Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Player-actuated control structure
Patent
1997-01-09
1999-11-16
Chiu, Raleigh W.
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Player-actuated control structure
463 37, 345161, 345156, A63F 922
Patent
active
059847859
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an operating device with an analog joystick. More specifically, the present invention relates to an operating device with an analog joystick, which is, while in use, connected to an image processor which generates image data of an image to be displayed on a monitor such as a television receiver or the like, and outputs operation signals which can modify the image data, that is, the image according to an operation by an operator.
BACKGROUND AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A conventional game machine controller 1 (first prior art controller) shown in FIG. 1 includes a rectangular housing 1a, a select switch 3 for selecting a game content, a start switch 2 for designating a start of the game, a cross direction switch 4 for designating a moving direction of a game character during the game, and two action switches 5a and 5b for selecting or designating an action of the character, all the switches being provided on an upper surface of the housing 1a. Since a processing capability (a processing capability of a CPU) of a conventional game machine was relatively low in comparison with a present game machine, it was possible to sufficiently enjoy the game with using first prior art controller 1. However, as the game content became more complex, it became impossible to sufficiently control the action of the character by using only the two action switches 5a and 5b.
Therefore, a game machine controller 1 (second prior art controller) shown in FIG. 2 has been proposed and put into practical use. In the second prior art controller 1, various kinds of switches are provided on an upper surface of a housing 1a' having a circular surface. More specifically, in the second prior art controller 1, in addition to the select switch 3, the start switch 2 and the cross direction switch 4, four action switches 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d are provided on the surface of the housing 1a', and two switches 6a and 6b are provided on a rear surface of the housing 1a' at positions that index fingers or middle fingers of both hands can reach while the palms of both hands are brought into contact with left and right side surfaces of the housing 1a'.
In the second prior art controller 1, an outer shape of the housing is designed in a manner that the side surfaces of the housing 1a' fit to the palms of both hands when grasping the housing 1a'. Accordingly, the switches can be operated without large movements of the fingers. The action switches 5c and 5d, and the left and right switches 6a and 6b are newly provided. Therefore, the operator can operate the respective switches without looking at them and then watch the screen of the monitor only. However, in a case of a game that it is required to frequently and rapidly operate a plurality of switches, there was a possibility that a positional relationship between the controller and the hands, i.e. a positional relationship between the respective switches and the fingers might change from an original positional relationship.
Therefore, a controller 1 (third prior art controller) shown in FIG. 3, in which no change occurs in the positional relationship between the controller and the hands has been proposed and put into practical use. In the third prior art controller 1, a cross direction switch 4a and action switches 5a and 5b, and a cross direction switch 4b and action switches 5c and 5d are arranged on left and right housings 1a and 1b, respectively. Furthermore, there are provided with two grips 7a and 7b extended from the housings 1a and 1b, and grooves 8a and 8b are formed on rear surfaces of the grips 7a and 7b. By firmly holding the grips 7a and 7b by inserting fingers into the grooves 8a and 8b, it is possible to securely restrict the hands of an operator, i.e. maintain the fingers at constant positions, and therefore, the respective switches can be surely operated.
On the other hand, in the prior art controllers shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, a direction signal for designating a direction that an image on the monitor is to be moved is outputte
REFERENCES:
patent: D316879 (1991-05-01), Shulman et al.
patent: D317946 (1991-07-01), Tse
patent: D357712 (1995-04-01), Wu
patent: D363092 (1995-10-01), Hung
patent: D375326 (1996-11-01), Yokoi et al.
patent: 3666900 (1972-05-01), Rothweiler et al.
patent: 3729129 (1973-04-01), Fletcher et al.
patent: 3827313 (1974-08-01), Kiessling
patent: 4161726 (1979-07-01), Burson et al.
patent: 4315113 (1982-02-01), Fisher et al.
patent: 4359222 (1982-11-01), Smith, III et al.
patent: 4469330 (1984-09-01), Asher
patent: 4538035 (1985-08-01), Pool
patent: 4552360 (1985-11-01), Bromley et al.
patent: 4575591 (1986-03-01), Lugaresi
patent: 4587510 (1986-05-01), Kim
patent: 4659313 (1987-04-01), Kuster et al.
patent: 4685678 (1987-08-01), Frederiksen
patent: 4748441 (1988-05-01), Brzezinski
patent: 4868780 (1989-09-01), Stern
patent: 4870389 (1989-09-01), Ishiwata et al.
