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Patent for new PS3 transforming controller discovered: motion detection via sonar

Posted Oct 30, 2008 at 5:08AM EST by QJ Staff

Listed in: PS3 Tags: Nunchuk, patent, PlayStation Eye, SCEA, Wiimote

Someone in the NeoGAF forums did some snooping around and eventually landed on a patent that SCEA's filed, outlining their rumored "transforming" controller. Before we get ahead of ourselves here, do note that not all patents become actual devices released to the market.

I'll make this as painless as possible and keep tech jargon to a minimum. The facts are these:

Just as the previous rumor said, the patent does describe a "transforming controller" that has "multiple configurations." Just like how the Wii has its own Wiimote + Nunchuk combo, you can combine these patented PlayStation controllers in certain setups.
"Motion sensing" seems to be built on sonar technology, using the PlayStation Eye's micropohone array and the controller's built-in "acoustic chamber" and spherical end. Think Wii sensor bar and Wiimote.
The ultrasounds emitted by the acoustic chamber, through audio delays and bouncing(?) signals, register as the relative position of the controller. Kinda like how bats use sonar to detect how soon they'll eventually smash against a cave wall.
In conjunction with the sonar tech, the PSEye can also help pin-point (i.e. triangulate) controller position, relative to your body and the screen etc. The controller also has an XYZ-axis accelerometer to register rotational movement.
It also seems that faceplates for D-pad buttons and face buttons are replaceable with every controller (to accomodate right- or left-handedness?).

Much to say, this is singularly the most interesting piece of patenting I've seen in the game industry to date. Of course, the NeoGAF folks are already having a field day out of the new discovery, with people likening the wagglewand to either a) Yoshi's bulbous nose, b) something they've seen in a porn flick, or c) as specifically seen in Fig 10, a "breast detector".

So with all that said and done, rather than have to wade through text blocks and patenting jargon (which you can do, if you so choose, by checking out the Via source link), we'll just have the pics do the talking here. Let the discussion commence!

Rumor: Sony preparing new 'transforming controller'

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why are there so many pricks

anyway you do realise the wiimote was used in cornershop consoles for many eyes, sony was the first to bring interactive controller ie wiimote etc to the big market through the eyetoy

wimote was a pathetic lame ass attempt, it required you to point and was never accurate, this baby however

where do i begin it just puts th ewii where it belongs, never to be thought of again

anyway who cares about looks infact it looks way better that a retarded remote, it has purpose to its shape, it can be waved as a sword etc, unlike the remote

anyway cant talk muhc sorry for bad typos in a hurray

# Damn — Xis 2008-10-30 08:46

expect a little more negativity I'll wait a little longer...

This could be a great concept multi purpose controller but honestly sounds expensive yea?

Looks cool though (they'll change it anyway) I'd love to see this in reality.

# ..... — Silver-Tiger 2008-10-30 08:53

ok, it's just a concept drawing but that "monster" looks fugly as hell.

# Re: mm — Lazyboy256 2008-10-30 09:35

The EyeToy was an interactive controller, but consoles prior to it had stuff like it (research older consoles namely the Atari, NES, and Genesis which had all kinds of werid interactive controllers that didn't do squat...like the Power Glove), though they did not see much commercial success. I cannot say much on the EyeToy, but I will say I did not see or hear much of it during the PS2's lifetime, giving me the idea that it wasn't very much widespread or intented for the casual audience (meaning it did not see much use; like it's just another peripheral to play a few games designed on it).

You say the Wiimote is a pathetic lame ass attempt. On what? So what if it requires you to point? Besides, it's what it's intended for. If you've played a game utilizing pointer controls on a correctly set up Wii, (ex. Metriod Prime 3, Medal of Honor: Heroes 2) you'd probably would have no problem at all, gunning down or doing whatever pointing action with a great degree of accuracy. The only thing I'd say that isn't so responsive is the performance of certain gestures using the Wiimote; on some games they don't register the command until you repeat it a few times. The problem may be rectified by the coming Wii MotionPlus, so we'll see if that issue wavers off.

Really to me you seem pretty biased, and you seem to like the word "anyway."

Care to explain more when you have more time?

The concept for the controller looks unique to say the least. It's ability to be adjusted via faceplates and it's sensing technology through the EyeToy sounds like mimicry of actions will be really good. Sony is good at technology, and if this concept does evolve to come true, it'll prove it, and it may or may not create a new way of gaming. I wouldn't be surprised if gamers prefer the DS3 over it, but the controller may be able to hold it's own, allowing for more interactivity with games than just the SIXAXIS.

We'll see?

# .... — DJ PON-3 2008-10-30 12:10

Is this their plan to beat the Wii?

# mm — emcp 2008-10-30 13:37

ok sorry about the eyetoy was the first mainstream one

i thought it was wrong, but i didnt know for certain, i wasnt around during the atari days although i have one, or atleast had one

anyway all i was saying was the fanboyism comment above said sony ripped of nintendo when that was certainly not hte case, and the wiimote never really brought anything new to the table that wasnt already available, in corner shop consoles

this too me is a some what new idea, probably not brought to consoles, the the wiimote had the same technology for consoles as before, this seems slightly different

trust me i did not mean to be fanboyistic

# ... — Miclowgunman 2008-10-31 07:17

Anyone for Maraca Hero?

# I see — Lazyboy256 2008-10-31 10:07

Thanks for replying, I see more now on your part. Let's hope more info about the controller comes out

# yea — a20z07 2008-10-31 14:31

that does look gay...

# xD — _JG_ 2008-11-02 06:00

lol thats good

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Patent for new PS3 transforming controller discovered: motion detection via sonar

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