. When portions of the body 212 are positioned in the mouth such that channel 237 receives one or more teeth of the lower mandible and such that channel 247 receives one or more teeth of the lower mandible, the oral controller 200 is generally secured within the mouth, and biasing of the upper surface 234 of bite bad 226 and upper surface 244 of bite pad 224 against the teeth of the upper mandible by clenching of the teeth may further secure the oral controller within the mouth. When so positioned, the connector 216 passes generally anteriorly within the mouth between the lips and the buccal-labial surfaces of the teeth between bite pad 224 and bite pad 226, and housing 250, which is secured medially to the connector 216, may generally lie between the teeth of the upper mandible and upper lip and the teeth of the lower mandible and lower lip. End 255 of the housing 250 extends into the mouth and end 257 is external to the mouth as is antenna 270 that is secured thereto. The connector 216 is made of material with sufficient strength to secure the bite pad 224, bite pad 226, and housing 250 thereto while being comfortable when positioned within the mouth in various implementations.

In this implementation, housing 250 includes wireless interface 253, power source 269 (Figure 2C) and microcontroller 267 {Figure 2C). Control element 290 includes strain gauge 295 (Figure 2C) and control element 300 includes goniometer 305 (Figure 2C). Control element 290 is enclosed by the housing surface 257 of housing 250 such that, when the user imparts force upon housing surface 257 of the housing 250 using the teeth and/or lips, the strain gauge 295 of control element 290 generates a control signal 292 (Figure 2C) in correspondence to the force so imparted. Control element 300 is enclosed by the housing surface 257 of housing 250, With the oral controller 200 positioned within the mouth, the user may orient the housing 250 using the teeth, lips, and/or by positioning the head, and the goniometer 305 within control element 300 generates control signal 302 in correspondence to the orientation of the housing 250. The wireless interface 253 includes antenna 270. Control element 290 and control element 300 communicate with the wireless interface 253, and the wireless interface 253 transmits the control signal 292 (Figure 2C) received from the control element 290 and the control signal 302 (Figure 2C) received from the control element 300 to the video game 240 using antenna 270. Figure 2Λ illustrates by schematic diagram the interaction of the control element 90, power source 69, microcontroller 67, and wireless interface 63 generally corresponding to the implementation of oral controller 10 of Figure IA. As illustrated, the power source 69 communicates power to the microcontroller 67 and. thence, to the wireless interface 63 and the control element 90 with strain gauge 95 included therein. The control element 90 communicates with the wireless interface 63 through microcontroller 67. lhe microcontroller 67 in this and other implementations may include a microprocessor, memory, clock, analogue to digital converter, paths for the communication of power, and so forth, as would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art upon study of this disclosure. In this implementation, application of feree 92 (Figure IA) to the control element 90 by the tongue causes the strain gage 95 to generate a strain gauge signal 96 indicative of the magnitude and direction of force 92. The strain gauge signal 96 is passed to the microcontroller 67, as illustrated, and the microcontroller 67 uses the strain gauge signal 96 to generate a control signal 97 that corresponds to the strain gauge signal 96. The control signal 97 is passed from the microcontroller 67 to the wireless interface 63 for wireless transmission to the video game 240. Accordingly, by modulating the magnitude and direction of the force 92 by manipulation of the control element 90 with the tongue. the user can control the control signal 97 in order to alter the performance of the video game 240 thereby.

Figure 2B illustrates by schematic diagram the interaction of the control element 190, response element 180, microcontroller 167, and wired interface 163 generally corresponding to the implementation of oral controller 100 of Figure IB. Λs illustrated, the power source (not shown) communicates power from the video game 240 to the wired interface 163, microcontroller 167, control element 190, and response element 180 via cable 170 to provided power thereto. In other implementations, a power source may be secured about the oraS controller 100 for that purpose. In the implementation illustrated in Figure 2B, ihe control element 190 communicates control signal 192 to microcontroller 167, and the microcontroller 167 may process the control signal 192 in various ways. The microcontroller 167 communicates the control signal 192 to the wired interface 163, which transmits the control signal 190 over cable 170 to the video game 240 in order to alter the performance of the video game 240 thereby.

