Weight applying unit for calibration and weight applying method for calibration

• US 8,887,547 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hosiden Corporation, Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Hitoshi, Nagareda, Takeshi, Umekawa, Masahiko, Ichikawa, Ryuji, Mori, Takeshi, Takeda, Kazuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US13/192,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20110281650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: 73/11.3, 463/7, 463 36- 38
• US Class Current: 73/1.13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/22 Weigh pans or other weighing receptacles; Weighing platforms
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/01 Testing or calibrating of weighing apparatus

Abstract

A game controller including multiple sensors for detecting a pressure load of a user for use as an input device of a game apparatus. The game controller includes a load platform adapted to receive the pressure load of the user; a plurality of load sensors arranged in the load platform for detecting the pressure load of the user, each load sensor generating an independent detected load signal; and a connector to operationally connect the plurality of load sensors to the game apparatus for transmitting a transmission signal to the game apparatus to facilitate gameplay. The transmission signal includes the independent detected load signal of at least one load sensor such that the transmission signal includes at least one independent detected load signal corresponding to at least one load sensor of the plurality of load sensors.

Claims

1. A game controller including multiple sensors for detecting a pressure load of a user for use as an input device of a game apparatus, the game controller comprising:

a load platform configured to receive the pressure load of the user; and

a plurality of load sensors arranged in the load platform and configured to detect the pressure load of the user, each load sensor generating an independent detected load signal,

the game controller configured to transmit a transmission signal to the game apparatus, the transmission signal including the independent detected load signal of at least one load sensor such that the transmission signal includes at least one independent detected load signal corresponding to at least one load sensor of the plurality of load sensors.

2. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the transmission signal includes identification information and the independent detected load signal for each of the plurality of load sensors.

3. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising an amplifier for each load sensor, each amplifier being connected to an A/D converter.

4. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the load platform is substantially rectangular with a load sensor at each of the four corners.

5. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the load platform comprises a frame to support the load sensors.

6. The game controller of claim 1, wherein each load sensor comprises a strain element.

7. The game controller of claim 6, wherein the strain element is configured in a cylindrical housing between an upper plate and a lower plate.

8. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the load platform is configured to receive a left foot and a right foot of the user such that the user can stand on the load platform.

9. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a microcomputer located within the load platform and operatively coupled to each of the load sensors to receive each independent detected load signal, the microcomputer comprising a ROM and a RAM, the microcomputer being configured to control operation of the load platform in accordance with a program stored in the ROM, and further comprising a battery that is configured as a power supply to the microcomputer.

10. The game controller of claim 9, wherein the game controller is further configured to control a supply of power to the microcomputer by the game apparatus.

11. A game controller including multiple sensors for detecting a pressure load of a user for use as an input device of a game apparatus, the game controller comprising:

a load platform configured to receive the pressure load of the user; and

a plurality of load sensors supporting the load platform and configured to detect the pressure load of the user, each load sensor comprising a strain element and generating an independent detected load signal,

the game controller configured to transmit a transmission signal to the game apparatus, the transmission signal including the independent detected load signal of at least one load sensor such that the transmission signal includes at least one independent detected load signal corresponding to at least one load sensor of the plurality of load sensors.

12. The game controller of claim 11, further comprising an amplifier for each load sensor, each amplifier being connected to an A/D converter.

13. The game controller of claim 11, wherein the load platform is substantially rectangular with a load sensor at each of the four corners.

14. The game controller of claim 11, wherein the load platform comprises a frame to support the load sensors.

15. The game controller of claim 11, wherein the strain element is between an upper plate and a lower plate in a housing that supports and acts as a leg for the game controller.

16. The game controller of claim 11, wherein the load platform is adapted to receive a left foot and a right foot of the user such that the user can stand on the load platform.

17. The game controller of claim 11, further comprising a microcomputer located within the load platform and operatively coupled to each of the load sensors to receive each independent detected load signal, the microcomputer comprising a ROM and a RAM, the microcomputer being configured to control operation of the load platform in accordance with a program stored in the ROM, and further comprising a battery that is configured as a power supply to the microcomputer.

18. The game controller of claim 17, wherein the game controller is further configured to control a supply of power to the microcomputer by the game apparatus.

19. A system comprising a game apparatus, a display, and a game controller including multiple sensors for detecting a pressure load of a user for use as an input device of a game apparatus, wherein the game controller comprises:

a load platform configured to receive the pressure load of the user; and

a plurality of load sensors arranged in the load platform and configured to detect the pressure load of the user, each load sensor generating an independent detected load signal,

the game controller configured to transmit a transmission signal to the game apparatus, the transmission signal including the independent detected load signal of at least one load sensor such that the transmission signal includes at least one independent detected load signal corresponding to at least one load sensor of the plurality of load sensors.

20. A system comprising a game apparatus, a display, and a game controller including multiple sensors for detecting a pressure load of a user for use as an input device of a game apparatus, wherein the game controller comprises:

a load platform configured to receive the pressure load of the user; and

a plurality of load sensors supporting the load platform and configured to detect the pressure load of the user, each load sensor comprising a strain element and generating an independent detected load signal,

the game controller configured to transmit a transmission signal to the game apparatus, the transmission signal including identification information for each of the plurality of load sensors and the independent detected load signal of each load sensor such that the transmission signal includes each independent detected load signal corresponding to each load sensor.

21. A method for controlling a game using a game controller including multiple sensors for detecting a pressure load of a user for use as an input device of a game apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving the pressure load of the user on a load platform;

detecting the pressure load of the user using a plurality of load sensors;

generating an independent detected load signal for each of the plurality of load sensors; and

transmitting a transmission signal to the game apparatus, the transmission signal including the independent detected load signal of at least one load sensor such that the transmission signal includes at least one independent detected load signal corresponding to at least one load sensor of the plurality of load sensors.

22. A method for controlling a game using a game controller including multiple sensors for detecting a pressure load of a user for use as an input device of a game apparatus, the method comprising:

supporting a load platform with a plurality of load sensors;

receiving the pressure load of the user on the load platform;

detecting the pressure load of the user using a strain element contained within each of the plurality of load sensors;

generating an independent detected load signal for each of the plurality of load sensors; and

transmitting a transmission signal to the game apparatus, the transmission signal including identification information for each of the plurality of load sensors and the independent detected load signal of each load sensor such that the transmission signal includes each independent detected load signal corresponding to each load sensor.