Operation controlling device and video processing system used therewith

• US 6,001,015 A
• Filed: 09/24/1996
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Koshima, Kazuo, Nishiumi, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Application Number:
  US08/719,019
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 345/156, 345/161, 345/162
• US Class Current: 463/38
• 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 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/525 Changing parameters of virtual cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• 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 2300/643 : by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 : for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6653 : for altering the visibility of an object, e.g. preventing the occlusion of an object, partially hiding an object
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 : for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 : Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8035 : Virtual fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/807 : Role playing or strategy games
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/0474 : characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04748 : Position sensor for rotary movement, e.g. potentiometer
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04759 : Light-sensitive detector, e.g. photoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 : with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 : the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/20 : using active fault-masking, e.g. by switching out faulty elements or by switching in spare elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 : Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/015 : Force feedback applied to a joystick
• 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 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 : Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 : Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/10 : Geometric effects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 : Perspective computation

Abstract

A video processing system is described including a video processing device which generates a sequence of video display frames on a display unit under the control of a stored program, and a unique operation controlling device which is connected to the video processing device and which supplies signals in response to an operator'"'"'s manipulation, to change the video data generated by the video processing device. The video processing device includes a replaceable program memory, first data receiving circuitry, a central processing unit, first data sending circuitry and a video signal generation circuitry. The operation controlling device may include various operation controlling buttons, switches, an operation member, rotor bodies, rotation detection mechanisms, counting circuitry, reset signal generation circuitry, second receiving circuitry, transfer circuitry and second sending circuitry. Advantageously, the operation controlling mechanism may be utilized to permit user control of a displayed object via said operation member and at the same time independently control movement of another displayed object via control switches protruding from the operation controlling mechanism housing.

Claims

1. A video processing system having a video processing device which generates a video signal to be displayed on a display unit in accordance with a stored videographics program, and an operation controlling device which is connected, in use, to said video processing device and which supplies signals resulting in changes to video data generated by a video processing device, said video processing device including

a program memory for storing a videographics program,

first receiving circuitry for receiving data generated by said operation controlling device,

a central processing unit for generating command data in accordance with said stored videographics program and generating video data in accordance with said program and data received by said first receiving circuitry,

first sending circuitry for transmitting command data generated by said central processing unit to said operation controlling device, and

video signal generation circuitry for generating said video signal for displaying a video image on said display unit according to the video data from said central processing unit, and

said operation controlling device including

an operation member which, in use, is tilted by the operator within a desired range and which is supported such that it stops at a desired position when not being manipulated by the operator,

rotor bodies which rotate according to the amount of tilt of said operation member,

a rotation detector which detects the rotated condition of said rotor bodies,

counting circuitry for maintaining the count values related to the rotation amounts of said rotor bodies which are detected by said rotation detector,

reset signal generation circuitry for generating reset signals to reset the count values of said counting circuitry,

second receiving circuitry for receiving the command data transmitted from said first sending circuitry,

transfer circuitry for transferring count value data which have been counted by said counting circuitry in response to said second receiving circuitry having received said command data, and

second sending circuitry for sending the count value data output by the said transfer circuitry to said video processing device.

2. The image processing system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said command data includes reset command data, and

said reset signal generation circuitry generates reset signals in response to said receiving circuitry receiving reset command data.

3. An operation controlling device which is connected, in use, to a video processing device which generates video data to be displayed on a display unit in accordance with a stored program and which responds to an operator'"'"'s manipulations to provide changes to displayed video data, said operation controlling device comprising:

an operation member which, in use, is tilted by an operator within a desired range and is supported such that it stops at a desired position when not being manipulated by the operator,

rotor bodies which rotate according to the amount of tilt of said operation member,

rotation detectors which detect the rotated condition of said rotor bodies,

counting circuitry for maintaining count values related to rotation amounts of the rotor bodies which are detected by said rotation detectors,

reset signal generation circuitry for generating reset signals to reset the count values of said counting circuitry, and

data transfer circuitry for transferring the count values which have been counted by said counting circuitry to said video processing device,

wherein said reset signal generation circuitry generates reset signals which reset the count values of said counting circuitry in response to a reset signal from said video processing device, and

wherein said reset signal from said video processing device is generated by said video processing device under the control of said stored program.