Response signal 182 generated by the video game 240 is passed from the video game to the wired interface 163. which then communicates the response signal 182 to the microcontroller 167. The microcontroller 167, as prompted by the response signal 182, causes the response element 180 to impart a stimulus. In various implementations, the microcontroller 167 may allow for interaction between the control element 190 and the response element 180 directly without transmission of signals between the oral controller 100 and the video game 240, and the video game 240 may communicate with the microcontroller 167 in order to alter the interactions between the control clement 190 and the response element 180. The video game 240 may communicate with the microcontroller 167 to alter the operation of the microcontroller 167 in various implementations. Figure 2C illustrates by schematic diagram the interaction of the control element 290, control element 300, microcontroller 267, power source 269, and wired interface 253 generally corresponding to the implementation of oral controller 200 of Figure 1 C. As illustrated, power source 269 communicates power to microcontroller 267, wireless interface 253, control element 290 including stain gauge 295, and control element 300 including goniometer 305, Control element 290 and control element 300 communicate with the wireless interface 253 through microcontroller 267. The microcontroller may process control signal 292 and/or control signal 302, and the wireless interface 253 transmits the control signal 292 received from the microprocessor 267 and the control signal 302 received from the microcontroller 267 to the video game 240 using antenna 270 (Figure 1C) in order to control the performance thereof. The video game 240 may communicate with the microcontroller 267 to alter the operation thereof including the way in which the microcontroller 267 processes control signal 292 from control element 290 and/or control signal 302 from control element 300.

Figure 3A and 3B illustrate a front view and a side view, respectively of portions of an implementation of an oral controller 310. As illustrated in Figure 3 A, the oral controller 310 includes body 308 that includes arch 318 with surface 322 and surface 324, side 317 with surface 332 and surface 334, and side 319 with surface 312 and surface 314. Arch 318 is connected to side 317. and side 317 is connected to side 319 with side 337 interposed between arch 318 and side 319 such that a portion of surface 322 of arch 318 along with surface 332 of side 317 and surface 312 of side 319 define channel 313 which may engage portions of at least some of the teeth of the upper mandible to secure the oral controller 310 to the mouth. When so engaged, portions of surface 322 of arch 318 may be generally biased against the hard pallet and surface 314 of side 319 generally biased against the buccal surface. Although only a portion of the arch 338 is included in this illustration, the arch 318 may terminate on the opposing end (not shown) with similar structures formed to engage with the teeth of the upper mandible on the opposing side of the mouth from that illustrated in order to secure the oral controller 310 to the mouth.

As illustrated in Figure 3 A, control element 340 extends forth from surface 334 of side 337 in order to be manipulateable by one or more teeth of the lower mandible when the oral controller 310 is secured to the mouth about the upper mandible. The control element 340 consists of a generally curved element 350 with end 352 and end 354, The element 350 is secured to surface 334 of side 317 by end 352 and end 354 to define gap 355. With the oral controller 310 secured to the upper mandible, one or more teeth of the lower mandible may be engaged with element 350 such that, by movement of these one or more teeth in the buccal-ungual directions relative to the teeth of the upper mandible, force 360 is applied to the elastic element 350 with corresponding deformation of the element 350, One or more strain gauge(s) or other sensors (not shown) are disposed about elastic element 350 to measure the magnitude and/or direction of the force 360 in order to generate control signal thereby,

As illustrated in Figure 3B, compression of the elastic element 350 between one or more teeth of the upper mandible and one or more teeth of the lower mandible applies force 380 to the clastic element 350 with corresponding deformation of the elastic element 350. One or more strain gauge(s) or other sensors (not shown) are disposed about elastic element 350 to measure the magnitude and/or direction of the force 380 in order to generate control signal thereby.

As illustrated in Figure 3B, compression of the elastic element 350 between one or more teeth of the upper mandible and one or more teeth of the lower mandible applies force 380 to the elastic element 350 with corresponding deformation of the elastic element 350. One or more strain gaυge(s) or other sensors (not shown) are disposed about elastic element 350 to measure the magnitude and/or direction of the force 380 in order to generate a control signal thereby.

