Control unit and system utilizing the control unit

• US 6,641,479 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ono, Akihisa, Ogata, Hiroki, Akazawa, Toru
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/617,735
• Time in Patent Office: 1,205 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36-38, 463/30, 463/46-47, 273/148.B, 273/148.R, 345/156-157, 345/161
• US Class Current: 463/37
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a system including a machine capable of retrieving data from a recording medium and of executing a program retrieved from the recording medium in response to an instruction given by an operator to the machine. Particularly, the invention relates to a system which comprises of such machine and a control unit connected to the machine for controlling the machine. The control unit includes: a housing; a pair of diverging grips which are molded integral with said housing and are supportable by both palms of the operator; a plurality of finger-manipulatable controllers mounted on the housing; and a vibration motor mounted within at least one of the grips via a adapter. The vibration motor includes: a casing; a freely rotatable shaft supported by the casing; an eccentric member, mounted on the shaft, having a rotor mounted on the shaft and a plurality of coils mounted on the rotor. Accordingly, when the coils are activated by the electric current, the motor is set in vibration caused by the rotation of the eccentric member. The vibrations of the motor is transmitted to the operator via the grips, thereby providing the operator with enhance virtual reality in the game.

Claims

1. A control unit connected to a machine for retrieving and processing information stored on a recording medium, said control unit operable by an operator to send instructions to said machine to execute a program stored on said recording medium, said control unit comprising:

a housing;

a first finger-manipulatable controller including;

a first set of push buttons protruding from one end of the upper surface of said housing;

a circuit board having a plurality of fixed electric contacts;

a resilient member placed on said circuit board and having a plurality of movable contacts each associated with a corresponding one of said fixed contacts;

a supportive member positioned at the center of said resilient member, said supportive member having at the top end thereof a convex fulcrum surface; and

a pivotal controller member having a central concave surface in contact with said convex fulcrum surface of said supportive member;

wherein, each of said push buttons of said first controller is formed on said pivotal controller member in association with a corresponding one of said movable contacts such that when said push button is pushed downward said pivotal controller member is pivoted about said fulcrum, thereby pressing a corresponding movable contact downward;

a second finger-manipulatable controller having a second set of push buttons protruding from the other end of the upper surface of said housing;

a pair of diverging grips which are molded integral with said housing and project from one side (rear side) of said housing facing said operator towards the player, said grips supportable by both palms of the operator, and

a vibration motor mounted within at least one of said grips via an adapter, said motor including;

a casing;

a freely rotatable shaft supported by said casing;

an eccentric member mounted on said shaft, said eccentric member having a rotor mounted on said shaft and a plurality of coils mounted on said rotor;

a magnet mounted on said casing and facing said eccentric member; and

means for supplying electric current to each of said coils for energizing said motor and setting said motor in vibration by the eccentric rotation of said eccentric member;

wherein said housing, grips and controllers are sized and arranged so that said operator is able to manipulate said controllers with his fingers and feel the vibration of said energized motor through at least one of said grips.

3. The control unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2 wherein said motor adapter is molded integral with said grips, and wherein said vibration motor is mounted on said motor adapter via an elastic member.

4. The control unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2 further comprising third and fourth controllers disposed at the respective opposing base sections of said grips, each of said third and fourth controllers having a rotary controller.

5. The control unit as claimed in claim 4 further comprising fifth and sixth controllers disposed on the front side which is the side remote from said operator of said housing, each of said controllers having a set of protruding push buttons.

6. The control unit as claimed in claims 5 wherein each of said fifth and sixth controllers has at least two vertically arranged push buttons.

7. The control unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2 further comprising a third controller in the form of a rotary controller between the pair of said grips.

8. The control unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 and 2 wherein said machine is a game machine.

2. A control unit connected to a machine for retrieving and processing information stored on a recording medium, said control unit operable by an operator to send instructions to said machine to execute a program stored on said recording medium, said control unit comprising:

a housing;

a first finger-manipulatable controller including;

a first set of push buttons protruding from one end of the upper surface of said housing;

a circuit board having a plurality of fixed electric contacts;

a resilient member placed on said circuit board and having a plurality of movable contacts each associated with a corresponding one of said fixed contacts;

a supportive member positioned at the center of said resilient member, said supportive member having at the top end thereof a convex fulcrum surface;

a pivotal controller member having a central concave surface in contact with said convex fulcrum surface of said supportive member; and

a spacer formed integral with said supportive member to facilitate positioning of said pivotal supportive controller member with respect to said resilient member, said spacer having arms that stretch not to interfere with said movable contacts;

wherein each of said push buttons of said first controller is formed on said pivotal controller member in association with a corresponding one of said movable contacts such that when said push button is pushed downward said pivotal controller member is pivoted about said fulcrum, thereby pressing a corresponding movable contact downward;

a second finger-manipulatable controller having a second set of push buttons protruding from the other end of the upper surface of said housing;

a pair of diverging grips which are molded integral with said housing and project from one side (rear side) of said housing facing said operator towards the player, said grips supportable by both palms of the operator, and

a vibration motor mounted within at least one of said grips via an adapter, said motor including;

a casing;

a freely rotatable shaft supported by said casing;

an eccentric member mounted on said shaft, said eccentric member having a rotor mounted on said shaft and a plurality of coils mounted on said rotor;

a magnet mounted on said casing and facing said eccentric member; and

means for supplying electric current to each of said coils for energizing said motor and setting said motor in vibration by the eccentric rotation of said eccentric member;

wherein said housing, grips and controllers are sized and arranged so that said operator is able to manipulate said controllers with his fingers and feel the vibration of said energized motor through at least one of said grips.

