Abstract:
A game machine having a plurality of controllers has removable memory devices corresponding or e-to-one to the controllers so that it is possible to store game control processes and the like personal to individual game users and improve the freedom with which a game can be joined, played and left by each of a plurality of players. 
     Live unplugging of the controllers and the memory devices is provided for so that, even during a game, they can be freely plugged in and unplugged with respect to the game machine proper.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/234,018 filed Jan. 19, 1999, which application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/450,683 filed May 25, 1995. The present and foregoing applications claim priority to Japanese application No. P06-115573 filed May 27, 1994. All of the foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a game machine apparatus and particularly to a game machine apparatus provided with a plurality of controllers having controls for operating the apparatus wherein for each controller there is provided a memory for storing a control state controlled by the respective controller. 
     Among conventional game machine apparatuses, those wherein a controller is mounted on a game machine proper and various games are played by operating the game machine by means of this controller are widely known. 
     In this kind of game machine apparatus, the game machine proper is provided with a memory device for storing game control processes and the like. 
     This memory device is either incorporated into the game machine proper or incorporated into a software cartridge or recording is performed on a backup card; data is suitably saved in the memory device so that after a temporary break in a game saved data on the state of the game can be read out and the game reopened. 
     However, in the conventional game machine apparatus described above, with respect to one game machine proper there is only one memory device provided as memory for saving game control processes and the like and it is not possible to save game control processes and the like personal to each of a plurality of game users. Also, there has been the problem that there are limits on the capacity and management of data saved. 
     Furthermore, in conventional game machine apparatuses, because connection terminals of the controller and the memory device for storing game control processes do not allow live unplugging (do not have electrical provision allowing peripheral devices to be disconnected while the power supply to the apparatus is on), it is necessary to turn the power supply of the game machine proper off before fitting and thereby electrically connecting the controller and the memory device to the game machine proper. It has also been necessary to turn the power supply of the game machine proper off when removing them from the game machine proper. 
     Because of this, there has been the problem that when a player or players join a game mid-way through a game or store their own respective data. in the memory device mid-way through a game it is necessary to turn the power supply of the game machine proper off and break off the game each time. 
     Accordingly, there has been a need to realize a memory device for storing game control processes and the like personal to individual game users and a controller and a memory device with which it is possible for example to join a game already in progress. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To solve the above-mentioned problems, a game machine apparatus according to this invention comprises a game machine made up of a game machine proper into which a game medium is suitably loaded and which controls the state of a game and a plurality of controllers provided with a plurality of controls for controlling the game by way of the game machine proper and memory devices provided in one-to-one correspondence with the controllers. 
     In a game machine apparatus according to the invention, the memory devices can store control situations of one or a plurality of players; the memory devices are removable; the memory devices are disposed on the game machine proper side or the controller side; connection terminals of the memory devices are of a type allowing live unplugging; grip portions of the controllers and memory devices fitted to the game machine proper are substantially the same shape; non-slip machining has been carried out on the grip portions; the memory devices are provided with non-volatile memory; and connection terminals of the controllers are of a type allowing live unplugging. 
     Having the above constitution, a game machine apparatus according to the invention has the following features: 
     Because a game machine apparatus according to the invention is made up of a game machine proper and a plurality of controllers provided with controls for controlling this game machine proper and it is possible for a plurality of controllers to be simultaneously connected to the game machine proper, and there are provided individual memory devices corresponding to each of a plurality of controllers, it becomes possible for a plurality of players to store data on game control processes and the like in their own individual memory devices. 
     Because the memory devices are removable it is possible to store and freely carry around game control processes personal to individual game users. 
     Because the connection terminals of the individual memory devices are of a type allowing live unplugging, the connection terminals can be plugged/unplugged freely even when power is being supplied to the game machine proper. 
     Because the grip portions of the memory devices and the controllers are made substantially the same shape, whether or not they are correctly fitted to the game machine proper can be judged easily by visual observation. 
     Because non-slip machining has been carried out on the grip portions, it is possible for unplugging/plugging of the memory devices with respect to the main body or to the controllers to be carried out simply and certainly. 
