Flight simulation game apparatus

• US 5,947,824 A
• Filed: 11/12/1997
• Issued: 09/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Minami, Kojiro, Okita, Katsunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US08/969,021
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30, 463/31, 463/36, 463/37, 273/317.1, 273/317.2, 273/317.3, 273/317.4, 273/317.5, 273/317.6, 273/148 B, 273/358, 434/247, 434/308, 434/309, 434/30
• 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 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/52 involving aspects of the displayed game scene
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/53 involving additional visual information provided to the game scene, e.g. by overlay to simulate a head-up display [HUD] or displaying a laser sight in a shooting game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/303 for displaying additional data, e.g. simulating a Head Up Display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/08 for teaching control of aircraft, e.g. Link trainer
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/085 Special purpose teaching, e.g. alighting on water, aerial photography
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/12 Motion systems for aircraft simulators

Abstract

A flight simulation game apparatus allows a game player to simulate hang glider maneuvers through physical sensations. A control lever which can be gripped by the hands of the game player is mounted on a framework and extends in transverse directions of the frame work. The control lever can be moved in longitudinal directions of the framework by a control lever moving mechanism mounted on the framework. While in simulated flight, the game player can view at least a front simulated scene image is displayed by a display monitor. A control system vertically scrolls the front simulated scene image displayed by the display monitor in response to movement of the control lever in the longitudinal direction. The control lever moving mechanism also allows the control lever to be moved in the transverse direction and also angularly moved about a vertical axis, and the control system horizontally scrolls the displayed front simulated scene image in response to movement of the control lever in the transverse direction and angular movement of the control lever about the vertical axis.

Claims

1. A flight simulation game apparatus comprising:

a framework having transverse and longitudinal directions;

a control lever for being gripped by the hands of a game player positioned behind the control lever, said control lever being mounted on said framework and extending in the transverse direction;

a control lever moving mechanism mounted on said framework, for allowing the control lever to be moved in the longitudinal direction with respect to said framework;

a display monitor mounted on said framework, for displaying at least a front simulated scene image; and

display control means for vertically scrolling the front simulated scene image displayed by said display monitor in response to movement of said control lever in the longitudinal direction.

2. A flight simulation game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control lever moving mechanism includes a mechanism for allowing the control lever to be moved in the transverse direction, and said display control means comprises means for horizontally scrolling the front simulated scene image displayed by said display monitor in response to movement of said control lever in the transverse direction.

3. A flight simulation game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control lever moving mechanism includes a mechanism for allowing the control lever to be angularly moved about a vertical axis, and said display control means comprises means for scrolling the front simulated scene image displayed by said display monitor in response to angular movement of said control lever about said vertical axis.

14. A flight simulation game apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 4, and 9, wherein said control lever moving mechanism includes a biasing mechanism for biasing said control lever to return to a reference position.

17. A flight simulation game apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 4, and 9, wherein said display monitor comprises a display monitor for displaying said front simulated scene image in an upper screen area thereof and displaying a lower simulated scene image in a lower screen area thereof.

18. A flight simulation game apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 4, and 9, wherein said display monitor comprises a first monitor unit for displaying said front simulated scene image, said first monitor being disposed in front of said control lever and having a monitor screen facing rearwardly toward said control lever, and a second monitor unit for displaying a lower simulated scene image, said second monitor unit being disposed below said control lever and having a monitor screen facing upwardly.

4. A flight simulation game apparatus comprising:

a framework having transverse and longitudinal directions;

a body holder operatively coupled to said framework, for holding the body of a game player thereon;

a control lever for being gripped by the hands of the game player positioned behind the control lever, said control lever being mounted on said framework and extending in the transverse direction;

a body holder moving mechanism for allowing said body holder to be moved in the transverse direction with respect to said framework;

a display monitor mounted on said framework, for displaying at least a front simulated scene image; and

display control means for horizontally scrolling the front simulated scene image displayed by said display monitor in response to movement of said body holder in the transverse direction.

5. A flight simulation game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said body holder moving mechanism comprises a mechanism for allowing the body holder to be angularly moved about a vertical axis, and said display control means comprises means for scrolling the front simulated scene image displayed by said display monitor in response to angular movement of said body holder about said vertical axis.

6. A flight simulation game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said body holder includes a leg rest for placing the legs of the game player thereon, said leg rest being angularly movable about a longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction, and wherein said display control means comprises means for scrolling the front simulated scene image displayed by said display monitor in response to angular movement of said body holder about said longitudinal axis.

7. A flight simulation game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said body holder includes a leg rest for placing the legs of the game player thereon and a thigh support for supporting the thighs of the game player thereon.

8. A flight simulation game apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said leg rest is inclined downwardly in a forward direction toward said framework, and said thigh support is inclined upwardly in said forward direction.

15. A flight simulation game apparatus according to any one of claims 4, and 9, wherein said body holder moving mechanism includes a biasing mechanism for biasing said body holder to return to a reference position.

16. A flight simulation game apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said biasing mechanism comprises a mechanism for generating recovery forces against an applied angular displacement at a rate that increases in proportion to the displacement from said reference position.

9. A flight simulation game apparatus comprising:

a framework having transverse and longitudinal directions;

a body holder operatively coupled to said framework, for holding the body of a game player thereon;

a control lever for being gripped by the hands of the game player positioned behind the control lever, said control lever being mounted on said framework and extending in the transverse direction;

a body holder moving mechanism for allowing said body holder to be moved in the transverse direction with respect to said framework;

a control lever moving mechanism mounted on said framework, for allowing the control lever to be moved in the longitudinal direction with respect to said framework;

a display monitor mounted on said framework, for displaying at least a front simulated scene image; and

display control means for horizontally scrolling the front simulated scene image displayed by said display monitor in response to movement of said body holder in the transverse direction, and vertically scrolling the front simulated scene image displayed by said display monitor in response to movement of said control lever in the longitudinal direction.

10. A flight simulation game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said body holder moving mechanism comprises a mechanism for allowing the body holder to be angularly moved about a vertical axis, and said display control means comprises means for scrolling the front simulated scene image displayed by said display monitor in response to angular movement of said body holder about said vertical axis.

11. A flight simulation game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said body holder includes a leg rest for placing the legs of the game player thereon, said leg rest being angularly movable about a longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction, and wherein said display control means comprises means for scrolling the front simulated scene image displayed by said display monitor in response to angular movement of said body holder about said longitudinal axis.

12. A flight simulation game apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said body holder includes a leg rest for placing the legs of the game player thereon and a thigh support for supporting the thighs of the game player thereon.

13. A flight simulation game apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said leg rest is inclined downwardly in a forward direction toward said framework, and said thigh support is inclined upwardly in said forward direction.