INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION STORING MEDIUM AND PROGRAM THEREOF, AND OPERATING DDEVICE FOR GAME MACHINE

• US 20020155868A1
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Published: 10/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Sasamoto, Shin?apos;ichi, Koshiishi, Kazunori, Koshima, Kazuo, Nagaoka, Tomotsugu
• Granted Patent: US 7,040,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/06 using player-operated means for controlling the position of a specific area display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/355 Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• 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 2300/538 for performing operations on behalf of the game client, e.g. rendering
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a controller (1), and a game machine (2) to which the controller (1) is connected, and from at least one of a plurality of switches provided on the controller (1), a digital output or an analog output is obtained in accordance with an operating state of the switches thereof. A CPU of the game machine (2) carries out a first processing operation of game information in response to the analog output, and also carries out a second processing operation associated with the first processing operation in response to the digital output.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus provided with an operating means, a processing means which carries out a processing operation based on operating information from the operating means, and an image signal outputting means which outputs image data generated by the processing means to a display means as an image signal, wherein

said operating means includes an analog operating means and a digital switch arranged to be turned on in association with an operation of the analog operating means, and

said processing means includes first processing means which carries out a first processing operation based on operating information of said analog operating means and second processing means for carrying out a second processing operation associated with said first processing operation based on on/off information of said digital switch.

2. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said digital switch is arranged to be turned on when an operating amount of said analog operating means becomes a maximum or approximately maximum.

3. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said processing means carries out a game processing.

4. An information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said digital switch includes a click sensation generating means which generates a click sensation when being rendered an on state.

5. An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

said first processing means carries out a processing operation according to an operating amount of said analog operating means, and

said second processing means carries out a processing operation corresponding to the processing operation of said first processing means when the operating amount of said analog operating means is maximum.

6. An information processing apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein

said processing means further includes

a candidate storing means for storing candidates of said second processing operation,

a selecting means for selecting a processing operation from said candidate storing means, and

a second process setting means for setting a processing operation selected by said selecting means as a second processing operation.

7. An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

said first processing means includes a measuring means which accumulatively measures an operating amount of said analog operating means, and

said second processing means changes a processing amount in accordance with the operating amount measured by said measuring means.

8. An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

said first processing means includes an operating speed calculating means which calculates an operating speed of said analog operating means, and

said second processing means changes a processing amount in accordance with the operating speed calculated by said operating speed calculating means prior to an on-operation of said digital switch.

9. An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

said first processing means carries out a processing operation to store an operating position of said analog operating means prior to an on-operation of said digital switch, and

said second processing means changes a processing content in accordance with the operating position of said analog operating means stored by said first processing means.

10. An information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein

said first processing means is to carry out a processing operation that successively displays a predetermined action of a character, and

said second processing means carries out a processing operation that causes said character to perform a succeeding action in conjunction with said predetermined action.

11. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first processing means successively displays said predetermined movement in accordance with an operating amount of said analog operating means.

12. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, wherein

said operating means further includes a movement operating means for designating a movement of said character to move,

said processing means further includes a movement controlling means to control a movement of said character based on operating information of said movement operating means, and

said movement controlling means suppresses a movement amount of said character when said first processing means displays a progressing state of said predetermined action.

13. An information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

said processing means further includes a non-player character controlling means to control a non-player character not operated by a player, and

said succeeding action by said second processing means is a movement which affects said non-player character, and

said non-player character controlling means displays said non-player character in accordance with a display of a progressing state of said predetermined action by said first processing means.

15. An information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said processing means executes a predetermined processing operation when a history of a detecting output of said state detecting means becomes a predetermined pattern.

18. An information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein

said first program includes a program which carries out a processing operation in accordance with an operating amount of said analog operating means,

said second program includes a program which carries out a processing operation according to a process carried out by said first program when the operating amount of said analog operating means is maximum.

19. A program according to claim 17, wherein

said first program includes a measuring program which accumulatively measures the operating amount of said analog operating means, and

said second program includes a first changing program which changes a processing amount in accordance with the operating amount measured by said measuring program.

20. A program according to claim 17, wherein

said first program includes an operating speed calculating program which calculates an operating speed of said analog operating means, and

said second program includes a second changing program which causes the processing amount to change in accordance with the operating speed calculated by said operating speed calculating program prior to an on-operation of said digital switch.

21. A program according to claim 17, wherein

said first program includes an operating position storing program which stores an operating position of said analog operating means prior to an on-operation of said digital switch, and

said second program includes a third changing program which causes the processing amount to change in accordance with an operating position of said analog operating means stored by said operating position storing program.

14. An information processing apparatus provided with an operating means, a processing means which carries out a processing operation based on operating information from the operating means, and an image signal outputting means which outputs image data generated by the processing means to a display means as an image signal, wherein

said operating means includes an analog operating means and a digital switch arranged to be turned on when an operating amount of the analog operating means becomes a maximum,

said processing means includes a state detecting means which detect any one of a first state in which said digital switch is turned on, a second state in which an operating amount of said analog operating means is zero, and a third state in which said digital switch is turned off and the operating amount of said analog operating means is not zero, and carries out different processes according to an output of the state detecting means.

