Abstract:
A video game control adapter includes a reception adapter that attaches to a connector of a video game device that displays a game image on a video display; and a transmission adapter that transmits a control signal toward the reception adapter when a switch built into a toy to which the transmission adapter attaches is switched ON.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a video game control adapter apparatus, and more particular, to a video game control adapter apparatus that displays a video game image on an associated video display in response to a control signal transmitted without a cable.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    The typical home video game device has an output terminal that is connected to a display unit such as a television set and an input terminal that accommodates a cable from a controller. The video game device itself is equipped with both a disk drive unit with a turntable that rotatably drives a disk (such as a CD-ROM) on which is recorded the game software that animates the device as well as a pick-up unit (an optical pick-up unit) that reads the data recorded on the game software disk.  
           [0005]    The video game device generates image data from the data read from the device and displays the image on the video display. Additionally, the video game device also generates image data in response to a control signal input thereto in response to the operation of control buttons provided on the controller.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, a video game player can participate in the game displayed on the video display by manipulating the buttons on the controller while watching the video display on which the game image data is displayed. Moreover, depending on the type of game activity (fishing and shooting are typical examples), it is possible to purchase special dedicated controllers designed specifically for that game. In such a case, by connecting the special controller cable to the video game device, the game player can get a more realistic feel for the game activity (fishing, shooting, etc) than is possible with the ordinary general-purpose controller.  
           [0007]    However, the conventional arrangement described above has a disadvantage in that, although the special controller gives the game player a more realistic feel for the game than is possible with the ordinary controller, the game player must nevertheless purchase the special controller separately, thereby incurring additional costs which are not insubstantial.  
           [0008]    Additionally, both the ordinary controller and the special controller require the use of a cable to connect the controller to the input terminal of the video game device. The range of movement of the game player is thus restricted by the length of the cable, which is undesirable. Thus, in a shooting game in which the controller is formed into the shape of a pistol, for example, the game player cannot take the pistol in hand and wield it freely but must instead remain close to the video display or to the video game device, as the case may be.  
           [0009]    As a result of such a drawback, the game player cannot fully enjoy the video game because the freedom of movement of the game player is restricted by the control cable connecting the controller and the video game device.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved and useful video game control adapter apparatus in which the drawbacks described above are eliminated.  
           [0011]    The above-described object of the present invention is achieved by a video game control adapter apparatus that includes a reception adapter that attaches to a connector of a video game device that displays a game image on a video display as well as a transmission adapter that transmits a control signal toward the reception adapter when a switch built into a toy to which the transmission adapter attaches is switched ON.  
           [0012]    According to this aspect of the present invention, any toy with a built-in switch can be used as a controller instead of the ordinary video game controller, which increases the range of choices of controllers as well as the pleasure gained from using a controller adapted to a particular game.  
           [0013]    Additionally, according to the above-described aspect of the present invention, control signals can be transmitted to the video game device in response to a manipulation of the toy without a cable by using radio waves, light or sound, so the movements of the game player are not restricted by the cable.  
           [0014]    Additionally, the above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the video game control adapter apparatus as described above, wherein the reception adapter includes a reception sensor that has directivity.  
           [0015]    According to this aspect of the present invention, the range within which signals transmitted from the transmission adapter attached to the toy can be restricted to a predetermined range. Thus, signals outside the predetermined range constitute “misses” and signals within the range constitute “hits”, thereby enabling the video game to function as a game.  
           [0016]    Additionally, the above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the video game control adapter apparatus as described above, wherein the transmission adapter is substantially card-shaped.  
           [0017]    According to this aspect of the present invention, the card-like shape of the transmission adapter enables the transmission adapter to be fitted to a wide variety of toy shapes, such shapes including, but not limited to, toy pistols, toy swords, toy cosmetic compacts, and so forth.  
           [0018]    Additionally, the above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the video game control adapter apparatus as described above, wherein the transmitting part of the transmission adapter that transmits the control signal is provided on a projecting portion that projects from the toy.  
           [0019]    According to this aspect of the invention, the placement of the transmitting part of the transmission adapter on a projecting portion that projects from the toy allows the transmission of control signals from the transmission adapter to the reception adapter to proceed without interference from the toy, which may be of irregular shape.  
           [0020]    It should be noted that a receiving part of the reception adapter need not necessarily project from the reception connector. Instead, it is sufficient that such receiving part be externally exposed so as to be able to receive transmission of control signals from the transmission adapter.  
