Game device

• US 6,142,877 A
• Filed: 11/18/1997
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SEGA Corporation (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Inventors: Nishimura, Eiji
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/972,677
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 463/46, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/6, 434/55, 434/56, 434/57, 434/58, 434/60, 434/62, 434/69, 472/59, 472/60, 472/130, 273/459-461
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• 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 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

The present invention aims at providing a game device comprising a body moving mechanism for rapidly moving a body in accordance with the game program development. In order to achieve such aim, the game device according to the present invention comprises a handle unit for operating the movements of a virtual vehicle in a game program, and controls the movements of such vehicle in correspondence with the operating signal from the handle unit. For these purposes, a movable body is supported by a fixed body in a freely tilting position. The pulley of the handle unit rolls along a belt when the rotation torque of the AC servomotor is high, and the rudder input from the steering wheel is directly communicated to the movable body.

Claims

1. A game device for controlling the movements of a virtual vehicle in a game program, comprising an operating mechanism for operating the movements of said virtual vehicle, a body moving mechanism for moving a body, wherein said body further comprises a movable body to be mounted by the player and a fixed body for supporting said movable body in a freely tilting manner, and a communicating mechanism for directly communicating the control input from said operating unit to said body moving mechanism without utilizing a driving mechanism, wherein said operating mechanism is a handle unit for operating the virtual vehicle movements shown on a display unit, the handle unit is axially supported to be rotatable with regard to said movable body, and said body moving mechanism comprises a pulley connected to said handle unit and a belt contacting the pulley, said movable body structured to reciprocate in its tilting direction in accordance with the rolling of the pulley along the belt.

2. A game device according to claim 1, wherein said belt contacts a rotating body for controlling the rotation torque, and further comprising a rotation torque controlling means for the rotating body.

3. A game device according to claim 2, wherein said rotation torque controlling means performs control so that the standstill torque of said rotating body increases with the increase in speed of said car in a program.

4. A game device according to claim 2, wherein a pulley connected to said handle unit rolls along said belt in correspondence with the increase in said rotation torque.

5. A game device according to claim 2, further comprising a torque controlling means for performing control so that said rotation torque controlling means prevents the rotation of said rotating body when said rotating body is caused to rotate via said belt in correspondence with the rotation of said handle.

6. A game device according to claim 5, wherein said rotating body is a servomotor, and said rotation torque controlling means is means for controlling the rotation torque of this servomotor.