Strain gauge pressure-sensitive video game control

• US 5,116,051 A
• Filed: 06/08/1990
• Issued: 05/26/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warner Bros Entertainment Incorporated (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Atari Incorporated (Infogrames Entertainment SA)
• Inventors: Moncrief, Rick L., Durfey, Erik J., Behensky, Max L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Theatrice
• Assistant Examiner(s): HARRISON, JESSICA
• Application Number:
  US07/536,045
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 B, 273/148 R, 273/438, 434/62, 434/64, 434/65, 434/66, 434/71, 434/20, 434/69, 434/45, 434/53, 434/38, 272/129, 73/1 B, 73/766, 73/765, 73/763, 73/132, 324/130, 188/266, 330/304, 330/306, 74/512, 74/513, 74/514
• US Class Current: 463/36
• 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 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

A pressure-sensitive control device for a simulated vehicle in a video game or simulator. In the preferred embodiment a brake pedal control device is implemented having a strain gauge which senses the strain in the material of the brake pedal. This strain is amplified by a differential amplifier having a self-adjusting input circuit with a long time constant which causes any variations in the input voltage not due to changing strain on the brake pedal to be applied to both inputs of a differential amplifier in common mode, thereby cancelling the effect thereof. Only voltage differences resulting from variations in the strain on the brake pedal are amplified by the differential amplifier and output for use by the video game or simulator.

Claims

1. An apparatus for simulating the feel of a real control device for a real vehicle and generating an output signal, said apparatus comprising:

means for displaying to an operator a simulated environment in which a simulated vehicle moves;

simulated control device means for simulating the feel of a real control device for a real vehicle and generating an output signal, said simulated control device means being in contact with a mechanical structure including a multistage force simulator means for applying forces to said simulated control device means to simulate the real forces that would resist movement of said real control device, said multistage force simulator means including at least a first elastic means for providing a first level of resistance to movement of said simulated control device means in a first range of movement to simulate a first range of movement inherent in a real control device and a second elastic means for providing a second level of resistance to movement of said simulated control device means which is greater than said first level of resistance to movement, said second level of resistance acting upon said simulated control device means only after said simulated control device means is moved to a predetermined position beyond said first range of movement by force applied to said simulated control device means;

strain gauge means mounted on said simulated control device means for sensing the amount of strain in said simulated control device means resulting from forces placed upon said simulated control device means by said operator of said simulated vehicle in response to stimuli in said simulated environment displayed to said operator, wherein an electrical parameter of said strain gauge means varies with the amount of said strain; and

amplifier means coupled to said strain gauge means for sensing a change in said electrical parameter of said strain gauge means and for generating an output signal indicative of said change in said electrical parameter which is thereby indicative of the amount of force placed on said simulated control device means by said operator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said amplifier means further comprises filter means for preventing changing conditions acting upon said amplifier means and having a duration or period longer than a predetermined time constant, such as changing temperatures or changing supply voltage, from affecting the output signal of the amplifier thereby insuring that changes in the output signal of the amplifier are caused substantially only by changes in the strain sensed b said strain gauge means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said amplifier means comprises a field effect transistor input stage differential amplifier.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said output signal of said amplifier means causes said means for displaying to alter a display to show effects of said amount of strain in said simulated control device on said simulated vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said multistage force simulator means is a two stage force simulator means.

6. An apparatus for simulating the feel of a real control device for a real vehicle and generating an output signal, said apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a simulated environment and a simulated vehicle in said simulated environment to an operator;

simulated control device means for simulating the feel of a real control device for a real vehicle and generating an output signal and connected to a mechanical structure including a multistage force simulator means for applying forces to said simulated control device means to simulate the real forces that would resist movement of said real control device, including a first level of resistance to movement in a first range of movement and a second level of resistance to movement which is substantially greater than said first level of resistance to movement, said second level of resistance acting upon said simulated control device means only after said simulated control device means is moved to a predetermined position beyond said first range of movement by force applied to said simulated control device means;

strain gauge means mounted on said simulated control device means for sensing the amount of strain in said simulated control device means resulting from forces placed upon said simulated control device means by said operator of said simulated vehicle in response to stimuli in said simulated environment displayed to said operator, wherein an electrical parameter of said strain gauge means varies with the amount of said strain; and

amplifier means coupled to said strain gauge means for sensing a change in said electrical parameter of said strain gauge means and for generating an output signal indicative of said change in said electrical parameter which is thereby indicative of the amount of force placed on said simulated control device means by said operator,

wherein said amplifier means further comprises filter means for preventing changing conditions acting upon said amplifier means and having a duration or period longer than a predetermined time constant, such as changing temperatures or changing supply voltage, from affecting the output signal of the amplifier thereby insuring that changes in the output signal of the amplifier are caused substantially only by changes in the strain sensed by said strain gauge means,

