Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7235748?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2016-02-10 03:06:29
Document Index: 638177715

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 252', 'arts 252', 'art 254', 'art 254', 'art 252', 'art 252', 'art 254', 'art 252', 'art 252', 'art 254', 'arts 252', 'art 254', 'arts 252']

Patent US7235748 - Video game controller and game apparatus - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsThe game apparatus is provided with the cylindrical portion rotating with the axis on the side face of the base portion of the master control lever. Two projecting parts are sticking out from the columnar surface of the cylindrical portion. In addition, two leaf switches are provided corresponding to...http://www.google.com/patents/US7235748?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7235748 - Video game controller and game apparatusAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS7235748 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/104,881Publication dateJun 26, 2007Filing dateApr 13, 2005Priority dateApr 14, 2004Fee statusLapsedAlso published asEP1586356A1, US20050230230Publication number104881, 11104881, US 7235748 B2, US 7235748B2, US-B2-7235748, US7235748 B2, US7235748B2InventorsHiromu Ueshima, Koichi MakiokaOriginal AssigneeSsd Company LimitedExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (25), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (2), Classifications (12), Legal Events (5) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetVideo game controller and game apparatus
US 7235748 B2Abstract
The game apparatus is provided with the cylindrical portion rotating with the axis on the side face of the base portion of the master control lever. Two projecting parts are sticking out from the columnar surface of the cylindrical portion. In addition, two leaf switches are provided corresponding to the master control lever. The leaf switch is turned on when the projecting part contacts with the contact member of the leaf switch while the master control lever is rotating. In this way, operation of the master control lever is detected by using the leaf switches rather than rotary switches.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a video game controller which can detect operation of a lever without using the rotary switch, and the related techniques thereof.
Various messages are given to the player by displaying them in the message displaying portion 64. For example, a message such as “turn on the wipers” is displayed. If the player presses the wiper switch 9, an image in which wipers are moving is displayed.
Returning to FIG. 2, the master control lever 3 is used for changing speed of the train. In this embodiment, there are three phases of speed. If the speed is in the first phase (the master control lever 3 is set to backmost), the propulsion is “0”. If the speed is in the second phase (the master control lever 3 is pulled one phase from backmost), the propulsion is “1”. If the speed is in the third phase (the master control lever 3 is pulled one phase from the second phase), the propulsion is “2”. In case where the propulsion is “0”, the propulsion does not work to the train. The propulsion “2” is stronger than the propulsion “1”. The player can control speed of the train by operating the master control lever 3. If the speed of the train becomes faster, transition of the scenery image 65 becomes faster. On the other hand, if the speed of the train becomes slower, transition of the scenery image 65 becomes slower. The propulsion meter 56 of FIG. 4 changes on the basis of position of the master control lever 3. In other words, the needle of the meter 56 swings over in accordance with the propulsion.
The brake lever 5 is used for putting brake on the train. In this embodiment, the brake is set to three phases. In the first phase (the brake lever 5 is set to backmost), the braking force is “0”. In the second phase (the brake lever 5 is rotated one phase from the position of the first phase), the braking force is “1”. In the third phase (the brake lever 5 is rotated one phase from the position of the second phase), the braking force is “2”. When the braking force is “0”, the braking force does not act on the train. The braking force “2” is stronger than the braking force “1”. The player can brake the train by operating the brake lever 5. After the player brakes the train, the train slows down and the scenery image 65 in response to the speed of the train is displayed on the screen 103. The braking force meter 58 of FIG. 4 changes according to the position of the brake lever 5. In other words, the needle of the meter 58 swings over in accordance with the braking force.
FIG. 8 is a view showing conditions of the leaf switches 204 and 206 when the master control lever 3 of FIG. 2 is set within the range r1 of FIG. 7. As illustrated in FIG. 8, a cylindrical portion (sometimes referred as “a rotating body”) 250 is formed on the center of the right side face (in case of the state of FIG. 5) of the base portion 221 of the master control lever 3. The axis 208 is formed in alignment with an axis line of the cylindrical portion 250. Projecting parts 252 and 254 are formed in such a manner as sticking out from the columnar surface (sometimes referred as “reference surface”) of the cylindrical portion 250 in a vertical direction to the axis line. The cylindrical portion 250 where the projecting parts 252 and 254 are formed rotates with the axis 208 accompanying with the rotation of the master control lever 3.