patent: 4887230 (1989-12-01), Noguchi et al.
patent: 4887966 (1989-12-01), Gellerman
patent: 4916440 (1990-04-01), Faeser et al.
patent: 4924216 (1990-05-01), Leung
patent: 4933670 (1990-06-01), Wislocki
patent: 4974192 (1990-11-01), Face et al.
patent: 4976429 (1990-12-01), Nagel
patent: 5001632 (1991-03-01), Hall-Tipping
patent: 5012230 (1991-04-01), Yasuda
patent: 5046739 (1991-09-01), Reichow
patent: 5160918 (1992-11-01), Saposnik et al.
patent: 5203563 (1993-04-01), Loper, III
patent: 5207426 (1993-05-01), Inoue et al.
patent: 5213327 (1993-05-01), Kitaue
patent: 5237311 (1993-08-01), Mailey et al.
patent: 5245320 (1993-09-01), Bouton
patent: 5259626 (1993-11-01), Ho
patent: 5286024 (1994-02-01), Winblad
patent: 5290034 (1994-03-01), Hineman
patent: 5329276 (1994-07-01), Hirabayashi
patent: 5390937 (1995-02-01), Sakaguchi et al.
patent: 5394168 (1995-02-01), Smith, III et al.
patent: 5421590 (1995-06-01), Robbins
patent: 5436640 (1995-07-01), Reeves
patent: 5451053 (1995-09-01), Garrido
patent: 5459487 (1995-10-01), Bouton
patent: 5473325 (1995-12-01), Mcalindon
patent: 5513307 (1996-04-01), Naka et al.
patent: 5515044 (1996-05-01), Glatt
patent: 5551693 (1996-09-01), Goto et al.
patent: 5551701 (1996-09-01), Bouton et al.
patent: 5558329 (1996-09-01), Liu
patent: 5563629 (1996-10-01), Caprara
patent: 5589854 (1996-12-01), Tsai
patent: 5593350 (1997-01-01), Bouton et al.
patent: 5607157 (1997-03-01), Nagashima
patent: 5615083 (1997-03-01), Burnett
patent: 5624117 (1997-04-01), Ohkubo et al.
patent: 5632680 (1997-05-01), Chung
patent: 5640177 (1997-06-01), Hsu
patent: 5643087 (1997-07-01), Marcus et al.
patent: 5649862 (1997-07-01), Sakaguchi et al.
patent: 5653637 (1997-08-01), Tai
patent: 5663747 (1997-09-01), Shulman
patent: 5680534 (1997-10-01), Yamato et al.
patent: 5684512 (1997-11-01), Schoch et al.
patent: 5704837 (1998-01-01), Iwasaki et al.
patent: 5706029 (1998-01-01), Tai
patent: 5714981 (1998-02-01), Scott-Jackson et al.
patent: 5734373 (1998-03-01), Rosenberg et al.
patent: 5786807 (1998-07-01), Couch et al.
patent: 5793356 (1998-08-01), Svancarek et al.
patent: 5804781 (1998-09-01), Okabe
patent: 5838330 (1998-11-01), Ajima
patent: 5862229 (1999-01-01), Shimiziu
"Analog Joystick Interface Emulation Using a Digital Counter", IBM technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 37,No. 08, Aug. 1994, pp. 73-74.
"Hardware Reset With Microcode Warning Period", IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 33, No. 11, Apr. 1991, pp. 105-106.
PilotWings Instruction Booklet, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, SNS-PW-USA, copyright 1991.
PilotWings, It's a Festival of Flight, Top Secret Password Nintendo Player's Guide, pp. 82-83 and 160, copyright 1991.
PilotWings, Soar with the Flight Club, Super Nintendo Entertainment System Play's Guide, pp. 100-105, copyright 1991.
Sega Genesis 32 x Instruction Manual, Sega, Redwood city California, #672-2116 (1994).
Sega Genesis Instruction Manual, Sega, Hayward, California,#3701-926-0-01 (1994).
Sonic 2 The Hedgehog Instruction Manual, Sega, Hayward, California, #672-0944 3701-925-0-01 (1992).
Sony PlayStation Instruction Manual, and informational materials, Sony Comput
Ashida Ken'ichiro
Miyamoto Shigeru
Nishida Yasunari
Takeda Genyo
Chiu Raleigh W.
Nintendo Co. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Operating device with analog joystick 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 with analog joystick, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Operating device with analog joystick will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1317104