HANDHELD STEERING WHEEL GAME CONTROLLER

• US 20030045352A1
• Filed: 08/29/2001
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Radica China, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Radica Games LTD (Mattel Incorporated)
• Inventors: Woodward, James, Ireland, Simon, Cheung, Ho Yiu, Brase, Kevin D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,544,124 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• 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 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• 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 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1093 using visible light
• 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

Abstract

A handheld game controller for use with a dedicated game system, personal computer, or other device is provided. The game controller includes two user grippable portions, typically a pair of handles, which the user holds during game play. As a result of this configuration, during use the game controller neither rests on nor becomes attached to a rigid surface such as a desk, tabletop, or other stationary object. In one aspect, one handle of the game controller is held by one of the user'"'"'s hands while the second handle of the game controller, held by the user'"'"'s other hand, is free to rotate within the predetermined rotational limits of the device. In a typical application, right direction and left direction control signals are sent to the game system or personal computer as a result of clockwise rotation and counter-clockwise rotation of the second handle of the game controller, respectively. A sensor coupled to the second handle generates the control signals. A tensioning system is preferably used to urge the second handle of the game controller to a null position typically located halfway between the extreme clockwise and counter-clockwise positions of the second handle. The game controller may include one or more button zones, with each button zone preferably being easily accessible by the user during game play, for example, with one of the user'"'"'s thumbs or forefingers. The game controller may also include one or more status indicators.

Claims

1. A game controller comprising:

a first handle grippable by a first hand of a user;

a second handle rotatably coupled to said first handle and grippable by a second hand of said user, wherein said second handle rotatably pivots about a pivot point defined by said first handle; and

a sensor coupled to said second handle, said sensor generating second handle position information, wherein said game controller is unattached to a stationary surface during use.

2. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a hub rigidly coupled to said first handle, wherein said pivot point is within said hub.

3. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a hub portion integral to said first handle, wherein said pivot point is within said hub portion.

4. The game controller of claim 1, wherein said sensor generates a left control signal when said second handle is rotated in a counter-clockwise motion relative to said first handle and relative to a null position, and wherein said sensor generates a right control signal when said second handle is rotated in a clockwise motion relative to said first handle and relative to said null position.

5. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising means for urging said second handle to a null position.

6. The game controller of claim 5, wherein said null position is substantially midway between an extreme clockwise position of said second handle relative to said first handle and an extreme counter-clockwise position of said second handle relative to said first handle.

7. The game controller of claim 5, wherein said urging means is comprised of at least one spring element.

8. The game controller of claim 5, wherein said urging means comprises:

a spring element flexibly coupled to said second handle, wherein a first pinning portion rigidly coupled to said second handle and a second pinning portion rigidly coupled to said second handle define a spring element static position;

a first deflection pin rigidly coupled to said first handle, wherein clockwise motion of said second handle relative to said first handle deflects a first portion of said spring element from said spring element static position; and

a second deflection pin rigidly coupled to said first handle, wherein counter-clockwise motion of said second handle relative to said first handle deflects a second portion of said spring element from said spring element static position.

9. The game controller of claim 5, wherein said urging means is comprised of at least element selected from the group consisting of coiled springs, plate springs, compound springs and elastomers.

10. The game controller of claim 5, wherein said urging means comprises:

a spring element flexibly coupled to said second handle, wherein a first pinning portion rigidly coupled to said second handle and a second pinning portion rigidly coupled to said second handle define a spring element static position;

a first deflection pin rigidly coupled to a hub portion integral to said first handle, wherein clockwise motion of said second handle relative to said first handle deflects a first portion of said spring element from said spring element static position; and

a second deflection pin rigidly coupled to said hub portion integral to said first handle, wherein counter-clockwise motion of said second handle relative to said first handle deflects a second portion of said spring element from said spring element static position.

11. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a hub rigidly coupled to said first handle, wherein said pivot point is within said hub;

a spring element flexibly coupled to said second handle, wherein a first pinning portion rigidly coupled to said second handle and a second pinning portion rigidly coupled to said second handle define a spring element static position;

a first deflection pin rigidly coupled to said hub, wherein clockwise motion of said second handle relative to said first handle deflects a first portion of said spring element from said spring element static position, wherein said spring element applies force to said first deflection pin, said applied force urging said second handle to a null position; and

a second deflection pin rigidly coupled to said hub portion integral to said first handle, wherein counter-clockwise motion of said second handle relative to said first handle deflects a second portion of said spring element from said spring element static position, wherein said spring element applies force to said second deflection pin, said applied force urging said second handle to said null position.

12. The game controller of claim 1, wherein said sensor further comprises a potentiometer.

13. The game controller of claim 1, wherein said sensor is selected from the group of sensors consisting of Hall effect sensors and optical sensors.

14. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a button zone integral to said first handle, wherein said button zone is accessible by a thumb of the user when the first handle is gripped.

15. The game controller of claim 2, further comprising:

a first button zone integral to said first handle, wherein said first button zone is accessible by a thumb of the user when the first handle is gripped; and

a second button zone integral to said hub, wherein said second button zone is accessible by a thumb of the user when the first handle is gripped.

16. The game controller of claim 3, further comprising:

a first button zone integral to said first handle, wherein said first button zone is accessible by a thumb of the user when the first handle is gripped; and

a second button zone integral to said hub portion, wherein said second button zone is accessible by a thumb of the user when the first handle is gripped.

17. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a first button zone integral to said first handle, wherein said first button zone is accessible by a thumb of the user when the first handle is gripped; and

a second button zone integral to said first handle, wherein said second button zone is accessible by an index finger of the user when the first handle is gripped.

18. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a multipad, said multipad comprised of a multivalue generator.

19. The game controller of claim 18, wherein said multipad is accessible by a thumb of the user when the first handle is gripped.

20. The game controller of claim 18, wherein said multipad is accessible by a thumb of the user when the second handle is gripped.

21. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising at least one indicator light.

22. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a control circuit, said control circuit producing at least one digital data stream.

23. A game controller comprising:

a hub;

a first handle rigidly coupled to said hub and grippable by a first hand of a user;

a second handle rotatably coupled to said first handle and grippable by a second hand of said user, wherein said second handle rotatably pivots about a pivot point within said hub, wherein said game controller is unattached to a stationary surface during use;

a sensor coupled to said second handle, said sensor generating a left control signal when said second handle is rotated in a counter-clockwise motion relative to said first handle and relative to a null position, and wherein said sensor generates a right control signal when said second handle is rotated in a clockwise motion relative to said first handle and relative to said null position;

a spring element coupled to said second handle, said spring element urging said second handle to said null position;

a button zone integral to said first handle, wherein said button zone is accessible by a thumb of the user when the first handle is gripped; and

a control circuit for communicating said left and right control signals to a game system.

24. A game controller comprising:

a hub, wherein a holding region of said hub is grippable by a first hand of a user;

a second handle rotatably coupled to said hub and grippable by a second hand of said user, wherein said second handle rotatably pivots about a pivot point within said hub, wherein said game controller is unattached to a stationary surface during use;

a sensor coupled to said second handle, said sensor generating a left control signal when said second handle is rotated in a counter-clockwise motion relative to said hub and relative to a null position, and wherein said sensor generates a right control signal when said second handle is rotated in a clockwise motion relative to said hub and relative to said null position;

a spring element coupled to said second handle, said spring element urging said second handle to said null position;

a first button zone integral to a front surface of said hub, wherein said first button zone is accessible by a thumb of the user when the holding region of said hub is gripped;

a second button zone integral to a back surface of said hub, wherein said second button zone is accessible by an index finger of the user when the holding region of said hub is gripped; and

a control circuit for communicating said left and right control signals to a game system.

25. A method of generating control signals for transmission to a gaming system for the purpose of simulating directional control of a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

gripping a first handle with a first hand of a user;

gripping a second handle with a second hand of a user, wherein said first and second handles are uncoupled to a stationary object surface;

generating a right control signal upon rotating said second handle in a clockwise motion relative to said first handle; and

generating a left control signal upon rotating said second handle in a counter-clockwise motion relative to said first handle.