Multi-connection device for use in game apparatus

• US 5,607,157 A
• Filed: 02/27/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Inventors: Nagashima, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US08/351,244
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 B, 273/438, 345/162, 345/156, 463/36-39
• US Class Current: 273/148.00B
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0382 Plural input, i.e. interface arrangements in which a plurality of input device of the same type are in communication with a PC
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A multi-connection device for use in a game apparatus for outputting data from a plurality of input means to the body of the game apparatus is provided. The multi-connection device is connected to respective input means 20, and comprises a plurality of input connections 32a-32d for inputting data from the input means 20, an output connection for outputting the data to the game console 10, and a control unit for sequentially reading the data from the input means 20 connected to the plural input connections 32a-32d and outputting at the output connection 20 the read data to the game console 10. The multi-connection device can simultaneously connect a larger number of input means than a number of input means directly to the game console without burdening the game apparatus with more data processing, and is very effective as an adaptor for use in a game apparatus.

Claims

1. A multi-connection device connectable as a peripheral unit to a game apparatus, said multi-connection device comprising:

a plurality of input connections respectively connected to input means;

an output connection connected to a body of the game apparatus for outputting data to the game apparatus body;

a control unit for sequentially reading data from the input means connected to the plural input connections, and outputting the read data to the game apparatus body at the output connection;

the control unit including a storing unit for storing the data of the plural input means sequentially read from the plural input means, the control unit outputting at the output connection the data of the plural input means stored by the storing unit, the control unit receiving a read instruction from the game apparatus through the output connection at predetermined intervals, and supplying, in response to the read instruction from the game apparatus, the data of the plural input means stored by the storing unit to the game apparatus through the output connection.

2. A multi-connection device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a selection operation unit having a separate selection state which is selective of associated ones of the plural input connections;

the control unit connecting, when the separate selection state is selected, the input connection selected by the selection operating unit to the output connection.

3. A multi-connection device for use in a game device according to claim 2, wherein

the selection operating unit has a multi-selective state which is selective of the plural input connections;

the control unit outputs, when the multi-selective state is selected, at once at the output connection the data of the plural input means stored by the storing unit.