Patent Abstract:
A steering/driving game controller integrates an additional steering lever to the underside of the game controller. The steering lever is spring biased in a center operable positions and is variably actuated such that it is responsive to varying degrees of depression. In response to the varying degree of user depression, the steering/driving controller is capable of outputting steering control signals of varying level to a connected game console, thereby enabling more selective and more accurate driving control within a video game being played on the connected game console.

Full Description:
This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/800,253 filed Mar. 6, 2001. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to game controllers, and more particularly, to a genre specific game controller for driving or steering applications. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The concept of a genre specific game controller is well known in the gaming industry. Examples of such genre specific games that utilize genre specific game controllers are flight simulators, first person shooting games, and driving games. 
     Some examples of driving or steering assemblies for video gaming are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,829,745 and 6,083,106. The &#39;745 patent discloses a video game control unit with self-centering steering wheel. This control unit includes a separable console and base sections, with the console section housing a steering wheel video game input device that automatically returns to a central, neutral position. This steering wheel controller is very cumbersome and is exclusively dedicated to driving games and cannot be used with other genres of games. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,083,106 discloses a video game race car simulator assembly for simulating sitting in the driver seat of a racing car when playing a driving video game. This simulator is not designed for home use, and as such prevents the implementation into home video gaming systems such as, for example, Sony PlayStation®, Sega DREAMCAST®, Nintendo 64®, etc. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,317 discloses an operation apparatus for a game machine. This game controller is a two-handed controller requiring the user to hold both sides simultaneously and thereby enable them to actuate controls on both sides of the housing. In addition, the housing of this game controller is designed to twist in the middle so as to provide the user with improved feeling and operation. This controller can be utilized for driving games and provide the user with the ability to “steer” by twisting the controller accordingly. This design, althoughunique has a shortfall in that the twisting action of the controller can interfere with the user&#39;s ability to actuate any of the controls mounted on the top of the controller. As such, there is too much movement in the controller to provide the user with accurate control over the game being played. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,923,317 discloses a two-handed controller for video games and simulations. This game controller shows the use of buttons disposed on the underside of the game controller to simulate trigger action for the user. These trigger buttons are not part of the D-pad or other movement controls associated with the controller. 
     To date, all video game controllers for the home gaming environment utilize movement controls and trigger controls (i-e., buttons that control a game action such as, for example, firing one or more weapons and braking or acceleration of a motor vehicle). The movement controls are generally in the form of a joystick or D-pad. The joystick or D-pad provides the user with two-dimensional movement control in a fixed plane. Although most controllers are designed for two-handed actuation, the movement controller (i.e., joystick or D-pad) is one part of the controller that is generally actuated with one of the user&#39;s hands (or fingers). As such, in certain genre specific gaming environments, the standard two-dimensional movement control provided by a D-pad or joystick is less than desirable and makes playing the game more difficult for the user. 
     Examples of such genre specific games are driving games where the user is required to steer a motor vehicle. These games generally require a higher degree of precision and variability in the game controls in order to properly effect steering during play. In addition, in order to provide a more realistic driving/steering experience, the user should be required to utilize both hands for steering. The standard D-pad or joystick fails to meet this preferred criteria. Other steering wheel controllers in the shape of a steering wheel promote the two-handed driving/steering experience, however fail to generally provide the other ergonomically preferred designs of two-handed controllers (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,102,803 and 5,785,317)., including the disposition of other controls used in conjunction with the genre specific control. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a game controller that includes additional driving/steering game controls for operation by the user without interfering with the other existing buttons or controls on a two-handed game controller. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a game controller that may be selectively used with genre specific driving games, while remaining capable of performing all standard basic two-handed gaming functions. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a game controller having dedicated driving/steering levers disposed on the underside of the controller that provide more accurate and reliable steering control to the user. 
     These and other objects are achieved in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, wherein a genre specific game controller for driving and steering applications includes a game controller housing adapted for two-hand operation, a plurality of game controls disposed on an upper side of said housing, and a steering lever disposed on an underside of said housing and having two lever ends each adapted to be actuated by fingers on one of the user&#39;s hands. 
