Game system

• US 6,669,563 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2000
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Company Limited (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation
• Inventors: Kitami, Yoshinobu, Kadohori, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): CAPRON, AARON J
• Application Number:
  US09/655,470
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36-39, 463/7-8, 273/67.R, 434/252, 434/250, 434/256, 434/247, 434/258-261, 473/131-409
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/212 using sensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat or leg activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• 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 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1081 Input via voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

In a handy signal generating device attachable to a game system and holdable in hand of a game player, an impact sensor 30 for generating a signal in response to a hitting motion made by the game player and an acceleration sensor 31 for generating a signal in response to a swinging motion made by the game player are built in a signal generating unit (first to fourth layer 20 to 23 and a cover 23). Accordingly, there can be provided a signal generating device which enables the game player to play a game while relatively freely moving his body.

Claims

1. A signal generating device attachable to a game system and to be carried at a position on a limb of a game player, comprising:

a first signal generating means for detecting a swinging motion of the limb of the game player and producing an acceleration signal indicating acceleration of the swinging motion at the position on the limb; and

a second signal generating means for detecting a hitting motion and producing an impact signal indicating impact contact of the signal generating device with an object.

2. A signal generating device according to claim 1, wherein the second signal generating means is an impact sensor including a piezoelectric device deformable by said impact contact.

3. A signal generating device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first signal generating means detects acceleration in at least a first detecting direction relative to said signal generating device;

the second signal generating means detects force directed in a second detecting direction relative to said signal generating device which is generated by the impact contact; and

the first and second detecting directions intersect with each other.

4. A signal generating device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first signal generating means detects acceleration in at least a first detecting direction relative to said signal generating device;

the second signal generating means detects force directed in a second detecting direction relative to said signal generating device which is generated by the impact contact; and

the first and second detecting directions are normal to each other.

5. A signal generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a judging means for judging which one of the hitting motion and the swing motion has been made based on ON-OFF states of the acceleration signal and impact signals received from the first and the second signal generating means.

6. The signal generating device according to claim 5 wherein said judging means judges that the swinging motion is made when said first signal generating means produces the acceleration signal in an ON state relating the swinging motion and said second signal generating means produces the impact signal in an OFF state not indicating the impact contact of the signal generating device with an object.

7. The signal generating device according to claim 5 wherein said judging means judges that the hitting motion is made when said second signal generating means produces the impact signal in an ON state indicating the impact contact of the signal generating device with an object regardless of an OFF-ON state of the acceleration signal.

8. A signal generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a housing which houses said first and second signal generating means, and a belt on an outside surface of the housing to hold the housing to the limb.

9. A signal generating device according to claim 8, wherein a surface fastener is mounted on the belt so as to adjust a length of the belt.

10. A signal generating device according to claim 1, wherein the second signal generating means includes a hitting surface on an outer surface of the signal generating device.

11. A signal generating device according to claim 10, wherein the hitting surface is planar.

12. A signal generating device according to claim 10, wherein the hitting surface is made of a rubber material.

13. A signal generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a cord to be electrically connected to a game system to communicate the acceleration signal and the impact signal to the game system.

14. A signal generating device according to claim 13, wherein the cord is located at or near a wrist of the limb of the game player when the signal generating device is mounted on a hand of the limb.

15. A signal generating device attachable to a game system and to be carried at a position on an arm of a game player, comprising:

a first signal generating means for producing an acceleration signal indicating acceleration of the arm at the position on the arm and for detecting a swinging motion of the arm of the game player; and

a second signal generating means including an impact sensor for producing an impact signal indicating impact contact of the signal generating device with an object and for detecting a hitting motion by said impact sensor.

16. A signal generating device attachable to a game system, comprising:

a carrier member configured to engage a limb of a user to permit the user to wear the carrier member;

said carrier member having a first signal generating means for detecting a swinging motion of the limb of the game player and producing an acceleration signal relating acceleration of the limb;

said carrier member having a second signal generating means for detecting a hitting motion and producing an impact signal indicating impact contact of the signal generating device with an object; and

said carrier member housing said first and second signal generating means.

17. The signal generating device according to claim 16 wherein said carrier member is in the form of a glove to permit wearing on the user'"'"'s hand.

18. A signal generating device attachable to a game system and to be carried at a position on a limb of a game player, comprising:

a first signal generating means for detecting an acceleration in a first detecting direction of a motion of the limb and producing an acceleration signal indicating acceleration of the motion of the limb;

a second signal generating means for detecting an impact force in a second detecting direction of the motion of the limb and producing an impact signal indicating impact contact of the signal generating device with an object;

said first detecting direction and said second detecting direction being normal to each other; and

a judging means for judging which one of the hitting motion and the swing motion has been made based on ON-OFF states of the acceleration signal and impact signals received from the second signal generating means.