Control device for game machine

• US 6,225,975 B1
• Filed: 03/09/1998
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Masuda, Atsushi, Furuki, Shigeru, Kawauchi, Takahiro, Wauke, Tomokuni
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US09/041,363
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/161, 345/163, 345/110, 345/111, 345/184, 273/148, 273/239, 463/36, 463/37
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• 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 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• 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

Abstract

A vibration device with a simple structure, in which a yoke and a coil are combined, is incorporated in a game machine control device, and caused to vibrate in response to displays on the screen of a game machine. This structure allows vibrations to be transmitted to a player who is gripping the control device, and therefore, the player can be given the effect of the sense of touch in compliance with the displays.

Claims

1. A game machine control device having a vibration device, comprising:

a coil;

a yoke movably coupled along a vertical path to said coil;

a magnetic device electrically coupled to said coil and mechanically coupled to said yoke; and

an elastic member mechanically coupled to said yoke;

wherein movement of said yoke along said vertical path relative to said coil generates a vibration.

2. A game machine control device according to claim 1, wherein said coil is mechanically coupled to a support member, and said yoke is mechanically coupled to said support member via said elastic member.

3. A game machine control device according to claim 1, wherein said yoke is fixed on a support member, and said coil is fixed on said support member via said elastic member.

4. A game machine control device according to claim 1, wherein said vibration device is incorporated in an arm section of said control device.

5. A game machine device having a vibration device, comprising:

a coil;

a yoke movably coupled along a vertical path to said coil;

a magnetic device electrically coupled to said coil;

an elastic member mechanically coupled to said yoke; and

a support member mechanically coupled to said elastic member, wherein movement of said yoke along said vertical path relative to said coil generates a vibration.

6. A game machine control device according to claim 5, wherein said coil is mechanically coupled to said support member within an arm section, and said yoke is mechanically coupled to said elastic member coupled to said support member at a column section.

7. A game machine control device according to claim 5, wherein said yoke is fixed on said support member of an arm section, and said coil is fixed to said elastic member coupled to said support member at a column section.

8. A game machine control device according to claim 5, further comprising an arm section enclosing said vibration device, wherein said vibration device comprises a plurality of vibration devices and said arm section comprises a plurality of arm sections that enclose at least one of said vibration devices.

9. A game machine control device, comprising:

an arm section; and

a vibration device enclosed within said arm section, the vibration device comprising;

a coil;

a yoke movably coupled along a vertical path to said coil;

an elastic member mechanically coupled to said yoke; and

a magnetic device electrically coupled to said coil and mechanically coupled to said yoke;

wherein movement of said yoke along said vertical path relative to said coil generates a vibration.