     According to one embodiment, the steering lever is a single piece lever having a rotation axle rotatably connected to the game controller through said housing. The lever ends extend from the rotation axle and when one end is rotated about the rotation axle, the other end moves in an opposite direction. Electronic circuitry disposed within the game controller housing detects the position of the steering lever and outputs variable electrical control commands corresponding to the detected variable positions of the lever ends. 
     According to another embodiment, the steering lever is a two piece lever having a central axle. Each piece of the two piece lever is rotatably connected to the game controller about the central axle and through the housing. Each of the lever ends are formed by one of the two piece lever and each are independently operable with respect to the other. Electronic circuitry disposed within the game controller housing detects the independent position of each of the steering lever ends and outputs variable electrical control commands corresponding to the detected variable positions of the lever ends. 
    
    
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings wherein like reference numeral denote similar components throughout the views: 
     FIG. 1 a  is a front view of a game controller according to a first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 1 b  is a side view of the game controller according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 1 c  is a bottom view of the game controller according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 a  is a front view of a game controller according to a second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 2 b  is a bottom view of the game controller according to the second embodiment of the invention, 
     FIG. 3 a  a front view of a game controller according to a third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 b  is a side view of the game controller according to the third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 3 c  is a bottom view of the game controller according to the third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 a  is a front view of a game controller according to a fourth embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 4 b  is a bottom view of the game controller according the fourth embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 a  is a partial cross section showing the internal operation of the game controller according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 5 b  is a partial cross section showing the internal operation of game controller according to the second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 a  is a partial cross section showing the internal operation of the game controller according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 6 b  is a partial cross section showing the internal operation of the game controller according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial cross section showing the internal operation of the game controller according to the third embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 a  is a partial cross section showing another embodiment of the internal operation of the game controller according to the first embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 8 b  is partial cross section of the lever arrangement of the embodiment of FIG. 8 a;    
     FIG. 9 a  is a partial cross section showing another embodiment of the internal operation of game controller according to the second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 9 b  is a partial cross section of the lever arrangement of the embodiment of FIG. 9 a;    
     FIG. 10 a  is a partial cross section showing another embodiment of the internal operation of the game controller according to the fourth embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 10 b  is an exemplary implementation of the sensor arrangement for the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10 a,    
     FIG. 10 c  is another exemplary implementation of the sensor arrangement for the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10 a;    
     FIG. 11 a  is a block representation of the sensor configuration according to the embodiment invention; 
     FIG. 11 b  is a block representation of the sensor configuration according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 11 c  is a block representation of the sensor configuration according to another embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1 a - 1   c , there is shown a game controller  10  according to a first embodiment of the invention. Game controller  10  includes a housing  12 , a plurality of upper game controls  14  and a plurality of front control buttons  16   a - 16   d . A central axis  18  runs through game controller housing  12  transverse to the two-dimensional plane in which the D-pad or joystick operates. The aforementioned D-pad and/or joystick are included in the plurality of upper game controls  14 . 
     In accordance with the present embodiment, a driving/steering lever  20  is disposed on the underside of the controller housing  12  and is rotatably mounted about a rotation axle  22  which is coaxially aligned with central axis  18 . Lever  20  is spring biased into a center position and includes two lever ends  24   a  and  24   b  positioned to be actuated by the fingers of the user&#39;s right and left hands, respectively. Lever  20  is variably actuated based on the degree of depression applied by the user. Referring to FIG. 1 c , when lever end  24   b  is actuated in the direction indicated by arrow Al, the opposing end  24   a  is displaced an equal amount in the direction A 2  (as shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1 c ). The variable position ability of lever  20  in addition to its ergonomic disposition on the underside of the controller allows the user to more accurately and realistically apply steering control in response to the video game being played. The rotating action of lever  20  enables the steering/driving control to be accurately and variably controlled while allowing the user to maintain both hands on the controller at all times. This further allows the user to actuate any of the upper  14  or front  16  controls during steering/driving action. 
