Sony patent app details motion sensing break-apart controller

We heard some pretty far-fetched stuff back in June to the tune of a break-apart DualShock 3, and lo and behold, it seems that someone at Sony Computer Entertainment America is taking the idea quite seriously. A recent patent application was filed by the company, and it fairly clearly lays out the very kind of design we'd (not really) been expecting. In essence, the gamepad would consist of two pieces, each of which would utilize an "ultrasonic tracking system" for some type of game console / peripheral to recognize 3D inputs. Best of all, the approach here sounds significantly different enough from what's used in the Wiimote that Sony could avoid months upon months of litigation -- imagine that, right? It's hard to say whether this stroke of genius will ever amount to anything, but at least there's a chance, however minuscule.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

[)ROFL( @ Oct 31st 2008 12:53AM]

Looks just like another sex toy.

[FRZ @ Oct 31st 2008 9:30AM]

Yeah, a sex toy in a freaky wiimote way. The ladies would have to flip it over or themselves for maximum pleasure/gameplay.

[Alex @ Oct 31st 2008 1:02AM]

Lol, yeah that thing is definitely a sex toy... Pretty sure I saw this on http://www.talksony.com

[Ridgecity @ Oct 31st 2008 1:05AM]

Why is a woman's fingernail below that giant ball? is it for the clitoris stimulation?

[Shunnabunich @ Oct 31st 2008 1:29AM]

It's actually a mutated portion of the hand holding it. This patent is Sony's answer to The Claw; the device pictured is just a ruse to distract Apple's lawyers.

[Ray @ Oct 31st 2008 1:38AM]

I cant believe you made me think about that horrific apple hand again... now i must spread the pain!

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/08/8-29-08appletouchpatent.jpg

[lowdef @ Oct 31st 2008 1:46AM]

what an awesome rendering of the human hand...i just thought about that picture the other day too haha

[Ridgecity @ Oct 31st 2008 3:43AM]

That Apple engineer has the worst case of carpal tunnel I've seen.

Guess you know why he' working on the touch system, he probably feels sometimes his phantom limb/mouse tickles...

[Ray @ Oct 31st 2008 1:33AM]

lol I love you guys I laughed for like ten minutes when i saw those three posts

[Johan S @ Oct 31st 2008 1:54AM]

She needs her hand checked out bya professional.

[Victor @ Oct 31st 2008 1:55AM]

"stroke of genius will ever amount to anything"

Yeah, wow. It hit me right away how sexual this schematic is. I love it!

I'm all for more sex and less violence.

[water.and.sand @ Oct 31st 2008 2:38AM]

Man... I need to freaking work at one of these companies.
I had that idea right after Wii came out. It took them two and a half years longer.

Now would someone at Sega listen to me and make Jet Set Radio Wii?
Wiimote as spraycan. You can point it at the screen or buy the extra piece of plastic (that every Wii game seems to need) to redirect the laser so that you can hold it like a spray can. Get on it.

P.S. That was a complete aside. I know Sega and Sony are different companies.

[chrisp @ Oct 31st 2008 3:02AM]

Is it just me or is Nintendo the only really inovative video games company in existance? After the PSX Sony really has done very little to inovate.

[Ridgecity @ Oct 31st 2008 3:53AM]

actually, Nintendo wanted an addon for the Super Nintendo called "The Play Station" so they asked Sony for it, but once Sony heard they were also talking to Philips, they dropped their help.

Years later, Sony created a new gaming console called "The Playstation" and the rest is history.

[GoCarnivore @ Oct 31st 2008 5:30AM]

@Ridgecity,

If I recall correctly, Nintendo turned down Sony. Sony didn't like that, and went on to make the Playstation. I thought it was a pretty boneheaded move on Nintendo's part, but it happens.

[y3k.nik @ Oct 31st 2008 9:34AM]

Nintendo went to Sony to help them made a Nintendo CD ROM for their games, signed a contract with Sony as well. But they didnt read the fine print that said most of the CD's will be property of Sony and not Nintendo and hence decided to make a backstabbing move and instead of publicly announcing its partnership with Sony at some CES, decided to announce a partnership with Philps for the CD's.

Nintendo was stupid at first for not even reading the contract before signing it, then decided to become a whiny baby because they werent getting any money out of a contract they didnt read before signing.

Sony made the Play Station with the Nintendo Cartridge and Nintendo CD drive, 200 or so of those were made, and then dropped the Nintendo Cartridge and called it PlayStation which was the PSX we all know.

[poematik14 @ Oct 31st 2008 3:04AM]

What the hell?

In my design portfolio last year I had a project for a break apart motion sensing controller just like that.

SONY BE STEALIN MAH IDEAZ

I should start patenting my stuff and not leaving it in a folder in the classroom closet.

[Benson @ Oct 31st 2008 4:04AM]

IM IN UR PORTFOLEEO STEELIN UR IDEEZ

[Poom @ Oct 31st 2008 4:05AM]

Hmmm... that'd be what patent trolls do, no?

[Janv1er @ Oct 31st 2008 3:06AM]

And people hated the boomerang controller?

[Ridgecity @ Oct 31st 2008 3:50AM]

I don't think that Ultrasonic system will go well with my dogs. Once their ears start bleeding, they get pretty nasty with the furniture...

[chrisp @ Oct 31st 2008 4:03AM]

Hey won't this ultrasonic thing lead to a massive bat infestation? The last thingymaboby to use ultrasound for tracking was the PowerGlove, and as far as i can recall that did'nt go too well (A bit like saying the pope is a religious man). Lets pray the tech has improved much since then.

[netfoodie @ Oct 31st 2008 4:20AM]

Yes... that's right... cradle the ball.

[trickards @ Oct 31st 2008 6:05AM]

Dualshock 4 will be fine, thanks.

[g3n3tix @ Oct 31st 2008 6:23AM]

Reminds me of an eXistenZ controller...

[GoCarnivore @ Oct 31st 2008 6:58AM]

Ultrasonic tracking system? I wonder if that's anything like Ultrasounds? If so, I can't wait to visit a retail chain and set off the thief-detector machines because of the residual waves still stuck on me. It happened a nice four times.

[BJ is Gooder @ Oct 31st 2008 2:27AM]

At least they're not trying to hide the fact that use of the controller and its ultrasonic waves could result in a sixth finger. Good on you, Sony!

[Marc-O @ Nov 1st 2008 4:16PM]

Whatever you're smoking, it's pretty damn potent... *boggle*

:P

[Zorque @ Oct 31st 2008 7:06AM]

That looks.... pretty unusable.

[htd @ Oct 31st 2008 7:53AM]

I wonder how awful is the M$ counterpart of this whole copycat thing.

[htd @ Oct 31st 2008 7:53AM]

I wonder how awful is the M$ counterpart of this whole copycat thing.

[Das Boot @ Oct 31st 2008 8:12AM]

i am a lefty, how am i suppose to use this? i feel jaded.

[NHAnimator @ Oct 31st 2008 8:33AM]

Don't feel jaded. Feel fortunate.

[psfour @ Oct 31st 2008 9:33AM]

Brilliant yet another sony patent to ponder over until the ps4 comes out.
Theres already enough of them out there. http://www.psfour.info/control.php

[Phoenix @ Oct 31st 2008 11:55AM]

That is a TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE site.

Full of conjectured and badly thought up/written material, with basic grammar and spelling errors.

Of course, even if it were great the fact you are spamming it here would ruin it permanently.

[kal326 @ Oct 31st 2008 9:52AM]

Spaceballs the controller!