16. An information storing medium used for an information processing apparatus provided with an operating means including an analog operating means and a digital switch arranged to be turned on in conjunction with an operation of the analog operating means, a processing means which carries out a processing operation based on operating information from the operating means, and an image signal outputting means which outputs image data generated by the processing means to a display means as an image signal, comprising:

a first program for carrying out a first processing operation based on the operating information of said analog operating means; and

a second program for carrying out a second processing operation in association with said first process based on on/off information of said digital switch.

17. A program which is executed by an information processing apparatus provided with an operating means including an analog operating means and a digital switch arranged to be turned on in conjunction with an operation of the analog operating means, a processing means which carries out a processing operation based on operating information from the operating means, and an image signal outputting means which outputs image data generated by the processing means to a display means as an image signal, comprising:

a first program for carrying out a first processing operation based on the operating information of said analog operating means; and

a second program for carrying out a second processing operation in association with said first process based on on/off information of said digital switch.

22. A program according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein

said first program includes a program which carries out a processing operation to successively display a predetermined action of a character, and

said second program includes a program which causes said character to carry out a succeeding action in conjunction with said predetermined action.

25. An operating device for game machine according to claim 24, wherein

said main switch has a shape formed to be circular,

said sub-switch is arranged on a concentric circle centering said main switch.

26. An operating device for game machine according to claim 24 or 25, wherein

said first sub-switch is arranged on a first axis which slants a longitudinal axis of said housing passing a center of said main switch toward a center of the housing by a predetermined degree.

27. An operating device for game machine according to claim 26, wherein said second sub-switch and said third sub-switch are arranged at a symmetric position with respect to said first axis.

29. An operating device for game machine according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein said housing includes a grip which protrudes toward a direction approximately parallel from a lower portion of said main switch to said first axis, and has a shape to be gripped by a palm of the one hand of a player.

23. A program which is executed by an information processing apparatus provided with an operating means including an analog operating means and a digital switch arranged to be turned on when an operating amount of the analog operating means become maximum, a processing means which carries out a process based on operating information from the operating means, and an image signal outputting means which outputs image data generated by the processing means to a display means as an image signal, comprising:

a state detecting program which detects any one of a first state in which said digital switch is turned on, a second state in which an operating amount of said analog operating means is zero, or a third state in which said digital switch is turned off and the operating amount of said analog operating means is not zero, wherein said processing means carries out different processes according to a state detected by the state detecting program.

24. An operating device for game machine for instructing an action of a character appearing in a game, comprising:

a housing;

a main switch arranged in a vicinity of one side surface on one main surface of said housing and in a vicinity of a thumb finger of one hand holding the housing; and

a plurality of sub-switches arranged to be circumferentially distributed around the main switch in an area excluding a lower area of said main switch and within an area that the thumb finger is movable, wherein

said plurality of sub-switches are constituted to include a first sub-switch arranged at an upper area of said main switch, a second sub-switch arranged at a left area of the main switch, and a third sub-switch arranged at a right area of the main switch, and each of which has a shape smaller than a shape of the main switch.

30. An operating device for game machine according to any one of claims 24 to 28, wherein said first sub-switch has a key top thereof formed higher than a key top of said main switch.

31. An operating device for game machine according to any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein a sub-switch arranged to be closer to a center side of said housing than said main switch out of a second sub-switch and a third sub-switch has a key top thereof formed lower than a key top of said main switch.

32. An operating device for game machine according to any one of claims 24 to 31, wherein said sub-switch has a shape expanding along an outer periphery of the shape of said main switch.

33. An operating device for game machine according to any one of claims 24 to 32, further comprising a direction designating operating portion which is arranged in a vicinity of another side surface on one main surface of said housing and in a vicinity of a position of a thumb finger of another hand holding the housing, and designates a direction of a moving direction of a character appearing in a game.

35. An operating device for game machine according to claim 33, wherein

said main switch has a shape formed to be circular, and

said plurality of sub-switches are arranged on a concentric circle centering said main switch, and in addition, have a shape extending to a circumferential direction of the concentric circle.

28. An operating device for game machine for instructing an action of a character appearing in a game, comprising:

a housing;

a main switch arranged in a vicinity of one side surface on one main surface of said housing and in a vicinity of a thumb finger of one hand holding the housing; and

a first sub-switch which is arranged in an upper portion area of said main switch on a first axis which slants a longitudinal axis of said housing passing a center of said main switch toward a center of the housing, and has a shape smaller than a shape of the main switch.

34. An operating device for game machine for instructing an action of a character appearing in a game, comprising:

a housing in an oblong shape;

a main switch arranged in a vicinity of one side surface on one main surface of said housing and in a vicinity of a thumb finger of one hand holding the housing; and

a plurality of sub-switches arranged to be circumferentially distributed around the main switch in an area excluding a lower area of said main switch within an area that the thumb finger is movable, wherein

said plurality of sub-switches are constituted to include a first sub-switch arranged at an upper portion area of said main switch, a second sub-switch arranged at a left side area of the main switch, and a third sub-switch arranged at a right side area of the main switch, and in addition, each of which has a shape smaller than a shape of the main switch, and

said first sub-switch is arranged on a first axis which slants a longitudinal axis of said housing passing a center of said main switch toward a center of the housing by a predetermined degree.