JP2533285B2 - Raygun for TV game machine - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mechanism for reproducing the sensation of actual shooting with a ray gun of a video game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a battle game using a television monitor for shooting a projected target with a gun has been proposed and implemented (US Pat.
0-96282).

The light gun used in this video game machine has a built-in photodetector having high directivity, and the photodetector detects the scanning bright line on the screen with the muzzle directed. There is. Then, in the above-mentioned video game machine, by confirming at which scanning position the detection signal by the photodetector is detected on the television screen,
It is determined whether or not the image target is hit.

[0004]

In this type of light gun, even if a trigger is fired and a shooting operation is performed, there is no real sense of impact such as impact or recoil that would occur when a bullet is actually fired. As a result, the player lacks power and may not be fully satisfied by the player.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and provides a ray gun capable of obtaining a feeling of actual shooting such as impact or recoil at the time of launching, without disturbing the original purpose of shooting a target. It is intended to be provided.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A shooting detection means for detecting a shooting operation and a shock generation means for giving a shock to at least a gun grip of the gun body in synchronization with a detection signal of the shooting detection means are provided, and the shock generation means is fixed to the gun body. The motor includes a motor, a flywheel that rotates integrally with the motor, and a braking unit that receives a detection signal from the shooting detection means and applies braking to the rotation of the motor.

[0007]

According to the invention described in claim 1, when a player shoots, the shooting operation is detected by the shooting detection means, and the rotation speed of the flywheel driven by the motor is rapidly reduced by the braking portion. Therefore, the rotational force of the flywheel is rapidly transmitted to the gun body, and this impact force is given to the player.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A schematic structure of a video game machine in which a light gun according to the present invention is used will be described with reference to FIG. This video game machine has a game machine body 1 and a rifle type light gun 2
It consists of and.

The game machine body 1 displays the target of the ray gun 2 and displays a game according to a monitor display section 11 such as a CRT or LCD and a preset program and a shooting result of the ray gun 2. As it progresses, it is provided with a control unit 12 for sending an image signal to the monitor display unit 11, and the control unit 12 is electrically connected to the light gun 2 via a cable 3. Further, the control unit 12 has a horizontal counter and a vertical counter that are synchronized with the scanning of the monitor display unit 11, and manages the scanning position and the target position on the monitor display unit 11 by these.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the main part of the light gun 2.
The light gun 2 includes an optical lens (not shown) on the gun body 21.
A photodetector 20, which has a high directivity and is arranged on the front surface,
The trigger 22, a micro switch (shooting detection means) 23 for detecting whether or not the trigger 22 is operated, and a shock generation means 24 for generating a shock when the trigger 22 is operated are provided. The ray gun 2 detects the light of the scanning bright line on the screen by the photodetection section 20 by shooting toward the monitor display section 11.

The trigger 22 includes a lower operating portion 22a to which a finger is applied, and an operating portion 22b which projects into the inside of the gun body 21 and has a slope 22d formed in a part thereof, and a horizontal portion in the middle thereof. It is rotatably supported about a shaft 22c. The trigger 22 is formed by a coil spring or a spring (not shown) provided on the acting portion 22b or the horizontal shaft 22c.
Is urged toward the position indicated by the solid line.

The micro switch 23 includes a switch body 23a having a built-in switch section, and the switch body 23.
Operation lever 23 swingably attached to one side of a
b, the roller 2 pivotally supported at the tip of the operation lever 23b
3c, the switch body 23a connected to the switch part
It has a protrusion 23d protruding from the side surface and a lead wire 23e for outputting a switch signal from the switch section. When the roller 23c is pressed by the slope 22d and the operating lever 23b reaches the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2, the protrusion 23d is pushed in to switch on.

The impact generating means 24 includes a motor 24a fixed to the gun body 21, a braking portion (braking portion) 24b for braking the rotation of the motor 24a, and the motor 24.
The flywheel 24d is fixed to the rotary shaft 24c of a. In addition, lead wires 2 for guiding electric signals for driving are respectively supplied to the motor 24a and the brake portion 24b.
4e and 24f are provided. The motor 24a is
It rotates in the direction of arrow C shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the flywheel 24d is formed in a disk shape having a predetermined diameter and weight, and is a motor 24a.
Rotation energy is stored by being rotated by.

The brake portion 24b is fixed to the side surface of the motor 24a, has an electromagnetic coil inside, a sliding plate fixed to the rotating shaft 24c, and is disposed so as to face the sliding plate, and is slidable in the axial direction. It is a general electromagnetic clutch having various braking members. When the electromagnetic coil is excited, the braking force is moved by the attractive force generated by the magnetic field and comes into contact with the sliding plate, so that the motor 24a is momentarily braked.

