Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/307,968, entitled “GAME CONTROLLER HAVING A STEPPING EXERCISE PLATFORM AND A SLIDING PLATFORM”, filed Feb. 25, 2010. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a game controller, a storage medium storing a game program, and a game apparatus, and particularly to the game controller including a plurality of load sensors, the storage medium storing a game program for performing game processing with the game controller, and the game apparatus. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0261696 to Yamazaki et al discloses a game controller used in a game machine, comprising: a support portion on which player&#39;s legs are ridden; at least four load sensors disposed at predetermined intervals below said support portion; and a communication means for transmitting a load value as manipulation data detected from each of said four load sensors to said game machine. The support portion as displayed in this patent is a flat surface which is not capable of supporting sliding exercise computations. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,593,370 to Meldeau discloses a stepping exercise device and a sliding exercise device having at least one stepping exercise platform having a base for placement on a support surface, an upper stepping surface having a front and rear end raised above said support surface and an exterior angular side surface extending from one end of said upper stepping surface; and a sliding surface having opposite ends and a central sliding area to be supported on said support surface and having at least one of said opposite ends removably connected to said stepping exercise platform and interfacing with said exterior angular side surface of said stepping exercise platform; said sliding surface extending downwardly from said upper stepping surface to said support surface. 
         [0007]    There are no current gaming controllers that allow the sensing of a sliding motion to be used in conjunction with aerobic exercises. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel game controller. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a game controller that can perform various manipulations using load sensors. 
         [0010]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel storage medium storing a game program, in which a game controller including a plurality of load sensors is used to sense sliding action of an individual, and a game apparatus. 
         [0011]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide a storage medium storing a game program, which can compute a quantity of load values necessary for game processing to perform game processing using a game controller including a plurality of load sensors, and a game apparatus. 
         [0012]    In the present invention, the following configurations are adopted to solve the problems. A parenthetic reference numeral and supplementary explanation indicate correlation with the later-described embodiments for the purpose of the easy understanding of the present invention, and do not restrict the present invention. 
         [0013]    In a first aspect of the present invention, a game controller used in a game machine, includes a support portion on which player&#39;s legs are ridden; load sensors are disposed at predetermined intervals below the support portion; and a communication means for transmitting a load value as manipulation data detected from each of the load sensors. 
         [0014]    In the first aspect of the present invention, the game controller ( 10 ) consists of an exercise platform and is used as the manipulation means or input means of a game machine (not shown). The game controller includes the support portion ( 16 ) on which the player&#39;s legs are ridden, and load sensors ( 14 ) are disposed at predetermined intervals below the support portion. The load applied by the player ride on the support portion is detected by the load sensors. Communication means as disclosed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0261696 transmits the load value as the manipulation data detected from each of the load sensors. Accordingly, in the game machine, the game can be performed based on the load values detected by the load sensors. 
         [0015]    According to the first aspect of the present invention, load sensors are provided on the concave upslope of the sliding surface, and the load value as the manipulation data detected from each of the load sensors is transmitted to the game machine, so that the game controller that can perform various manipulations using the load applied by the player can be provided. 
         [0016]    According to the second aspect of the present invention, load sensors are provided on the step portion of the exercise apparatus, and the load value as the manipulation data detected from each of the load sensors is transmitted to the game machine, so that the game controller that can perform various manipulations using the load applied by the player can be provided. 
         [0017]    In another aspect of the present invention, preferably a game controller according to the first aspect of the present invention further includes a power supply unit that supplies electric power to the load sensor; and a power supply control means for controlling power supply from the power supply unit to the load sensor, wherein the communication means includes a reception determining means for determining whether or not a load obtaining command is received from the game machine, the power supply control means supplies electric power from the power supply unit to the load sensor when the reception determining means determines that the load obtaining command is received, and the power supply control means stops electric power supply from the power supply unit to the load sensor when the reception determining means determines that the load obtaining command is not received. 
         [0018]    Another aspect of the present invention is a game controller according to the first aspect of the present invention, preferably the communication means includes a wireless communication unit receiving wirelessly the load obtaining command from the game machine; and a processing means for imparting the load value as the manipulation data detected from each of the load sensors to the wireless communication unit when the wireless communication unit receives the load obtaining command, and the wireless communication unit wirelessly transmits the manipulation data received from the processing means to the game machine. 
         [0019]    In another aspect of the present invention, the wireless game controller that can wirelessly transmit and receive the data to and from the game machine can be provided. 
         [0020]    According to the present invention, the load of the player is detected by load sensors and the detected load value is set to the manipulation data to perform the game processing, so that the game controller that can perform various manipulations using the load sensors can be provided. 
         [0021]    The necessary quantity is determined and the necessary quantity of load values is computed, so that various quantities of load values can be used in the game processing by various combinations of values of the plural load sensors. Accordingly, a novel game played by the load of the player using the game controller including the plurality of load sensors can be proposed. 
         [0022]    The above described objects and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an appearance of a game controller according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a top view showing the game controller shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the game controller shown in  FIG. 1  with an exposed hinge. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    The detailed embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. 
         [0027]    For the purposes of the present invention, the combined sliding and stepping apparatus can be used in place of the game controller identified as numeral ( 10 ) as displayed in the interactive gaming system as disclosed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0261696 to Yamazaki et al, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and commonly referred to as a “Wii Fit”. 