     Because the memory used in the memory devices is non-volatile memory, it is unnecessary for the memory devices themselves to have a power source or the like for the memory, and it is possible to make the memory devices small and simple. 
     Having the constitution described above, a game machine apparatus according to the invention has the following merits: 
     As a result of it being possible to connect a plurality of controllers to the game machine proper simultaneously and there being provided memory devices corresponding to each of a plurality of controllers, it is possible for a plurality of game users to store game data in their own individual memory devices and there is the valuable merit that it is possible to contribute to the convenience of users using the game. 
     As a result of the memory devices being able to store the control situations of one or a plurality of players, there is the valuable merit that it is possible to freely carry them around as backup personal to individual players. 
     As a result of the memory devices being removable it is possible to store and freely carry game control processes personal to game users and there is the valuable merit that it is possible to greatly improve the game use form. 
     As a result of the connection terminals of the memory devices being of a type allowing live unplugging, there is the valuable merit that unplugging/plugging of the connection terminals when power is being supplied to the game machine proper does not affect other game users using the game. 
     As a result of the grip portions of the memory devices and the controllers being substantially the same shape, there is the valuable merit that judgment of whether or not they are correctly fitted to the game machine proper is extremely easy. 
     As a result of non-slip machining having been carried out on the grip portions, it is possible for unplugging/plugging into the game machine proper to be carried out simply and certainly, and there is the valuable merit that electrical connection effected by unplugging/plugging can be carried out correctly. 
     As a result of the connection terminals connecting the controllers to the game machine proper being of a type allowing live unplugging, there is the valuable merit that even during control with other controllers unplugging/plugging of a controller does not affect other players in mid-game. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a simplified view showing the overall constitution of a game machine apparatus according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of a connection terminal part of the apparatus; 
     FIG. 5 is a plan view of the same connection terminal part; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view on the line A—A of the connection terminal part shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7 is a side view of a connection terminal part of a controller according to the invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view on the line C—C as of when a connection terminal part is connected to a game machine proper shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 9 is a simplified front view of a memory device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 10 is a plan view of the memory device; 
     FIG. 11 is a rear view of the memory device; 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of the memory device; 
     FIG. 13 is a simplified plan view of a circuit board inside the memory device; and 
     FIG. 14 is a simplified view showing the connection state of a game machine apparatus according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A preferred embodiment of a game machine apparatus according to the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a game machine apparatus  1  according to this preferred embodiment is made up of a game machine proper  2 , a controller  17  having a substantially rectangular connection terminal part  26  for connecting to this game machine proper  2 , and a memory device  38  of the same shape as the connection terminal part  26 . These will be described in the following order: 
     [1] game machine proper. 
     [2] controller 
     [3] memory device 
     [4] connection arrangement 
     [1] Game Machine Proper 
     As shown in FIG.  1  through FIG. 3, the game machine proper  2  is substantially rectangular and is made up of a disc loading part  3  in a central position thereof into which is loaded a disc constituting a game medium and in other suitable positions on the game machine proper a reset switch  4  for freely resetting a game, a power switch  5  for switching a power supply ON and OFF, a disc control switch  6  for controlling loading of the disc, and connecting parts  7 A,  7 B . . . to which a plurality of controllers  17  and memory devices  38  are connected. The game medium is not limited to a disc. 
     As shown in FIG. 14, a plurality of controllers  17 A and  17 B and memory devices  38 A and  38 B can be connected to this game machine proper  2 . In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, connecting parts  7 A and  7 B to which two sets of a controller  17  and a memory device  38  can be connected are provided, but of course the invention is not limited to two sets. 
     As shown in FIG.  2  and FIG. 3, each of the connecting parts  7 A and  7 B is formed with two levels; a memory insertion part  8  to which a memory device  38  is connected is disposed in the upper level and a connection terminal insertion part  12  to which a connection terminal part  26  of a controller  17  is connected is disposed in the lower level. 
     The insertion opening in the memory device insertion part  8  is rectangular and long in the horizontal direction, and the corners at the ends of the lower side thereof are more rounded than the corners at the ends of the upper side so that a memory device  38  cannot be inserted upside-down. 
