Game machine controller

• US 10,046,233 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
• Inventors: Tachibana, Tatsunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Eric M
• Application Number:
  US11/474,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20070021210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,432 Days
• Field of Search: 463 1, 463 2, 463 36, 463 37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

A game machine controller includes: an exterior portion formed in the shape of a gun; a trigger which is formed in the form of a part protruding from the exterior portion; a signal output device which outputs a shooting input signal in response to the operation of the trigger by a player; a transmission interface which transmits the shooting input signal output from the signal output device; and a direction sensor which is provided within the exterior portion, and which detects the direction of the exterior portion. The signal output device transmits a direction detection signal to the mobile game machine via the transmission interface based upon the direction detected by the direction sensor, which allows a CPU to create game image data used for instructing a display monitor to display a new game image.

Claims

1. A game controller for controlling a game machine including a CPU for creating game image data, and a display monitor for displaying a game image including three-dimensional image data based upon the game image data created by the CPU, said game controller comprising:

an exterior portion formed in the shape of a gun;

a trigger provided in the form of a part that protrudes from said exterior portion, which can be operated by a player;

a signal output device which outputs a shooting input signal in response to the operation of said trigger by said player;

a transmission interface which transmits the shooting input signal output from said signal output device;

a direction sensor which detects a direction of said exterior portion; and

a locking mechanism which fixes the game machine to a predetermined position,

wherein said signal output device transmits a direction detection signal, which allows new game image data in which the three-dimensional image data are changed to be displayed in the display monitor, to said game machine via said transmission interface based upon a change of the direction detected by said direction sensor, and

wherein said locking mechanism is configured so as to mount a game cartridge which stores a game program that is to be executed by said game machine, which can be inserted into an insertion opening provided to said game machine, and which can be fitted to said exterior portion.

3. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein said locking mechanism is provided to said exterior portion, and includes a holding portion having a holding member for holding said game machine,

and wherein said holding member allows said game machine to be held with said game cartridge having been inserted into said insertion portion.

4. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional image data include at least one of stage image data including data arranged in a three-dimensional space and target image data.

5. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the CPU of the game machine determines a direction of a line of sight from a given point of view in a virtual three-dimensional space based on a direction obtained from the direction detection signal received from the game controller, and generates the game image data corresponding to an image obtained by projecting an object viewed from the point of view onto a plane.

2. A game controller for controlling a game machine including a CPU for creating game image data, and a display monitor for displaying a game image including three-dimensional image data based upon the game image data created by the CPU, said game controller comprising:

an exterior portion formed in the shape of a gun;

a trigger provided in the form of a part that protrudes from said exterior portion, which can be operated by a player;

a signal output device which outputs a shooting input signal in response to the operation of said trigger by said player;

a transmission interface which transmits the shooting input signal that is output from said signal output device;

an acceleration sensor which detects an acceleration of said exterior portion; and

a locking mechanism which fixes the game machine to a predetermined position,

wherein said signal output device transmits an acceleration detection signal, which allows new game image data in which the three-dimensional image data are changed to be displayed in the display monitor, to said game machine via said transmission interface based upon a change of the acceleration detected by said acceleration sensor, and

wherein said locking mechanism is configured so as to mount a game cartridge which stores a game program that is to be executed by said game machine, which can be inserted into an insertion opening provided to said game machine, and which can be fitted to said exterior portion.

6. A game system comprising:

a game machine including a CPU for creating game image data, and a display monitor for displaying a game image including three-dimensional image data based upon the game image data created by the CPU; and

a game controller for controlling the game machine,

wherein the game controller comprising;

an exterior portion;

an operation unit provided in the exterior portion, which can be operated by a player;

a signal output device which outputs an input signal in response to an operation of the operation unit by the player;

a transmission interface which transmits the input signal output from the signal output device;

a direction sensor which detects a direction of the exterior portion; and

a locking mechanism which fixes the game machine to a predetermined position,

wherein the signal output device transmits a direction detection signal, which allows new game image data in which the three-dimensional image data are changed to be displayed in the display monitor, to the game machine via the transmission interface based upon a change of the direction detected by the direction sensor,

wherein the CPU determines a direction of a line of sight from a given point of view in a virtual three-dimensional space based on a direction obtained from the direction detection signal received from the game controller, and generates the game image data corresponding to an image obtained by projecting an object viewed from the point of view onto a plane, and

wherein said locking mechanism is configured so as to mount a game cartridge which stores a game program that is to be executed by said game machine, which can be inserted into an insertion opening provided to said game machine, and which can be fitted to said exterior portion.