           [0021]    Additionally, the above-described object of the present invention is also achieved by the video game control adapter apparatus as described above, wherein the control signal is a radio wave, an optical signal, or an audio signal.  
           [0022]    According to this aspect of the present invention, the use of a cable to connect the toy with the video game device is no longer required, thereby increasing the freedom of movement of the game player and enhancing the pleasure of the video game activity. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]    These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood and more apparent from the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a video game system employing a video game control adapter apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the video game control adapter apparatus in use;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a state of attachment of the transmission adapter of the video game control adapter apparatus of the present invention to a toy pistol;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a state of attachment of the reception adapter of the video game control adapter apparatus of the present invention to a video game device;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 is a plan view of a video game device fitted with the reception adapter of the video game control adapter apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first variation of the video game control adapter apparatus of the present invention; and  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second variation of the video game control adapter apparatus of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0031]    A description will now be given of a video game control adapter apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that identical or corresponding elements in all drawings are given identical or corresponding reference numbers, with a detailed description thereof given once and thereafter generally omitted for brevity of explanation.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a video game system employing a video game control adapter apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0033]    As shown in FIG. 1, the video game system comprises a television set as a video display  10 , to which a video game device  12  is attached by a cable  18 , and a controller  14 . The game player enjoys the game by manipulating the controller  14  in response to the images shown on the video display  10 .  
         [0034]    A front of the television set that functions as the video display  10  includes a power switch  16  and a jack  20  to which a plug end of the cable  18  from the video game device  12  is fitted. A rear surface of the video game device  12  has an output terminal (not shown in FIG. 1 because not viewable from the angle shown in FIG. 1) to which the other end of the cable  18  is fitted, thus connecting the video game device  12  to the television set that functions as the video display  10 .  
         [0035]    Additionally, an upper surface of the video game device  12  has a disk holder portion  22  that accommodates a CD-ROM (not shown in FIG. 1) on which the game software is recorded, a power switch  24 , and an eject switch  26 . A front surface of the video game device  12  is provided with a connector  32  to which a terminal  30  of the cable  28  of the controller  14  is connected.  
         [0036]    Ordinarily, the game player can cause a character displayed on the screen of the video display  10  to move, for example, or can attack an enemy character so displayed by manipulating switches  34 ,  36  on the controller  14  connected to the connector  32  of the video game device  12  via the cable  28 .  
         [0037]    However, when using the controller  14 , the length of the cable  28  limits the positioning of the game player so that the game player cannot move freely. In the case of a shooting game, for example, the game player cannot take cover and shoot at the opposing character from behind such cover, which takes some of the fun out of the game.  
         [0038]    In contrast to such types of cable-type controllers  14 , there are radio-type controllers that are sold separately. However, such radio-operated controllers represent an additional cost to the consumer as compared to the ordinary cable-type controller  14 .  
         [0039]    In the present embodiment, a reception adapter  40  that is designed to be attached to the connector  32  of the video game device  12  is attached to the connector  32 , and a transmission adapter  44  that is designed to be attached to a control unit  42  is attached to a control unit  42  which, in this case and for illustrative purposes only, happens to be a toy pistol. The toy pistol  42  is configured so that whenever the game player pulls the trigger  42   a  a switch signal or volume signal is output, with the transmission adapter  44  being attached to a grip portion  42   b  of the toy pistol  42 .  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the control adapter in use.  
         [0041]    As shown in FIG. 2, a control adapter apparatus  46  comprises the above-described reception adapter  40  and the transmission adapter  44 , the latter formed into substantially the shape of a card. As noted above, the reception adapter  40  is designed to be inserted into the connector  32  in the front surface of the video game device  12 . The transmission adapter  44  is designed to be inserted into the handle  42   b  of the toy pistol  42 .  
         [0042]    When the game player aims the toy pistol  42  at the video game device  12  and pulls the trigger  42   a,  a control signal in the form of a radio wave is transmitted from the transmission adapter  44 , as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2. When the video game device  12  receives the control signal transmitted from the transmission adapter  44  at the reception adapter  40 , it makes a determination that the enemy character in the display has been hit. With two hits, for example, the enemy character falls dead.  
         [0043]    A description will now be given of the toy pistol  42 .  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the attachment of the transmission adapter of the present invention to the toy pistol.  
