Information processing apparatus, information storing medium and program thereof, and operating device for game machine

• US 7,568,975 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Koshiishi, Kazunori, Koshima, Kazuo, Nagaoka, Tomotsugu, Sasamoto, Shin'ichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/070,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20050153777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: 463 36- 38, 345/156, 345/161
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/06 using player-operated means for controlling the position of a specific area display
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• 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 13/355 Performing operations on behalf of clients with restricted processing capabilities, e.g. servers transform changing game scene into an encoded video stream for transmitting to a mobile phone or a thin client
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/42 by mapping the input signals into game commands, e.g. mapping the displacement of a stylus on a touch screen to the steering angle of a virtual vehicle
• 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 2300/1037 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 2300/538 for performing operations on behalf of the game client, e.g. rendering
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting

Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes a controller (1), and a game machine (2) to which the controller (1) is connected, and from at least one of a plurality of switches provided on the controller (1), a digital output or an analog output is obtained in accordance-with an operating state of the switches thereof. A CPU of the game machine (2) carries out a first processing operation of game information in response to the analog output, and also carries out a second processing operation associated with the first processing operation in response to the digital output.

Claims

1. An operating device for game machine for instructing an action of a character appearing in a game, comprising:

a housing;

a main switch arranged in a vicinity of one side surface on one main surface of said housing and in a vicinity of a thumb finger of one hand holding the housing; and

a first sub-switch which is arranged in an upper portion area of said main switch on a first axis which slants a longitudinal axis of said housing passing a center of said main switch toward a center of the housing, and has a shape smaller than a shape of the main switch.

2. An operating device for game machine for instructing an action of a character appearing in a game, comprising:

a housing in an oblong shape;

a main switch arranged in a vicinity of one side surface on one main surface of said housing and in a vicinity of a thumb finger of one hand holding the housing; and

a plurality of sub-switches arranged to be circumferentially distributed around the main switch in an area excluding a lower area of said main switch within an area that the thumb finger is movable, wherein

said plurality of sub-switches are constituted to include a first sub-switch arranged at an upper portion area of said main switch, a second sub-switch arranged at a left side area of the main switch, and a third sub-switch arranged at a right side area of the main switch, and in addition, each of which has a shape smaller than a shape of the main switch, and

said first sub-switch is arranged on a first axis which slants a longitudinal axis of said housing passing a center of said main switch toward a center of the housing by a predetermined degree.

3. An image controller controlling an image generation device, comprising:

a first element on said controller structured to activate a first two proportional sensors useful to control the image generation device;

a second element on said controller structured to activate a second two proportional sensors useful to control the image generation device;

an independent first button on said controller, said first button depressible by a single finger of a user, said first button positioned to activate a first proportional sensor, said first button positioned to also activate a simple switched On/Off sensor useful to control the image generation device;

an independent second button on said controller, said second button depressible by a single finger of the user, said second button positioned to activate a second proportional sensor, said second button positioned to also activate a simple switched On/Off sensor useful to control the image generation device.

4. An image controller according to claim 3 comprising vibration feedback structure providing vibration detectable by the user of said controller, said vibration feedback structure comprising a motor mounted in said controller;

said controller further comprising;

a wireless communication structure communicating between said controller and the image generation device.

5. A graphics controller used with a television based game, comprising:

an emitter wirelessly communicating between said controller and the game;

a first proportional sensor controlling a first axis of the game;

a second proportional sensor controlling a second axis of the game;

a third proportional sensor controlling a third axis of the game;

a fourth proportional sensor controlling a forth axis of the game;

an independent first button activating a fifth proportional sensor, said first button depressible by a single finger of a user, said fifth proportional sensor outputting a proportional signal controlling the game;

an independent second button activating a sixth proportional sensor, said second button depressible by a single finger of the user, said sixth proportional sensor outputting a proportional signal controlling the game;

a sheet connecting to at least four of the sensors;

a motor providing active tactile feedback vibration to a user of said controller.

6. A graphics controller controlling imagery, comprising:

a first button, the first button positioned on the graphics controller in a manner that the first button may be activated by a single human finger, the first button is connected to a first proportional sensor, the first proportional sensor creates a signal that is used to control the imagery;

a second button, the second button positioned on the graphics controller in a manner that the second button may be activated by a single human finger, the second button is connected to a second proportional sensor, the second proportional sensor creates a signal that is used to control the imagery;

an input element, the input element is movable on more than two axes, movement of the input element controls more than two axes of the imagery;

a second input element, the second input element is movable on at least two axes, of the second input element controls at least two axes of the imagery; and

wherein said second input element is movable on more than two axes, movement of the second input element controls more than two axes of the imagery.

7. A graphics controller according to claim 6 further comprising an emitter wirelessly communicating between the controller and a graphics generation device communicating to a television, the television displays the imagery.

8. An image controller controlling game imagery, comprising:

a first button, the first button positioned on the graphics controller in a manner that the first button may be activated by a single human finger, the first button is connected to a first proportional sensor, the first proportional sensor creates a signal that is used to control game imagery;

a second button, the second button positioned on the graphics controller in a manner that the second button may be activated by a single human finger, the second button is connected to a second proportional sensor, the second proportional sensor creates a signal that is used to control game imagery;

an input element, the input element is movable on two axes, movement of the input element controls two axes of game imagery;

vibration is supplied from the graphics controller to a hand grasping the controller.

9. An image controller according to claim 8 wherein the vibration is provided by a motor and a weight located in the controller.

10. An image controller according to claim 8 further comprising an emitter wirelessly communicating between the controller and a graphics generation device communicating to a television, the television displays the game imagery.

11. A remote control controlling a graphic image generation device, said remote control comprising:

a sheet;

a first element structured to activate a first two proportional sensors, said first two proportional sensors connected to said sheet, said first two proportional sensors useful to control the graphic image generation device;

a second element structured to activate a second two proportional sensors, said second two proportional sensors useful to control the graphic image generation device;

said second two proportional sensors connected to said sheet;

an independent first button sensor, said first button sensor depressible by a single finger of a user, said first button sensor connected to said sheet, said first button sensor operable to transform depression into a proportional signal useful to control the graphic image generation device;

an independent second button sensor, said second button sensor depressible by a single finger of the user, said second button sensor connected to said sheet, said second button sensor operable to transform depression into a proportional signal useful to control the graphic image generation device;

communication structure located in said remote control and wirelessly sending electromagnetic radiation from said remote control to the graphic image generation device.