Operating device

• US 9,028,326 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2014
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Yoshio, Hamada, Koji, Onuki, Yoshikazu, Enomoto, Kazuyoshi, Sumi, Yutaka, Araki, Takamasa, Ito, Takamasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chan, Allen
• Application Number:
  US14/263,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20140235349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 463 36- 39, 345/158
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• 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 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/302 specially adapted for receiving control signals not targeted to a display device or game input means, e.g. vibrating driver's seat, scent dispenser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

Provided is an operation device which allows various kinds of operation information to be input to a main body thereof as needed without unnecessarily increasing the weight of the operation device. The operation device includes: the main body having a shape elongated from one end to another end; a light emitting member provided to the one end of the main body; and a connection portion provided to the other end of the main body, to which an arbitrary one of a plurality of other operation devices is to be connected.

Claims

1. An operation device comprising:

a main body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a light emitting member located on the distal end of the main body; and

a connection portion located on the proximal end of the main body to which a plurality of operation modules can be connected,

wherein each of the plurality of operation modules comprises;

a portion to be connected to the connection portion of the operation device;

an additional connection portion which is provided on an opposite side of the portion to be connected, wherein the additional connection portion has the same shape as the connection portion of the main body so that another one of the plurality of operation modules can be connected thereto in series, and

a rotation mechanism on the portion to be connected to the connection portion for changing a direction of an input member.

2. The operation device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of operation modules comprises:

identification information storing means for storing identification information for identifying a type of the operation module, and

wherein the main body comprises identification information acquiring means for acquiring the identification information from the identification information storing means contained in each of the operation modules connected directly or indirectly to the main body.

3. The operation device according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises:

order discriminating means for discriminating an order of the operation modules connected to the main body in series.

4. The operation device according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of operation modules comprises:

a signal line located between the portion to be connected to the connection portion and the additional connection portion; and

a voltmeter for measuring a voltage at a predetermined position on the signal line, wherein the main body comprises a power source for applying, from one end side thereof, a predetermined voltage to the signal lines of the operation modules connected in series, and

wherein the order discriminating means discriminates the order of the operation modules connected to the main body in series based on the voltage measured by each of the voltmeters.

5. The operation device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of operation modules is configured to connect to the main body or another one of the plurality of other operation modules in a plurality of directions.

6. The operation device according to claim 5, further comprising:

determination means for determining the direction of the input member.

7. The operation device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one of the plurality of operation modules comprises a sensor for detecting a posture of the at least one of the plurality of operation modules, wherein the main body comprises a sensor for detecting a posture of the main body, and

wherein the determination means determines the direction of the input member provided on the at least one of the plurality of operation modules with respect to the main body, based on a result of the detection by the sensor in the main body and a result of the detection by the sensor in the at least one of the plurality of operation modules.