Next, the operation of the light gun 2 will be described. In the video game machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, when a start button is pressed after a coin is inserted, or a game is started after a set time has elapsed since the coin was inserted, a motor drive signal is sent from the controller 12 via the cable 3. Is sent to the motor 2
4a starts rotating in the direction of arrow C in FIG. This motor 2
The rotation speed of 4a transiently increases toward the set speed due to the inertial force of the flywheel 24d. On the other hand, the player puts his shoulder on the butt 21b of the gun grip 21a,
A finger is placed on the trigger 22 to aim at the target on the monitor display unit 11. Then, when the aim is set, the player pulls the operating portion 22a with his / her finger to rotate the trigger 22 to the state shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.

When the trigger 22 is pulled, the operating lever 23b
Pushes the protrusion 23d into the switch body 23a to switch on, and the switch-on signal is output to the control unit 12 via the cable 3 as a shooting signal.

On the other hand, the control unit 12 triggers a light detection operation by this shooting signal, and the monitor display unit 11 scans at least one screen immediately after shooting by bright line scanning. The light detection unit 20 receives and detects this bright line, and the control unit 12 detects which position on the television screen is shot from the values of the horizontal and vertical counters at the time when the light detection signal is confirmed, and this detection is performed. By determining whether the shot position is the target position,
Check if you hit.

At the same time when the micro switch 23 is turned on, the control section 12 turns off the motor drive signal to stop the power supply to the motor 24a and outputs a brake drive signal for a predetermined time. Thus, the brake part 24b is operated. Therefore, the motor 2
The rotation of 4a is suddenly stopped, or is reduced to a state close to the stop, and at the same time, the rotation of the flywheel 24d is also rapidly reduced. Therefore, the energy stored in the flywheel 24d is transmitted to the gun body 21, and as a result, the tip end side of the barrel 25 is directed to the arrow D1 direction and the buttock 21b is directed to the D2 direction to the gun body 21 as shown in FIG. The impact force acts to rotate it. Then, when the brake drive signal is turned off after a predetermined time, the control unit 12 sends the motor drive signal again to restart the rotation of the motor 24a to prepare for the next shooting.

As described above, since the impact force is generated at the same time when the trigger is pulled, the player can enjoy the feeling of a real shot as if a real bullet was shot, and the sense of reality of the game is dramatically increased. Will be increased.

In the above description, the case where the motor drive signal is turned off at the same time when the shooting signal is generated is shown. However, the motor drive signal is kept on regardless of the presence of the shooting signal and the brake drive signal is turned on. By shortening the time to reduce the braking time, the motor 24
a is controlled so as not to stop completely, the motor 24a
Since the rise time of the next rotation speed is shortened, it is possible to provide a ray gun that can cope with the occurrence of impact in the case of so-called continuous fire, when continuously fired.

In addition, the energy accumulated in the flywheel 24d can be changed by changing the voltage applied to the motor 24a, the duty of the supply current, or the like in the impact generating means 24, or changing the shape or weight of the flywheel 24d. You can With this, the strength of the impact force generated in the gun may be changeable.

Next, a second embodiment in which the impact generating means is composed of an electromagnetic solenoid will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the pistol ray gun 4 is an electromagnetic solenoid 4
2, micro switch (shooting detection means) 43, trigger 4
4 and the same photodetector (not shown) as described above.

The electromagnetic solenoid 42 is a trigger 4 which will be described later.
4, a cylindrical frame 42a provided inside the gun body 41, a core rod 42c (magnetic rod) standing upright at the center of a rear wall 42b (contacted member) of the frame 42a, An exciting coil 42d loosely fitted to the core rod 42c and having a required weight, a spring 42e (urging means) for urging the exciting coil 42d in the direction opposite to the arrow E shown in FIG. 3, and the core rod 42c of the rear wall 42b. It is composed of a cushioning member 42f provided around the periphery.

The rear wall 42b is fixed at a position where it abuts the rear side surface 42i of the exciting coil 42d at the equilibrium position between the core rod 42c and the exciting coil 42d during excitation.

The buffer member 42f is made of an elastic material such as rubber and is formed in an annular shape, and has a curved center portion in the radial direction which is raised from the rear wall 42b.