     As shown in FIG.  2  and FIG. 8, the memory device insertion part  8  is provided with a shutter  9  which protects terminals inside effecting electrical connection, and a memory connection terminal part  11  to which a memory device  38  is connected is disposed inside the memory device insertion part  8 . 
     As shown in FIG. 8, the shutter  9  is so mounted that it is at all times urged outward by a coil twist spring  10 . As a result, when a memory device  38  is plugged in, the shutter  9  is opened inwardly by the front end of the memory device  38  as it enters, and when the memory device  38  is unplugged the shutter  9  is returned by the urging force of the spring  10  and automatically closes, fulfilling a role of keeping dust out of the memory connection terminal  11  and a role of protecting it from shock from outside. 
     The memory connection terminal part  11  is made up of terminals not shown in the drawings for suitably writing data controlled in a game into a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory, and comprises power supply terminals and signal terminals. 
     As shown in FIG.  2  and FIG. 3, the connection terminal insertion part  12  has an insertion opening which is rectangular and long in the horizontal direction and of which the corners at the ends of the lower side are more rounded than the corners at the ends of the upper side so that the connection terminal part  26  of a controller  17  cannot be inserted upside-down. Also, the shape of the insertion opening of the connection terminal insertion part  12  is different from the shape of the insertion opening of the memory device insertion part  8  so that a memory device  38  cannot be inserted therein. Thus the sizes and shapes of the insertion openings for the memory device  38  and the connection terminal part  26  of the controller  17  are made different so that they will not be mistakenly inserted in the wrong insertion part. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, the internal structure of the connection terminal insertion part  12  is made up of necked-bottle shaped cylindrical power supply and signal connection parts  13  in a substantially central position which connect with power supply and signal contact pins  34  of a connection terminal part  26  of a controller  17 , guide grooves  14 A and  14 B in positions above and below these power supply and signal connection parts  13  which guide the connection terminal part  26  of the controller  17  when it is positioned and inserted, and a shield connector part  16  having a shield contact  15  above the guide groove  14 B for shielding to block radiation from the game machine proper  2 . 
     When the connection terminal part  26  of a controller  17  is fitted into the game machine proper  2  thus constructed, it is guided by the guide grooves  14 A and  14 B and becomes connected to the shield contact  15 . As will be further discussed later, the power supply and signal connection parts  13  and the cylindrical contact pins are connected. At this time, because the contact pins on the controller  17  side are in a positional relationship such that the power supply contact pins project further than the signal contact pins, the power supply is supplied first and the signal contact pins are connected thereafter. 
     When a memory device  38  is fitted, it opens the shutter  9  by pushing it inward with its front end and becomes connected with the memory connection terminal part  11 . At this time, because like the controller  17  described above there is the positional relationship that the power supply terminals project further than the signal terminals, the power supply terminals are connected and power is supplied and then the signal terminals are connected thereafter. 
     In this way, the game machine proper  2  can control the so-called state of the game. Here, control of the state of the game is mainly control of the progress, display, and sound of the game. 
     [2] Controller 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the controller  17  is of a structure such that it can be held in the palms of both hands and five fingers of each hand can move freely to operate the controls, and is made up of left-right symmetrically disposed round first and second controls  18  and  19 , first and second support parts  20  and  21  projecting angularly from the first and second controls  18  and  19 , a select switch  22  and a start switch  23  disposed on a waisted part between these first and second support parts  20  and  21 , third and fourth controls  24  and  25  projecting from the front surfaces of the first and second controls  18  and  19 , and the connection terminal part  26  which electrically connects the controller  17  to the game machine proper  2  by way of a cable  27 . A construction dispensing with the cable  27  may alternatively be adopted. 
     As shown in FIG. 14, controller  17  interconnects the game machine proper and respective switches SW of the first and second controls  18  and  19 , the select switch  22 , the start switch  23  and the third and fourth controls  24  and  25 . 
     As shown in FIG.  1  and FIG.  4  through FIG. 8, the connection terminal part  26  is attached to the end of the cable  27  for electrically connecting to the game machine proper and is made up of a substantially rectangular housing  30  which can be split into an upper shell  28  and a lower shell  29  and an engaging part  33  at the front end of this housing  30  which engages with and restrains the power supply and signal contact pins. 
