STEERING WHEEL-SHAPED JOYSTICK FOR ARCADE GAME MACHINE

• US 20080220868A1
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Games System Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: International Games System Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: HUANG, HSIN-WEI, CHI, CHENG-YUAN
• Granted Patent: US 7,997,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/38
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• 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 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

A steering wheel-shaped joystick of an arcade game machine is provided. The steering wheel-shaped joystick is rotated to generate a direction signal and send it to the arcade game machine. The steering wheel-shaped joystick includes a plurality of rods which are radiantly distributed, and includes at least one button at the end of the rods. The button is used to generate a function signal and send it to the arcade game machine so as to control ship-related electronic games of the arcade game machine.

Claims

1. A steering wheel-shaped joystick for an arcade game machine, comprising a plurality of rods which are radiantly distributed and at least one button positioned at the end of at least one rod of the rods, and wherein the steering wheel-shaped joystick is rotated to generate a direction signal and send it to the arcade game machine and the button is used to generate a direction signal and send it to the arcade game machine.

2. The steering wheel-shaped joystick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the direction signal further includes a left-side signal and a right-side signal, and the left-side signal is generated when the steering wheel-shaped joystick is counterclockwise rotated, and the right-side signal is generated when the steering wheel-shaped joystick is clockwise rotated.

3. The steering wheel-shaped joystick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steering wheel-shaped joystick including at least 6 rods.

4. The steering wheel-shaped joystick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steering wheel-shaped joystick further at least one ring-shaped frame so as to connect the rods which are radiantly distributed.

5. The steering wheel-shaped joystick as claimed in claim 1, wherein two buttons are respectively positioned at the ends of the two rods.

6. The steering wheel-shaped joystick as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the buttons is used to generate a left-side shooting function signal and the other of the buttons is used to generate a right-side shooting function signal, and wherein a middle area shooting function signal is generated when both of the buttons are activated simultaneously.

7. The steering wheel-shaped joystick as claimed in claim 1, wherein a central button is positioned at the center of the steering wheel-shaped joystick and used to generate a special function signal.

8. The steering wheel-shaped joystick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arcade game machine is used to deal with the ship-related electronic games and displays images of the ship-related electronic games.

9. The steering wheel-shaped joystick as claimed in claim 8, wherein the direction signals and the function signals are transmitted from the steering wheel-shaped joystick to the arcade game machine, and the software of the electronic game can contribute to control the ship of the electronic game.

10. The steering wheel-shaped joystick as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arcade game machine further includes a feedback system, and the feedback system comprising:

an electrical motor, used to generate power;

a first transmission wheel, fixedly positioned at the end of spindle of the electrical motor;

a second transmission wheel, fixedly positioned at the center of the steering wheel-shaped joystick; and

a transmission belt, used to connect the first transmission wheel and the second transmission wheel so as to convey power,

wherein responsive to certain event happens in the electronic game, a driving signal is generated to drive the electrical motor to rotate back and forth, and the power generated by the electrical motor is conveyed to the steering wheel-shaped joystick through the first transmission wheel, the transmission belt and the second transmission wheel so the steering wheel-shaped joystick is forced to rotate back and forth.