The spring 42e is loosely fitted to the core rod 42c and interposed between the exciting coil 42d and the rear wall 42b, and the front end side is engaged with the exciting coil 42d at a proper position. By doing so, when the exciting coil 42d is excited, the coil 42d moves in the direction of arrow E shown in FIG. 3 against the biasing force of the spring 42e, sandwiching the buffer member 42f near the equilibrium position, and rear wall 42b. When it is de-excited, the spring 42e causes the exciting coil 42 to
The d is pushed back from the equilibrium position to the initial position shown in FIG.

The trigger 44 is mounted so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction of the gun body 41, and has a bulging portion 44a formed in the rearward direction from the central portion thereof. A spring (not shown) is provided on the bulging portion 44a, so that the trigger 44
Is urged to return to the position shown by the solid line in FIG.

Further, the micro switch 43 includes a switch body 43a having a built-in switch portion, and a protrusion 43b provided on the front side surface of the switch body 43a so as to be retractable. The protrusion 43b is normally biased in a protruding direction, and when the trigger 44 is slid backward, the bulging portion 44a abuts and pushes the protrusion 43b into the switch main body 43a to turn on the switch. It is supposed to be done.

Next, the operation when the light gun 4 is used will be described. When the player operates the trigger 44 toward the target on the monitor display unit 11 to move the trigger 44 to the position shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3, the bulging portion 44a turns on the micro switch 43. This switch-on signal is sent to the control unit 12 via the cable 3 as a shooting signal.

The control unit 12 advances the game and turns on the exciting coil drive signal for a predetermined time based on the generation of the shooting signal. Since this signal causes the exciting coil 42d to generate a magnetic field, the exciting coil 42d and the core rod 4
An attractive force is generated between the exciting coil 42d and 2c, and this attractive force causes the exciting coil 42d to resist the biasing force of the spring 42e.
The rapid movement is started in the arrow E direction.

Due to this rapid movement, the exciting coil 42d
At the same time as reaching the equilibrium position, the side surface 42i collides with the rear wall 42b while the side surface 42i sandwiches the buffer member 42f. At this time, an impact force in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 3 acts on the ray gun 4.

After that, when the exciting coil drive signal is turned off, the attraction force disappears, and the exciting coil 42d is pushed back to the initial position by the biasing force of the spring 42e.
The state again shown in FIG.

As described above, in the light gun 4, a rear impact force is generated by the collision of the exciting coil 42d with the rear wall 42b at the upper part of the trigger 44, and the impact force is the gun body 4
It is possible to push back 1 to the player side and act to direct the barrel upward, so that a shooting sensation of recoil when firing a live ammunition can be obtained. Further, the impact between the exciting coil 42d and the rear wall 42b is carried out via the cushioning member 42f, so that the impact force is somewhat mitigated, the generation of abnormal noise is prevented, and the damage is suppressed.

The buffer member 42f may be a spring or the like, and is not limited to the material such as rubber as long as it has an appropriate elastic force.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the impact generated by the impact generating means is applied to the entire gun, but the impact is applied only to the portion directly contacting the human body. Of course, an embodiment in this case will be described with reference to FIG. In the third embodiment, the pistol type light gun 5 is an impact transmission member 5 that directly transmits an impact to a human body.
2. A return spring 53 for urging the shock transmitting member 52 to return to the initial position shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, an electromagnetic solenoid 54 (shock generating means) for generating a shock, and the same trigger as in the second embodiment. 55, a photodetector (not shown), and a microswitch 56.

The impact transmission member 52 is formed so as not to impair the rear shape of the gun grip 51a, and is attached so that it can be fitted therein. A shaft hole 52a is formed at the lower end thereof, and the return member is provided at the upper end thereof. A locking hole 52b for locking the spring 53 and an end surface 52c for contacting a movable rod 54d described later are formed. This impact transmission member 52
Is mounted by fitting the shaft hole 52a into the horizontal shaft 51b in the gun grip 51a, while the return spring 53 interposed between the gun grip 51a and the locking hole 52b causes the initial position shown by the solid line in FIG. It is urged to rotate back to.

The electromagnetic solenoid 54 includes an exciting coil 54a for generating a magnetic field, a movable rod 54c made of a magnetic material penetrating a cylindrical portion 54b in the exciting coil 54a, and a head at the front end of the exciting coil 54a and the movable rod 54c. 54
It is composed of a spring 54e interposed between d. The electromagnetic solenoid 54 is fixed to the gun body 51 at a position where the rear end portion 54f of the movable rod 54c is in front of the end surface 52c of the impact transmission member 52.

The head 54d is returned to the front side of the exciting coil 54a by the spring 54e, and in this state, the center of the movable rod 54c is moved to the initial position in front of the center of the exciting coil 54a.

