Game apparatus, game machine manipulation device, game system and interactive communication method for game apparatus

• US 6,776,717 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2003
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Shinohara, Satoshi, Honda, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US10/464,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20030216180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36-38, 463/43, 463/47, 463/39, 463/30, 463/7, 463/44, 463/46, 273/148.B, 273/856, 273/434-438, 273/442, 273/454, 273/460, 273/DIG.28, 710/63, 345/156-163, 345/167-169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• 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

Abstract

By transmitting function information indicative of functions of a game machine manipulation device CT10, previously stored therein, to a game machine main body 27 with a command from the game machine main body 27, it is possible to retrieve functions of the game machine manipulation device CT10 required for the game machine main body 27 and to set the retrieved functions of the game machine manipulation device CT10 in the game machine manipulation device CT10. Further, by transmitting function information indicative of consumed power of respective response means 21, 51 of the game machine manipulation device CT10, which is previously stored in the game machine manipulation device CT10, to the game machine main body 27 with a command from the game machine main body 27, it is possible to determine response means 21, 51 required for the game machine main body 27 and a power value to be applied to the response means, and to set the determined information to the response means 21, 51 of the game machine manipulation device CT10.

Claims

1. A game apparatus having a reproducing function for a recording medium and having bidirectional communication means for receiving data of manipulations performed by a plurality of manipulation members from a game machine manipulation device and for transmitting predetermined control data to said game machine manipulation device, wherein:

(a) information as function information including each current consumption value of at least one of response means that perform a response action according to an instruction from the game apparatus is fetched, said response means being possessed by said game machine manipulation device;

(b) gross current consumption values of all of said response means, which are prepared for performing the response action in accordance with ongoing game contents, are obtained based on said function information;

(c) when the gross current consumption value is larger than a predetermined specified value, either of the following is performed so as to make the gross current consumption value be not more than a specified value;

(i) predetermined control data is generated to limit a current consumption value of a response means having a large current consumption value, out of all the response means which are prepared for performing the response action, or

(ii) predetermined control data is generated to limit the current consumption values of all the response means which are prepared for performing the response action; and

(d) said predetermined control data generated in step (c)(i) or (c)(ii) is transmitted to the game machine manipulation device so as to make all the response means which are prepared for performing the response action perform the response action.

2. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

a limitation of the current consumption value of the response means having a large current consumption value is made by a reduction of amplitude of a current consumption waveform.

3. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said predetermined control data includes data representing current to be applied, a voltage to be applied and a time to be applied.

4. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

;

said function information includes information regarding how a response means performs the response action.

5. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said information regarding how the response means performs the response action represents at least one of the following actions of the response means;

a vibrating action, a light generating action, and a sound generating action.

6. The game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

said information regarding how the response means performs the response action is of a vibrating action of the response means and includes as information as to amplitude and frequency of the vibrating action.

7. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said function information includes information for a plurality of the response means which are operable simultaneously in accordance with an instruction from the game apparatus.

8. The game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said function information includes information representing a mode that is able to be set by the game machine manipulation device, and

the mode of the game machine manipulation device is set based on said function information.

9. The game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said function information includes identification information of said game machine manipulation device.

10. The game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said function information includes information representing either of an analogue mode and a digital mode, which are communication control modes for said game machine manipulation device, and

said game machine manipulation device is set either in said analogue mode or in said digital mode.

11. The game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

said function information includes either of operation information and pose information for a communication control mode switching manipulation member of said game machine manipulation device; and

said function information is selectively provided to said game machine manipulation device so as to set said communication control mode switching manipulation member of said game machine manipulation device in an operative state or in a pose state.

12. The game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

a mode represented by said function information is transmitted as a setting command exclusively for said game machine manipulation device at an arbitrary timing.

