Game controller, storage medium storing game program, and game apparatus

• US 9,289,680 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2013
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Hitoshi, Sawano, Takao, Sugiyama, Tadashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US14/043,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20140031124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 463/39
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• 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 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands

Abstract

A game controller includes at least four load sensors for detecting a load applied on a support board on which player'"'"'s legs are ridden, and the game controller transmits a load value detected as manipulation data by the four load sensors to a game machine. The game machine determines a necessary quantity of load values, and the game machine computes the necessary quantity of load values based on the detected load value from the game controller. Then, game processing is performed based on the necessary quantity of computed load values.

Claims

1. An input device used in communication with an information processing apparatus, comprising:

a support portion configured to support at least legs of a player;

at least one load sensor disposed below said support portion; and

a wireless communication device configured to wirelessly transmit a load value as manipulation data detected from the at least one load sensor to said information processing apparatus.

2. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

processing circuitry for imparting the load value as the manipulation data detected from the at least one load sensor to said wireless communication device when said wireless communication device receives a load obtaining command from said information processing apparatus,

wherein said wireless communication device wirelessly transmits said manipulation data received from said processing circuitry to said information processing apparatus.

3. The input device according to claim 1, wherein said input device is configured to be detachable from a second different type of input device using a connector and, said input device is configured to transmit said load value to said information processing apparatus through said second different type of input device attached to said connector.

4. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a button provided on a surface of said input device configured to be operated by the player.

5. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a button provided on a side surface of said support portion and configured to be manipulated by the player to control an operation of the input device.

6. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a button provided on a side surface of said input device and configured to switch on/off power to the input device.

7. The input device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a button provided on a side surface of said input device and configured to activate and/or deactivate transmission of data from said input device to said information processing apparatus.

8. The input device according to claim 1, wherein at least four load sensors are disposed below said support portion.

9. The input device according to claim 8, wherein respective load values from the at least four load sensors are transmitted to said information processing apparatus.

10. The input device according to claim 8, wherein respective load values from the at least four load sensors and identification information are transmitted together to said information processing apparatus.

11. An information processing system, comprising:

an information processing apparatus having one or more processors; and

an input device configured to communicate with the information processing apparatus, the input device comprising;

a support portion configured to support at least legs of a player,

at least one load sensor disposed below said support portion, and

a wireless communication device configured to wirelessly transmit a load value as manipulation data detected from the at least one load sensor to said information processing apparatus.

12. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein the input device further comprises:

processing circuitry for imparting the load value as the manipulation data detected from the at least one load sensor to said wireless communication device when said wireless communication device receives a load obtaining command from said information processing apparatus,

wherein said wireless communication device wirelessly transmits said manipulation data received from said processing circuitry to said information processing apparatus.

13. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein said input device is configured to be detachable from a second different type of input device using a connector and, said input device is configured to transmit said load value to said information processing apparatus through said second different type of input device attached to said connector.

14. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein the input device further comprises:

a button provided on a surface of said input device configured to be operated by the player.

15. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein the input device further comprises:

a button provided on a side surface of said support portion and configured to be manipulated by the player to control an operation of the input device.

16. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein the input device further comprises:

a button provided on a side surface of said input device and configured to switch on/off power to the input device.

17. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein the input device further comprises:

a button provided on a side surface of said input device and configured to activate and/or deactivate transmission of data from said input device to said information processing apparatus.

18. The information processing system according to claim 11, wherein at least four load sensors are disposed below said support portion.

19. The information processing system according to claim 18, wherein respective load values from the at least four load sensors are transmitted to said information processing apparatus.

20. The information processing system according to claim 18, wherein respective load values from the at least four load sensors and identification information are transmitted together to said information processing apparatus.

21. An information processing system, comprising:

an information processing apparatus;

a first controller configured to communicate directly with the information processing apparatus; and

a second controller configured to communicate directly with the information processing apparatus, the second controller including;

a support portion configured to support at least one leg of a player,

at least one load sensor disposed below said support portion, and

a wireless communication device configured to wirelessly transmit a load value as manipulation data detected from the at least one load sensor to said information processing apparatus.

22. The information processing system of claim 21, wherein the information processing apparatus includes a wireless communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the first controller independently from the second controller and configured to wirelessly communicate with the second controller independently from the first controller.

23. The information processing system of claim 21, wherein the second controller includes a button provided on a surface of said second controller configured to be operated by the player to control an operation of the second controller.

24. The information processing system of claim 21, wherein the second controller includes a button provided on a surface of said second controller configured to power the second controller.

25. The information processing system of claim 21, wherein the second controller includes a button provided on a surface of said second controller configured to activate and/or deactivate transmission of data from said second controller to said information processing apparatus.

26. The information processing system of claim 21, wherein at least four load sensors are disposed below said support portion.

27. The information processing system of claim 26, wherein respective load values from the at least four load sensors are transmitted to said information processing apparatus.

28. The information processing system of claim 26, wherein respective load values from the at least four load sensors and identification information are transmitted together to said information processing apparatus.