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

• US 7,905,781 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US12/457,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20090325702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 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 plurality of sub-switches arranged to be circumferentially distributed around the main switch in an area excluding a lower area of said main switch and 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 area of said main switch, a second sub-switch arranged at a left area of the main switch, and a third sub-switch arranged at a right area of the main switch, and each of which has a shape smaller than a shape of the main switch.

2. An operating device for game machine according to claim 1, wherein

said main switch has a shape formed to be circular,

said first sub-switch is arranged on a concentric circle centering said main switch.

3. An operating device for game machine according to claim 1, wherein

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

4. An operating device for game machine according to claim 3, wherein said second sub-switch and said third sub-switch are arranged at a symmetric position with respect to said first axis.

5. An operating device for game machine according to claim 1, wherein said first sub-switch has a key top thereof formed higher than a key top of said main switch.

6. An operating device for game machine according to claim 1, wherein one said sub-switch is arranged to be closer to a center side of said housing than said main switch out of the second sub-switch and the third sub-switch has a key top thereof formed lower than a key top of said main switch.

7. An operating device for game machine according to claim 1, wherein said second and/or third sub-switch has a shape expanding along an outer periphery of the shape of said main switch.

8. An operating device for game machine according to claim 1, further comprising a direction designating operating portion which is arranged in a vicinity of another side surface on one main surface of said housing and in a vicinity of a position of a thumb finger of another hand holding the housing, and is configured to designate a direction of a moving direction of a character appearing in a game.

9. An operating device for game machine according to claim 8, wherein

said main switch has a shape formed to be circular, and

said plurality of sub-switches are arranged on a concentric circle centering said main switch, and in addition, have a shape extending to a circumferential direction of the concentric circle.

15. An operating device for game machine according to claim 3, wherein said housing includes a grip which protrudes toward a direction approximately parallel from a lower portion of said main switch to said first axis, and has a shape to be gripped by a palm of the one hand of a player.

10. An image controller configured to control imagery displayed on a television, comprising:

a first member rotatable on two mutually perpendicular axes, the rotation being translatable into signals for controlling the imagery displayed on the television;

a finger depressible first button configured to output varying signals dependent upon varying actuation of the first button controlling the imagery displayed on the television;

a motor configured to provide vibration detectable by a human user holding the controller;

an emitter mounted to the controller configured to provide wireless communication controlling the imagery displayed on the television.

11. An image controller according to claim 10 further comprising a second member rotatable on two mutually perpendicular axes, the rotation being translatable into signals controlling the imagery displayed on the television.

12. An image controller according to claim 10 further comprising a finger depressible second button configured to output varying signals dependent upon varying actuation of the second button controlling the imagery displayed on the television.

13. A graphics controller configured to control imagery, comprising:

a first button positioned on the graphics controller such that the first button is activatable by a single human finger, the first button being connected to a first proportional sensor, the first proportional sensor being configured to create a signal usable to control the imagery;

a second button positioned on the graphics controller such that the second button is activatable by a single human finger, the second button being connected to a second proportional sensor, the second proportional sensor being configured to create a signal usable to control the imagery;

an input element movable on more than two axes, wherein movement of the input element is configured to control more than two axes of the imagery.

14. A graphics controller according to claim 13 further comprising a second input element movable on at least two axes, wherein movement of the second input element is configured to control at least two axes of the imagery.