wherein said amplifier means comprises a field effect transistor input stage differential amplifier, and

wherein said filter means includes a resistor-capacitor combination which has a time constant which is substantially greater than the average duration or period of those changes in said electrical parameter of said strain gauge means which result from pressure put on said control device means by an operator of said simulated vehicle, said resistor-capacitor combination being coupled to said differential amplifier in such a way that changes in said electrical parameter of said strain gauge means having a period or duration longer than said time constant act on the inputs of said differential amplifier in common mode and do not cause changes in said output signal from said differential amplifier whereas changes in said electrical parameter of said strain gauge means having a duration or period shorter than said time constant act on the inputs of said differential amplifier in differential mode and are amplified thereby creating an automatic, continuously operating compensation network to cause said differential amplifier to amplify only those voltage changes which have a sufficiently short duration.

7. A video game control comprising:

means for displaying a simulated vehicle in a simulated environment;

a control device upon which force may be applied, said control device including means for counteracting said applied force, said counteracting means allowing said control device to be displaced a distance in accordance PG,28 with a first function when said applied force is within a known range and allowing said control device to be displaced a distance in accordance with a second function when said applied force exceeds said range;

means for reading the strain induced in said control device by said force and for generating a signal indicative of the level of strain for use by said means for displaying in controlling the movements of said simulated vehicle in said simulated environment, said means for reading including a strain gauge coupled through a compensation network to a differential amplifier having an inverting input and a noninverting input, said compensation network including filter means for automatically and continuously preventing voltage changes having a duration longer than a predetermined interval from reaching the inputs of said differential amplifier, but for allowing voltage changes having a duration shorter than a predetermined interval to be amplified.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said differential amplifier includes a field effect transistor input stage, and wherein said strain gauge is affixed to said control device in a location such that strain induced in said control device alters the electrical characteristics of said strain gauge.

9. A video game control comprising:

means for displaying a simulated vehicle in a simulated environment;

a control device upon which force may be applied, said control device including means for counteracting said applied force, said counteracting means allowing said control device to be displaced a distance in accordance with a first function when said applied force is within a known range and allowing said control device to be displaced a distance in accordance with a second function when said applied force exceeds said range;

means for reading the strain induced in said control device by said force and for generating a signal indicative of the level of strain for use by said means for displaying in controlling the movements of said simulated vehicle in said simulated environment, said means for reading including a strain gauge coupled through a compensation network to a differential amplifier having an inverting input and a noninverting input, said compensation network including filter means for automatically and continuously preventing voltage changes having a duration longer than a predetermined interval from reaching the inputs of said differential amplifier, but for allowing voltage changes having a duration shorter than a predetermined interval to be amplified,

wherein said differential amplifier includes a field effect transistor input stage, and wherein said strain gauge is affixed to said control device in a location such that strain induced in said control device alters the electrical characteristics of said strain gauge, and

wherein said filter means includes a resistor-capacitor network having an RC time constant substantially longer than the average periods of those voltage changes due to the application of force to said control device by a player, said resistor-capacitor network comprising a resistor and a capacitor having a common first node coupled to one of said inverting or noninverting inputs of said differential amplifier, and wherein said strain gauge comprises a resistor which changes resistance in response to strain induced in said control device by forces exerted by said player, said filter means further including a voltage divider comprised of a fixed resistor in series with said strain gauge, said fixed resistor having a first terminal for coupling to a voltage source and having a second terminal coupled to said strain gauge and to said resistor in said resistor-capacitor network and to the input of said differential amplifier which is not coupled to said common first node between said resistor and said capacitor of said resistor-capacitor network thereby creating said compensation network which applies voltage changes at said second terminal of a duration shorter than said RC time constant differentially to said inverting and noninverting inputs and amplifies them, but which applies long term changes of voltage at said second terminal having a duration longer than said RC time constant to both the inverting and noninverting inputs in common mode thereby preventing such long term changes from being amplified.

10. A video game control comprising:

a control device upon which force may be applied;

means for reading the strain induced in said control device by said force and for generating a signal indicative of the level of strain for use by said means for displaying in controlling the movements of said simulated vehicle in said simulated environment, said means for reading including a strain gauge coupled through a compensation network to a differential amplifier having an inverting input and a noninverting input, said compensation network including filter means for automatically and continuously preventing voltage changes having a duration longer than a predetermined interval from reaching the inputs of said differential amplifier, but for allowing voltage changes having a duration shorter than a predetermined interval to be amplified,

wherein said differential amplifier includes a field effect transistor input stage, and wherein said strain gauge is affixed to said control device in a location such that strain induced in said control device alters the electrical characteristics of said strain gauge, and

