Operating device for an image processing apparatus

• US 20010021668A1
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Published: 09/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Genyo Takeda, Kenichiro Ashida, Shigeru Miyamoto, Yasunari Nishida
• Original Assignee: Genyo Takeda, Kenichiro Ashida, Shigeru Miyamoto, Yasunari Nishida
• Inventors: Takeda, Genyo, Ashida, Kenichiro, Miyamoto, Shigeru, Nishida, Yasunari
• Granted Patent: US 6,461,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/38
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/0474 characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04759 Light-sensitive detector, e.g. photoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/20 using active fault-masking, e.g. by switching out faulty elements or by switching in spare elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/015 : Force feedback applied to a joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 : Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 : Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

An operating device for use with an image processing apparatus which displays an image on a display screen and controls the image includes a hand-holdable housing having a shape capable of being grasped by a left hand and a right hand. A first operating device and a second operating device are formed on the housing. One of the first operating device and the second operating device is operable for use as a first moving direction designation input device which designates a moving direction of the image and the other of the first operating device and the second operating device is operable for use as an action designation input device which designates other actions of the image. A receiving portion is operable, in use, to receive a function expansion device and a connector associated with the receiving portion connects to a function expansion device, whereby a function expansion device for providing an expanded function for the image processing apparatus is detachably attached to the connector and received by the receiving portion when attached.

Claims

1. An operating device for use with an image processing apparatus which displays an image on a display screen and controls the image, said operating device comprising:

a hand-holdable housing having a shape capable of being grasped by a left hand and a right hand;

a first operating device formed on said housing;

a second operating device formed on said housing, one of said first operating device and said second operating device being operable for use as a first moving direction designation input device which designates a moving direction of said image and the other of said first operating device and said second operating device being operable for use as an action designation input device which designates other actions of said image;

a receiving portion which is operable, in use, to receive a function expansion device; and

a connector associated with said receiving portion for connecting to a function expansion device, whereby

a function expansion device for providing an expanded function for said image processing apparatus is detachably attached to said connector and received by said receiving portion when attached.

2. The operating device according to

claim 1

, wherein said receiving portion includes an opening portion in which said function expansion device is contained.

3. The operating device according to

claim 2

, wherein said function expansion device includes a case insertable into said opening, and an electronic component contained in said case and used for providing the expanded function.

4. The operating device according to

claim 1

, wherein said function expansion device includes a case insertable into said receiving portion, and a circuit board contained in said case and provided with at least one of a read only memory and a writable memory, at least one of said read only memory and said writable memory being used as an external memory for storing auxiliary data for a game.

5. The operating device according to

claim 1

, wherein one or the other of said first and second operating devices includes a lever which can be inclined.

6. The operating device according to

claim 1

, wherein said receiving portion protrudes from a rear surface of said housing.

7. An operating device for use with an image processing apparatus which displays a game image on a display screen and controls the image, said operating device comprising:

a hand-holdable housing having a shape capable of being grasped by a left hand and a right hand;

a first operating device formed on said housing;

a second operating device formed on said housing, one of said first operating device and said second operating device being operable for use as a first moving direction designation input device which designates a moving direction of the game image and the other of said first operating device and said second operating device being operable for use as an action designation input device which designates other actions of the game image;

a receiving portion which is operable, in use, to receive a function expansion device; and

a connector associated with said receiving portion for connecting to a function expansion device, whereby

a function expansion device for providing an expanded function based on data from said image processing apparatus is detachably attached to said connector and received by said receiving portion when attached.

8. The operating device according to

claim 7

, wherein said receiving portion protrudes from a rear surface of said housing.

9. An operating device for use with a game machine which displays a game image on a display screen and controls the game image, said operating device comprising:

a hand-holdable housing;

one or more operating devices formed on said housing for designating moving directions and other actions of the game image;

a receiving portion which is operable, in use, to receive a function expansion device; and

a connector associated with said receiving portion for connecting to a function expansion device, whereby

a function expansion device comprising a memory for storing game object data for a game object of a game program executed by said game machine is detachably attached to said connector and received by said receiving portion when attached.

10. The operating device according to

claim 9

, wherein the game object data comprises racer data for a racing game program executed by said game machine.

11. An operating device for use with an image processing apparatus which displays an image on a display screen and controls the image, said operating device comprising:

a hand-holdable housing having a shape capable of being grasped by a left hand and a right hand;

a first operating device formed on said housing;

a second operating device formed on said housing, one of said first operating device and said second operating device being operable for use as a first moving direction designation input device which designates a moving direction of said image and the other of said first operating device and said second operating device being operable for use as an action designation input device which designates other actions of said image;

a receiving portion which is operable, in use, to receive a function expansion device; and

a connector associated with said receiving portion for connecting to a function expansion device, whereby

a function expansion device for providing an expanded function for said image processing apparatus is detachably attached to said connector and received by said receiving portion when attached,

wherein said receiving portion includes an opening portion in which said function expansion device is contained,

wherein said function expansion device includes a case insertable into said opening, and an electronic component contained in said case and used for providing the expanded function, and

wherein said receiving portion protrudes from a surface other than a front surface of said housing.

12. An operating device for use with an image processing apparatus which displays an image on a display screen and controls the image, said operating device comprising:

a hand-holdable housing having a shape capable of being grasped by a left hand and a right hand;

a first operating device formed on said housing;

a second operating device formed on said housing, one of said first operating device and said second operating device being operable for use as a first moving direction designation input device which designates a moving direction of said image and the other of said first operating device and said second operating device being operable for use as an action designation input device which designates other actions of said image;

a receiving portion which is operable, in use, to receive a function expansion device; and

a connector associated with said receiving portion for connecting to a function expansion device, whereby

a function expansion device for providing an expanded function for said image processing apparatus is detachably attached to said connector and received by said receiving portion when attached,

wherein said receiving portion includes an opening portion in which said function expansion device is contained,

wherein said function expansion device includes a case insertable into said opening, and an electronic component contained in said case and used for providing the expanded function, and

wherein one or the other of said first and second operating devices includes a lever which can be inclined.

13. An operating device for use with an image processing apparatus which displays a game image on a display screen and controls the image, said operating device comprising:

a hand-holdable housing having a shape capable of being grasped by a left hand and a right hand;

a first operating device formed on said housing;

a second operating device formed on said housing, one of said first operating device and said second operating device being operable for use as a first moving direction designation input device which designates a moving direction of the game image and the other of said first operating device and said second operating device being operable for use as an action designation input device which designates other actions of the game image;

a receiving portion which is operable, in use, to receive a function expansion device; and

a connector associated with said receiving portion for connecting to a function expansion device, whereby

a function expansion device for providing an expanded function based on data from said image processing apparatus is detachably attached to said connector and received by said receiving portion when attached,

wherein said receiving portion protrudes from a surface other than a front surface of said housing.

14. A function expansion device for a controller used with a game machine which displays a game image on a display screen and controls the game image, the function expansion device comprising:

a connector for connecting to said controller; and

a memory for storing game object data for a game object of a game program executed by said game machine.