JP4362662B2 - Operation input device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an operation input device used for inputting an operation amount to a game device, a simulation device, or the like having a video display unit such as a CRT display.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A shooting game such as a simulated gun that fires bullets at a target using a shooting input unit, a battle game that fights an enemy with a simulated gun, and the like have been known as popular games. During these games, the player directs the muzzle toward the enemy appearing on the screen and performs a shooting operation. At this time, the enemy can be defeated by matching the direction of the muzzle and the position of the enemy.
[0003]
Also, depending on the game, at the same time as the above-described firing operation, the enemy displayed on the screen may fire a bullet toward the player and attack. At this time, the enemy bullets fly toward the player from the back of the screen, but when approaching the player to a certain distance, it is determined that the player has hit the player.
[0004]
Conventionally, as a game machine using a simulated gun, the following game machine is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-257240, that is, a game machine having a structure using a simulated gun that revolves around a predetermined fulcrum provided in an operation panel. Is disclosed. In this conventional game machine, the player plays the game while moving the simulated gun in the lateral direction.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, with regard to the conventional game machine, since the simulated gun simply moves in the left-right direction, there is a limit to the action that the player can give to the simulated gun in order to avoid bullets from the enemy displayed on the screen. There was a lack of realism in attacking the enemy while avoiding the enemy's attack, and there was a low degree of freedom regarding the input operation through the simulated gun, and as a result, it took time to defeat the enemy .
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and relates to an operation input device using a shooting input unit such as a simulated gun, so that an actual shooting operation can be faithfully reproduced and a shooting input unit The purpose is to further increase the degree of freedom of the input operation.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
(1) In order to achieve the above object, an operation input device according to the present invention includes a shooting input unit disposed opposite to a video display unit and a position of the shooting input unit with respect to the video display unit. a moving unit which moves to change arbitrarily the dimension direction, have a detection unit for detecting a moving amount of the shooting input unit, the shooting input section axis substantially perpendicular to the two-dimensional direction A first slide table that supports the shooting input unit, and a second slide that supports the first slide table so as to be movable in one direction. characterized by chromatic and tables, and a frame for movably supporting the direction perpendicular to the second slide table to said one direction.
[0008]
In the above configuration, the “video display unit” can be configured by a CRT display, for example. In addition, the “shooting input unit” is a thing that is formed in a shape that can instruct the firing direction of a bullet and that can perform a simulated operation for firing a bullet. It can be constituted by a so-called simulated gun which is formed in the shape of a gun and has a trigger, that is, a trigger lever.
[0009]
In addition, the “detection unit” can be configured using, for example, a volume element whose resistance value changes according to the movement of the shooting input unit, that is, a potentiometer. Of course, any other detection element can be used.
[0010]
According to the operation input device having the above configuration, since the shooting input unit can be moved to an arbitrary position in the two-dimensional direction, compared to the case of the conventional device that simply moves the shooting input unit in the horizontal direction of the left and right, Can be reproduced more faithfully, and the degree of freedom of the input operation of the shooting input unit can be further increased.
[0011]
(2) In the operation input device configured as described above, it is preferable that the shooting input unit is attached to the moving unit so as to be able to rotate about an axis substantially orthogonal to the two-dimensional direction. Further, it is desirable to provide a rotation angle detection unit that detects the rotation angle of the shaft rotation of the shooting input unit. According to this configuration, in addition to the operation of carrying the shooting input unit to an arbitrary position in the two-dimensional direction, it is possible to turn the shaft to turn the muzzle in an arbitrary direction, so that the degree of freedom of input operation is further increased. Increased further. As a result, it is possible to give the player a greater sense of reality regarding attacking the enemy while avoiding the enemy attack.
[0012]
(3) In the operation input device configured as described above, the moving unit includes (1) a first slide table that supports the shooting input unit, and (2) a second slide table that supports the first slide table so as to be movable in one direction. (3) It can be constituted by (3) a frame that supports the second slide table so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the one direction. According to this configuration, the shooting input unit can be translated to an arbitrary position on the two-dimensional plane with a simple and reliable structure.
[0013]
(4) In the configuration of (3), a stopper member can be fixed to the first slide table, one end of the elastic member can be connected to the stopper member, and the other end of the elastic member can be connected to the frame. . Thereby, first, while the player operates the shooting input unit, the elastic restoring force from the elastic member can be experienced as an appropriate operation feeling. Second, when the player releases his / her hand from the operation input unit, the first slide table can be returned to the initial position, so that the output signal from the detection unit can be initialized to zero.
