Computer with pressure-sensitive means, method of computer having a pressure-sensitive means and vibration means, method of using the same and recording medium for the method

• US 20010008849A1
• Filed: 01/10/2001
• Published: 07/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Komata, Nobuhiro
• Application Number:
  US09/757,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20010008849A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/008 with a haptic or a tactile feedback controlled by electrical means, e.g. a motor or magnetofriction
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/008 Video game
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/078 Variable resistance by variable contact area or point

Abstract

A method and computer to provide control of vibrations of a controller used in video game machines provided with the controller. The method uses a computer having two or more controllers each of which has a pressure-sensitive unit and a vibration unit. Based on the output value from the pressure-sensitive unit of one of the controllers, vibration is caused in the vibration unit of the other controller, and based on the output value from the pressure-sensitive unit of the other controller, vibration is caused in the vibration unit of the first one of the controllers.

Claims

1. A recording medium on which is recorded a computer-readable and executable program that performs processing by taking as instructions an output from a controller which has pressure-sensitive means and vibration means, wherein

said software program comprises:

a processing program that, depending on the output of said controller, causes vibrations in the vibration means of said controller or another controller.

2. The recording medium according to

claim 1

, wherein a frequency of said vibrations varies depending on the rate of change per unit time of a value of the output of said controller.

3. A method of using a computer having two or more controllers each having pressure-sensitive means and vibration means, the method comprising:

causing vibration in the vibration means of another of said controllers based on an output value from the pressure-sensitive means of one of said controllers, and

causing vibration in the vibration means of said one of said controllers based on the output value from the pressure-sensitive means of another of said controllers.

4. The method of using a computer according to

claim 3

, wherein

in said step of causing vibration in vibration means based on the output value from said pressure-sensitive means,

a magnitude of said vibration is determined depending on a magnitude of said output value.

5. The method of using a computer according to

claim 3

, wherein a frequency of said vibration varies depending on the rate of change per unit time of the output value of one of said controllers.

6. A computer having two or more controllers each having pressure-sensitive means and vibration means, the computer comprising:

means for, based on an output value from the pressure-sensitive means of one of said controllers, causing vibration in the vibration means of another of said controllers, and

means for, based on the output value from the pressure-sensitive means of another of said controllers, causing vibration in the vibration means of said one of said controllers.

7. The computer according to

claim 6

, wherein

said means of causing vibration in vibration means based on the output value from said pressure-sensitive means includes means of determining the magnitude of said vibration depending on the magnitude of said output value.