wherein said filter means includes a resistor-capacitor network having an RC time constant substantially longer than the average periods of those voltage changes due to the application of force to said control device by a player, said resistor-capacitor network comprising a resistor and a capacitor having a common first node coupled to one of said inverting or noninverting inputs of said differential amplifier, and wherein said strain gauge comprises a resistor which changes resistance in response to strain induced in said control device by forces exerted by said player, said filter means further including a voltage divider comprised of a fixed resistor in series with said strain gauge, said fixed resistor having a first terminal for coupling to a voltage source and having a second terminal coupled to said strain gauge and to said resistor in said resistor-capacitor network and to the input of said differential amplifier which is not coupled to said common first node between said resistor and said capacitor of said resistor-capacitor network thereby creating said compensation network which applies voltage changes at said second terminal of a duration shorter than said RC time constant differentially to said inverting and noninverting inputs and amplifies them, but which applies long term changes of voltage at said second terminal having a duration longer than said RC time constant to both the inverting and noninverting inputs in common mode thereby preventing such long term changes from being amplified; and

wherein said capacitor is a low leakage tantalum capacitor coupled between said noninverting input and a reference voltage source so as to maintain the voltage of a second node coupled both to said noninverting input and to said inverting input at an average long term voltage which can vary slowly with changing conditions if the changing conditions change over an interval longer than said RC time constant, said average long term voltage being applied to both said inverting and noninverting inputs in common mode and wherein said strain gauge and said resistor of said RC network are coupled to said capacitor such that strain induced in said control device causes voltages to be developed across said resistor of said resistor-capacitor combination which vary the voltage at said second node such that a voltage change dependent upon said strain having a duration or period smaller than said RC time constant is applied differentially to said inverting terminal relative to said noninverting terminal and is thereby amplified.

11. An apparatus for sensing the amount of pressure placed upon a simulated brake pedal for a simulated vehicle, comprising:

means including a display for displaying said simulated vehicle in a simulated environment;

a simulated brake pedal including a lever arm for receiving an applied force and means for counteracting said applied force, said counteracting means allowing said lever arm to be displaced a distance in accordance with a first function when said applied force is within a known range and allowing said lever arm to be displaced a distance in accordance with a second function when said applied force exceeds said range;

a strain gauge coupled to said simulated brake pedal in a position such that strain in said lever arm of said brake pedal will affect electrical characteristics of said strain gauge;

an amplifier coupled to said strain gauge and including an automatic, continuously operating compensation network which prevents substantially all events other than changes in the strain of said brake pedal from affecting the output of said amplifier, said output of said amplifier causing a change in movement of said simulated vehicle displayed in said simulated environment by said display in response to a change in strain in said brake pedal.

12. An apparatus for sensing the amount of pressure placed upon a simulated brake pedal of a simulated vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

means including a display for displaying said simulated vehicle in a simulated environment;

a simulated brake pedal including a lever arm movement of which is resisted by a resilient structure;

a strain gauge coupled to said simulated brake pedal in a position such that strain in said lever arm of said brake pedal will affect electrical characteristics of said strain gauge;

an amplifier coupled to said strain gauge,

wherein said simulated brake pedal is mounted so as to be movable and includes a multistage resistance means for resisting movement of said simulated brake pedal in at least two stages, said multistage resistance means including at least a first elastic means for providing a first level of resistance to movement of said simulated brake pedal in a first range of movement to simulate a first range of movement inherent in a real brake pedal of a vehicle and a second elastic means for providing a second level of resistance to movement of said simulated brake pedal which is substantially greater than said first level of resistance to movement, said second level of resistance acting upon said simulated brake pedal only after said simulated brake pedal is moved to a predetermined position beyond said first range of movement by force applied to said simulated brake pedal.

13. An apparatus for sensing the amount of pressure placed upon a simulated brake pedal for a simulated vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

means including a display for displaying said simulated vehicle in a simulated environment;

a simulated brake pedal including a lever arm for receiving an applied force and means for counteracting said applied force, said counteracting means allowing said lever arm to be displaced a distance in accordance with a first function when said applied force is within a known range and allowing said lever arm to be displaced a distance in accordance with a second function when said applied force exceeds said range;

a strain gauge coupled to said simulated brake pedal in a position such that strain in said lever arm of said brake pedal will affect electrical characteristics of said strain gauge; and

an amplifier coupled to said strain gauge, wherein said brake pedal is immovable other than to undergo strain when force is applied to said brake pedal.

14. A control device for a video game comprising:

means including a display for displaying a simulated vehicle in a simulated environment;

a simulated brake pedal including a lever arm for receiving an applied force and means for counteracting said applied force, said counteracting means allowing said lever arm to be displaced a distance in accordance with a first function when said applied force is within a known range and allowing said lever arm to be displaced a distance in accordance with a second function when said applied force exceeds said range;

a strain gauge coupled to said simulated brake pedal in a position such that strain in said lever arm of said b rake pedal will affect the electrical characteristics of said strain gauge;

an amplifier; and

a high pass filter means for continuously coupling said strain gauge to said amplifier such that substantially only signals caused by application of momentary force to said simulated brake pedal are amplified by said amplifier.

