Game controller

• US 6,537,154 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2000
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ohgoshi, Kenji, Ono, Shuzo
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/624,650
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/39, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 463/37
• 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 13/818 Fishing
• 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 2300/8035 Virtual fishing

Abstract

A controller for a fishing game, in which, when a handle of the controller is rotated, a counter electromotive force is produced between both ends of a generator in the controller. When a short circuit occurs between both terminals, an electrical current which produces a force (that is, a load torque) acting in a direction which prevents rotation of the generator flows between both of the terminals. Therefore, a load torque can be applied to at least the handle without using a driving electrical power supply. When the electrical current flowing between both terminals is controlled through a load-generating device from the side of the body of a game device, a load torque which matches the content of the game being played can be applied to the handle.

Claims

1. A game controller comprising:

winding section;

rotation-detecting means for obtaining a detection output in accordance with a rotation of the winding section; and

load-generating means for exerting a load on the winding section;

wherein the load-generating means comprises a rotor rotated by the winding section, a stator opposing the rotor, a magnet provided in either one of the rotor and the stator, a coil provided in either of the other of the rotor and the stator, and switching means for switching between an insulated state and a short-circuited state at both ends of the coil.

2. A game controller according to claim 1, wherein the switching means comprises a switching element for switching between the insulated state and the short-circuited state at both ends of the coil, and signal-transmitting means for controlling the switching element, wherein the switching element is operated by applying a control signal to the signal-transmitting means from outside the signal-transmitting means.

3. A game controller according to claim 2, further comprising means for controlling a duty ratio of the control signal applied to the signal-transmitting means, wherein the size of a rotational load of the winding section is controllable by varying the duty ratio.

4. A game controller according to claim 2, wherein the signal-transmitting means is either an optically coupled element or a magnetically coupled element.