If the master control lever 3 is set within the range r1, both leaf switches 204 and 206 are turned off since both contact members 205 and 207 of the leaf switches 204 and 206 come in contact with the columnar surface of the cylindrical portion 250. In this case, since the stopper 222 of FIG. 5 hits an edge portion 255 formed at the base portion of the master control lever 3, the master control lever 3 can not be rotated clockwise (in case of FIG. 8) anymore. Incidentally, FIG. 8 is showing a condition where the master control lever 3 is set to the first phase (the propulsion “0”).
FIG. 9 is a view showing a condition of the leaf switches 204 and 206 when the master control lever 3 of FIG. 2 is set to within the range (r2-r3) of FIG. 7. The range (r2-r3) is the range r2 with the range 3 removed. As illustrated in FIG. 9, when the master control lever 3 is set to within the range (r2-r3), contact portions of the leaf switch 204 contact with each other since the contact member 205 of the leaf switch 204 is pushed by the projecting part 254. Therefore, the leaf switch 204 is turned on. On the other hand, the leaf switch 206 is off since the contact member 207 of the leaf switch 206 contacts with the columnar surface of the cylindrical portion 250. Incidentally, FIG. 9 is showing a condition where the master control lever 3 is set to the second phase (the propulsion “1”).
FIG. 10 is a view showing a condition of the leaf switches 204 and 206 when the master control lever 3 of FIG. 2 is set to within the range r3 of FIG. 7. As illustrated in FIG. 10, when the master control lever 3 is set to within the range r3, the leaf switch 204 is turned on since the contact portions of the leaf switch 204 come in contact with each other because the contact member 205 of the leaf switch 204 is pushed by the projecting part 254. At the same time, the leaf switch 206 is also turned on since contact portions of the leaf switch 206 contact with each other because the contact member 207 of the leaf switch 206 is pushed by the projecting part 252. Incidentally, FIG. 10 is showing a condition where the master control lever 3 is set to the third phase (the propulsion “2”). In case where the leaf switches 204 and 206 are both turned on, the leaf switch 206 is prioritized.
FIG. 11 is a view showing a condition of the leaf switches 204 and 206 when the master control lever 3 of FIG. 2 is set to within the range (r4-r3) of FIG. 7. The range (r4-r3) is the range r4 with the range r3 removed. As illustrated in FIG. 11, when the master control lever 3 is set to within the range (r4-r3), the leaf switch 206 is turned on since the contact portions of the leaf switch 206 contact with each other because the contact member 207 of the leaf switch 206 is pushed by the projecting part 252. On the other hand, the leaf switch 204 is turned off since the contact member 205 of the leaf switch 204 contacts with the columnar surface of the cylindrical portion 250. In this case, since the stopper 222 of FIG. 5 hits an edge portion 253 formed at the base portion of the master control lever 3, the master control lever 3 can not be rotated counterclockwise (in case of FIG. 11) anymore. Incidentally, FIG. 11 is showing a condition where the master control lever 3 is set to the third phase (the propulsion “2”).
FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the cylindrical portion 250 formed at the base portion 221 of the master control lever 3 of FIG. 8 to FIG. 11. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the height “H” of the projecting part 254 is made higher than an interval “L0” between contact portions of the leaf switch 204. In the same way, the height “H” of the projecting part 252 is made higher than an interval “L0” between contact portions of the leaf switch 206. In this way, it is possible to turn the leaf switches 204 and 206 on without fail. For example, it is possible to determine how high the height “H” should be than the interval “L0” from designer's own experiences. In this case, the height “H” should not be too high because the leaf switches 204 and 206 might not be able to recover their original state.
In addition, it is possible to adjust an area of the range r4 of FIG. 7 by adjusting the width “W1” of the projecting part 252 and the position of the edge 253. It is also possible to adjust an area of the range r2 of FIG. 7 by adjusting the width “W2” of the projecting part 254. Furthermore, it is possible to adjust an area of the range r3 of FIG. 7 by adjusting the interval “L1” between the projecting parts 252 and 254. Still further, it is possible to adjust an area of the range r1 of FIG. 7 by adjusting the position of the edge 255 of the cylindrical portion 250 and the width “W2” of the projecting part 254.
Generally, a rubber switch might not be able to recover its original shape and cause an inconvenience that an “on” state is maintained if the rubber switch is left pushed for a long period. Therefore, a leaf switch is favorable to be used rather than the rubber switch since the inconvenience like this does not happen in case of the leaf switch.
In this embodiment, the height “H” of the projecting parts 252 and 254 of the cylindrical portion 250 are higher than the interval “L0” between the contact portions of each leaf switch 206 and 204. Therefore, in case where the axis 208 oscillates, it is possible to make the contact portions of each leaf switch 206 and 204 contact with each other without fail.
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