The Hillcrest patents referenced in the action against Nintendo are secondary patents relating to user interface details and compensation techniques, whereas Movea’s Gyration patents are central to the usage model, i.e. using sensors to detect human motion and control graphics on a screen. Gyration was the pioneer in developing fundamental motion sensing technologies and IP, and was a core enabler to Nintendo and Hillcrest, both of whom had entered license arrangements with Gyration to enable their products.

PRESS RELEASE: Hillcrest Labs Issues Statement About Legal Action Against Nintendo and the Wii

August 20, 2008 – Rockville, MD – Hillcrest Labs issued an official statement about legal action that the company has taken today against Nintendo(R) for patent infringement. The statement is as follows:

Hillcrest Labs has filed a complaint for patent infringement with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in Washington, D.C., and a separate patent infringement suit in the U.S. District Court in Maryland against Nintendo(R) related to the Wii(TM) video game system.

Hillcrest's patents at issue are U.S. Patent Nos. 7,158,118, 7,262,760, and 7,414,611, which relate to a handheld three-dimensional pointing device, and U.S. Patent No. 7,139,983, which relates to a navigation interface display system that graphically organizes content for display on a television. Since 2001, Hillcrest Labs has pioneered technology that allows consumers to interact with digital media on television using motion-control and pointing techniques. The company holds 29 patents in this area worldwide, and has filled for more than 100 related patents.

Leading consumer electronics companies, not all of whom have been disclosed publicly, have already licensed Hillcrest's technology for use in their products. While Hillcrest Labs has a great deal of respect for Nintendo and the Wii, Hillcrest Labs believes that Nintendo is in clear violation of its patents and has taken this action to protect its intellectual property rights. Given the current status of the filings, the company will not disclose any additional details about the matter at this time.

Information about Hillcrest Labs and its products are available at www.hillcrestlabs.com

The Gyroxus costs $479 and works with Xbox 360, Windows, PS3, PS2 and "Nintendo", but neither of the two ordering options list any Nintendo compatibility. If the video after the jump is correct, all it does is lean forward, back, left or right depending on which way you move the center stick. Not only does this seem not all that comfortable, it'd be kind of a pain playing titles like Gears of War 2 on this thing. But racing games, on the other hand, could be phenomenal.

[Gyroxus via Born Rich via Uber Gizmo via Uber Review]

Matt Presta tells Gizmodo the story:

We were brought in to help [Gyration] pitch their gyro technology (which had previous only been used in pointing/mouse devices) to Nintendo for more complex use in gaming—an idea way ahead of its time back in '01.

Based on a requirement to roughly preserve the existing Game Cube button layout we created usability concepts that would work for one- or two-handed gaming. We experimented with different configurations through sketches, models and interviewing various hardcore gamers.

Gyration decided to hedge their bets choosing the quick-release idea as it could work for split-handed gaming without shaking up the already old-fashioned two-handed controller paradigm. We weren't party to discussions between Gyration and Nintendo so we don't know exactly how Nintendo arrived at their solution.

It would have been fun to take the project further than just a rough usability prototype though. It is cool to see that at least Nintendo finally decided to take the huge risk in developing the current (ambidextrous) Wii controller.

BTW, for the record most of us designers support you lefties out there. Unfortunately the business world often decides that ambidextrous attributes aren't worth the effort.

Thanks to a recent chance encounter, we were able to uncover a couple of PowerPoint slides that showed the GyroPod, a prototype design for a one-handed motion sensing controller designed specifically by Gyration for Nintendo.

Here's the back story: Gyration is a company that holds most of the best motion-sensing patents. Nintendo licensed a number of those patents from Gyration in 2001, and brought the company on board that year to develop a one-handed controller. (Nintendo even became an investor in Gyration, which is now owned by Thomson.)

In one of the first meetings with Nintendo's people, Gyration designers brought these animated slides to the conference room. I am a fan of the breakaway handle, and some of you may appreciate the fact that the controller forms one solid piece when connected, rather than the current Wii-mote and Nunchuk setup.

Slide 1:
Still, you can't argue that even Gyration understood the new world that was opening up with one-handed motion. The following game slide depicts only the most obvious action, and doesn't come close to foreshadowing the greatest game of all (IMHO): Wii Tennis. (Maybe that's on a missing slide?)

