Photoelectric control unit of a video car-racing game machine

• US 6,159,099 A
• Filed: 12/08/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Can Technologies, Inc. (Cargill Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Can Technologies, Inc. (Cargill Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chen, Tao-Shen
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERUBIN, YVESTE GILBERTE
• Application Number:
  US09/206,556
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• Field of Search: 463/6, 463/36, 463/37, 463/63, 463/38, 463/39, 345/184, 273/148 B, 434/30, 434/62-72, 446/454, 446/456, 446/460, 446/464, 446/468
• US Class Current: 463/37
• 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 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

A photoelectric control unit installed in a video game machine and operated to control the motion of a controlled object in the screen of a display unit of the video game machine, the photoelectric control unit including a housing, a steering column installed in the housing and rotated with a steering wheel, a torsional spring mounted on the steering column, the torsional spring having one end fixedly fastened to the steering column and an opposite end fixedly connected to a fixed spring holder inside the housing, and a photoelectric controller formed of an optical transmitter and detector assembly and a signal processing circuit board for detecting rotary motion of the steering column and outputting to the display unit of the video game machine a signal indicative of rotary motion of the steering column.

Claims

1. A photoelectric control unit installed in a video game machine and operated to control the motion of a controlled object in the screen of a display unit of the video game machine, the photoelectric control unit comprising:

a housing comprising a bottom cover, and an axle holder fixedly mounted on an inside wall thereof;

a steering column mounted in said housing column having a bottom end supported in said axle holder and a top end extended out of said housing;

a steering wheel fixedly fastened to the top end of said steering column, and operated to rotate said steering column in said housing;

a bushing fixedly mounted on said steering column;

a spring holder fixedly fastened to the inside wall of said housing and stopped at a front end of the bushing;

a torsional spring mounted around said steering column inside said housing, said torsional spring having one end fixedly fastened to said steering column and an opposite end fixedly connected to said spring holder; and

a photoelectric controller for detecting rotary motion of said steering column and outputting to the display unit of the video game machine a signal indicative of rotary motion of said steering column, said photoelectric controller comprising an optical encoder wheel fixedly mounted around said bushing and rotated with said steering column, an optical transmitter and detector assembly mounted inside said housing to detect rotary motion of said encoder wheel and to output a corresponding analog signal, and a signal processing circuit board fixedly mounted inside said housing and connected to said optical transmitter and detector assembly to receive the analog signal from said optical transmitter and detector assembly and, to process the received analog signal into a digital signal indicative of rotary motion of said steering wheel for controlling the motion of the controlled object in the screen of the display unit of the video game machine.

2. The photoelectric control unit of claim 1 wherein said encoder wheel has a plurality of peripheral notches equiangularly spaced around the periphery.

3. A photoelectric control unit installed in a video game machine and operated to control the motion of a controlled object in the screen of a display unit of the video game machine, the photoelectric control unit comprising:

a housing having a bottom open side covered with a bottom cover;

a rack inserted through a hole on said housing and reciprocated in said housing, said rack having a top end extended out of said housing, and a bottom end;

a pedal fixedly fastened to the top end of said rack outside said housing and operated with the foot to move said rack up and down;

a compression spring connected between said rack and said bottom cover to impart an upward pressure to said rack;

a holder frame fixedly fastened to said bottom cover to support said rack and, to guide reciprocating motion of said rack; and

a photoelectric controller for detecting reciprocating motion of said rack and outputting to the display unit of the video game machine a signal indicative of reciprocating motion of an encoder wheel, said photoelectric controller comprising a toothed encoder wheel revolvably supported on said holder frame and meshed with said rack, an optical transmitter and detector assembly fixedly mounted on said holder frame to detect rotary motion of said encoder wheel and to output a corresponding analog signal, and a signal processing unit fixedly mounted inside said housing to receive the analog signal from said optical transmitter and detector assembly and, to process the received analog signal into a digital signal indicative of reciprocating motion of said rack for controlling the motion of the controlled object in the screen of the display unit of the video game machine.

4. The photoelectric control unit of claim 3 wherein said bottom cover has an oblique guide groove for guiding the reciprocating motion of said rack;

said rack has a locating rib raised from the periphery thereof, which is inserted into said guide groove to guide reciprocating motion of said rack in said guide groove.