Controller for image processing apparatus

• US 5,602,569 A
• Filed: 04/24/1995
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kato, Shuhei
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US08/427,036
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 345/158, 345/156, 345/157, 273/148 B, 273/460, 74/471 R, 74/471 XY
• US Class Current: 345/158
• 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 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20012 Multiple controlled elements

Abstract

A controller includes a housing in which a containing portion (102) which is provided with recess supporting portions (151) on its both inner side surfaces. A shaft (152) of a rotator (153) is off-centered and supported by the supporting portions (151) in a point-contact manner. A plurality of slits (155) are formed on the rotator (153) so as to form a concentric circle with the shaft (152) as a center. Two optical sensors (156, 157; 158, 159) detect the slits at positions different from each other. On the basis of outputs of the optical sensors (157, 159), a lean angle and a leaned direction of the housing which is leaned by an operator are detected. Therefore, an image generating apparatus changes image data so as to cause an image to change according to the lean angle and the leaned direction.

Claims

1. A controller utilized with being connected to an image processing apparatus which generates image data to be displayed on a display on the basis of a program, and for supplying a signal which determines a change of the image data generated by the image processing apparatus through an operation by an operator, comprising:

an operating portion which takes an arbitrary attitude according to an operation by the operator;

a bearing portion fixed to said operating portion;

a rotator having a shaft which is supported by said bearing portion with rotation free and has an eccentric center of gravity;

a lean angle detection means which detects a lean angle of the operating portion with respect to an eccentric direction of said rotator in non-contact with the rotator, and outputs data corresponding to the lean angle; and

a transfer means which transfers the data outputted by the lean angle detection means to said image processing apparatus.

2. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said lean angle detection means includes an analog detection means which generates an analog amount according to said lean angle.

3. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said lean angle detection means includes a digital detection means which generates digital data according to the lean angle.

4. A controller according to claim 3, wherein said rotator includes a plurality of angle identifying portions formed along a rotation direction of the rotator in a manner that the rotation angle with respect to the eccentric direction can be identified, and

said lean angle detection means includes

a first pulse generating means which generates a first pulse equal to the number of said angle identifying portions in accordance with said lean angle,

a second pulse generating means which generates a second pulse having a deviated phase from the first pulse generated by said first pulse generating means,

a rotation direction determining means which determines said rotator is rotated in any direction of a forward direction and a backward direction on the basis of the first pulse and the second pulse from said first pulse generating means and said second pulse generating means, and

a numeral data generating means which counts one of the first pulse and the second pulse from said first pulse generating means and said second pulse generating means on the basis of the rotation direction determined by said rotation direction determining means, and outputs numeral value data equal to the lean angle.

5. A controller according to claim 4, wherein said angle identifying portions are formed in a circumferential direction with said shaft as a center in an optically detectable manner, and

said first pulse generating means and said second pulse generating means each including an optical pulse generating means which includes a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion, and outputting pulses at a time that a light from the light emitting portion is detected by the light receiving portion via said angle identifying portions.

6. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said rotator is arranged in a manner that a center axis of the rotation of said rotator and a center axis of the rotation of said operating portion when said operating portion is rotated by the operator can be as close to each other as possible.

7. A controller according to claim 1, wherein said bearing portion includes a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion, and

said rotator includes a first rotator supported by said first bearing portion with rotation free and a second rotator supported by said second bearing portion with rotation free, and

said lean angle detection means includes a first detection signal generating means which detects a first lean angle of said operating portion with respect to said first rotator, and a second lean angle detection means which detects a second lean angle of said operating portion with respect to said second rotator, and

said transfer means transfers data corresponding to the first lean angle detected by said first lean angle detection means and data corresponding to the second lean angle detected by said second lean angle detection means.

8. A controller according to claim 7, wherein said first rotator is utilized for detecting a lean amount of a first direction that is a left-right direction in view from the operator, and

said second rotator is utilized for detecting a lean amount of a second direction, that is, a front-back direction in view of the operator.

9. A controller utilized with being connected to an image processing apparatus which generates image data to be displayed on a display on the basis of a program, and for supplying a signal which determines a change of the image data generated by the image processing apparatus through an operation by an operator, comprising:

an operating portion which takes an arbitrary attitude according to an operation by the operator;

a bearing portion fixed to said operating portion;

a rotator having a shaft which is supported by said bearing portion with rotation free in a manner that a maximum friction resistance can be ignored in practical use and has an eccentric center of gravity;

a lean angle detection means which detects a lean angle of the operating portion with respect to an eccentric direction of said rotator, the lean angle detection means being in non-contact with said rotator and outputting data corresponding to the angle; and

a transfer means which transfers the data outputted by the lean angle detection means to said image processing apparatus.

10. A controller according to claim 9, wherein one of an end portion of the shaft of said rotator and said bearing portion includes a projection portion, and the other includes a recess portion capable of being brought into point-contact with the projection portion.

11. A controller according to claim 9, further comprising a braking means which is provided in association with said rotator, and applies a braking force in association with an angle speed of said rotator to said rotator to prevent said rotator from being vibrated due to an inertia.

12. A controller according to claim 11, wherein said braking means includes a magnetic braking means which includes a portion facing to said rotator, and the inertia of said rotator is suppressed by a magnetic force of that portion.

13. A controller according to claim 9, wherein said braking means includes a liquid braking means which includes a liquid enclosing portion for enclosing a liquid, and a liquid enclosed by said liquid enclosing portion so as to be brought into contact with said rotator, and said rotator is prevented from being vibrated with respect to said operating portion with utilizing a viscous resistance according to a change of a relative position between the said rotator and said liquid.

14. A controller according to claim 9, wherein said rotator is arranged in a manner that a center axis of the rotation of said rotator and a center axis of the rotation of said operating portion when said operating portion is rotated by the operator can be as close to each other as possible.

15. A controller according to claim 9, wherein said bearing portion includes a first bearing portion and a second bearing portion, and

said rotator includes a first rotator supported by said first bearing portion with rotation free and a second rotator supported by said second bearing portion with rotation free, and

said lean angle detection means includes a first detection signal generating means which detects a first lean angle of said operating portion with respect to said first rotator, and a second lean angle detection means which detects a second lean angle of said operating portion with respect to said second rotator, and

said transfer means transferring data corresponding to the first lean angle detected by said first lean angle detection means and data corresponding to the second lean angle detected by said second lean angle detection means.

16. A controller according to claim 15, wherein said first rotator is utilized for detecting a lean amount of a first direction that is a left-right direction in view from the operator, and

said second rotator is utilized for detecting a lean amount of a second direction, that is, a front-back direction in view of the operator.