Slide 2:

Animation frames from slide 2:

Thanks Greg and Zac!

So what's great about this? Well, the mouse functionality actually works really well. No more scrolling with the arrow keys on the remote, which makes navigation that much faster. There are also learning features, which means you can use this to control various other home theater components as well. The only downsides are that the remote is really long and without a backlight, Jeremy can't find stuff in the dark. Really spoils the mood when he's putting the moves on someone and he's gotta reach for the light. – Jason Chen

Product Page [Gyration via Gearlog]

Using wUSB, the remote is capable of two way communication and can grab metadata from the computer to display relevant info, say, the volume. There's also the gyroscopic mouse technology for navigating menus, courtesy of the OEM, Gyration.

Unfortunately if you don't want to dish out close to $4,000 for an XPS M2010, you can't find this remote anywhere else on the market. However, since it's made by Gyration, there could be a generic OEM version due out in the future. – Jason Chen

Dell Ships MCE Remote with Two-Way RF and Metadata [CEPro via eHomeUpgrade]

The gyration ultra-small remote control is the ultimate in mobile presentation. It includes a 1GB flash drive to store any presentation information also acts as a 2.4Ghz wireless receiver that can operate up to 100 feet. The mobile unit itself is very small and fits easily into the hand. There are four buttons total, to control the mouse you simply hold the middle, bigger circular button and move your hand, the controls seems extremely sensitive at first, but this is all easily modified through the Windows control panel.

With a push of the smaller circular button an options menu comes up that allows for the wide variety of additional options such as using a spotlight, placing pointing arrows and many other features. Unfortunately these special controls are for Windows only. Sorry, Apple. This device should be available in April for $199 through Thomson.

Gyration ultra-small remote control, this is about the size of a USB flash drive that do everything the Gyration mouse did and more. One click will launch the pre-stored presentation and allows up to 80 commands based on hand motions. This was actually pretty hot, if you're into the whole 'surfaceless mousing' thing.

HDV5000 HD DVD Player, expected to ship to retail 2nd quarter this year for $499. This is from the Thomson RCA line.

Jensen MPC400 Receiver, ATSC, NTSC, FM receiver for your laptop or PC for under $300 coming in 2006. This puppy will allow you to watch over-the-air television broadcasts on your laptop (or PC). Not especially new, conceptually—we're much more interested in streaming video over Wi-Fi, which is something Thomson also seems to be pushing with some of their Acoustic Research Products.

Wi-Q Universal Remote Control is an all-in-one remote that has an integrated LCD screen that can display program guides and control every part of your home theatre. It uses EPG on remote updated via Wi-Fi. Meaning it connects to your network and downloads television program guides. This will be available in 2006 for $299, while sounds high is actually a competitive price compared to the other high-end Logitech remotes that are out.

RCA Rip and Go, a bookshelf audio system that directly rips from CD to MP3 players. It will exist in five different new products in 2006. Varying from a 10-watt system to a massive 160 watt unit with a 5 cd changed, 2x ripping, Wi-Fi, and Sirius satellite radio in home. Thomson will be working with Sirius for the new SiriusConnect Home service to bring satellite radio into the home.

Thomson says best way to beat the iPod is to go around, they are doing this by using very simple flash players. Their new line will be fully customized with decals and color faceplates, oh joy! This line starts at $59. Good luck is all I have to say.

Lyra X3000 Personal Multimedia Recorder, it allows direct recording of products minus a PC. They will be partnering with DirectTV and the service, DirectTV 2Go for television on the X3000, while the Lyra won't be able to directly connect to the DirectTV network, your pre-existing set top box will be upgradeable to a model that can link with the box and download content directly to the Lyra. The X3000 uses IR, MPEG4 technologies, real time recording from an analog source or transfer from a PC. It has a convenient media dock that can sit in your home theatre for easy transfer. It obeys the Windows Media DRM, supports photo viewing from SD or directly from a PC/camera. It is also compatible with audible.com for you audio book junkies. [Lyra pictured]

More products from the press conference in a moment.

It runs on 2.4 GHz RF, runs on a single AAA battery and costs $199. No word on the release date.

Prices for Gyration products [Shopping.com]