4. An operation controlling device which is connected, in use, to a video processing device which generates video data to be displayed on a display unit in accordance with a stored program and which responds to an operator'"'"'s manipulations to provide changes to displayed video data, said operation controlling device comprising:

an operation member which, in use, is tilted by an operator within a desired range and is supported such that it stops at a desired position when not being manipulated by the operator,

rotor bodies which rotate according to the amount of tilt of said operation member,

rotation detectors which detect the rotated condition of said rotor bodies,

counting circuitry for maintaining count values related to rotation amounts of the rotor bodies which are detected by said rotation detectors,

reset signal generation circuitry for generating reset signals to reset the count values of said counting circuitry,

data transfer circuitry for transferring the count values which have been counted by said counting circuitry to said video processing device, and

a plurality of switches which generate electrical signals when pressed by an operator, and wherein said reset signal generation circuitry generates said reset signal in response to a signal from said plurality of switches, and

wherein said reset signal generation circuitry resets the count values of said counting circuitry when said plurality of switches are simultaneously pressed.

5. An operation controlling device which is connected, in use, to a video processing device which generates video data to be displayed on a display unit in accordance with a stored program and which responds to an operator'"'"'s manipulations to provide changes to displayed video data, said operation controlling device comprising:

an operation member which, in use, is tilted by an operator within a desired range and is supported such that it stops at a desired position when not being manipulated by the operator,

rotor bodies which rotate according to the amount of tilt of said operation member,

rotation detectors which detect the rotated condition of said rotor bodies, counting circuitry for maintaining count values related to rotation amounts of the rotor bodies which are detected by said rotation detectors,

reset signal generation circuitry for generating reset signals to reset the count values of said counting circuitry, and

data transfer circuitry for transferring the count values which have been counted by said counting circuitry to said video processing device,

wherein said rotor bodies include

a first rotor body for detecting the tilt of the operation member in the direction of the X axis, and

a second rotor body for detecting the tilt of the operation member in the direction of the Y axis, said rotation detectors including;

a first rotation detector which detects the rotation of said first rotor body, and

a second rotation detector which detects the rotation of said second rotor body, said counting circuitry including a first counter which counts the rotation amount of the rotor body which is detected by said first rotation detector and

a second counter which counts the rotation amount of the rotor body which is detected by said second rotation detector, and

wherein said reset signal generation circuitry generates reset signals which are coupled to said first counter and said second counter.

6. An operation controlling device which is connected, in use, to a video processing device which generates video data to be displayed on a display unit in accordance with a stored program and a operator'"'"'s manipulations of said operation controlling device, said operation controlling device comprising:

an operation member which, in use, is tilted by an operator within a desired range and is supported such that it stops at a desired position when not being manipulated by the operator to thereby define an operation member point of origin, said operation member being operable to generate operation member position data for controlling movement of a displayed object along any one of a substantially continuous range of angular directions with respect to a coordinate reference frame defined by said point of origin;

a directional switch for generating data for controlling movement of a displayed object in at least a plurality of directions, and

reset signal generation circuitry for resetting said point of origin.

7. An operation controlling device which is connected, in use, to a video processing device which venerates video data to be displayed on a display unit in accordance with a stored program and which responds to an operator'"'"'s manipulations of said operation controlling device, said operation controlling device comprising:

an operation member which, in use, is tilted by an operator within a desired range and is supported such that it stops at a desired position when not being manipulated by the operator to thereby define an operation member point of origin, said operation member being operable to generate operation member position data for controlling movement of a displayed object along any one of a substantially continuous range of angular directions with respect to a coordinate reference frame defined by said point of origin;

processing circuitry for receiving at least one command from said video processing device and for transferring operation member position data to said video processing device in response to said command, and

reset signal generation circuitry for resetting said point of origin.

8. For use with a video game system console having a game program executing processing system including a main microprocessor and a coprocessor, coupled to said main microprocessor, for cooperating with said main microprocessor to execute said video game program and at least one player controller operable by a player to generate video game control signals and including command processing circuitry, said at least one player controller having a joystick biased in a first orientation defining a point of origin;

a portable storage device for controlling the operation of said video game system console comprising;

a memory medium for storing video game instructions and graphics data;

means for coupling said video game instructions and said graphics data retrieved from said memory medium to said video game system console;

said video game instructions including at least one player controller instruction for causing said game program executing processing system to send a command to said player controller to enable said point of origin to be changed.