     FIG. 5 a  shows one example of the electronic implementation of lever  20  into game controller  10 . As shown a potentiometer  42  is connected to a printed circuit board  40  contained within housing  12 . Rotation axle  22  of lever  20  is connected to or integral with the stem of potentiometer  42 , and a spring  44 , wound around axle  22  and held in place by notches  46   a  and  46   b , biases lever  20  into its central operable position. Thus, the actuation of either lever end  24   a  or  24   b  changes the resistance output of potentiometer  42  and thereby allows for the variable steering/driving adjustment of a video game being played through a connected game console (not shown). 
     FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  show a second embodiment where steering lever  20  is separated into two independently operable parts consisting of lever ends  24   a  and  24   b . In this embodiment, each lever end  24   a  and  24   b  is independent of the other. Thus, when lever end  24   b  is depressed in the direction indicated by A 1 , lever end  24   a  does not move. This embodiment requires additional control circuitry as shown in FIGS. 5 b  and  9   a.    
     Referring to FIG. 5 b , there is shown an embodiment for the independent control and actuation performed by independent levers  24   a  and  24   b . As shown, separate potentiometers  42   a  and  42   b  are connected to circuit board  40  and to the respective lever end  24   a  and  24   b  via a gear mechanism made up of gears  47   a  and  47   b . Those of skill in the art will recognize that the rotation axle  22  must now be configured to allow each lever end  24   a  and  24   b  to rotate independently of each other. Axle  22  can be configured to have an inner axle  26  connecting lever end  24   a  to potentiometer  42   a  via gears  47   a  and  43   a . Accordingly, an outer axle  28  connects lever end  24   b  to potentiometer  42   b  via gears  47   b  and  43   b . The spring  44  can be positioned as shown and notches  46   a  and  46   b  are disposed accordingly to allow each lever end  24   a  and  24   b  to be spring biased in a desired direction or position. Thus, when one lever end  24   a  or  24   b  is actuated, the corresponding potentiometer  42   a  or  42   b  will change its resistance output in response to that movement and thereby allow the variable, and increased accuracy of driving control in the desired direction. 
     The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 b  is one example of how such configuration may be implemented. Those of ordinary skill will recognize that various other methods for allowing the independent rotation and actuation may be implemented without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
     FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b  show another circuitry implementation operable for the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 a ,  1   b  and  1   c . In this embodiment, a pair of hall effect sensors  48   a  and  48   b  are connected to the circuit board  40 , and an opposing pair of magnets  49   a  and  49   b  are positioned on a holder  59  mounted to the axle  22 . Thus, when either of the lever ends  24   a  or  24   b  are moved, the positions of the magnets  49   a  and  49   b  are detected by the corresponding hall effect sensors  48   a  and  48   b  (i.e., based on the strength of the magnetic fields created by the magnets), and the corresponding electrical steering/driving command is generated and output to the connected game console (not shown). 
     FIGS. 3 a - 3   c  show a third embodiment where steering lever  30  is a one piece lever that pivots about a centrally disposed pivot line P, transverse to central axis  18 . Steering lever  30  is spring biased and includes lever ends  32 a and  32 b that are actuated by the user engaging and pulling the lever end in the direction indicated by arrow A 3 . When lever end  32   b  is engaged as shown in 
     FIG. 3 a , opposing end  32   a  responds by moving in an opposite direction A 4  (shown in dotted lines). The pivotal action of lever  30  enables the steering/driving control to be accurately and variably controlled while allowing the user to maintain both hands on the controller at all times. This further allows the user to actuate any of the upper  14  or front  16  controls during driving action. FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  show a modified embodiment where lever  30  is separated into two independently operable ends  32   a  and  32   b , each being pivotal about pivot line P. 
