Electronic game controller

• US 5,232,223 A
• Filed: 03/24/1992
• Issued: 08/03/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Larry Dornbusch
• Original Assignee: Larry Dornbusch
• Inventors: Dornbusch, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US07/856,576
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 B, 273/438, 340/709, 43/1, 43/4, 43/18.1, 43/17
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/818 Fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8035 Virtual fishing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks

Abstract

An electronic game controller enables a game player to play a fishing game and to control an electronic game device. The electronic game controller resembles an actual rod and reel. The reel includes an electronic circuit for sensing pushbutton switches which are depressed by the game player during game play and for sensing position sensing switches which are activated by the position in which the game controller is held. The reel also includes a crank which controls the switching of an optical switch. These features provide an electronic game controller which responds to actual fishing movements typically made during an actual fishing episode such as casting the line and reeling in the line in various directions to avoid natural obstacles.

Claims

1. An electronic controller for controlling a fishing simulation video game comprising:

a game player positionable means for responding to movements of a game player;

a plurality of operator accessible control switch means mounted on said positionable means for generating first signals in response to direct physical contact by the same player;

a plurality of position sensing means mounted on said positionable means for generating a second signals in response to the position of the positionable means;

rotational switch means mounted on said positionable means for generating third signals in response to rotational motion generated by the game player; and

an interface means for generating game device control signals in response to said first signals, said second signals and said third signals.

2. The electronic game controller of claim 1 wherein said plurality of position sensing means comprises a mercury switch means for sensing the position of the positionable means.

3. The electronic game controller of claim 1 wherein said positionable means resembles a fishing rod handle having a fishing reel housing attached thereto.

4. The electronic game controller of claim 2 wherein said mercury switch means includes a mounting means having a plurality of mercury switches attached thereto, said mounting means being disposed inside said positionable means.

5. The electronic game controller of claim 4 wherein a first mercury switch of said plurality of mercury switches is attached to said mounting means so that said first mercury switch is closed when the positionable means is in a first position.

6. The electronic game controller of claim 5 wherein said first position is a left position.

7. The electronic game controller of claim 5 wherein a second mercury switch of said plurality of mercury switches is attached to said mounting means so that said second mercury switch is closed when the positionable means is in a second position.

8. The electronic game controller of claim 7 wherein said second position is a right position.

9. The electronic game controller of claim 7 wherein a third mercury switch of said plurality of mercury switches is attached to said mounting means so that said third switch is closed when the positionable means is in a first casting position.

10. The electronic game controller of claim 9 wherein a fourth and a fifth mercury switch of said plurality of mercury switches are attached to said mounting means so that said fourth and said fifth mercury switches are closed when the positionable means is in a second casting position.

11. The electronic game controller of claim 1 wherein said rotational switch means includes;

an optical switch having an optical sensor and an optical source spaced apart;

a disk having a plurality of opaque sections and a plurality of transparent sections wherein rotation of the disk alternatingly places said opaque sections and said transparent sections between said optical sensor and said optical source;

a crank coupled to said disk so that rotation of said crank causes said disk to rotate; and

a timer means coupled to said optical switch for generating pulse signals in response to said optical switch.

12. An electronic game controller for controlling an electronic game device operating in accordance with a fishing simulation game, said electronic game controller comprising:

interface means for generating an electronic game device control signal for controlling the electronic game device;

rotational switch means for transmitting signals to said interface means representing rotational motion of said rotational switch means supplied by a game player;

operator accessible control switch means for transmitting signals to said interface means representing direct physical contact by the game player; and

position sensing means coupled to said interface means for sensing the position of said electronic game controller.

13. The electronic game controller of claim 12 wherein said position sensing means comprises at least one position sensing switch means, said at least one position sensing switch means includes a first position switch means for sensing a first casting position of the electronic game controller.

14. The electronic game controller of claim 13 wherein said at least one position sensing switch means includes a second position switch means for sensing a second position of the electronic game controller.

15. The electronic game controller of claim 14 wherein the second position is a second casting position.

16. The electronic game controller of claim 15, wherein said at least one position sensing switch means includes a third position switch means for sensing a left position of the electronic game controller.

17. The electronic game controller of claim 12 wherein said rotational switch means includes;

an optical switch having an optical sensor and an optical source spaced apart;

a rotatable disk having a plurality of holes along the periphery of said disk, said disk positioned with respect to said optical switch to position the periphery of the disk between said optical sensor and said optical source;

a crank coupled to said rotatable disk to cause said disk to rotate; and

a timer means coupled to said optical switch for generating a pulse signal in response to the closing of said optical switch.

18. The electronic game controller of claim 12 wherein said rotational switch means is connected to said interface means through at least one position sensing switch means of said position sensing means.