         [0028]    The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limited, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. 
         [0029]    Referring to the drawings of the present invention,  FIG. 1  shows a controller in the form of a combination step and slide exerciser  10  which may be used for interactive aerobic exercising whereby a user  2  can step upwardly and downwardly, and/or slide on the top of the exerciser  10  in conjunction with an interactive gaming system. An elevated step platform  12  is located at each end of the step and slide exerciser  10 . A slider section  16 , having a central sliding area  16   a  ( FIG. 2 ) and slightly concave ends  16   b  ( FIG. 2 ), is connected between opposite sides of the stepping platforms  12  whereby the user may slide in the area between these platforms  12 . 
         [0030]    Preferably each step platform  12  has an uppermost foot engaging, stepping area  20  which is generally rectangular or recto-semicircular in configuration and a side surface  24  which is angular with respect to the top stepping area  20  and the lowest area of the slider section  16 . Pluralities of load sensors  14  are located in both the stepping area  20  and the slider section  16  and are installed and utilized in accordance with the structure and procedure as displayed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0261696 to Yamazaki et al. 
         [0031]    The central sliding area  16  is preferably divided into equal two section along seam  28  includes a hinge  42  on the bottom for use in folding the exerciser  10  in half during storage. The exerciser can optionally have latching means (not shown) to secure both halves of the exerciser  10  when folded during storage. 
         [0032]    In use, when one wishes to exercise with the apparatus of the invention, the exerciser  10  is unhinged by opening and positioned flatly on the ground allowing a user to smoothly glide over the top of the central sliding area  16  thereof when exercising. It will be appreciated that a user may step up and down on each of the steps  12  and also step inwardly onto the sliding area  16  for sliding movement thereon. Thus, the exercise equipment of the present invention combines the features of an aerobic stepping device with an aerobic sliding device, enabling a user to work an exercise program whereby both a stepping motion and sliding motion type of exercise may be performed without the necessity of using multiple exercise apparatus. In a further embodiment an elastic strap  32  can be secured into a locking channel  22  to permit additional exercising movements. 
         [0033]    With further reference to  FIG. 1 , a game controller exerciser  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention is a manipulation device or input device for game. The step and slide exerciser  10  is a game controller board on which a player rides or slides with the board containing load sensors  14  that detect loads applied on the board. The load sensors  14  are accommodated in the board, and a possible arrangement of the load sensors  14  is shown by dotted line in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0034]    In the stepping area  20 , multiple load sensors  14  are arranged at predetermined intervals. In the preferred embodiment, the four load sensors  14  are arranged in peripheral portions of the stepping area  20 , specifically, at the four corners. The interval between the load sensors  14  is set an appropriate value such that player&#39;s intention can accurately be detected for the load applied to the board in a game manipulation. Similarly, multiple load sensors  14  are preferably placed in along the lengthwise center axis of the central slider area  16 . 
         [0035]    As displayed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0261696, the load sensors  14  are formed by, e.g., a strain gage (strain sensor) type load cell, and the load sensor  14  is a load transducer that converts the input load into an electric signal. In the load sensor  14 , a strain inducing element is deformed to generate a strain according to the input load. The strain is converted into a change in electric resistance by a strain sensor adhering to the strain inducing element, and the change in electric resistance is converted into a change in voltage. Accordingly, the load sensor  14  outputs a voltage signal indicating the input load from an output terminal when the voltage is imparted to the load sensor  14  from a power supply terminal. The load sensor  14  is formed by, e.g., a strain gage (strain sensor) type load cell, and the load sensor  14  is a load transducer that converts the input load into an electric signal. In the load sensor  14 , a strain inducing element is deformed to generate a strain according to the input load. The strain is converted into a change in electric resistance by a strain sensor adhering to the strain inducing element, and the change in electric resistance is converted into a change in voltage. Accordingly, the load sensor  14  outputs a voltage signal indicating the input load from an output terminal when the voltage is imparted to the load sensor  14  from a power supply terminal. Other types of load sensors such as a folk vibrating type, a string vibrating type, an electrostatic capacity type, a piezoelectric type, and gyroscope type may be used as the load sensor  14 . 
         [0036]    As displayed in  FIG. 3  showing the bottom surface of the game controller exerciser  10  includes a microcomputer  26  that controls an operation of the game controller exerciser  10 . The microcomputer  26  includes a ROM and a RAM (not shown) and a power source  30  and controls the operation of the game controller exerciser  10  according to a program stored in the ROM. The step and slide exerciser  10  includes rubber gripping members  40  on a bottom surface thereof to engage a support surface so it will not slip when it is used. 
         [0037]    The game controller exerciser  10  may directly be connected to a game machine using a connector or the game controller exerciser  10  may be connected to a device that can conduct communication with the game machine. 
         [0038]    The electric power may be supplied to the load sensor  14  and the transfer of the outputs from each load sensor  14  indicating the input load, in accordance with the any of the techniques and system design displayed in United States Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0261696. 
         [0039]    In each of the above-described embodiments, the load sensors  14  are arranged in the peripheral portion of the step platform  12  or along the central axis of the slider section  16 . However, the load sensors  14  can be arranged at any predetermined intervals so as to ensure the accuracy of load detection. 
         [0040]    While the preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

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