     Grip portions  31 A and  31 B non-slip machined (for example knurled) in a corrugated, notched pattern are provided on both side surfaces of the exterior of the housing  30 , and a cable engaging portion  32  for gripping the cable  27  is provided at the rear end of the housing  30 . 
     The grip portions  31 A and  31 B constitute a so-called unplugging/plugging portion, and the size thereof, i.e. the width W and length L thereof, is the same as that of a grip portion of the memory device  38  which will be further discussed later. 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the engaging part  33  has a plurality of contact pins  34  disposed in a line in an interior molded into a substantially rectangular shape and effects electrical connection to the game machine proper  2 ; its base end engages with and is restrained by the housing  30 , and its front end is divided into three compartments  35 A,  35 B and  35   c  each grouping three contact pins  34 . In this way, the contact pins  34  are covered so that the ends of the projecting contact pins  34  are protected from shocks and the like from outside. 
     The contact pins  34  consist of three contact pins  34  in each of the three compartments  35 A,  35 B and  35   c , in a positional relationship such that one of them is longer than the other two. 
     In this preferred embodiment, pins nos.  2 ,  4  and  7  are power supply contact pins  34 A and project further than the signal contact pins  34 B. This constitution wherein the ends of the pins project like this allows so-called live unplugging. 
     That is, if the power supply contact pins  34 A are made the long pins (pins nos.  2 ,  4  and  7 ), when the connection terminal part  26  of a controller  17  is plugged into the game machine proper  2  while it is operating, first power is supplied and a stable operating state is established before the signal contact pins  34 B are connected, and malfunctioning such as runaway can be prevented. Reversely, during unplugging the power supply contact pins  34 A are unplugged after the signal contact pins  34 B have all been unplugged. 
     As a result, even during a game for which a plurality of controllers  17  are being used, the connection terminal part  26  of a controller  17  can be freely unplugged/plugged into the game machine proper  2  without affecting other controllers  17  in mid-game and participation in and withdrawal from the game can be carried out freely. 
     As shown in FIG. 4, FIG.  5  and FIG. 8, three suitably spaced apertures  36 A,  36 B and  36 C are provided in the vicinity of the center of the front end of the engaging part  33 , and a shield member  37  for blocking radiation from the game machine proper  2  is inserted on the inner side thereof. 
     Of the three apertures  36 A,  36 B and  36 C, the two apertures  36 A and  36 C at the sides restrain the game machine proper  2  in a half-lock state when they engage therewith, and the middle aperture  36 B is connected to the shield contact  15  of the game machine proper  2 . 
     That is, as shown in FIG. 8, when the connection terminal part  26  of a controller  17  is fitted into the game machine proper  2 , first it is inserted guided by the guide grooves  14 A and  14 B from the front end of the engaging part  33 . Then first the shield member  37  facing out of the aperture  36 B is connected to the shield contact  15 , substantially simultaneously with this the power supply contact pins  34 A are connected and power is supplied, and the signal contact pins  34 B are connected thereafter. Although not shown in the drawings, the surrounding of the contact pins  34  is also shielded with a shield member. 
     [3] Memory Device 
     As shown in FIG.  2  and FIG.  3  and especially FIG.  9  through FIG. 12, the memory device  38  is made up of a housing  41  consisting of a substantially flat rectangular upper shell  39  and lower shell  40  and a circuit board  46  inside this housing  41  on which is mounted a memory. 
     The housing  41  is made up of non-slip machined (for example knurled) grip portions  42 A and  42 B on both side surfaces of its rear portion and a fitting portion  43  which is fitted into the game machine proper  2 ; the front end surface of this fitting portion  43  is provided with a rectangular window portion  44 . 
     The grip portions  42 A and  42 B constitute a so-called unplugging/plugging portion which is plugged into the game machine proper  2 , and their size, i.e. their width W and length L, is the same as the size of the grip portions  31 A and  31 B of the connection terminal part  26  of the controller  17  described above. 
