Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Perceptible output or display
Patent
1996-11-29
1999-12-21
O'Neill, Michael
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Perceptible output or display
463 47, 273148B, 181171, A63F 922
Patent
active
060042095
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a body-acoustic device for converting electric acoustic signals into mechanical vibrations for transmission to the body of a user, a playing apparatus using the body-acoustic device, a control method therefor, a light-beam utilizing playing apparatus using the body-acoustic device, and an acoustic apparatus using the body-acoustic device.
BACKGROUND ART
A body-acoustic device converts electric sound signals, which are transmitted from a business-use game machine, a home-use game machine or any other acoustic unit, into mechanical vibrations for transmission to the body of a user. The body-acoustic device has a structure such that a speaker for emitting sound as a vibration source is elastically supported in an internal space of a container body by means of a partitioning plate. The partitioning plate divides the internal space of the container body into two airtight chambers, and the speaker is received in an opening formed in the partitioning plate. Due to the emission of sound from the speaker, air vibrations attributable to the sound pressure are generated in the internal space of the container body and transmitted to the user's body through an outer wall of the container body.
As a specific example of such body-acoustic device, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-316582 discloses a basic structure wherein the interior of a closed container is divided into two airtight chambers by a partition wall fitted with a speaker. The outer periphery of the partition wall is attached to the closed container by means of a buffer made of rubber or polyurethane for absorbing vibrations. Such a structure enables the partition wall to serve as a vibrating plate which is integrally vibrated with the cone paper of the speaker. Moreover, the appropriate vibration absorbing effect of the buffer prevents generation of uncomfortable echo noises.
If the partition wall is directly secured to the closed container without the buffer, distortion and split of the speaker sound cause uncomfortable echo noises and deteriorate the clearness of sound. Due to the preserve of the foregoing buffer, the uncomfortable noises can be appropriately absorbed so that the clearness of sound improves.
In the above-mentioned body-acoustic device, a through-hole is formed in the partition wall which permits the air vibrations generated in one of the airtight chambers due to the speaker sound pressure to be propagated to the other airtight chamber. Therefore, generated air vibrations are not immediately attenuated, and satisfactory air vibrations are generated in the overall internal space of the container. Moreover, the sound throttling effect attained when the air vibrations are allowed to pass through the through-hole further raises the sound pressure. Thus, the vibrations generated in the entire outer wall of the closed container are intensified.
In practical use of the body-acoustic device of the foregoing type, some means is employed to hold an outer wall portion of the body-acoustic device into contact with an appropriate portion of the user's body, and the vibrations generated due to the sound of the speaker are transmitted to the appropriate portion of the body. In a known example, the body-acoustic device is attached to a seat back so that the user's back is brought into contact with the seat back, that is, the body-acoustic device when the user is seated.
In recent years, a rucksack type body-acoustic device has been put into trial use or practical use, the body-acoustic device is fitted in the vicinity of the user's back for carrying on the back.
The closed container of the body-acoustic device disclosed in the above-described publication is cylindrical and has a flat bottom wall for contact with the human body. Therefore, if the body-acoustic device is fitted to the human body, only a portion of the bottom wall is brought into contact with the body.
Specifically, a contact portion such as the back or waist of the human body, with which the body-acoustic device is brought into
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Earthshaker Pinball Machine Brochure by Williams Electronic Games, Inc. .COPYRGT. 1989.
Fujimoto Keiji
Fujiwara Akira
Fujiwara Tokurou
Katsumoto Atsushi
Kurokawa Masahiko
Bednarek Michael D.
Capcom Co. Ltd.
O'Neill Michael
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