Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Player-actuated control structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-17
2002-10-29
Martin-Wallace, Valencia (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Player-actuated control structure
C273S14800B
Reexamination Certificate
active
06471592
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an external operation device that is suitable as a game controller connected to a game machine main unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, with game controllers the game is played while communicating with the game machine main unit by sending the operation information input from the user and informing the user by receiving feedback information sent from the game machine main unit. The game controller has a controller main unit as an operation means, a cable as a data transmission means, and a connector for connecting the cable to the game machine main unit, and data is exchanged in sequence through the cable and connector.
A conventional cable cross-sectional view is shown in FIG.
1
. This cable has multiple electrically conductive wires
1
A-
1
H for conveying electrical signals; among them, electrical conductive wire
1
A is arranged on the central axis of the cable, and electrically conductive wires
1
B-
1
G are arranged around it so as to be adjacent to this electrically conductive wire
1
A. The periphery of these electrically conductive wires
1
B-
1
G is covered with electrically conductive wire
1
H, and the periphery of electrically conductive wire
1
H is covered by vinyl cover
1
I, thereby forming a rodlike shape.
The periphery of each of electrically conductive wires
1
A-
1
G is covered with an insulating substance, preventing them from coming into contact with each other and shorting. The cable is covered with mesh-woven electrically conductive wire
1
H that gives the periphery of electrically conductive wires
1
A-
1
G a cylindrical shape, and its periphery in turn is covered with vinyl cover
1
I, which is an insulating substance, thereby protecting the interior of cable from external physical forces and electromagnetic-wave noise.
A serial communication method for avoiding the effects due to the noise from outside is adopted as the communication method between the game machine main unit and the controller main unit. Generally with a serial communication method, in many cases one electrically conductive wire each is provided for sending and receiving data, and three electrically conductive wires are provided for controlling the communication. Therefore in the cable, electrically conductive wires
1
A and
1
B are taken as electrically conductive wires for sending and receiving data, and electrically conductive wires
1
C-
1
E are taken as electrically conductive wires for controlling the communication.
Electrically conductive wire
1
A is an electrically conductive wire for transmitting data R×D from the controller main unit to the game machine main unit, and electrically conductive wire
1
B is an electrically conductive wire for transmitting data T×D from the game machine main unit to the controller main unit. Electrically conductive wire
1
C is an electrically conductive wire for transmitting communication standard clock SCK from the game machine main unit to the controller main unit, electrically conductive wire
1
D is an electrically conductive wire for transmitting communication enable signal DTR from the game machine main unit to the controller main unit, and electrically conductive wire
1
E is an electrically conductive wire for transmitting communication completion signal DSR from the controller main unit to the game machine main unit.
Electrically conductive wire
1
F is an electrically conductive wire for an 8-V power source that operates the lamps, etc. formed on the controller main unit, electrically conductive wire
1
G is an electrically conductive wire for power source Vcc that determines the signal level of logical level “1,” and electrically conductive wire
1
H is an electrically conductive wire for grounding line GND that determines the signal level of logical level “0.”
In cables such as shown in
FIG. 1
, direct current flows in electrically conductive wires
1
F-
1
H, while high-frequency alternating current flows in electrically conductive wires
1
A-
1
E. Therefore, no noise due to electromagnetic waves (hereafter called electromagnetic-wave noise) arises from electrically conductive wires
1
F-
1
H, but electromagnetic-wave noise does arise from electrically conductive wires
1
A-
1
E. A number of adverse effects have been pointed out concerning this noise, and the upper limit for the level of its occurrence is strictly prescribed by domestic and international standards.
For this reason, in such cables the electromagnetic-wave noise is reduced by covering the periphery of electrically conductive wires
1
A-
1
E with mesh-woven electrically conductive wire
1
H, and in turn covering the periphery of electrically conductive wire
1
H with vinyl cover
1
I, which is made of an insulating substance. However, because this is unable to sufficiently reduce the electromagnetic-wave noise, in general the generation of electromagnetic-wave noise is avoided by putting a noise shield on cable
1
.
The level of occurrence of electromagnetic-wave noise increases as the frequency increases but the capacity of a noise shield is limited, and it is unable to suppress electromagnetic-wave noise above a certain level. Therefore even if cable
1
is fitted with a noise shield, as the frequency of the alternating current flowing in electrically conductive wires
1
A-
1
E increases and electromagnetic-wave noise beyond a certain level is generated, the limit of the noise shield is exceeded, and electromagnetic-wave noise can no longer be suppressed.
Thus there has been the problem that in order to prevent the generation of electromagnetic-wave noise in cable
1
, one must limit the frequency of the electric current, that is, the communication speed, and high-speed communication cannot be done. Because the current flowing in electrically conductive wires
1
A-
1
H becomes attenuated as said electrically conductive wires
1
A-
1
H become longer, there has been the problem that there is a limit to the length of electrically conductive wires
1
A-
1
H, that is, of cable
1
.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides an external operation device that provides communication at higher speed than was previously available.
The invention provides an operation device which converts electrical signals of a transmission object input in accordance with operation by the user to optical signals by an internal electro-optical signal converter and outputs the optical signals to the operation object. Optical signals transmitted from the operation object are converted to electrical signals by the electro-optical signal converter which outputs the signals to the outside information in accordance with the electrical signals. An optical fiber, one end of which is attached to the operation device transmits optical signals between the operation device and the operation object. A connection means is provided on the other end of the optical fiber and is detachably connected to the operation object which converts optical signals transmitted from the operation device via the optical fiber to electrical signals by an internal electro-optical signal converter and outputs the electrical signals to the operation object, and converts electrical signals supplied from the operation object to optical signals by the electro-optical signal converter and outputs the optical signals to the operation device.
By connecting the operation device to the operation object via an optical fiber and during communication, converting the electrical signals of the transmission object to optical signals and transmitting the optical signals via the optical fiber, electromagnetic-wave noise during communication is not generated, and there is no need to limit the frequency of the optical signals. That is, the communication speed, as there would be if the-operation means were connected to the operation object via electrically conductive wires.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4393493 (1983-07-01), Edwards
patent: 4501424 (1985-02-01), Stone et al.
patent: 4504846 (1985-03-01), Chappell et al.
patent: 4563162 (1986-01-01), Ishimoto
patent: 48
Jones Scott E.
Katten Muchin Zavis & Rosenman
Martin-Wallace Valencia
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
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