Sliding simulator and game apparatus using the same

• US 6,022,272 A
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Namco Limited (BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Sano, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/979,845
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 463/6-7, 463/30-32, 463/36, 434/247, 434/253, 434/307 R, 482/1-9, 482/51, 482/70-71, 482/79, 482/901, 482/902, 273/440-441, 273/445, 273/449, 273/460, 273/461, 364/410.1, 700/90
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/028 made of material having high internal friction, e.g. rubber, steel wool, intended to be compressed resistance provided by plastic deformable materials A63B21/00189
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/18 for skiing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 13/807 Gliding or sliding on surfaces, e.g. using skis, skates or boards
• 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 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• 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 2300/8041 Skating using skis, skates or board
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 having computer circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/902 Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

A sliding simulator includes swinging member. The swinging member is swung right and left by a player standing thereon. A swing sensor senses swing movement of the swinging member. An image generating unit generates an image in response to a signal sensed by the swing sensor. The image is displayed on a display.

Claims

1. A sliding simulator comprising:

a swinging member, said swinging member being swung right and left by a player standing thereon;

a swing sensor for sensing swing movement of said swinging member;

an image generating unit for generating an image in response to a signal sensed by said swing sensor; and

a display for displaying said image.

2. A game apparatus comprising said sliding simulator of claim 1 for playing a skiing game.

3. The sliding simulator of claim 1, wherein said image is a three-dimensional image.

4. A game apparatus comprising said sliding simulator of claim 3 for playing a skiing game.

5. The sliding simulator of claim 1, wherein said swinging member has a pair of steps and an edging sensor, each of said steps being designed for said player'"'"'s standing thereon with each of the player'"'"'s feet, each of said steps being rotatably supported along an axis extending behind and in front of said player, said edging sensor sensing an inclination angle of said steps, wherein a signal sensed by said edging sensor is inputted into said image generating unit and used as part of information for generating said image.

6. The sliding simulator of claim 5, wherein said edging sensor comprises a rotating type variable resistor.

7. The sliding simulator of claim 5, wherein said image is a three-dimensional image.

8. A game apparatus comprising said sliding simulator of claim 7 for playing a skiing game.

9. The sliding simulator of claim 5, further comprising a support means grasped by said player to support the player'"'"'s body with the player'"'"'s hands.

10. The sliding simulator of claim 9, wherein said image is a three-dimensional image.

11. A game apparatus comprising said sliding simulator of claim 10 for playing a skiing game.

12. The sliding simulator of claim 5, wherein said steps are interlocked to be made parallel.

13. The sliding simulator of claim 12, wherein said image is a three-dimensional image.

14. A game apparatus comprising said sliding simulator of claim 13 for playing a skiing game.

15. The sliding simulator of claim 12, further comprising a support means grasped by said player to support the player'"'"'s body with the player'"'"'s hands.

16. A game apparatus comprising said sliding simulator of claim 15 for playing a skiing game.

17. The sliding simulator of claim 15, wherein said image is a three-dimensional image.

18. A game apparatus comprising said sliding simulator of claim 17 for playing a skiing game.

19. The sliding simulator of claim 1, further comprising a support means grasped by said player to support the player'"'"'s body with the player'"'"'s hands.

20. The sliding simulator of claim 19, wherein said image is a three-dimensional image.

21. A game apparatus comprising said sliding simulator of claim 20 for playing a skiing game.