Education and demonstration – Vehicle operator instruction or testing – Bicycle or motorcycle
Patent
1997-02-03
2000-02-29
Cheng, Joe H.
Education and demonstration
Vehicle operator instruction or testing
Bicycle or motorcycle
G09B 904
Patent
active
060302232
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an operating device for a simulation type game machine that is played with a screen image controlled by a computer projected on a display. To be more specific, the present invention relates to an operating device for a motorcycle simulation apparatus in which the operating device, shaped to resemble a motorcycle, is provided in front of the display and images projected on the display are changed by operations performed by the operator while sitting astride the operating device in a posture similar to that adopted when riding a motorcycle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Simulation type game machines that employ computer screen images include motorcycle simulation apparatuses. In such motorcycle simulation apparatuses, points are won by controlling a motorcycle in a racing scene projected on a display by operating an operating device provided in front of the display. Operating devices for such motorcycle simulation apparatuses include those that employ simple input devices such as levers or buttons but those that are shaped to resemble a motorcycle are particularly popular because they create a sense of reality.
Such operating devices in the shape of a motorcycle in the known art include those disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication Nos. 1989/214385 and 1992/22383. In these operating devices in the prior art, a motorcycle-shaped vehicle body is supported on a base provided on the floor in such a manner that the vehicle body can incline to the left and right with a handlebar provided as an integral part of the vehicle body. With such an operating device in the prior art, by operating a throttle grip and a brake lever at the ends of the handlebar, the speed at which the view to the front of the motorcycle projected on the display moves is controlled, and by inclining the entire vehicle body to the left and right, the direction in which the motorcycle advances on the display is controlled.
However, in the prior art technology described above, since the handlebar is provided as an integral part of the vehicle body, which inclines to the left and right, it is not possible for the operator, who sits astride the vehicle body, to perform operation with his feet off the floor or the base and on the footstools provided on the vehicle body. In other words, when operating an operating device in which the handlebar is provided as an integral part of the vehicle body, if the operator has his feet off the floor or the base, on the footstools, the entire weight of the operator is on the vehicle body. When the operator has all his weight on the vehicle body, once the vehicle body is inclined, it is difficult to restore it to the original, vertical state by pulling up the vehicle body. Because of this, when operating this type of operating device, the operator leaves both his feet on the floor or the base, and when the vehicle body is inclined, he pulls the vehicle body up to the vertical state by bracing with his feet against the floor or the base.
However, when actually riding a motorcycle, the rider places his feet on the footstools provided on the vehicle body of the motorcycle, not on the ground. Thus, performing operation on an operating device in the prior art described above with the feet placed on the floor or the base is totally different from the feel of riding a real motorcycle and detracts from the feel of the game.
In addition, in the operating device in the prior art, a support shaft is provided parallel to the floor surface at a position close to the floor to support the lower portion of the vehicle body in such a manner that the vehicle body can pivot freely thereupon when the vehicle body is inclined to the left or right. Because of this, when the vehicle body is inclined, the head of the operator moves to the left or right, in effect, pivoting on the supporting shaft and becoming greatly misaligned from the center of the display provided in front of the vehicle body, making it difficult to see the image on the display.
Furthermore, when a
REFERENCES:
patent: 4887967 (1989-12-01), Letovsky et al.
patent: 5240417 (1993-08-01), Smithson et al.
patent: 5364271 (1994-11-01), Aknin et al.
patent: 5547382 (1996-08-01), Yamasaki et al.
Cheng Joe H.
Sega
LandOfFree
Operating device for motorcycle simulation 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 Operating device for motorcycle simulation apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Operating device for motorcycle simulation apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-677244