     FIG. 7 shows the electrical implementation of the embodiments disclosed in FIGS. 3 a - 4   b . As shown, the lever arm  30  is connected to a pivot mount  50  by two legs  34   a  and  34   b . The pivot mount  50  includes a pivot ball  52  pivoting upon a pivot indentation  53  within the controller housing, and magnets  49   a  and  49   b  arranged thereon. The pivot mount  50 , and thereby lever arm  30 , is biased into a center position by springs  36   a  and  36   b . Corresponding hall effect sensors  48   a  and  48   b  are mounted on the circuit board  40  and are positioned so as to detect the movement of the respective magnets  49   a  and  49   b  and produce electrical control signals accordingly. In the independent arm operation embodiment of FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b , the pivot mount  50  need not be separated into two parts, but rather the lever arm  30  separated into it&#39;s two lever ends  32   a  and  32   b  while retaining a flexible connection to prevent separation from each other. In this arrangement, the hall effect sensors  48   a  and  48   b  and magnets  49   a  and  49   b  will continue to operate as desired. 
     FIGS. 8 a  and  8   b  show another embodiment of the electronic implementation of lever  20  (made up of lever ends  24   a  and  24   b ) into the game controller. As shown, lever ends  24   a  and  24   b  have interlocking teeth  64   a  and  64   b , respectively, arranged around the rotation axle  22 . A cap or other securing mechanism  66  attached onto axle  22  and retains lever ends  24   a  and  24   b  in their operable position on the underside of the game controller. An arm or extension  60  is connected to rotation axle  22  and includes a sensor mechanism  62  for sensing the rotation motion of the lever ends  24   a  and  24   b  and providing output signals corresponding to the detected lever end movement. Sensor mechanism  62  is described later with reference to FIGS. 11 a - 11   c    
     FIGS. 9 a  and  9   b  show another embodiment of the electronic implementation of lever  20  (made up of lever ends  24   a  and  24   b ) into the game controller. This embodiment is particularly suited for the independent operation of lever ends  24   a  and  24   b , as discussed above with respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b . As shown, each lever end  24   a  and  24   b  includes a corresponding rotation shaft  23   a  and  23   b  having an arm or extension  61   a  and  61   b , respectively. Extensions  61   a  and  61   b  carry part of the sensor mechanism  62  used to detect the rotation position of each lever arm  24   a  and  24   b , respectively. As with the embodiment of FIGS. 8 a  and  8   b , a cap or other device  66  secures the levers  24   a  and  24   b  in their operable positions and onto rotation axles  23   a  and  23   b , respectively. 
     FIGS. 10 a - 10   c  show an alternative embodiment for implementing the pivoting steering lever  30  (made up of lever ends  32   a  and  32   b ) into the game controller. Accordingly, each lever end  34   a  and  34   b  is pivotally connected to the circuit board  40  or controller housing  12  via pivot shafts  70   a  and  70   b , respectively. A hall effect sensor  48   a  and  48   b  is mounted on the circuit board  40 , with correspondingly mounted magnets  49   a  and  49   b  on the respective levers  32   a  and  32   b  (FIGS. 10 a  and  10   b ). FIG. 10 c  shows an alternative embodiment where a pressure sensor  58  is connected to the circuit board  40  and operable to detect the pressure applied to the levers and output corresponding control signals from the game controller. 
     FIGS. 11 a - 11   c  show various exemplary embodiments for the implementation of sensor mechanism  62 . FIG. 11 a  shows the use of a hall effect sensor  48  mounted to the circuit board  40  and a correspondingly arranged magnet  49  carried by rotating extension  60 . FIG. 11 b  shows the use of a light sensor  72  with light source  74  mounted on circuit board  40 . A slotted wheel  76  passes between the sensor  72  and light source  74  so as to provide the rotation detection capability required for the levers. FIG. 11 c  shows another embodiment where a piezo sensor is mounted on the extension  60  and in electrical contact with the circuit board  40 . 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the implementation embodiments shown in FIGS. 5 a - 11   c  are examples of such implementation and may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention 
     While there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0