Controller and expansion unit for controller

• US 7,473,180 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Inventors: Himoto, Atsunori, Tosaki, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): D'Agostino; Paul Anthony
• Application Number:
  US11/107,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20050215322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• 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 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• 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: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 : Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/80 : specially adapted for executing a specific type of game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 : Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 : Shooting

Abstract

An expansion unit 50, 60 or 70 is connected to a controller body 10 including an analog direction key 12, a digital direction key 14, command buttons 20a-20z, command levers 22l, 22r, etc. An expansion unit 50 including a photo emitting unit 52 is connected to thereby make the controller cordless. An expansion unit 60 including a photo detecting unit 65, whereby shooting games in which an enemy on a monitor screen can be shot can be played. An expansion unit 70 including a vibration unit 75 is connected, whereby a vibration is given to the controller body 10 to make a shooting game more realistic. New functions can be added to the conventional controller, and the new functions can be added freely without making no change to the controller body.

Claims

1. An electronic device for executing a game in response to instruction signals from a manipulating controller,

wherein said manipulating controller comprises a first direction key arranged so as to give signals indicative of preset discrete directions, a plurality of instruction buttons and a second direction key arranged so as to give signals indicative of arbitrary directions, said manipulating controller being arranged so as to transmit to said electronic device signals indicative of preset discrete directions generated by manipulating said first direction key, one-shot signals generated by manipulating plurality of instruction buttons, and signals indicative of arbitrary directions or of continuously changing directions generated by manipulating said second direction key,

said electronic devices comprising:

means for executing a game by a first game operation mode in response to signals of said preset discrete directions and said one-shot signals;

means for executing a game by a second game operation mode in response to signals including signals of said arbitrary directions; and

means for executing the game selectively by one of said first and second operation modes when received instruction signals from said manipulating controller.