7. A game machine controlled by a game controller including an operation unit which can be operated by a player, a signal output device which outputs an input signal in response to an operation of the operation unit by the player, and a transmission interface which transmits the input signal output from the signal output device, the game machine comprising:

a CPU which creates game image data; and

a display monitor which displays a game image including three-dimensional image data based upon the game image data created by the CPU,

wherein the game controller further includes a direction sensor which detects a direction of the game controller, and transmits a direction detection signal, which allows new game image data in which the three-dimensional image data are changed to be displayed in the display monitor, to the game machine via the transmission interface based upon a change of the direction detected by the direction sensor, and a locking mechanism which fixes the game machine to a predetermined position,

wherein said locking mechanism is configured so as to mount a game cartridge which stores a game program that is to be executed by said game machine, which can be inserted into an insertion opening provided to said game machine, and which can be fitted to said exterior portion, and

wherein the CPU determines a direction of a line of sight from a given point of view in a virtual three-dimensional space based on a direction obtained from the direction detection signal received from the game controller, and generates the game image data corresponding to an image obtained by projecting an object viewed from the point of view onto a plane.

8. A game controller for controlling a mobile game machine including a memory for storing game image data, a CPU for creating the game image data from the memory, and a display monitor for displaying a game image including three-dimensional image data based upon the game image data created by the CPU, the game controller comprising:

an exterior portion formed in the shape of a gun;

a trigger provided in the form of a part that protrudes from the exterior portion, which can be operated by a player;

a signal output device which outputs a shooting input signal in response to an operation of the trigger by the player to the mobile gaming machine;

a transmission interface which transmits the shooting input signal output from the signal output device;

a direction sensor which detects a direction of the exterior portion; and

a locking mechanism which fixes the mobile game machine that is provided in a separate unit from the game controller to a predetermined position,

wherein the direction sensor detects the direction of the exterior portion which changes according to a movement of the player holding the game controller to which the mobile game machine is fixed, and

wherein the signal output device transmits to the game machine a direction detection signal which allows new game image data, in which the three-dimensional image data are changed based upon a change of the direction detected by the direction sensor, to be displayed in the display monitor of the game machine via the transmission interface.

9. The game controller according to claim 8, wherein the mobile game machine further includes an operation unit which outputs an operation signal in response to an operation by the player,

wherein the CPU of the mobile game machine creates the game image data stored in the memory in accordance with at least one of the direction detection signal, the shooting input signal, and the operation signal from the game controller, and displays the game image data in the display monitor.

10. A game system comprising:

a mobile game machine comprising

a memory which stores game image data,

a CPU which creates the game image data from the memory,

a display monitor which displays a game image including three-dimensional image data based upon the game image data created by the CPU,

an operation unit which outputs an operation signal in response to an operation by a player; and

a game controller that is provided in a separate unit from the mobile game machine, the game controller comprising,

an exterior portion,

a direction sensor which detects a direction of the exterior portion, and

a transmission interface which transmits a direction detection signal detected by the direction sensor to the mobile game machine,

wherein the game controller fixes the mobile game machine to a predetermined position of exterior portion,

wherein the game controller detects, by the direction sensor, the direction of the exterior portion which changes according to a movement of the player holding the game controller to which the mobile game machine is fixed, and transmits, by the transmission interface, to the game machine a direction detection signal which allows new game image data, in which the three-dimensional image data are changed based upon a change of the direction detected by the direction sensor, to be displayed in the display monitor of the game machine, and

wherein the mobile game machine creates the game image data stored in the memory in accordance with at least one of the direction detection signal from the game controller and the operation signal from the operation unit of the mobile game machine, and displays the game image data in the display monitor.

11. A game system comprising:

a memory which stores game image data;

a CPU which creates the game image data from the memory;

a display monitor which displays a game image including three-dimensional image data based upon the game image data created by the CPU;

a first game controller which outputs an operation signal in response to an operation by a player; and

a second game controller which is different from the first game controller, and includes a direction sensor which detects a direction that changes according to a movement of the player holding the second game controller to output a direction detection signal,

wherein the CPU displays in the display monitor new game image data in which the three-dimensional image data are changed based upon a change of the direction detected by the direction sensor, and creates the game image data stored in the memory in accordance with at least one of the operation signal from the first game controller and the direction detection signal from the second game controller, and displays the game image data in the display monitor.

12. A game controller for controlling a mobile game machine including a memory for storing game image data including a target image at which a player is to aim and a shooting sight image used for aiming at the target image, a CPU for creating the game image data from the memory, and a display monitor for displaying a game image including three-dimensional image data based upon the game image data created by the CPU, the game controller comprising:

an exterior portion formed in the shape of a gun;

a trigger provided in the form of a part that protrudes from the exterior portion, which can be operated by a player;

a signal output device which outputs a shooting input signal in response to an operation of the trigger by the player;

a transmission interface which transmits the shooting input signal output from the signal output device to the mobile game machine;

a direction sensor which detects a direction of the exterior portion; and

a locking mechanism which fixes the mobile game machine that is provided in a separate unit from the game controller to a predetermined position,

wherein the direction sensor detects the direction of the exterior portion which changes according to a movement of the player holding the game controller to which the mobile game machine is fixed, and

wherein the signal output device transmits to the game machine a direction detection signal which allows new game image data, in which the three-dimensional image data are changed based upon a change of the direction detected by the direction sensor, to be displayed in the display monitor of the game machine via the transmission interface so that the shooting sight image aligns with the target image in the display monitor.