Game machine for simulating vibration

• US 6,752,716 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 06/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
• Inventors: Nishimura, Eiji, Matsuba, Minoru, Higashiguchi, Motohiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/341,190
• Time in Patent Office: 1,757 Days
• Field of Search: 463/6, 463/7, 463/30-35, 463/36, 463/45, 463/46, 463/47, 463/43, 463/44, 463/37, 463/38, 463/39, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 273/309, 434/62, 434/63, 434/64, 434/65, 434/66, 434/67, 434/69, 434/70, 434/71
• US Class Current: 463/6
• 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 13/54 involving acoustic signals, e.g. for simulating revolutions per minute [RPM] dependent engine sounds in a driving game or reverberation against a virtual wall
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/57 Simulating properties, behaviour or motion of objects in the game world, e.g. computing tyre load in a car race game A63F13/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/577 using determination of contact between game characters or objects, e.g. to avoid collision between virtual racing cars
• 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 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6081 generating an output signal, e.g. under timing constraints, for spatialization
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/04 for teaching control of land vehicles

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a game apparatus which can provide an experience of vibrations similar to a real experience. The game apparatus relating to the present invention executes a game program to display displayed bodies on a screen and comprises means for simulating vibrations generated by the displayed bodies in a state of motion for the player operating the game apparatus.

Claims

1. A game apparatus for displaying objects on a screen comprising:

a game processing unit for executing prescribed game processing according to a game program and outputting a plurality of vibration generation commands each corresponding to a condition of the game processing;

a housing comprising a player accommodation portion and a control apparatus portion for inputting operation commands to change the condition of the game processing; and

a plurality of vibration generators comprising

a first vibration generator placed at a front end of the housing, generating a vibration, according to a first one of the vibration commands corresponding to a first game condition; and

a second vibration generator placed at a rear end of the housing, generating a vibration, according to a second one of the vibration commands corresponding to a second game condition,

wherein at least one of said plurality of vibration generators comprises a vibration source, and a vibration panel being communicably connected to said vibration source, one end of said vibration panel being affixed to a part of the housing subject to vibration and the other end of said vibration panel being free.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibration panel comprises a reinforcing member extending from said vibration panel to said part of the housing.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibration source is a low frequency acoustic vibration source.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a seat for accommodating the player, said seat having a bottom portion and a back portion, and one or more of said plurality of vibration generators being placed on at least one of said bottom portion and said back portion.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a control apparatus for inputting the operation commands, said control apparatus having a hand terminal and a foot terminal, and one or more of said plurality of vibration generators being placed on at least one of said hand terminal and said foot terminal.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said game processing unit simulates a movement of a virtual object controlled by the player and selects at least one of the vibration generation commands corresponding to the movement of the virtual object.

7. The game apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said game processing unit determines the movement of the virtual object representing a virtual vehicle and selects the generation commands for generating vibration caused by the movement of the virtual vehicle, the movement being selected from one of jumping at a rise on a virtual road, passing over a bump on the virtual road, braking, drifting, slipping rear wheels of the virtual vehicle, colliding with an object in front of the virtual vehicle, and being struck from behind by another object.

8. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a rotatable seat.

9. The game apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of vibration generators is placed within the player accommodation portion.

10. The game apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first game condition comprises the front of the virtual object coming into contact with a second virtual object.

11. The game apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second game condition comprises the rear of the virtual object coming into contact with a second virtual object.

12. The game apparatus of claim 6, wherein the game processing unit outputs the first vibration command upon encountering the first game condition, and outputs the second vibration command upon encountering the second game condition.

13. A game apparatus for displaying objects on a screen, said game apparatus comprising:

a stationary fixed housing portion;

a movable housing portion rotatably secured to said fixed housing portion via a shaft, said shaft comprising means for exerting a force to rotate said movable housing portion in a selected direction;

a foot terminal, mounted in said movable housing portion, for controlling movement of a virtual vehicle within a virtual space;

a vibration generator for simulating the movement of the virtual vehicle and applying to said movable housing portion a vibration on the basis of a situation of the virtual vehicle operated within the virtual space, said vibration generator comprising;

a motor for generating a rotational torque according to movement of the virtual vehicle,

a main pulley mechanically coupled to said foot terminal,

an auxiliary pulley, and

a belt coupling said main pulley, said auxiliary pulley, and said motor for transmitting the rotational torque generated by said motor, wherein the rotational torque generated by said motor causes the movable housing portion to rotatably move about the shaft in the selected direction, such that a motion of the movable housing corresponds to a movement of said virtual vehicle.

14. The game apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising:

a front structural body disposed at front end of said movable housing portion; and

a rear structural body disposed at a rear end of said fixed housing portion.

15. The game apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said front structural body comprises a dashboard and a control apparatus used by a player and said rear structural body comprises speakers.

16. The game apparatus according to claim 14, wherein at least one of said front structural body and said rear structural body comprises a frame structure formed of either round pipes or flat-sided pipes.

17. The game apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said frame structure is covered with either a net or transparent panels.

18. The game apparatus of claim 13, wherein the movement of the virtual vehicle comprises a movement selected from a group consisting of:

an acceleration, a deceleration, a braking, a shifting, a jolting, and a movement along a bumpy road.