Education and demonstration – Vehicle operator instruction or testing
Patent
1997-02-14
1999-02-09
Richman, Glenn
Education and demonstration
Vehicle operator instruction or testing
434 62, G09B 900
Patent
active
058685731
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to controllers for computer games or computerised vehicle simulated activities, more particularly, to controllers for computer games which are more realistic in their operation.
In computer games which simulate high speed or racing cars, a picture of a race track or road appears on a video display or monitor screen and operation from the controller can affect the speed, steering and behaviour of a vehicle driving down the track or road--simulating this effect on the screen. Therefore, if the game's controls can feel like the controls of a real vehicle, the more realistic the games can appear to be.
We have now invented a more realistic controller for use in computer games simulating these vehicle controls.
According to the invention there is provided a simulated steering mechanism for use with a computer controlled game, which steering mechanism comprises a wheel, or the equivalent, connected to a shaft rotatably mounted in bearings, there being a flexible connection between the shaft and a fixed point, whereby when the shaft is rotated, resistance to such rotation is induced by the flexible connection and forces are generated in a direction so as to return the said wheel or its equivalent to the starting position, there being the means whereby the rotation of the wheel, or equivalent, can correspondingly affect the output of a control processing unit connected thereto, which can control an image on a video display screen.
Preferably, the flexible connection is in the form of elastomeric material which, when the shaft is rotated, stretches either longitudinally or torsionally to return the wheel to its starting position.
In one embodiment, an elastomeric tube surrounds the shaft and is connected to the shaft by one or more fixed points at one end and the other end is fixed, so rotation of the shaft causes torsion effects in the elastomeric tube. This embodiment has a realistic feel, as the further the wheel is turned the greater the resistance to further turning and the stronger the force returning it to its starting point; this action simulates the behaviour of actual vehicles.
The phrase "wheel or equivalent", includes steering wheels of the type used in any vehicle and devices such as steering bars or sections of wheels and any other construction in which steering is simulated by rotation of a shaft.
The connection to the processing unit or module which controls the image on the screen can be of any conventional type; for example there can be a potentiometer coupled to the shaft whereby rotation of the shaft controls the output of the potentiometer which is then fed to the control unit by a cable. There can also be other potentiometers or other means of sensing rotation of the shaft which control ancillary equipment for creating realism.
A feature of the device of the invention is that the steering wheel or its equivalent is caused to return to what is substantially, its starting position and which should correspond to the wheels of a vehicle in a game controlled by the device pointing straight ahead i.e. the steering wheel is self centring.
In racing cars with semi-automatic gear boxes, gear changing can be controlled by a bar or lever mounted behind the steering wheel whereby gear changing is operated by the driver's hands whilst he is steering the car. Conventionally, movement of the bar or lever on one side changes gears upwards and movement of the other side will cause a gear change downwards. Such a simulated gear change can be incorporated in the device of the present invention and we have devised an improved fixing for such a simulated gear change which can also be used for controlling acceleration and/or braking.
The fixing can comprise two switches mounted either side of the shaft and lever, which is mounted centrally about the shaft, acts on either switch. The lever is mounted with a spring washer which holds the lever apart from the switches. Either side of the lever can be depressed to operate the switch individually or both sides depressed to operate the switches tog
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Ball Roger Graham
Kerby Robert Anthony
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