With the oral controller 310 secured to the upper mandible, one or more teeth of the lower mandible may be engaged with elastic element 350 such that, by movement of these one or more teeth in the anterior-posterior directions relative to the teeth of the upper mandible, force 370 is applied to the elastic element 350 with corresponding deformation of the elastic element 350, as illustrated in Figure 3B. One or more strain gauge(s) or other sensors (not shown) are disposed about elastic element 350 to measure the magnitude and/or direction of the force 370 in order to generate the control signal thereby.

Figure 4 illustrates a portion of an implementation of oral controller 400. As illustrated in Figure 4, the oral controller includes an antenna 460. The antenna 460 has a generally cylindrical configuration and is secured to a body (not shown) such that the antenna 460 is resident exterior to the mouth when the oral controller 400 is secured to the mouth, As illustrated in Figure 4, at least one goniometer 405 that forms control element 408 may be included in the antenna 460. The one or more goniometers 405 may, for example, generate control signaj(s) based upon the relative positions and/or motions of end 462 and end 464 of antenna 60 with respect to one another in an x-y-z coordinate system as well as angular rotation ω of the antenna 60, as illustrated. Accordingly, with the oral controller 10 secured to the mouth, the user may communicate control signals to the video game by positioning and/or motioning the antenna 60 by manipulation of the head such as, for example, rolling the head forward and backward, shaking the head from side to side, and so forth.

Methods for providing control signals from an oral controller to a video game 240, and/or provoking a stimulus from the oral controller as directed by the video game 240 are disclosed herein, Examples of the oral controller include oral controller 10. 100, 200, 310, 400. In various aspects, the methods include inserting at least portions of the oral controller into the mouth, positioning at least portions of the oral controller within the mouth, manipulating a control element secured to the oral controller, such as control element 90, 190, 290, 340, 408 using the mouth including features and/or functions of the mouth such as the teeth, lip(s), tongue, and/or voice thereby generating the control signal. Examples of the control signal include control signal 97, 192, 292, 302.

The methods may include transmitting the control signal from the oral controller to the video game 240 thereby controlling the performance of the video game 240. Some aspects include wirelessly transmitting the control signal from the oral controller to the video game 240, while other aspects include transmitting the control signal from the oral controller to the video game 240 over cable 170.

The methods may include the video game delivering a stimulus to the user using a response element, for example response element 180, secured to the oral controller. The methods may include the video game generating a response signal, such as response signal 182. transmitting the response signal to the oral controller, and, thence, to the response element, for example response element 180, secured to the oral controller, the response signal causing the delivering of the stimulus by the response element. Some aspects include wirelessly transmitting the response signal from the video game 240 to the response element secured to the oral controller, while other aspects include transmitting the response signal from the video game 240 over cable 370, In some aspects, the methods include wirelessly transmitting the response signal from the video game 240 to the oral controller, while, in other aspects, the methods include transmitting the response signal from the video game 240 to the oral controller over cable.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary implementations. Upon study of the specification, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. An oral controller, comprising: a body, at least a portion of which is adapted to bε positionable within the mouth of a user; and a control element positioned about the body to be manipulateable by the user, the control element generates a control signal adapted to alter the performance of a video game in response to manipulation.

2. The apparatus, as in Claim 1, further comprising: the control element includes a strain gauge manipulateable by the mouth.

3. The apparatus, as in Claim 1, further comprising: the control element includes a strain gauge, the control element adapted to be manipulated by the tongue.

4. ^'I he apparatus, as in Claim 1. further comprising: the control element includes a goniometer, the control element adapted to be manipulated by motion of the head.

5. The apparatus, as in Claim ] , further comprising: the control element includes a goniometer, the control element adapted to be manipulated by the mouth.

6, The apparatus, as in Claim 1, wherein the control element is manipulateable by the voice.

7. The apparatus, as in Claim 1 , further comprising: a wireless interface disposed generally about the body and adapted to receive the control signal from the control element and communicate the control signal to the video game.

8. The apparatus, as in Claim 1, further comprising: a wired interface disposed generally about the body and adapted to receive the control signal from the control element and communicate the control signal to the video game.

