Vibration generating device and input device for game apparatus using the same

• US 6,585,595 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2000
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Soma, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASHBURN, STEVEN L
• Application Number:
  US09/585,972
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 463/30, 463/36-38, 273/148.B, 434/45, 434/46, 434/59, 345/701, 345/702, 345/161, 345/163, 345/167, 340/7.6, 340/407.1, 472/56, 153/79, 74/87, 310/50, 310/51, 310/81
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• 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 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: B06B 1/164 the amount of eccentricity being automatically variable as a function of the running condition, e.g. speed, direction B06B1/165 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18552 Unbalanced weight

Abstract

Disclosed is an input device (controller) for inputting signals to a game apparatus using a computer. The input device includes a vibration generating device, the vibration state of which can be set in correspondence with the frequency.

Claims

1. A vibration generating device, comprising:

a rotation shaft to be rotated about a center of rotation;

a stationary weight mounted to the rotation shaft so that an eccentric state and direction thereof is fixed; and

a movable weight mounted to the rotation shaft so that an eccentric position thereof moves radially outward and inward from said center of rotation in correspondence with a respective increase and decrease in the speed of rotation of the rotation shaft,

wherein the movable weight protrudes outward from the center of rotation at an angle to the rotation shaft in a direction opposite from an eccentric direction of the stationary weight, and is connected to a forward end of a plate spring member whose angle with respect to the rotation shaft varies with elastic deformation, and wherein the weight of the movable weight is smaller than the weight of the stationary weight, and an eccentric state of the movable weight is set such that its moment of inertia around the rotation shaft is smaller than that of the stationary weight.

2. An input device for a game apparatus to input signals to the game apparatus, the input device having vibration generating means whose vibration state is set in correspondence with a frequency of vibration, wherein the vibration generating means comprises:

a rotation shaft to be rotated about a center of rotation;

a stationary weight mounted to the rotation shaft so that an eccentric state and direction thereof is fixed; and

a movable weight mounted to the rotation shaft so that an eccentric position thereof moves radially outward and inward from said center of rotation in correspondence with a respective increase and decrease in the speed of rotation of the rotation shaft,

wherein the movable weight protrudes outward from the center of rotation at an angle to the rotation shaft in a direction opposite from an eccentric direction of the stationary weight, and is connected to a forward end of a plate spring member whose angle with respect to the rotation shaft varies with elastic deformation, and wherein the weight of the movable weight is smaller than the weight of the stationary weight, and an eccentric state of the movable weight is set such that its moment of inertia around the rotation shaft is smaller than that of the stationary weight.