13. A game system comprising:

(a) a game machine manipulation device being connected to a game apparatus and having bidirectional communication means for transmitting data of manipulations performed by a plurality of manipulation members to said game apparatus and for receiving predetermined control data from said game apparatus;

(b) said game apparatus having a function of reproducing a recording medium and having bidirectional communication means for receiving data of manipulations performed by a plurality of manipulation members from said game machine manipulation device and for transmitting predetermined control data to said game machine manipulation device, wherein;

(c) the game machine manipulation device comprises at least one response means which performs a response action according to an instruction from the game apparatus and a storing means for storing information including each current consumption value for each of the response means as a function information, wherein,

(d) said function information stored in the storing means is transmitted to the game apparatus in response to information request command from the game apparatus, and wherein,

(e) said game apparatus transmits the information request command to the game machine manipulation device and fetches the function information as a response to the information request command from the game machine manipulation device;

(f) gross current consumption values of all of said response means to be prepared for performing a response action in accordance with ongoing game contents are obtained based on said function information;

(g) when the gross current consumption value is larger than a predetermined specified value, either of the followings is performed so as to make the gross current consumption value be not more than a specified value;

(i) predetermined control data is generated to limit a current consumption value of a response means having a large current consumption value, out of all the response means to be prepared for performing the response action, or

(ii) predetermined control data is generated to limit the current consumption values of all the response means to be prepared for performing the response action; and

(h) said predetermined control data generated in step (g)(i) or (g)(ii) is transmitted to the game machine manipulation device so as to make all the response means which are prepared for performing the response action perform the response action.

14. A game system according to claim 13, wherein:

said game machine manipulation device comprises a plurality of said response means having a variety of functions,

said storing means stores information including a current consumption value for each of the plural types of response means as a function information, and

the function information including the current consumption value information of the plural types of said response means is transmitted to the game apparatus in response to the information request command from the game apparatus.

15. A game system according to claim 13, wherein:

a current consumption waveform having a large current consumption value is a rectangular wave, and the limitation of the current consumption value of the response means is made by modifying both the rise and the decay of the rectangular wave into stairs-shaped waves by partially notching the rectangular wave.

16. A game system according to claim 13, wherein:

a limitation of the current consumption of the response means having a large current consumption value represents a reduction of amplitude of a current consumption waveform.

17. A game system according to claim 13, wherein:

said predetermined control data includes data representing current to be applied, a voltage to be applied and a time to be applied.

18. A game system according to claim 13, wherein:

said function information includes information representing a mode which is able to be set by the game machine manipulation device, and

said game apparatus sets the mode of the game machine manipulation device based on the function information.

19. A game system according to claim 18, wherein:

said function information includes information representing either of an analogue mode and a digital mode, which are communication control modes for said game machine manipulation device, and

said game machine manipulation device is set in either of an analogue mode and a digital mode.

20. A bidirectional communication method for a game apparatus for receiving data of manipulation performed by a plurality of manipulation members from a game machine manipulation device and for transmitting predetermined control data to said game machine manipulation device, said bidirectional communication method comprising the steps of:

(a) transmitting an information request command to said game machine manipulation device;

(b) receiving function information as a response to said information request command, including each current consumption value of at least one of response means for performing a response action according to an instruction from the game apparatus. said response means being possessed by said game machine manipulation device;

(c) obtaining a gross current consumption value of all of said response means to be prepared for performing a response action in accordance with ongoing game contents based on said function information;

(d) when the gross current consumption value is larger than a predetermined specified value, either of the following is performed so as to make the gross current consumption value be not more than a specified value;

(i) generating predetermined control data to limit a current consumption value of a response means having a large current consumption value, out of all the response means to be prepared for performing the response action, or

(ii) generating predetermined control data to limit the current consumption values of all the response means to be prepared for performing the response action; and

(e) transmitting said predetermined control data generated in step (d)(i) or (d)(ii) to the game machine manipulation device so as to make all the response means which are prepared for performing the response action perform the response action.

21. A bidirectional communication method according to claim 20, wherein:

a limitation of the current consumption of the response means having a large current consumption value represents a reduction of amplitude of a current consumption waveform.

22. A bidirectional communication method according to claim 20, wherein:

said predetermined control data includes data representing current to be applied, a voltage to be applied and a time to be applied.

23. A bidirectional communication method according to claim 20, wherein:

said function information includes information indicating a mode that is able to be set by the game machine manipulation device, and the mode of the game machine manipulation device is set based on said function information.

24. A bidirectional communication method according to claim 20, wherein:

said function information includes information representing either of an analogue mode and a digital mode, which are communication control modes for said game machine manipulation device, and

said game machine manipulation device is set in either of said analogue mode and said digital mode.