Game machine apparatus

• US 6,466,450 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ogata, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuneo, Kamand
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh, Tuan
• Application Number:
  US09/537,323
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 361/756, 361/759, 361/814, 361/683, 361/752, 463/31-35, 463/43, 273/434-437, 439/44-48
• US Class Current: 361/756
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• 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 13/843 involving concurrently two or more players on the same game device, e.g. requiring the use of a plurality of controllers or of a specific view of game data for each player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• 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 2300/8088 involving concurrently several players in a non-networked game, e.g. on the same game console

Abstract

A game machine having a plurality of controllers has removable memory devices corresponding or e-to-one to the controllers so that it is possible to store game control processes and the like personal to individual game users and improve the freedom with which a game can be joined, played and left by each of a plurality of players.

Live unplugging of the controllers and the memory devices is provided for so that, even during a game, they can be freely plugged in and unplugged with respect to the game machine proper.

Claims

1. A game apparatus, comprising:

a game machine operable to process data for playing a game, said game machine having first and second controller ports dedicated to receive connection terminals of first and second controllers for operating said game, and first and second memory device ports dedicated to receive first and second memory devices, said first memory device for storing data representing a state of said game achieved by said first controller, and said second memory device for storing data representing a state of said game achieved by said second controller,

each of said first and second controller ports being shaped to receive said connection terminal of one of said controllers in only a single orientation, and each of said first and second memory device ports being shaped to receive one of said first and second memory devices in only a single orientation.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second memory device ports includes a shutter adapted to be opened on inserting the memory device into said memory device port and adapted to be automatically closed on removing the memory device from said memory device port.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said first and second controller ports is partially shielded by a shielding component for preventing said game machine from being exposed to radiation.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said game machine has a first connecting part including said first controller port and said first memory device port as a first pair, and a second connecting part including said second controller port and said second memory device port as a second pair.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said controller port is vertically aligned with said memory device port in said first and second connecting parts.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said controller port and said memory device port in said first and second connecting parts include an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion having a different shape than said lower portion.

7. The game apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said lower portion has corners that are more rounded than corners of said upper portion.

8. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in each of said first and second connecting parts, said controller port has a predetermined shape, and said memory device port has a shape different from said predetermined shape.