http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/18017/Sony-Reveals-More-of-Its-WiimoteKiller-Game-Controller/

Sony has revealed more information about their new motion controlled controllers. Here is some more info:

Back in April, TeamXbox.com discovered a Sony patent (yeah, I know the irony of that) aimed to take on the Nintendo Wiimote. That odd controller patented by Sony Computer Entertainment not only had the ability to detect the movement of the hand through motion sensing like the Wii controller does, but also could capture finger, hand and palm movements by using a bunch of “protrusions” for each finger designed to detect the user’s input.

This week, a new patent application by Sony has been made public, revealing a complex controller that uses a hybrid system that combines video capture and ultrasonic tracking to identify the position of the controller with respect to a computer system.

An EyeToy-like camera positioned on top of the television captures a spherical shape that is associated with the controller and this data is then used to identify a two-dimensional location of the controller. Complementing that 2D data is an ultrasonic tracking system, which analyzes sound communications to determine the distances between the game system (ex: PS3) and each controller and to determine the distances among the controllers. The distances are then analyzed by the system to calculate the depths within the capture area for each controller.

Are you lost? Well, a picture is worth a thousand words:

As you can see in the picture above, the system identifies the position of the controller in a three-dimensional space by obtaining the horizontal (X axis) and vertical (Y axis) positions for each controller within a capture area using the camera, which identifies the spherical-type section of the controller. This data obtained by the camera alone is just a flat, two-dimensional position; so, in order to know the exact position of the controller in a three-dimensional space, a third-dimensional location is needed. Here comes the ultrasonic tracking system, which instead of a camera uses a microphone to capture sound data. Where does this sound come from? From the controller too. Let’s take a closer look at it:

This controller, which is meant to be held by a user with a single hand, has on one end a grip area; on the other end a spherical-type section, and in-between these two extremes there’s an input pad. The sphere on the top end has two purposes; one is to be recognized by the image capture device (camera) to obtain the X and Y coordinates; the other is to house an ultrasonic sound emitting device which will establish a one-way sound communication with the sound capture device (microphone) to provide the missing Z coordinate, completing the third location needed to identify this controller in a three-dimensional space.

Sony explains on its patent that the reason for such complex hybrid system lies in the shortcomings of image analysis, which the inventor claims is only accurate when obtaining data in two dimensions but fails to be precise when it comes to depth. As a result, Sony has decided that it will obtain the distance between the game system and the controller (Z coordinate) using this ultrasonic tracking.

The patent application also details various options for capturing image data, such as giving a specific color to the sphere, or use a retro-reflective enclosure or even put an infrared light source inside the spherical-type section.

Now that we went through the principle under which this controller works, let’s take a look at the different uses and combination Sony has envisioned for what I’m going to call from now on the Sony Maraca Controller (wish I could explain you what the other meaning of “maraca” is in Argentina).

One option Sony already came up with is to make the input pad an interchangeable part, so you can put in there the typical four action buttons or a D-pad.

Another variant is to put together two of these one-handed controllers side by side, joined by a bigger faceplate that has everything you find in the existing controllers: a D-pad, action buttons and two thumbsticks.

Another interesting implementation of these maraca controllers is to connect two of them together Darth Maul-style to come up with a single-hand controller that could certainly be used to kill people with one hit.

It is worth mentioning that companies apply for patents all the time and that doesn’t mean these inventions will become commercial products. But the previous odd controller discovered earlier this year and this new patent application suggest Sony is definitely working on a next-generation game controller.