9. The apparatus, as in Claim 1 , wherein the body is adapted to receive at least portions of at least some of the teeth of the upper mandible.

10, The apparatus, as in Claim 1. wherein the body is adapted to receive at least portions of at least some of the teeth of the lower mandible,

11. An oral controller, comprising: a body, at least a portion of which is adapted to be positionable within the mouth of a user; a response element positioned about the body to impart a stimulus to the user in response to a response signal communicated thereto from a video game.

12. The apparatus, as in Claim 1 1, wherein the response element imparts the stimulus generally within the mouth.

13, The apparatus, as in Claim 11 , further comprising: a wireless interface disposed generally about the body and adapted to receive the response signal from the video game and communicate the response signal to the response element.

14. The apparatus, as in Claim 11 , further comprising: a wired interface disposed generally about the body and adapted to receive the response signal from the video game and communicate the response signal to the response element.

15. An oral controller, comprising: a body, at least a portion of which is adapted to be positionable within the mouth of a user; a control element positioned about the body to be manipulateable by the user, the control element generates a control signal adapted to alter the performance of a video game in response to manipulation; and a response element positioned about the body to impart a stimulus to the user in response to a response signal communicated thereto from a video game.

16. The apparatus, as in Claim 15, further comprising: a wireless interface disposed generally about the body, the wireless interface adapted to receive the control signal from the control element and communicate the control signal to the video game, the wireless interface adapted to receive the response signal from the video game and communicate the response signal to the response element.

17, The apparatus, as in Claim 16, further comprising: a video game, the video game in communication with the wireless interface,

18. The apparatus, as in Claim 16, further comprising: the control element includes a strain gauge manipulateable by the mouth.

19. The apparatus, as in Claim 16, further comprising: the control element includes a strain gauge, the control element adapted to be manipulated by the tongue.

20. The apparatus, as in Claim 16, further comprising: the control element includes a goniometer, the control element adapted to be manipulated by motion of the head.

21. The apparatus, as in Claim 16, further comprising: the control element includes a goniometer, the control element adapted to be manipulated by the mouth,

22. The apparatus, as in Claim 16, wherein the control element is manipulateable by the voice.

23. The apparatus, as in Claim 16, wherein the body is adapted to receive at least portions of at least some of the teeth of the upper mandible.

24. The apparatus, as in Claim 16, wherein the body is adapted to receive at least portions of at least some of the teeth of the lower mandible.

25. A gaming system, comprising: a video game; a hand controller, the hand controller adapted for manipulation by at least one hand of a user, the hand controller generates a hand controller control signal adapted to alter the performance of a video game in response to manipulation by the user, the hand controller in communication with the video game to communicate the hand controller control signal to the video game; and an oral controller, at least a portion of the oral controller positionable within the mouth of the user and adapted to he manipulated by the user, the oral controller generates a control signal adapted to alter the performance of the video game in response to manipulation by the user, the oral controller in communication with the video game to communicate the controi signal to the video game.

26. The gaming system, as in Claim 25, wherein the oral controller is adapted to be manipulated by the mouth.

27. The gaming system, as in Claim 25, wherein the oral controller is adapted to be manipulated by motions of the head.

28. The gaming system, as in Claim 25, further comprising: a response element positioned about the oral controller to impart a stimulus to the user in response to a response signal communicated thereto from a video game.

29. The gaming system, as in Claim 28, wherein the stimulus is imparted to the user generally within the mouth of the user.

30. A method for control of a video game, comprising: positioning at least portions of an oral controller within the mouth; manipulating a control element secured to the oral controller thereby generating a control signal; transmitting the control signal from the oral controller to a video game thereby controlling the performance of the video game.

31. The method, as in Claim 30, wherein the control signal is transmitted wirclessly from the oral controller to the video game.

32. The method, as in Claim 30, wherein the control elements is manipulated using the mouth.

33. The method, as in Claim 30, wherein the control element is manipulated using motions of the head.

34. The method, as in Claim 30, further comprising transmitting a response signal from the video game to a response element secured to the oral controller; and delivering a stimulus to the user by the response element as prompted by the response signal,

35. The method, as in Claim 34, wherein the stimulus is delivered within the mouth of the user.