Next, the operation when this light gun 5 is used will be described. When the game starts, the player first grasps the gun 5
Place 1a in the palm and hold it, and apply your finger to the trigger 55. When the trigger 55 is pulled toward the target, a shooting signal is sent to the control unit 12, while an excitation coil drive signal that turns on for a predetermined time is sent from the control unit 12.

Excitation of the exciting coil 54a is started by this signal, and the movable rod 54c is attracted to the exciting coil 54a side and resists the biasing force of the spring 54e.
Move in the F direction shown in. Therefore, the movable rod 54c
The rear end portion 54f comes into contact with the end surface 52c to rotate the shock transmission member 52 to the state shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 4, and as a result, the shock transmission member 52 presses the palm and plays the game. The shock is transmitted to the person.

After that, when the exciting coil drive signal is turned off after a predetermined time, the attraction force by the exciting coil 54a disappears and the movable rod 54c is urged by the spring 54e to return to the initial position.

Even with the above configuration, it is possible to give the player a sense of actual shooting.

The impact transmission member 52 may be attached as shown in FIG. The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
2a and 62b are formed substantially parallel to each other, while the gun grip 61a has a guide surface 61 for guiding both end surfaces 62a and 62b.
b and 61c are formed, and the impact transmission member 62 is slightly slidable in the front-rear direction. Further, one ends of the return springs 63a and 63b are respectively locked inside the both ends of the impact transmission member 62, and the other ends are respectively locked to the gun grip 61a. These return springs 63
Reference characters a and 63b urge the shock transmission member 62 inward of the gun grip 61a.

An electromagnetic solenoid 64 is provided near the center of the gun grip 61a and in front of the shock transmitting member 62. When the electromagnetic solenoid 64 is driven, the movable rod 64a is attached to the inner wall of the shock transmitting member 62. It comes in contact with and gives an impact.

In addition to the above, the light gun 6 has a trigger 65,
The micro switch 66 that is turned on when the trigger 65 is operated, and the same light detection unit (not shown) as described above.
It has.

With the light gun 6 constructed in this way, when the electromagnetic solenoid 64 is driven, the movable rod 6 thereof is moved.
4a abuts on the impact transmission member 62 and pushes it outward to move it to the position shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG.
The impact is transmitted to the palm of the hand holding 1a. In this way, the impact can be transmitted to a wide area of the palm by the movement of the entire impact transmitting member.

Further, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the heads 54d and 6 are
4b is a magnetic body, while the movable rods 54c and 64a are non-magnetic bodies, and the heads 54d and 64b are the excitation coils 5.
It is also possible to use the force of being attracted to 4a and 64c. Further, without using the movable rods 54c and 64a, the permanent magnets are fixed to the shock transmission members 52 and 62 so as to have the same poles in the same direction as the poles generated by the excitation. Alternatively, the repulsive force of the permanent magnet may be applied to the impact transmission members 52 and 62 as an impact force.

Although the light gun is electrically connected to the control unit 12 through the cable 3 in all the above-mentioned embodiments, radio waves, infrared rays, ultrasonic waves, etc. are used instead of the cable 3. The remote control mechanism described above may be applied. With such a configuration, the restriction of movement by the cable 3 is relaxed and the movement range of the light gun is expanded, so that it is possible to further enhance the excitement of the game.

[0050]

As described above, the light gun according to the present invention has a structure in which the rotation energy stored in the flywheel that rotates integrally with the motor is released by the braking unit in response to the detection signal of the shooting detection means. Therefore, since an impact force that causes the barrel to rotate upward acts on the gun body, it is possible to obtain a shooting sensation that is closer to the sensation during actual shooting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a schematic configuration of a video game machine to which a ray gun according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the essential parts of a first embodiment of the ray gun according to the present invention when a flywheel is used as impact generating means.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an essential part of a second embodiment when an electromagnetic solenoid is used as the impact generating means.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an essential part of a third embodiment provided with an impact transmission member.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an essential part of a fourth embodiment showing another mounting structure of the impact transmission member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Game Machine Main Body 2 Ray Gun 3 Cable 11 Monitor Display 12 Control Part 21 Gun Main Body 22 Trigger 23 Micro Switch 24 Impact Generation Means 24a Motor 24b Brake Part 24d Flywheel

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Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A shooting detection means for detecting a shooting operation,
At least in conjunction with the detection signal of the shooting detection means of the gun body
And a shock generation means for giving a shock to the gun grip of the
The generating means is a motor fixed to the gun body and this motor
And a flywheel that rotates integrally with the shooting detection means.
Braking that receives the detection signal and brakes the rotation of the motor
A ray gun for a video game machine, which is characterized by comprising a section .