     That is, as shown in FIG. 1, FIG.  2  and FIG. 3, the controller  17  and the memory device  38  can be fitted into the game machine proper  2  so that viewed from above, viewed from below or viewed from either side they overlap in the same shape. As a result, it is possible to easily discern visually whether or not they are correctly fitted. 
     The surface of the fitting portion  43  is provided with a direction indicating mark  45   a  showing the direction for fitting into the game machine proper  2 . By means of this mark  45   a , users using the game can easily distinguish the direction and the front and back of the memory device  38  when fitting it into the game machine proper  2 . 
     A label affixing portion  45   b  is provided on the end surface of the end opposite the window portion  44  so that the memory device  38  can easily be identified. 
     Inside the memory device  38 , a memory terminal part  47  of the circuit board  46  comprising power supply and signal terminals faces outward through the window portion  44 . 
     A shown particularly in FIG. 13, the circuit board  46  has mounted thereon in a predetermined position a substantially flat, rectangular memory  50  and comprises the memory terminal part  47  connected to this memory. 
     The memory terminal part  47  is made up of power supply terminals  48 A and signal terminals  48 B, and the power supply terminals  48 A project further than the signal terminals  48 B and are disposed in an aligned state. 
     That is, when the memory device  38  is electrically connected to the game machine proper  2 , first the power supply terminals  48 A,  48 A become connected and power is supplied to the memory so the memory can operate fully and then after that the signal terminals  48 B are connected and connection of the memory  50  mounted in the memory device  38  and the game machine proper  2  is completed. 
     By adopting this type of structure allowing so-called live unplugging wherein power s first supplied to the power supply terminals  48 A before the signal terminals  48 B are connected, when the memory device  38  is fitted to the game machine proper  2 , even if the game machine proper  2  is operating, that is, even during a game, it is possible to unplug/plug the memory device  38  freely. As described above, this structure allowing live unplugging is also applied to the connection terminal part  26  of the controller  17  described above. 
     As shown in FIG.  13  and FIG. 14, the memory device  38  connects the memory  50  mounted on the circuit board  46  to the game machine proper  2   
     The memory  50  used here is a non-volatile memory, for example flash EEPROM, NAND EEPROM, UV/EPROM or the like typified by EEPROM, and consists of semiconductor memory in which stored information is retained after the power supply is cut off. 
     As a result, a battery of a power source or the like and circuit thereof for holding the information can be dispensed with, and the structure can be made small and simple. In this preferred embodiment the memory device  38  is fitted to the game machine proper  2  side, but it may alternatively be made removably connectable to the controller  17  side. 
     [4] Connection Arrangement 
     As described above, in a constitution wherein controllers  17  and memory devices  38  can be connected to the game machine proper  2 , as shown in FIG. 14, a plurality of controllers  17  can be connected and respective memory devices  38  corresponding to respective ones of the connected controllers  17  can be fitted. 
     That is, if the constitution is such that a controller  17 A and a memory device  38 A of a first set to a controller  17 B and a memory device  38 B of an Nth set can be connected to the game machine proper  2 , when the controller  17 A of the first set is fitted, a memory device  38 A of the first set corresponding thereto personal to a user controlling the game can be fitted and the game content controlled by the controller  17 A of the first set can be suitably recorded in the memory device  38 A of the first set. 
     In the above preferred embodiment the description was of a game apparatus, but the invention is of course not limited to a game apparatus and can be used for a form of business dealing, for example securities trading or information reference, for instance for access to a certain database or the like. In this case, connections with devices required for the loading of the medium replacing the game medium and communication in both directions and the like are necessary. 
     Related applications include Japanese Patent Application Nos. 
     05-190763 (File Date: 1993. 06. 03), 
     05-190764 (File Date: 1993. 07. 02), 
     05-258625 (File Date: 1993. 10. 15), 
     06-027405 (File Date: 1994. 01. 31), 
     06-094988 (File Date: 1994. 05. 09), 
     06-238898 (File Date: 1994. 10. 03) and 
     06-142454 (File Date: 1994. 06. 01), submitted by the present applicant. Each of the above applications is owned by the assignee of the present invention and is hereby incorporated by way of reference. (U.S. Patents corresponding to these seven Japanese applications are currently being applied for.)