GAME CONTROLLER AND GAME SYSTEM

• US 20080311989A1
• Filed: 08/14/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ikeda, Akio
• Granted Patent: US 8,409,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera

Abstract

A first control unit includes a first operation data generation section for generating first operation data in accordance with a motion of a first control unit body included in the first control unit. A second control unit includes a second operation data generation section for generating second operation data in accordance with a direction input operation performed by a player. Further, one of the first control unit and the second control unit includes a transmission section for transmitting the first operation data and the second operation data to a computer at a predetermined timing.

Claims

1. A game controller for transmitting operation data to a computer executing a game program, the game controller comprising:

a first control unit;

a second control unit;

a flexible cable for electrically connecting between the first control unit and the second control unit,

the first control unit including a first operation data generation section for generating first operation data in accordance with a motion of a first control unit body included in the first control unit;

the second control unit including a second operation data generation section for generating second operation data in accordance with a direction input operation performed by a player; and

one of the first control unit and the second control unit further i including a transmission section for transmitting the first operation data and the second operation data to the computer at a predetermined timing.

2. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the first operation data generation section includes an image pickup section, fixed to the first control unit body, for taking an image of a periphery along a predetermined direction from the first control unit body, and outputs, as the first operation data, one selected from the group consisting of an image taken by the image pickup section and a result of subjecting the image taken by the image pickup section to a predetermined calculation.

3. The game controller according to claim 2, wherein the first operation data generation section further includes a positional information calculation section for calculating positional information indicating a position, in the image taken by the image pickup section, of at least one marker image which is included in the taken image and is used as an imaging target, when performing the predetermined calculation, and outputting the positional information as the first operation data.

4. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the transmission section wirelessly transmits the first operation data and the second operation data to the computer.

5. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the first operation data generation section has one of an acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor included in the first control unit body, and outputs data generated by the one of the acceleration sensor and the gyro sensor as the first operation data.

6. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

the cable is detachably connected to at least the first control unit, and

the transmission section is included in the first control unit.

7. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the transmission section collects and transmits to the computer the first operation data and the second operation data at intervals shorter than 1/60 second.

8. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the second operation data generation section includes a stick which has a tip projecting from a second control unit body included in the second control unit and is inclinable on the second control unit body, and outputs data obtained in accordance with an inclining direction of the stick as the second operation data.

9. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the second operation data generation section includes an operation button which has operation portions representing at least four directions and which is able to be pushed, by the operation portions, into a second control unit body included in the second control unit, and outputs, as the second operation data, data corresponding to the operation portion at which the operation button is pushed.

10. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the second operation data generation section includes a sliding member which has a top surface exposed from a second control unit body included in the second control unit and which is horizontally movable on the second control unit body, and outputs data obtained in accordance with a horizontal moving direction of the sliding member as the second operation data.

11. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the second operation data generation section includes a touch pad on an outer surface of a second control unit body included in the second control unit and outputs, as the second operation data, data obtained in accordance with a position on the touch pad at which the touch pad is touched.

12. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the second operation data generation section includes at least four operation buttons which are able to be pushed into a second control unit body included in the second control unit, and outputs data obtained in accordance with the pushed operation button as the second operation data.

13-27. -27. (canceled)