         [0045]    As shown in FIG. 3, the toy pistol  42  comprises a connector  48  to which the transmission adapter  44  is connected, a battery  50 , a switch  52  that turns ON and OFF with each revolution of the trigger  42   a,  a light emitting diode (LED)  54  that emits light in a direction toward which the toy pistol  42  is pointed when the switch  52  is turned ON, and a buzzer  56  that supplies an acoustic effect when the switch  52  is turned ON.  
         [0046]    As noted previously, the transmission adapter  44  is formed into a substantially card-like shape, and comprises a signal data processor  58  for controlling the signals input and output via the connector  48 , and a transmitter  60  that transmits control signal radio waves according to instructions from the signal data processor  58 .  
         [0047]    Accordingly, when the game player pulls the trigger  42   a  of the toy pistol  42 , the transmission adapter  44  transmits a control signal and, at the same time, the LED  54  of the toy pistol  42  emits light and the buzzer  56  emits sound.  
         [0048]    It should be noted that the toy pistol  42  is not something originally made specifically for use as a controller for this video game device  12  but is instead simply a commonly sold item. The only difference between the toy pistol  42  described here and an ordinary toy pistol is that the toy pistol  42  described here has a connector  48  to which the transmission adapter  44  can be adapted.  
         [0049]    Accordingly, the game player does not need to purchase a special controller for the video game device  12 . Instead, a previously purchased toy pistol, for example, can be used as the controller, that is, the toy described in the claims, of the video game device  12  simply by attaching the above-described transmission adapter  44 , provided, of course, that the toy pistol has a switch, the connector  48  and a power supply.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the attachment of the reception adapter of the present invention to a video game device.  
         [0051]    As shown in FIG. 4, the video game device  12  comprises a motor  64  that rotatably drives a CD-ROM  62  contained in the disk holder portion  22 , an optical pick-up  66  that reads the software data recorded on the CD-ROM  62 , a control circuit  68  to which data signals output from the optical pick-up  66  are inputted, the connector  32  to which the reception adapter  40  is attached, a video/audio processor  72  that generates video and audio signals from the signals output from the control circuit  68  and outputs those signals to the television set  10 . Additionally, the control circuit  68  arbitrarily selects data from among the data recorded on the CD-ROM  62  in response to the presence and absence of a control signal received at the reception adapter  40 , and outputs the selected video and audio data to the video/audio processor  72 .  
         [0052]    Accordingly, when a signal transmitted from the toy pistol  42  is received at the reception adapter  40 , the television set used as the video display  10  shows a bullet hitting the enemy character, and when such a signal transmitted from the toy pistol  42  is not received at the reception adapter  40 , the bullet is shown missing the enemy character.  
         [0053]    The reception adapter  40  comprises a connector  74  that is connected to the video game connector  32 , a signal data processor  75  for controlling signals input and output via the connector  74 , an optical sensor  76  that receives light as the control signal, an audio sensor  78 , and a receiver  80  that receives control signals transmitted from the transmitter  60  of the transmission adapter  44 .  
         [0054]    Accordingly, the reception adapter  40  outputs a reception signal to the control circuit  68  via the signal data processor  75  and the connector  74  when either the receiver  80  of the reception adapter  40  receives a control signal transmitted from the toy pistol  42 , or the optical sensor  76  of the reception adapter  40  receives light transmitted from the LED  54 , or the audio sensor  78  of the reception adapter  40  receives the sound of a gunshot transmitted from the buzzer  56 . As a result, the control circuit  68  determines that the bullet fired from the toy pistol  42  has scored a hit on the enemy character.  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 5 is a plan view of a video game device fitted with the reception adapter of the present invention.  
         [0056]    As shown in schematic form in FIG. 4, the receiver  80 , optical sensor  76  and audio sensor  78  are provided on the front of the reception adapter  40  so as to face the game player and thus improve reception of the radio waves, light and/or sound emitted from the toy pistol  42 . Additionally, the receiver  80 , optical sensor  76  and audio sensor  78  are provided on the reception adapter  40 . Additionally, the receiver  80 , optical sensor  76  and audio sensor  78  provided on the reception adapter  40  each have a directivity varying laterally from a centerline by a predetermined angle θ such as, for example, 20-30 degrees. As a result, whenever the game player pulls the trigger  42   a  on the toy pistol  42  within the angle  2 θ as shown in FIG. 5, the game player scores a hit on the enemy character because the transmitted signal is received at the reception adapter  40 . However, if the game player pulls the trigger  42   a  on the toy pistol  42  when positioned outside the range  2 θ as shown in FIG. 5, then the game player does not score a hit on the enemy character because the transmitted signal is not received at the reception adapter  40 .  
