Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Cursor mark position control device
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2002-12-31
Chow, Dennis-Doon (Department: 2675)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Cursor mark position control device
C463S038000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06501459
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an input device for a game machine using a computer, which allows a player to enjoy a realistic game in real time on a screen of the game machine by operating a controller such as a control lever.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, game machines using computers (hereinafter referred to simply as “game machines”) have rapidly become widespread. With these game machines, a game player can enjoy a game on a display by operating various controllers, such as control keys, control buttons, and control levers, according to a game program previously stored in a computer device or input at the time of game play.
When general-purpose computers are used as game machines according to a game program previously stored or input at the time of game play, keyboards, mice, and the like are used as input devices. In most cases, game machines exclusively for games are used, and game players use input devices exclusively for games that are separate from the game machines.
A so-called stick device is an example of such input devices.
In the stick device, various types of keys, such as a control key and a selection key, and a control lever are provided on a casing substantially shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped (or a variety thereof). By being turned around the turning fulcrum, the control lever is moved in an arbitrary direction, forward, backward, rightward, and leftward, so as to continuously change the actions of persons, operation states of vehicles, and the like according to the game contents on the display.
The game player can enjoy a game projected on the display by appropriately operating various keys with fingers in accordance with the progress of the game.
The above-described stick device is provided with a mechanism for returning the control lever to the neutral point serving as the starting point when the control lever is released, whereas the load to be imposed on the control lever cannot be changed. This interferes with realism, and causes the player to have a complaint and to demand a greater level of realism.
For example, regarding a competition type game, a game using the flow of a river, and the like, there is a demand to change the load to be imposed on the control lever in order to make the games more realistic.
Furthermore, the neutral point is always fixed at a preset position in the above-described stick device, and cannot be changed to other positions.
As a result, when the control lever is moved to a position offset from the neutral point, even if the position after movement is desired to be regarded as a new neutral point and a starting point of subsequent operation, since the control lever returns, in principle, to the initially set neutral point, it is impossible to perform a more realistic operation relative to the new neutral point after lever movement.
For example, in a case in which an actual car climbs a mountain path or the like in a car rally, the load to be imposed on the car, which runs against gravity, is substantially heavier than that when running on level ground. However, since the conventional game machine is designed with no regard to this point, the game player cannot realize the difference between climbing and level running, and climbing in a game is quite different from actual climbing, which lacks realism. Accordingly, there is an increasing demand by users for more realistic games.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a controller position control method in which a game player can operate a controller, such as a control lever, in analog form according to game contents by changing the load imposed on the controller and changing the home position of the controller, so that the game player can enjoy a realistic game in real time on a display of a game machine using a computer.
In order to overcome the above problems, there is provided a game machine input device for inputting signals to a game machine using a computer, the game machine input device including a sticklike controller; a first bevel gear disposed on the side of one end of the controller; a pair of second bevel gears placed opposed to each other with teeth thereof meshed with teeth of the first bevel gear; and a pair of driving sources connected to the second bevel gears to independently turn the second bevel gears.
Preferably, the number of the teeth in the first bevel gear differs from the number of the teeth in the second bevel gears.
Preferably, the shaft of the first bevel gear is slidably supported at both ends by a pair of opposing concave faces.
Preferably, detection means are respectively provided for the pair of second bevel gears to detect the turning directions and angles of the second bevel gears.
Preferably, one or more speed reduction means are interposed between the second bevel gears and the driving sources.
Preferably, a control means is provided to control the turning directions and angles of the pair of second bevel gears based on signals output from the game machine.
In the game machine input device of the present invention, the pair of second bevel gears are independently turned by separately driving the pair of driving sources. In this case, it is possible to incline the controller centered on one end thereof in an arbitrary direction by a combination of the first bevel gear and the second bevel gears, and to change the load according to the inclination.
Since the first bevel gear and the second bevel gears are meshed, the strength of the mechanism is increased. This further strengthens the structure of the entire input device, and permits size reduction.
The controller can be inclined in the X-axis direction by driving the pair of driving sources in the same direction, and in the Y-axis direction by driving the driving sources in opposite directions. Since such driving is troublesome in an actual control, it is convenient for the driving sources to be respectively provided for inclinations in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.
However, when the driving sources are separately driven, the path of the controller is not linear because of the operation mechanism, and deviates from a straight line in accordance with the amount of inclination.
Since the number of teeth in the first bevel gear and the number of teeth in the second bevel gears are different, the path of the controller can be corrected by deviating the teeth number ratio between the first and second bevel gears from one. Therefore, it is possible to improve nonlinearity of the path of the controller when the teeth number of the first bevel gear and the teeth number of the second bevel gears are the same.
Since the shaft of the first bevel gear is slidably supported at both ends by a pair of opposing concave faces, the turning fulcrum of the controller coincides with the center points of the pair of concave faces when the first bevel gear and the pair of second bevel gears are turned, and the turning fulcrum of the controller is prevented from being displaced.
Since detection means are respectively provided for the pair of second bevel gears to detect the turning directions and angles of the second bevel gears, it is possible to independently detect the turning directions and angles of the second bevel gears.
Since one or more speed reduction means are interposed between the second bevel gears and the driving sources, it is possible to increase the driving force applied from the driving sources, and to thereby produce a desired operating force by a small driving source.
Since the control means is provided to control the turning directions and angles of the pair of second bevel gears based on signals output from the game machine, it is possible to change the load to be imposed on the controller according to the game contents displayed on the display of the game machine. Therefore, the sensations of operating the controller becomes closer to actual sensations, and the player can enjo
Inamura Junichi
Sato Masa-aki
Takigawa Makito
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Awad Amr
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Chow Dennis-Doon
LandOfFree
Input device for game machine, and method of controlling... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Input device for game machine, and method of controlling..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Input device for game machine, and method of controlling... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2987682