9. A control unit connected to a machine for retrieving and processing information stored on a recording medium, said control unit operable by an operator to send instructions to said machine to execute a program stored on said recording medium, said control unit comprising:

a housing;

a finger-manipulatable first controller mounted on said housing, said first controller including;

a first set of push buttons protruding from one end of the upper surface of said housing;

a circuit board having a plurality of fixed electric contacts;

a resilient member placed on said circuit board and having a plurality of movable contacts each associated with a corresponding one of said fixed contacts;

a supportive member positioned at the center of said resilient member, said supportive member having at the top end thereof a convex fulcrum surface; and

a pivotal controller member having a central concave surface in contact with said convex fulcrum surface of said supportive member;

wherein each of said push buttons of said first controller is formed on said pivotal controller member in association with a corresponding one of said movable contacts such that when said push button is pushed downward said pivotal controller member is pivoted about said fulcrum, thereby pressing a corresponding movable contact downward;

a finger-manipulatable second controller having a second set of push buttons protruding from the other end of the upper surface of said housing;

a pair of grips which are molded integral with said housing and are supportable by both palms of the operator; and

a vibration motor mounted within at least one of said grips via an adapter, said motot including;

a casing;

a freely rotatable shaft supported by said casing;

an eccentric member mounted on said shaft, said eccentric member having a rotor mounted on said shaft and a plurality of coils mounted on said rotor;

a magnet mounted on said casing and facing said eccentric member; and

means for supplying electric current to each of said coils for energizing said motor and setting said motor in vibration by the eccentric rotation of said eccentric member;

wherein said vibration motor is set in a vibratory motion caused by the rotation of said eccentric member when said motor is energized by said electric current, and transmits the vibrations to said operator via said grips.

10. A control unit connected to a machine for retrieving and processing information stored on a recording medium, said control unit operable by an operator to send instructions to said machine to execute a program stored on said recording medium, said control unit comprising:

a housing;

a finger-manipulatable first controller mounted on said housing, said first controller including;

a first set of push buttons protruding from one end of the upper surface of said housing;

a circuit board having a plurality of fixed electric contacts;

a resilient member placed on said circuit board and having a plurality of movable contacts each associated with a corresponding one of said fixed contacts;

a supportive member positioned at the center of said resilient member, said supportive member having at the top end thereof a convex fulcrum surface;

a pivotal controller member having a central concave surface in contact with said convex fulcrum surface of said supportive member; and

a spacer formed integral with said supportive member to facilitate positioning of said pivotal supportive controller member with respect to said resilient member, said spacer having arms that stretch not to interfere with said movable contacts;

wherein each of said push buttons of said first controller is formed on said pivotal controller member in association with a corresponding one of said movable contacts such that when said push button is pushed downward said pivotal controller member is pivoted about said fulcrum, thereby pressing a corresponding movable contact downward;

a finger-manipulatable second controller having a second set of push buttons protruding from the other end of the upper surface of said housing;

a pair of grips which are molded in egral with said housing and are supportable by both palms of the operator; and

a vibration motor mounted within at least one of said grips via an adapter, said motor including;

a casing;

a freely rotatable shaft supported by said casing;

an eccentric member mounted on said shaft, said eccentric member having a rotor mounted on said shaft and a plurality of coils mounted on said rotor;

a magnet mounted on said casing and facing said eccentric member; and

means for supplying electric current to each of said coils for energizing said motor and setting said motor in vibration by the eccentric rotation of said eccentric member;

wherein said vibration motor is set in a vibratory motion caused by the rotation of said eccentric member when said motor is energized by said electric current, and transmits the vibrations to said operator via said grips.

11. The control unit as claimed in any one of claims 9 and 10 wherein said motor adapter is molded integral with said grips, and wherein said vibration motor is mounted on said motor adapter via an elastic member.

12. The control unit as claimed in any one of claims 9 and 10 further comprising a third controller in the form of a rotary controller between the pair of said grips.

13. The control unit as claimed in claim 12 further comprising fifth and sixth controllers disposed on the opposite ends of the front side which is the side remote from the operator of said housing, each of said controllers having a set of protruding push buttons.

14. The control unit as claimed in claim 13 wherein each of said fifth and sixth controllers has at least two vertically arranged push buttons.

15. The control unit as claimed in any one of claims 9 and 10 wherein said machine is a game machine.