         [0057]    A description will now be given of a first variation of the present invention, and more specifically, of a variation of the control unit.  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a first variation of the present invention.  
         [0059]    As shown in FIG. 6, a toy cosmetics compact is used as a control unit  82 . The toy compact control unit  82  has a pad switch  84  that the game player touches provided on a top surface of a lower case half  86 , and an upper case half or cover  88  hinged along one side of the lower case half  86 . The toy compact control unit  82  functions as a controller used with game software targeting young female consumers, for example, so that, by touching the pad switch  84 , the appearance of the character displayed on the video display  10  can be changed.  
         [0060]    Additionally, a lower surface of the cover  88  is fitted with either a mirror or another control switch. A slot  90  for inserting the above-described transmission adapter  44  is provided along a lateral edge of the lower case half  86 .  
         [0061]    After inserting the transmission adapter  44  into the slot  90 , the game player can then press the pad switch  84  to transmit a radio wave, light or sound control signal to the reception adapter  40  attached to the video game device  12 . When such a signal is received at the reception adapter  40 , the character displayed on the screen television set used as the video display  10  changes appearance or position.  
         [0062]    As shown in FIG. 6, the transmission adapter  44  is shaped like a card. The advantage of the card-like shape is that it allows the transmission adapter to be used not only in the toy pistol  42  described above but also in a thin, flat control unit such as the toy compact control unit  82  described here.  
         [0063]    A description will now be given of a second variation of the present invention, and more specifically, of a variation of the control unit.  
         [0064]    [0064]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second variation of the present invention.  
         [0065]    As shown in FIG. 7, a toy sword  92  is used as the control unit, with a grip portion  94  of the toy sword provided with switches  96 ,  98 . By pressing the switches  96  or  98  and wielding the toy sword, the enemy character can be vanquished. Also, as shown in the diagram, a slot  100  for inserting the card-shaped transmission adapter  44  described above is provided at an end surface of the grip portion  94  of the toy sword  92 .  
         [0066]    After inserting the transmission adapter  44  into the slot  100 , the game player can then press either of the two switches  96  and  98  to transmit a radio wave, light or sound control signal to the reception adapter  40  attached to the video game device  12 . When such a signal is received at the reception adapter  40 , the enemy character displayed on the screen television set used as the video display  10  is considered by the video game device  12  to have been cut down and is so displayed on the screen.  
         [0067]    Thus, by attaching the transmission adapter  44  to in one case a toy pistol  42 , in another case a toy compact  82 , and in a third case a toy sword  92 , items which are not originally designed as controllers for the video game device  12  can be made to act as such. The advantage is that it becomes possible to select a controller having a shape suited to the game software. Moreover, the reception adapter  40  and transmission adapter  44  can be used as a set, and as a set are less expensive than the special controllers sold separately.  
         [0068]    It should be noted that although the embodiments described above make reference to control units in the form of toy pistols  42 , toy compacts  82  and toy swords  92 , the control unit is not limited to such forms but may consist of any toy to which the transmission adapter  44  can be successfully attached.  
         [0069]    As can be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, additional variations and embodiments of the invention are possible.  
         [0070]    In one variation, the video game control adapter apparatus can be configured so that the adapters mounted on both the control unit (that is, the toy) and the video game device can both transmit and receive signals.  
         [0071]    According to such a configuration, signals can be sent from the video game device to the toy gun of the present invention, thus triggering the LED of the gun and/or the buzzer and therefore providing a more realistic feel to the game.  
         [0072]    In another variation, the adapter fitted to the control unit (that is, the toy) may further have a built-in LED and buzzer.  
         [0073]    According to such a configuration, even toys which do not have an LED and buzzer, such as cosmetic compacts and swords, can be made to have the same effects as those described above with respect to the toy gun.  
         [0074]    Additionally, by providing the toy with an adapter with transceiver capabilities, it becomes possible to play among a plurality of such toys without the need for the video game device.  
         [0075]    The above description is provided in order to enable any person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out the invention.  
         [0076]    The present invention is not limited to the specifically disclosed embodiments and variations, and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.  
         [0077]    The present application is based on Japanese Priority Application No. 2000-246493, filed on Aug. 15, 2000, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.