Game machine controller

• US 5,624,117 A
• Filed: 03/09/1995
• Issued: 04/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Makshi Tu Ltd LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sugiyama Electron Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Takashi, Ohkubo, Yuuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US08/401,551
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 B, 463/36, 463/38, 463/1, 463/37, 463/46, 463/47, 345/156, 345/157, 345/161
• US Class Current: 273/148.00B
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• 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: G05G 2009/0474 characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04

Abstract

A game machine controller with keys controls the movement of an image subject displayed on a monitor screen in an X- and a Y-axis direction. A first and a second controller section are coupled to each other by a coupling member. Relative displacement information of the first and second controller sections with respect to the coupling member is detected. The movement of the image subject in a Z-axis direction is controlled based on the detected displacement information.

Claims

1. A game machine controller with keys for controlling the movement of an image subject displayed on a monitor screen in an X- and a Y-axis direction, comprising:

a first and a second controller section coupled to each other by a coupling member, each having at least one key which is operable by a user'"'"'s finger and rotatable with respect to the coupling member for controlling the image subject movement, whereby when relative displacement information of the first and second controller sections with respect to the coupling member is detected, the movement of the image subject in a Z-axis direction is controlled based on the displacement information.

2. The game machine controller according to claim 1, wherein the angle of rotation of the first and second controller sections is detected as the relative displacement information, the movement of the image subject in the Z-axis direction being controlled based on the detected angle of rotation.

3. The game machine controller according to claim 1, wherein the angle of either of the first and second controller sections made with the plane thereof is detected as the relative displacement information, the movement of the image subject in the Z-axis direction being controlled based on the detected angle.

4. A game machine controller according to claim 1, further comprising polarity changer for changing the detected displacement information.

5. A game machine controller according to claim 4, wherein the polarity changer is operated based on a user'"'"'s dominant hand.

6. A game machine controller for controlling the situation of game contents displayed on a monitor screen in response to a control signal, comprising:

a first and a second controller sections coupled to each other by a coupling member, each having at least one key which is operable by a user'"'"'s finger and rotatable with respect to the coupling member for controlling the image subject movement, whereby when relative displacement information of the first and second controller sections with respect to the coupling member is detected, a control signal is provided based on the detected displacement information.

7. The game machine controller according to claim 6, wherein the angle of rotation of the first and second controller sections is detected as the relative displacement information, the movement of the image subject in the Z-axis direction being controlled based on the detected angle of rotation.

8. The game machine controller according to claim 6, wherein the angle of either of the first and second controller sections made with the plane thereof is detected as the relative displacement information, the movement of the image subject in the Z-axis direction being controlled based on the detected angle.

9. A game machine controller according to claim 6, further comprising polarity changer for changing the detected displacement information.

10. A game machine controller according to claim 9, wherein the polarity changer is operated based on a user'"'"'s dominant hand.

11. A game machine controller with keys for controlling the movement of an image subject displayed on a monitor screen in an X- and a Y-axis direction, comprising:

a first and a second controller section coupled to each other by a coupling member, relative displacement information of the first and second controller sections with respect to the coupling member is detected, the movement of the image subject in a Z-axis direction is controlled based on the displacement information; and

a polarity changer for changing the detected displacement information.

12. A game machine controller according to claim 11, wherein the polarity changer is operated based on a user'"'"'s dominant hand.

13. A game machine controller for controlling the situation of game contents displayed on a monitor screen in response to a control signal, comprising:

a first and a second controller sections coupled to each other by a coupling member, relative displacement information of the first and second controller sections with respect to the coupling member is detected, a control signal is provided based on the detected displacement information; and

a polarity changer for changing the detected displacement information.

14. A game machine controller according to claim 13, wherein the polarity changer is operated based on a user'"'"'s dominant hand.