using the controller as a sword isnt a copy Sony is taking from if anybody here thinks so. I'd say its an upgrade from their PS2 sword katana controller they had for Onimusha 3. Oh man now i hope they make Onimusha 5 (cross fingers) :P

LOL. I remeber all the fanboys saying M$ sucked for copying Nintendo when it was just stupid rumours. How the tables turn.

Yes, the pics are there if you click on the Images button. I just thought I'd bring in some real evidence, since all patents and patent applications are publicly available ;)

Will Sony ever do this? No, they won't do a controller like that, not exactly, but they might employ some of the ideas patented here. That is, if the patent application is accepted. Most likely the real purpose of the patent is to stifle competitors from doing anything like that.

to late to the party, that's why it's not a good idea for either microsoft or sony to follow what the wii is doing.

Worst controller design ever, I'm not intentionally trolling here, it's just god awful, it's worse then that X-mote thing.

When I read the thread title, I was expecting Sony bought the rights to that guy on youtubes six-axis design, where he could take the controller apart at the center, that was awesome.

This, just looks awkward, especially figure 9b, guy looks like he's role-playing as a wizard.

Fixed!

For some reason I have a song stuck in my head.

"Transformers robots in disguise,
- Transformers more than meets the eyes..."

I like the turn it into one big double phallic shaft thing but it looks so complicated.

Happy to oblige.

First off is the title of the patent: "DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLER THREE-DIMENSIONAL LOCATION USING IMAGE ANALYSIS AND ULTRASONIC COMMUNICATION"

And then for some examples from the full patent text.

"[0020]FIGS. 3A-3B describe an embodiment of a single-hand controller with a spherical section and ultrasonic capabilities. "

"[0023]FIG. 6 depicts a controller with ultrasonic capabilities and a spherical section partially covered by retro-reflective material."

"[0061]FIGS. 3A-3B describe an embodiment of a single-hand controller 130 with a spherical section 132 and ultrasonic capabilities. The spherical shape of spherical section 132 allows for detection of the controller position by analyzing the image captured by an image capture device."

"[0071]FIG. 7 depicts one embodiment of single-hand controller 210 that has exchangeable face plates. Different faceplates, such as 220a and 220b, enable distinct keypad configurations and give the user more flexibility in selecting input methods when playing different games. In the embodiment show in FIG. 7, the user has the option of using faceplate A 220a which includes a directional pad, or faceplate B 220b which includes 4 buttons."

"[0072]FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of two single-hand controllers, 300a and 300b, joined together by insert plate 302 to form a controller intended to be used with two hands, according to one embodiment. The insert plate adds input options for the user. By using a faceplate between the controllers, the distance between them is fixed and well-known. A remote computing system tracks the movements of both controllers for improved accuracy. Additionally, by taking into consideration the fixed distance between the controllers, the computing system can further refine location detection and controller orientation using triangulation techniques."

There, that should be enough. Oh, and those pics are part of the actual patent application. In fact, together with the technical description of the patent, the pictures depict the design that is being patented. So no, somebody didn't just make up those designs.

To carry the message that Sony makes consoles with balls. 

Wow, could be interesting....but probably not.