Operating device with analog joystick

• US 6,102,803 A
• Filed: 07/01/1999
• Issued: 08/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Takeda, Genyo, Ashida, Kenichiro, Miyamoto, Shigeru, Nishida, Yasunari
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US09/345,947
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 B, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 345/156, 345/161
• US Class Current: 463/38
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• 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 13/825 Fostering virtual characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• 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 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• 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 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8058 Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/0474 characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
• 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 2203/015 : Force feedback applied to a joystick
• 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

Abstract

An operating device is, while in use, connected to an image processor which generates image data of an image to be displayed on a monitor on the basis of a program. The operating device is provided with an analog joystick in addition to a plurality of switches, and outputs operation signals by which the image data can be modified according to an operation by an operator. The analog joystick includes a lever having a tip end which is protruded from a housing and inclined in an arbitrary direction including North, South, East and West. There is provided with a guide ring which includes a guide wall having an octagonal outer edge around the lever, and the guide wall guides the lever to eight corners, that is, upper, lower, left, right, right-upper, right-lower, left-upper and left-lower corners.

Claims

1. An operating device for use with an image processor which generates image data of an image to be displayed on a monitor, and outputs an operation signal which can change the image data according to an operation by an operator, said operating device comprising:

a hand-holdable housing which includes a main portion and a protruded portion which protrudes from said main portion; and

an analog input device provided on said housing, wherein

said analog input device includes an operating member which extends from said housing and can be inclined in an arbitrary direction within 360 degrees by an operation by a finger of a hand holding said housing, and wherein

said protruded portion is formed to protrude from said main portion in the vicinity of said analog input device toward a front side as viewed by the operator, and by grasping said protruded portion with the hand to hold said housing, a position of the hand can be defined by the protruded portion and said operating member can be stably operated by the finger of the hand.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said analog input device is an analog joystick having an operating lever which protrudes from said housing and is operable by the finger of the hand grasping said protruded portion so as to be inclined in arbitrary direction within a range of 360 degrees.

3. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said protruded portion includes a grip which can be grasped by the hand.

4. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein said grip is formed to extend from said main portion in the vicinity of said analog input device.

5. The operation device according to claim 3, wherein said grip is formed to extend from a rear surface of said main portion in the vicinity of said analog input device.

6. The operating device according to claim 3, further comprising an operating switch which is formed on a rear surface of said housing at a position reachable by an index finger of the hand grasping said grip.

7. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said operating member of said analog input device includes an operating lever having a tip end which protrudes from said housing and can be inclined in an arbitrary direction including up, down, left and right within 360 degrees, and a knob portion formed on an upper end of said operating lever and on which a thumb of the hand grasping said protruded portion can be rested, whereby said operating lever is operable by said thumb.

8. The operating device according to claim 7, wherein said knob portion includes a disc-like member.

9. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein said housing includes an opening portion for receiving a removably attachable function expansion device.