eyepad
Latest
Sony patents 'Eyepad,' a Move-enabled PS3 tablet controller
It's important to remember, especially in situations like this, that the existence of a patent does not necessarily correlate to the existence of a product, or even a company's desire to build what it has patented. So, with that in mind, let's take a look at Sony's ridiculously named PlayStation 3 tablet controller patent.The device Sony refers to as an "EyePad" in its patent application, seen in the sketch above, would theoretically come equipped with the usual trappings you'd expect from a PS3 controller: D-Pad, buttons, analog stick, SIXAXIS motion sensors, etc. The more interesting bits, however, are a bit harder to pick out from the drawing. First of all, those shaded stripes on the edge are not a creamy nougat center, as we had originally surmised, but rather illuminated strips of LEDs or comparable light source. This would allow the EyePad, in conjunction with an EyeToy camera, to function as a PlayStation Move controller.Secondly, those dots on either corner of the apparent display (which could actually be a normal display, touchscreen or Vita-esque touchpad, according to the filing) are paired stereoscopic cameras. The cameras are arranged in such as way that their respective fields of vision provide a full, 360-degree view of any object placed onto the surface of the EyePad's screen, allowing for objects to be fully scanned in three dimensions and then rendered in game. Theoretically the player could also place their face within this field, allowing for face mapping in character customization applications, for instance.Again, we doubt this patent represents anything more than a combination of day-dreaming and butt-covering on the parts of Sony's engineers and legal department, respectively, but the ideas presented here are definitely interesting.
Sony patent application reveals multi-sensor control surface called EyePad, of all things
Patents, we love 'em. When else do we get to peek directly into the idea-pantry of big companies like Sony. On the shelf today is this application for an "Input device, system and method," which as mundane as that sounds, actually appears quite the contrary. The flat, tablet-like illustration is described as having six-axis motion sensors, joystick controls, and illuminated edges that "provide a similar functionality to that of the illuminated ball of the Playstation move." So, this would work not only as a physical surface (it has touch sensors too), but also as a motion tracking device in conjunction with the EyeToy. That's not all, though, as there are plenty of references to a pair of stereoscopic cameras "of a type typically found in mobile phones and other compact devices" at each end of the touch surface -- allowing it to create depth maps. The result described in the application is an area above the "EyePad" where objects can be recognized, and perhaps incorporated into a game. We're not making that leap, either, as it's Sony itself which refers to existing controllers of "systems or entertainment devices such as the PlayStation 3." Of course it would be a leap to connect it to, say, a forthcoming announcement. While this all sounds really exciting, we can't help feeling like we've heard that product name somewhere before..?