15. An apparatus for simulating the feel of a real control device for a real vehicle and generating an output signal, said apparatus comprising:

means for displaying a simulated environment and a simulated vehicle in said simulated environment to an operator;

simulated control device means for simulating the feel of a real control device for a real vehicle and generating an output signal, said simulated control device means being in contact with a mechanical structure including a multistage force simulator means for applying forces to said simulated control device means to simulate the real forces that would resist movement of said real control device, said multistage force simulator means including at least a first elastic means for providing a first level of resistance to movement of said simulated control device means in a first range of movement to simulate a first range of movement inherent in a real control device and a second elastic means for providing a second level of resistance to movement of said simulated control device means which is greater than said first level of resistance to movement, said second level of resistance acting upon said simulated control device means only after said simulated control device means is moved to a predetermined position beyond said first range of movement by force applied to said simulated control device means;

strain gauge means mounted on said simulated control device means for sensing the amount of strain in said simulated control device means resulting from forces placed upon said simulated control device means by said operator of said simulated vehicle in response to stimuli in said simulated environment displayed to said operator, wherein an electrical parameter of said strain gauge means varies with the amount of strain; and

amplifier means coupled to said strain gauge means for sensing a change in said electrical parameter of said strain gauge means and for generating an output signal indicative of said change in said electrical parameter which is thereby indicative of the amount of force placed on said simulated control device means by said operator,

wherein said amplifier means further comprises filter means for preventing changing conditions acting upon said amplifier means and having a duration or period longer than a predetermined time constant, such as changing temperatures or changing supply voltage, from affecting the output signal of the amplifier thereby insuring that changes in the output signal of the amplifier are caused substantially only by changes in the strain sensed by said strain gauge means,

wherein said amplifier means comprises a field effect transistor input stage differential amplifier, and

wherein said filter means includes a resistor-capacitor combination which has a time constant which is substantially greater than the average duration or period of those changes in said electrical parameter of said strain gauge means which result from pressure put on said control device means by an operator of said simulated vehicle, said resistor-capacitor combination being coupled to said differential amplifier in such a way that changes in said electrical parameter of said strain gauge means having a period or duration longer than said time constant act on the inputs of said differential amplifier in common mode and do not cause changes in said output signal from said differential amplifier whereas changes in said electrical parameter of said strain gauge means having a duration or period shorter than said time constant act on the inputs of said differential amplifier in differential mode and are amplified thereby creating an automatic, continuously operating compensation network to cause said differential amplifier to amplify only those voltage changes which have a sufficiently short duration.

16. An apparatus for simulating the feel of a real control device of a real vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a display;

a simulated control device;

a lever arm connected to said simulated control device;

a connecting rod coupled to said lever arm;

a first elastic material coupled to said connecting rod to resist movement of said simulated control device over a first range of movement;

a second elastic material coupled to said connecting rod to resist movement of said control device over a second range of movement such that said control device becomes harder to move as it is moved beyond said first range of movement;

a strain gauge mechanically coupled to said simulated control device to sense strain in said lever arm;

an amplifier coupled to said strain gauge so as to generate an output signal proportional to the strain in said control device;

a computer coupled to receive said output signal and coupled to said display, said computer programmed to display on said display an environment in which said simulated vehicle moves and programmed to alter the display of said environment in response to said output signal so as to display the effects on said simulated vehicle'"'"'s movement in said environment of application of force to said simulated control device.

17. Apparatus of claim 16 further wherein said amplifier includes a resistor-capacitor circuit to prevent changing conditions, such as changing temperatures or changing supply voltage, acting upon said amplifier which have a duration or period longer than a predetermined time constant from affecting the output signal of said amplifier.

18. An apparatus for sensing the amount of pressure placed upon a simulated control device for a simulated vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

a display;

a simulated control device, said control device including means for counteracting said applied force, said counteracting means allowing said control device to be displaced a distance in accordance with a first function when said applied force is within a known range and allowing said control device to be displaced a distance in accordance with a second function when said applied force exceeds said range;

a strain gauge mechanically coupled to said simulated control device such that strain in said simulated control device affects the electrical characteristics of said strain gauge;

an amplifier coupled to said strain gauge so as to generate an output signal based upon the level of strain;

wherein said simulated control device is immovable other than to undergo strain when force is applied to said simulated control device; and

a computer coupled to receive said output signal and coupled to said display, said computer programmed to display on said display an environment in which said simulated vehicle moves and programmed to alter the display of said environment in response to said output signal so as to display the effects on said simulated vehicle'"'"'s movement in said environment of application of force to said simulated control device.