Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical... – For electronic systems and devices
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-29
2002-10-15
Cuneo, Kamand (Department: 2827)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Housing or mounting assemblies with diverse electrical...
For electronic systems and devices
C361S752000, C361S759000, C463S043000, C463S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06466450
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a game machine apparatus and particularly to a game machine apparatus provided with a plurality of controllers having controls for operating the apparatus wherein for each controller there is provided a memory for storing a control state controlled by the respective controller.
Among conventional game machine apparatuses, those wherein a controller is mounted on a game machine proper and various games are played by operating the game machine by means of this controller are widely known.
In this kind of game machine apparatus, the game machine proper is provided with a memory device for storing game control processes and the like.
This memory device is either incorporated into the game machine proper or incorporated into a software cartridge or recording is performed on a backup card; data is suitably saved in the memory device so that after a temporary break in a game saved data on the state of the game can be read out and the game reopened.
However, in the conventional game machine apparatus described above, with respect to one game machine proper there is only one memory device provided as memory for saving game control processes and the like and it is not possible to save game control processes and the like personal to each of a plurality of game users. Also, there has been the problem that there are limits on the capacity and management of data saved.
Furthermore, in conventional game machine apparatuses, because connection terminals of the controller and the memory device for storing game control processes do not allow live unplugging (do not have electrical provision allowing peripheral devices to be disconnected while the power supply to the apparatus is on), it is necessary to turn the power supply of the game machine proper off before fitting and thereby electrically connecting the controller and the memory device to the game machine proper. It has also been necessary to turn the power supply of the game machine proper off when removing them from the game machine proper.
Because of this, there has been the problem that when a player or players join a game mid-way through a game or store their own respective data. in the memory device mid-way through a game it is necessary to turn the power supply of the game machine proper off and break off the game each time.
Accordingly, there has been a need to realize a memory device for storing game control processes and the like personal to individual game users and a controller and a memory device with which it is possible for example to join a game already in progress.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above-mentioned problems, a game machine apparatus according to this invention comprises a game machine made up of a game machine proper into which a game medium is suitably loaded and which controls the state of a game and a plurality of controllers provided with a plurality of controls for controlling the game by way of the game machine proper and memory devices provided in one-to-one correspondence with the controllers.
In a game machine apparatus according to the invention, the memory devices can store control situations of one or a plurality of players; the memory devices are removable; the memory devices are disposed on the game machine proper side or the controller side; connection terminals of the memory devices are of a type allowing live unplugging; grip portions of the controllers and memory devices fitted to the game machine proper are substantially the same shape; non-slip machining has been carried out on the grip portions; the memory devices are provided with non-volatile memory; and connection terminals of the controllers are of a type allowing live unplugging.
Having the above constitution, a game machine apparatus according to the invention has the following features:
Because a game machine apparatus according to the invention is made up of a game machine proper and a plurality of controllers provided with controls for controlling this game machine proper and it is possible for a plurality of controllers to be simultaneously connected to the game machine proper, and there are provided individual memory devices corresponding to each of a plurality of controllers, it becomes possible for a plurality of players to store data on game control processes and the like in their own individual memory devices.
Because the memory devices are removable it is possible to store and freely carry around game control processes personal to individual game users.
Because the connection terminals of the individual memory devices are of a type allowing live unplugging, the connection terminals can be plugged/unplugged freely even when power is being supplied to the game machine proper.
Because the grip portions of the memory devices and the controllers are made substantially the same shape, whether or not they are correctly fitted to the game machine proper can be judged easily by visual observation.
Because non-slip machining has been carried out on the grip portions, it is possible for unplugging/plugging of the memory devices with respect to the main body or to the controllers to be carried out simply and certainly.
Because the memory used in the memory devices is non-volatile memory, it is unnecessary for the memory devices themselves to have a power source or the like for the memory, and it is possible to make the memory devices small and simple.
Having the constitution described above, a game machine apparatus according to the invention has the following merits:
As a result of it being possible to connect a plurality of controllers to the game machine proper simultaneously and there being provided memory devices corresponding to each of a plurality of controllers, it is possible for a plurality of game users to store game data in their own individual memory devices and there is the valuable merit that it is possible to contribute to the convenience of users using the game.
As a result of the memory devices being able to store the control situations of one or a plurality of players, there is the valuable merit that it is possible to freely carry them around as backup personal to individual players.
As a result of the memory devices being removable it is possible to store and freely carry game control processes personal to game users and there is the valuable merit that it is possible to greatly improve the game use form.
As a result of the connection terminals of the memory devices being of a type allowing live unplugging, there is the valuable merit that unplugging/plugging of the connection terminals when power is being supplied to the game machine proper does not affect other game users using the game.
As a result of the grip portions of the memory devices and the controllers being substantially the same shape, there is the valuable merit that judgment of whether or not they are correctly fitted to the game machine proper is extremely easy.
As a result of non-slip machining having been carried out on the grip portions, it is possible for unplugging/plugging into the game machine proper to be carried out simply and certainly, and there is the valuable merit that electrical connection effected by unplugging/plugging can be carried out correctly.
As a result of the connection terminals connecting the controllers to the game machine proper being of a type allowing live unplugging, there is the valuable merit that even during control with other controllers unplugging/plugging of a controller does not affect other players in mid-game.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4084875 (1978-04-01), Yamamoto
patent: 4586128 (1986-04-01), DeWoskin
patent: 4849944 (1989-07-01), Matsushita
patent: 4858930 (1989-08-01), Sato
patent: 4867690 (1989-09-01), Thumma
patent: 4922420 (1990-05-01), Nakagawa et al.
patent: 4949298 (1990-08-01), Nakanishi et al.
patent: 4975805 (1990-12-01), Schmutzler
patent: 4985870 (1991-01-01), Faraci
patent: 5014982 (1991-05-01), Okada et al.
patent: 5092799 (1992-03-01), Kimura
patent: 5114157 (1992-05-01), Kita
patent: 5192082 (1993-03-01), Inoue et al.
patent: 527329
Cuneo Kamand
Dinh Tuan
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
LandOfFree
Game machine apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Game machine apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Game machine apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2969541