Operating device and image processing system using same

• US 5,903,257 A
• Filed: 05/16/1997
• Issued: 05/11/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Koshima, Kazuo, Nishiumi, Satoshi, Yamada, Mitsunori
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US08/836,787
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156-162, 463/36-47, 273/148 B
• US Class Current: 345/157
• 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 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• 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 13/245 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 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• 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 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• 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 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/64 for computing dynamical parameters of game objects, e.g. motion determination or computation of frictional forces for a virtual car
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/643 : by determining the impact between objects, e.g. collision detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 : for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6661 : for changing the position of the virtual camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 : Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 : Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/0474 : characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04759 : Light-sensitive detector, e.g. photoelectric
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/20 : using active fault-masking, e.g. by switching out faulty elements or by switching in spare elements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/013 : Force feedback applied to a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/015 : Force feedback applied to a joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 : Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 : Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 : Signal control means within the pointing device
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 : Perspective computation

Abstract

An operating device is connected to an image processing apparatus that generates image data to be displayed on a display according to a program. The operating device supplies a signal for varying the image data to be generated by the image processing apparatus. A joystick includes a lever and a disc interlocked therewith, and the rotation of the disc is detected by a photo-interrupter. Pulses from the photo-interrupter are counted by a resettable counter. A reset signal is supplied to the counter when three buttons are simultaneously depressed, when a power supply is turned on, or otherwise when a signal is received from a CPU of the image processing apparatus.

Claims

1. An operating device adapted for being connected during use to an image processing apparatus that generates image data to be displayed on a display according to a program, to supply a signal for providing variation to the image data to be generated by an image processing apparatus, said operating device comprising:

an operating member supported to be tilt-operated by an operator so as to incline within a predetermined range and resting, when not operated by the operator, at a pre determined position;

a rotating member arranged for rotation depending upon an inclination amount of said operating member;

a rotation detecting means for detecting a rotational state of said rotating member;

a count means for varying a count value thereof depending on a rotational amount of said rotating member detected by said rotation detecting means;

a reset signal generating means for resetting the count value of said count means for an arbitrary tilt position of said operating member so that after resetting, the count means counts using the arbitrary tilt position as a new origin; and

a transfer means for transferring the count value counted by said count means to said image processing apparatus.

2. An operating device according to claim 1, wherein said reset signal generating means generates the reset signal for resetting the count value of said count means in response to a reset signal from said image processing apparatus.

3. An operating device according to claim 2, wherein the reset signal from said image processing apparatus is generated according to the program by said image processing apparatus.

4. An operating device according to claim 1, further having a switch means for generating an electric signal when depressed by the operator, wherein said reset signal generating means generates the reset signal in compliance with the electric signal from said switch means.

5. An operating device according to claim 4, wherein said switch means includes a plurality of switches, and said reset signal generating means resets the count value of said count means depending upon simultaneous depression of predetermined one of said plurality of switches.

6. An operating device according to claim 1, further having a connecting member for transmitting as rotational movement the inclination of said operating member to said rotating member, wherein said rotating member is connected to said connecting member to be rotated through an angle greater than an inclination angle of said operating member.

7. An operating device according to claim 6, wherein said connecting member and said rotating member are connected to each other by gears having a predetermined gear ratio.

8. An imaging processing system having an image processing apparatus for generating image data to be displayed on a display according to a program, and an operating device for being connected during use to said image processing apparatus so as to supply a signal for providing variation to the image data to be generated by said image processing apparatus,

wherein said image processing apparatus includes:

a program memory stored with a program for image processing;

a first receiver receiving data generated by said operating device;

a central processor generating command data according to the program stored in said program memory, and generating image data depending upon the program and the data received by said first receiver;

a first transmitter transmitting the command data generated by the central processor to said operating device; and

an image signal generator generating an image signal for displaying an image on the display depending upon the image data from said central processor; and

wherein said operating device includes;

an operating member supported to be tilt-operated to be inclined within a predetermined range by the operator and rested, when not operated by an operator, at a predetermined position;

a rotating member arranged for rotation depending upon an inclination amount of said operating member;

a rotation detector detecting a rotational state of said rotating member;

a counter having a count value varied depending on the rotational amount of said rotating member detected by said rotation detector;

a reset signal generator resetting the count value of the counter for an arbitrary tilt position of said operating member so that after resetting, the count means counts using the arbitrary tilt position as a new origin; and

a second receiver receiving the command data transmitted from said first transmitter;

an output generator outputting data of the count value counted by said counter in response to reception of predetermined command data by said second receiver; and

a second transmitter transmitting the data of count value outputted by said output generator to said image processing apparatus.

9. An image processing system according to claim 8, wherein the command data includes reset command data, and said reset signal generator generates the reset signal in response to reception of the reset command data by said second receiver.

10. An image processing system according to claim 9, wherein said operating member further generates selection determining data for transmitting to said image processing apparatus that the operator has selected part of an image being displayed on the display, said image processing apparatus further having a reset request command data generator generating reset request command data for resetting said counter in a state that said operating member is inclined at a predetermined angle in a predetermined direction based on the selecting data received by said first receiver, said reset signal generator resetting said counter based on the reset request command data received by said second receiver, whereby the count value from said counter obtained upon operating said operating member by the operator is varied to alter the degree of variation of the image data responsive to operation by the operator taking into account the inclined state of the operating member at the time of resetting.

