Abstract:
A transmission-gear-selection device includes knob means; shaft means coupled to the knob means; and shift means coupled to the shaft means and configured to shift gears for a driving simulator and/or driving game as the knob means and shaft means are manipulated by a user, wherein the knob means and shaft means are configured to be manipulated for gated shifting. Gated shifting includes the simulation of a transmission of a vehicle that is simulated by the driving simulator and/or the driving game.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/681,713, filed May 16, 2005, and is fully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to input devices for automobile driving simulators for use with a computer, and more specifically relates to a transmission-gear-selection device and method of operation therefore. 
     Computer based driving simulators and games are typically designed to operate transmission gears of a simulated vehicle sequentially. Such sequential-mode shifting generally provides that the user may shift one gear up or one gear down, but may not skip gears. For example, to shift from first gear to third gear, the user generally shifts from first gear to second gear, and then from second gear to third gear. While this adequately simulates “paddle style” shifters it does not provide for realistic “gated” shifting, where a driver can down shift, for example, from forth gear to second gear. 
     Therefore, a new transmission-gear-selection device is needed for game control, driving simulation, etc. and that is configured to provide non-sequential shifting (or gated shifting) through six or more forward gears in a user selected order. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A transmission-gear-selection device is provided that includes knob means; shaft means coupled to the knob means; shift means coupled to the shaft means and configured to shift gears for a driving simulator and/or driving game as the knob means and shaft means are manipulated by a user, wherein the knob means and shaft means are configured to be manipulated for gated shifting. Gated shifting includes the simulation of a transmission of a vehicle that is simulated by the driving simulator and/or the driving game. The shift means is user configurable for sequential shifting. 
     A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a transmission-gear-selection device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a transmission-gear-selection device according to another embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a transmission-gear-selection device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally provides an input device and a method for automobile driving simulators and games, and more specifically provides a transmission-gear-selection device and a method of operation therefore. The transmission-gear-selection device is configured to provide the user with the opportunity to select six or more forward gears, in a user selected order. The transmission-gear-selection device is also configured to convert into an industry standard “sequential” shifter for use with “legacy” simulations and/or games. 
       FIGS. 1-3  are perspective views of a transmission-gear-selection device according to embodiments of the present invention. The transmission-gear-selection device includes a shifter knob ( FIG. 1 , ref. no.  1 ) and a shaft ( FIG. 1 , ref. no.  2 ) that is spring loaded into a gimbal “side to side” yoke ( FIG. 1 , ref. no.  3 ). The shaft is constrained from substantial rotation, and is configured for limited vertical travel, by a 1 st , 2 nd  gear latch pin ( FIG. 1 , ref. no.  6 ) and a 5 th , 6 th  reverse gear latch pin ( FIG. 1 , ref. no.  7 ). The “side-to-side” yoke is constrained by a “forward-to-back” Yoke ( FIG. 1 , ref. no.  10 ). The “forward-to-back” Yoke is constrained by a 1 st , 2 nd  gear latch plate ( FIG. 1 , ref. no.  4 ) and a 5 th , 6 th , reverse gear latch plate ( FIG. 1 , ref. no.  5 ). The “forward to back” yoke is configured to move between three positions: forward, center, and back, and is constrained in these movements by a latch plate detent ball and spring ( FIG. 1 , ref. no.  8 ). This latch plate detent ball and spring keeps the shifter shaft knob assembly and the shaft assembly in select gear position: 1 st  gear,  3rd gear  and 5 th  gear when pushed forward, and in the select gear positions: 2 nd  gear, 4 th  gear, and 6 th  gear when pulled back. When the shifter knob assembly and shaft assembly are centered, the latch plate detent ball and spring keeps the device in “neutral,” (i.e., no gear is selected). When the shifter knob assembly and shaft assembly are pushed down, then over to the right, and back into the  6 th gear position, the shifter knob assembly and shaft assembly are detented into “reverse” gear. The gimbal mechanism uses a set of variable sensors (e.g., potentiometers) coupled to the shifter shaft via a gimbal to provide substantially constant location/position information of the shifter to a driving simulator, game box, etc. A side-to-side sensor of the set of variable sensors that is coupled to a “side-to-side” yoke ( FIG. 1 , ref. no.  9 ) provides “neutral” and direction change information to the simulator, game box, etc. A forward-to-back sensor of the set of variable sensors coupled to a “forward-to-back” yoke ( FIG. 1 , ref. no.  11 ), in conjunction with the side-to-side sensor, provides gear selection information. For example, if the forward-to-back sensor is in the “forward” position and the side-to-side sensor is in the left position, these sensors would indicate that 1 st  gear is selected by the user. This configuration allows the simulator software to recognize shifter location and shifter change directions. An example would be 2 nd  gear being selected from 6 th  gear. As the shifter is moved from 6 th  gear to 2 nd  gear, a constant output from the variable sensor tells the software that the transmission-gear-selection device is in neutral and is moving past 4 th  gear and 3 rd  gear. The six physical positions of the transmission-gear-selection device, along with a seventh reverse gear, simulate the positions and actions of a standard transmission providing “detent” gated selection, for example, be placing the shifter in a selected gear. 
     To provide legacy control commands for legacy simulators, legacy games, etc. that do not support “gated” shifting, the transmission-gear-selection device includes a “sequential stop” mechanism that is selectable by the user. The presently described embodiment of the transmission-gear-selection device is manually selectable by the user and manually engaged, but automatic selection and engagement can also be provided without undue experimentation. When the transmission-gear-selection device is in a disengaged position, such as the position of the device shown in  FIG. 2 , the sequential stop does not affect gated operation. A sequential-stop-selector knob ( FIG. 2 , ref. no.  1 ) rotates to engage and disengage the sequential stop. The sequential-stop-selector knob is coupled to a sequential stop ( FIG. 2 , ref. no.  5 ) and a sequential-stop slider assembly ( FIGS. 2-3 , ref. no.  3 ) via a stop pin fixed to a sequential-stop knob (not shown). The sequential-stop slider is configured to move forward and back relative to the sequential stop and is returned to a “centered position” by a sequential-stop-slider-return spring ( FIGS. 2-3 , ref. no.  2 ). The sequential stop is substantially fixed in place by a top case and a sequential-stop-knob-retention pin (not shown) and prevents the shifter knob assembly and shaft assembly from moving side-to-side and restricts the forward to back movement to a relatively small movement range. According to the presently described operating configuration of the transmission-gear-selection device, the device is not detented such that only forward or back (i.e., shift up, shift down) selections can be made. 
     When the sequential-stop knob is rotated approximately 180 degrees, the sequential-stop assembly moves forward relative to the shifter knob assembly and the shaft assembly. The shifter knob assembly and the shaft assembly may be depressed to lower the latch pins out of the way of the sliding stop assembly. Once fully engaged, the shifter knob assembly and the shaft assembly are released and the latch pins engage a set of sequential-stop-slider-assembly slots ( FIG. 2 , ref. no.  4 ), and a set of sequential-stop-travel-simulator slots ( FIG. 2 , ref. no.  6 ). Pulling or pushing the shifter knob assembly and the shaft assembly compresses the slider-return springs and rotates the forward-and-back sensor. The host relays this information as increased or decreased values and shifts the simulator gears accordingly. 
     It is to be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application and scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the above description should not be understood as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.