Peripheral input device with six-axis capability

• US 6,033,309 A
• Filed: 05/31/1996
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Inventors: Huether, James L., Couch, Johnny D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US08/659,030
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 B, 463/37, 463/38
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• 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 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04774 with additional switches or sensors 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

Abstract

A control pad with two input ports for establishing a connection with two three-axis input devices permits six-axis game play. The control pad contains a microprocessor which determines whether one or two three-axis input devices are connected thereto and generates an address signal for communication with a game console to inform a microprocessor of the game console on power up of an exact nature of peripheral input devices which are attached. A thumb-operated rotor assembly is fitted to a top of a joystick for z-axis control and thus allows single-handed three-axis control of computer games through the joystick.

Claims

1. A peripheral input device, comprising:

a plurality of input units; and

a microprocessor, a plurality of input ports, and an output port, wherein;

each of said plurality of input units is connected with a respective one of said plurality of input ports;

said output port is connected with a game console; and

said microprocessor outputs a signal to said game console, said signal indicating a number of input units, of said plurality of input units, which are connected with respective ones of said plurality of input ports.

2. The peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a control pad which comprises said microprocessor, said plurality of input ports and said output port,

wherein said plurality of input units comprise two input units;

and

said control pad is provided between said two input units, said two input units and said control pad are arranged integrally.

3. The peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal output by said microprocessor to said game console through said output port indicates at least two input units.

4. The peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal output by said microprocessor is output through only said output port.

5. The peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each input unit includes a pair of photodiodes and each input unit outputs a signal indicative of a ratio value between currents through the respective photodiodes.

6. The peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each input unit can provide three axis signals to said microprocessor, said microprocessor provides multiplexed output signals to said output port.

7. The peripheral input device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each input unit provides a pulse width modulated output signal.

8. A peripheral input. device, comprising:

a base having an approximately plane shape;

a joystick member provided on said base, wherein the longitudinal axis of said joystick member is approximately perpendicular to said plane of said base and said joystick member is tiltable; and

an elastic member provided between said base and said joystick member, said elastic member applying force to said joystick member such that said longitudinal axis of said joystick member is returned to be approximately perpendicular to said plane of said base after said joystick member is tilted by a user,

wherein;

said base has a two-axis-input detecting unit which detects a tilted condition of said joystick member so as to obtain a two-axis-direction input; and

said joystick member has a first end in proximity of said base and a second end opposite to said first end, and has an other-axis-input detecting unit at said second end, said other-axis-input detecting unit obtaining an other-axis-direction input, said other axis being an axis other than said two axes.

9. The peripheral input device as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said joystick member has a joystick-base surface at said first end thereof, said joystick-base surface has a reflective surface facing the plane of said base;

said two-axis input detecting unit has a light emitting unit and a light detecting unit, detects the tilted condition of said joystick member as a result of said light emitting unit emitting light to said reflective surface and the light reflected by said reflective surface being detected by said light detecting unit, and obtains x-y-axis-direction input; and

said other-axis input detecting unit obtains z-axis-direction input.

10. The peripheral input device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said other-axis-input detecting unit is disposed at a position of a thumb when a user grasps said joystick member.

11. The peripheral input device as claimed In claim 10, wherein:

said other-axis input detecting unit comprises a rotor having a semicircular-disk shape, said rotor being selectively rotatable about a center of said semicircular disk, an elastic tension member for returning the rotated rotor to a predetermined position, and a rotor-rotation-amount detecting unit for obtaining the other-axis-direction input as a result of detecting rotation amount of said rotor; and

an arc portion of said rotor is exposed from said joystick member.

12. The peripheral input device as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said rotor has a reflective surface which is perpendicular to the plane of said semicircular disk and faces away from said semicircular disk;

said rotor-rotation-amount detecting unit has a light emitting unit and a light detecting unit or a surface facing said reflective surface, and detects the rotation amount of said rotor as a result of said light emitting unit emitting light to said reflective surface and the light reflected by said reflective surface being detected by said light detecting unit.

13. The peripheral input device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said rotor is provided with a marking at the center of the semicircular arc of said semicircular disk.

14. An input device, comprising:

a plurality of peripheral input devices; and

a microprocessor, a plurality of input ports and an output port,

wherein;

each of said plurality of peripheral input devices is connected with a respective one of said plurality of input ports;

said output port is connected with a game console; and

said microprocessor outputs a signal to said game console, said signal indicating a number of peripheral input devices, of said plurality of peripheral input devices, which are connected with respective ones of said plurality of input ports,

wherein each of said plurality of peripheral input devices comprises;

a base having an approximately plane shape;

a joystick member provided on said base, wherein the longitudinal axis of said joystick member is approximately perpendicular to said plane of said base, and said joystick member is tiltable; and

an elastic member provided between said base and said joystick member, said elastic member applying force to said joystick member such that said longitudinal axis of said joystick member is returned to be approximately perpendicular to said plane of said base after said joystick member is tilted by a user,

wherein;

said base has a two-axis-input detecting unit which detects a tilted condition of said joystick member so as to obtain two-axis-direction input; and

said joystick member has a first end in proximity of said base and a second end opposite to said first end, and has an other-axis-input detecting unit at said second end, said other-axis-input detecting unit obtaining an other -axis-direction input, said other axis being an axis other than said two axes.