11. A device coupled during use to a graphics processor that generates graphics data to be displayed on a display according to a program that supplies a graphics control signal used by the graphics processor to vary the graphics data displayed on the display, comprising:

a base including a pivotal support;

an operating member, pivotally supported at one end by the pivotal support, that can be inclined about the pivotal support by an operator to a plurality of inclined positions;

a detector detecting an amount that the operating member is inclined from an origin position of the operating member;

a counter generating a count value depending on the detected amount; and

a controller changing the origin position of the operating member from a first origin position to a second origin position in response to an input signal, wherein the counter generates a count value for a subsequent detected amount the operating member is inclined from the second origin position in response to the change by the controller.

12. The device in claim 11, wherein the base includes a horizontal plane and wherein a neutral position of the operating member corresponds to the operating member being substantially perpendicular with the horizontal plane.

13. The device in claim 12, wherein the first origin position corresponds to the neutral position.

14. The device in claim 12, wherein the first origin position differs from the neutral position.

15. The device in claim 12, wherein the first and second origin positions differ from the neutral position.

16. The device in claim 11, wherein the input signal is a reset signal.

17. The device in claim 11, wherein the input signal is generated when power is applied or removed to the graphics device.

18. The device in claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of actuators,

wherein the input signal is generated when one or more of the actuators is actuated by the operator.

19. The device in claim 18, wherein the input signal is generated when two or more of the actuators are simultaneously actuated by the operator.

20. The graphics device in claim 11, wherein the input signal is generated in response to a signal generated by the graphics processor.

21. The device in claim 20, wherein the signal generated by the graphics processor corresponds to parameters for establishing how the graphics processor varies the graphics data to be generated based on an inclination of the operating member.

22. The device in claim 11, wherein the operating member is a joystick, the graphics controller is a game controller, and the program includes a game program.

23. The device in claim 11, further comprising:

a first swing member rotatably supported in the base about a first horizontal axis and having a first slot for receiving the operating member, and

a second swing member rotatably supported in the base above the first swing member and rotatable about a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the first horizontal axis and having a second slot for receiving the operating member;

wherein movement of the operating member causes the first and second swing members to rotate about their respective first and second horizontal axes.

24. The device in claim 23, wherein the first and second swing members are biased to bring the operating member to a neutral position of the operating member.

25. The device in claim 23, further comprising:

a first rotatable member coupled to the first swing member and rotating as the first swing member rotates, and

a second rotatable member coupled to the second swing member and rotating as the second swing member rotates.

26. The device in claim 25, wherein the detector includes:

a first rotation detector detecting rotation of the first rotatable member and generating first rotation pulses, and

a second rotation detector detecting rotation of the second rotatable member and generating second rotation pulses.

27. The device in claim 26, wherein the counter includes:

a first counter generating a count in accordance with the first rotation pulses, and

a second counter generating a count in accordance with the second rotation pulses.

28. The device in claim 26, wherein the first and second rotation detectors are photo-optical detectors.

29. The device in claim 23, further comprising:

a guide well supported above the first swing member guiding inclined movement of the operating member in a plurality of directions.

30. The device in claim 29, wherein the guide well is conical in shape and includes a plurality of abutting, tapered panels.

31. A method for operating a device coupled during use to a graphics processor that generates graphics data to be displayed on a display according to a program, the device having an operating member moveable by an operator to supply a graphics control signal used by the graphics processor to vary the location of an object displayed on the display, comprising:

moving the object on the display based on measured movement of the operating member from a first reference position from which movement of the operating member is measured;

detecting an indication to change the reference position of the operating member;

determining a current position of the operating member when the indication of change is detected;

establishing the current position as a second reference position;

measuring movement of the operating member relative to the second reference position; and

moving the object on the display based on the measured movement of the operating member from the second reference position.

32. The method in claim 31, wherein the indication to change the first reference position is a reset signal.

33. The method in claim 31, wherein the indication is an actuation of one or more actuators on the device.

34. The method in claim 31, wherein the indication is an actuation of two or more actuators on the device.

35. The method in claim 31, wherein the indication is a power on/off indication with respect to power supplied to the device.

36. The method in claim 31, wherein the indication is a signal provided by the graphics processor.

37. The method in claim 31, wherein the program is a video game and the indication is a signal used by the graphics processor to establish one or more parameters of the video game.

38. The method in claim 31, wherein the operating member moves to a neutral position when the operating member is not being manipulated by the operator and the first or second reference position corresponds to the neutral position.

39. The method in claim 31, wherein the operating member moves to a neutral position when the operating member is not being manipulated by the operator and neither the first nor second reference position corresponds to the neutral position.

40. The method in claim 31, wherein the operating member is a joystick which is inclined with respect to a pivot point and the determining step includes determining an amount and a direction of inclination of the joystick.