Game operating device

• US 20070060391A1
• Filed: 06/05/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ito, Kuniaki, Ikeda, Akio
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,745 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/46
• 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 13/211 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 13/235 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 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes

Abstract

A game operating device (controller) includes a longitudinal housing, and a holding portion held by hand to be wrapped by its palm it is formed in the housing. A direction switch is provided on an upper surface at a position where it can be operated by thumb of the hand holding the holding portion, and a start switch and a select switch are provided backward thereof. An X button 46 and a Y button are further arranged in line on the upper surface of the housing. An imaging information arithmetic unit is provided at a front end of the housing in a longitudinal direction in such a manner that an imaging device thereof is exposed from a front-end surface. A concave portion is formed on a lower surface at a position corresponding to the direction switch. The concave portion includes a valley and two inclined surfaces. An A button capable of being operated by index finger of the hand holding the holding portion is provided on the backward inclined surface. By processing an image signal obtained by imaging an infrared ray from LED modules by the imaging device, it is possible to obtain an operation signal varying according to a position and/or attitude of the controller.

Claims

1. A game operating device, comprising:

a longitudinal housing;

a first operating portion provided on a first plane of said housing along a longitudinal direction at one end in the longitudinal direction;

a second operating portion provided on a second plane opposed to said first plane of said housing at a position corresponding to said first operating portion; and

a holding portion formed in a direction of the other end along said longitudinal direction of said housing from said second operating portion.

4. A game operating device according to claim 1, wherein said first operating portion is a direction switch including a plurality of switch contacts arranged in shape of a polygon and a single key top or a plurality of key tops for turning on or off the switch contacts, and

said second operating portion is at least one operating switch including a switch contact and a key top for turning on or off the switch contact.

5. A game operating device according to claim 4, wherein in said first operating portion, the key top is provided in such a manner that a pressing direction is perpendicular to said first plane, and

in said second operating portion, the key top is provided in such a manner that a pressing direction is faced toward said holding portion and is not perpendicular to said first plane.

7. A game operating device according to claim 1, further comprising a concave portion formed in said housing, wherein

said second operating portion is provided in said concave portion.

8. A game operating device according to claim 7, wherein said concave portion includes a first inclined surface with inclination toward said holding portion and a second inclined surface with inclination toward an opposite side of said holding portion, and

said second operating portion is provided on said first inclined surface of said concave portion.

9. A game operating device according to claim 8, wherein said concave portion is formed in such a manner that an angle of inclination of said second inclined surface toward said first plane is smaller than an angle of inclination of said first inclined surface toward said first plane.

10. A game operating device according to claim 7, wherein said concave portion includes at least a parallel surface approximately parallel to said first plane and an inclined surface between said parallel surface and said holding portion, and said second operating portion is provided on said inclined surface.

11. A game operating device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a position and/or attitude determining means provided within said holding portion of said housing, for determining at least one of position and attitude of said housing; and

an output means for outputting information on the position and/or attitude determined by said position and/or attitude determining means as an operating signal, together with an operation signal from at least one of said first operating portion and said second operating portion.

12. A game operating device according to claim 11, wherein said position and/or attitude determining means includes at least one of an acceleration sensor and a gyro-sensor.

13. A game operating device according to claim 4, wherein said first operating portion further includes a pressing switch including a switch contact and a key top for turning on or off the switch contact, which are separated from those of said direction switch, and

said pressing switch is provided on said first plane of the holding portion in vicinity of said direction switch.

14. A game operating device according to claim 13, wherein the key top of said direction switch is provided at a higher position as compared with the key top of said pressing switch.

2. A game operating device, comprising:

a longitudinal housing having a thickness capable of being held by one hand;

a first operating portion provided on a first plane of said housing along a longitudinal direction;

a second operating portion provided on a second plane opposed to said first plane of said housing at a position reached by an index finger of said one hand when a thumb of said one hand is placed on said first operating portion; and

a holding portion formed on said housing, wherein

said holding portion is formed at a position where can be held by a palm and other fingers of said one hand, when the thumb is placed on said first operating portion and the index finger is placed on said second operating portion.

6. A game operating device according to claim 2, wherein said second operating portion is at least one operating switch including a switch contact and a key top for turning on or off the switch contact, and

said key top is pressed along a direction of said holding portion when said index finger is bent.

15. A game operating device according to claim 2, wherein said first operating portion is a direction switch including a plurality of switch contacts arranged in shape of a polygon and a single key top or a plurality of key tops for turning on or off the switch contacts, and

said second operating portion is at least one operating switch including a switch contact and a key top for turning on or off the switch contact.

18. A game operating device according to claim 2, further comprising a concave portion formed in said housing, wherein

said second operating portion is provided in said concave portion.

20. A game operating device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a position and/or attitude determining means provided within said holding portion of said housing, for determining at least one of position and attitude of said housing; and

an output means for outputting information on the position and/or attitude determined by said position and/or attitude determining means as an operating signal, together with an operation signal from at least one of said first operating portion and said second operating portion.

3. A game operating device, comprising:

a longitudinal housing;

a holding portion formed at one part of said housing in a longitudinal direction and capable of being held by a palm of one hand;

a first operating portion provided on said housing at a position reached by a thumb of said one hand when said holding portion is held by said palm; and

a second operating portion provided on said housing at a position reached by an index finger of said one hand when said holding portion is held by said palm, wherein

said first operating portion and said second operating portion are arranged at positions corresponding to each other on a first plane and a second plane opposite to the first plane of said housing, respectively.

16. A game operating device according to claim 3, wherein said first operating portion is a direction switch including a plurality of switch contacts arranged in shape of a polygon and a single key top or a plurality of key tops for turning on or off the switch contacts, and

said second operating portion is at least one operating switch including a switch contact and a key top for turning on or off the switch contact.

17. A game operating device according to claim 3, wherein said second operating portion is at least one operating switch including a switch contact and a key top for turning on or off the switch contact, and

said key top is pressed along a direction of said holding portion when said index finger is bent.

19. A game operating device according to claim 3, further comprising a concave portion formed in said housing, wherein

said second operating portion is provided in said concave portion.

21. A game operating device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a position and/or attitude determining means provided within said holding portion of said housing, for determining at least one of position and attitude of said housing; and

an output means for outputting information on the position and/or attitude determined by said position and/or attitude determining means as an operating signal, together with an operation signal from at least one of said first operating portion and said second operating portion.