[0014]
Here, the elastic member is a member that generates an elastic restoring force when deformed, and can be configured using, for example, a spring or rubber.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 2 shows a game device which is an embodiment of a video display device using the operation input device according to the present invention. This game device has a display unit housing 1 and an operation unit housing 2. These cases are formed separately from each other, and can be transported and installed independently. Two CRT displays 4 and 4 serving as video display units are housed in the display unit housing 1, and image display surfaces of these displays are exposed to the outside. The two displays 4 are provided so that two players can play simultaneously.
[0016]
A game machine control board 8 equipped with a control circuit is disposed inside the display unit housing 1. This control circuit calculates game contents according to a game program stored in a built-in memory. By this calculation, the game image displayed on the screen of the display 4 is controlled. By this video control, for example, a human character or other target video is displayed on the screen of the display 4.
[0017]
An operation input device 6 including a gun model 3 as a shooting input unit is provided on the upper surface of the operation unit housing 2, that is, the operation surface so as to face each display 4. Each gun model 3 is provided with a trigger lever 7. When the player P operates the trigger lever 7, a trigger signal is transmitted toward the control circuit on the game machine control board 8. Upon receiving this trigger signal, the control circuit displays on the screen of the display 4 an image for displaying a state in which the target has been shot with a gun, an image for displaying a state in which a bullet from the gun has been removed from the target, and the like.
[0018]
One support column 9 extending upward is fixed to each side of the operation unit housing 2. A signboard 11 is fixed to the upper end portions of the columns 9. The signboard 11 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape by a semi-transparent white plastic plate, and the signboard contents are described on the surface facing the player P. The figure shows the state where the letters “ABCDE” are written as the signboard contents, but in reality, it corresponds to the logo for displaying the game machine, the explanatory text for explaining the game contents, and the game contents The design etc. which were done are described.
[0019]
The operation input device 6 provided on the operation surface of the operation unit housing 2 includes a moving unit 12 stored inside the housing 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the moving unit 12 includes a first slide table 13 that supports the gun model 3, a second slide table 14 that supports the first slide table 13 so as to be slidable in the X direction, The second slide table 14 is configured to include a frame 16 that slidably supports the second slide table 14 in the Y direction, that is, in a direction orthogonal to the X direction.
[0020]
The frame 16 is fixed to the operation unit housing 2 (see FIG. 2) so as not to move. In FIG. 1, a shielding plate 17 is fixed to the lower part of the gun model 3, and the shielding plate 17 is exposed to the outside through an opening 18 formed on the upper surface of the operation unit housing 2 as shown in FIG. 2. As described later, the gun model 3 can be moved in parallel to an arbitrary position on the two-dimensional plane, and the shield plate 17 moves together with the gun model 3 during the movement.
[0021]
In FIG. 1, a bearing box 19 is provided on the first slide table 13, and the gun model 3 is supported by the bearing box 19 so as to be rotatable about the axis ω. The axis ω passes through the center of the support shaft 3a, which is the part where the gun model 3 is supported by the bearing box 19, and further, both the moving direction X of the first slide table 13 and the moving direction Y of the second slide table 14 are both. Is an axis perpendicular to the axis. That is, the support shaft 3 a of the gun model 3 is orthogonal to the two-dimensional movement plane of the gun model 3.
[0022]
The support shaft 3a of the gun model 3 extends into the bearing box 19, and the rotator 21 is attached to the support shaft 3a of that portion. The rotator 21 is integrated with the gun model 3 and rotates about the axis ω. Stoppers 22 and 22 are provided on both sides of the rotor 21 in the bearing box 19. A volume element, that is, a potentiometer 10 is provided at the bottom of the support shaft 3a. The volume element 10 detects the rotation angle of the support shaft 3a, and hence the rotation angle of the gun model 3.
[0023]
In FIG. 2, when the player P grasps the gun model 3 and rotates it around the axis ω in FIG. 1, the gun model 3 is allowed to rotate until the rotor 21 collides with any stopper 22. Is done. That is, the gun model 3 can rotate about the axis ω within the angle range between the pair of stoppers 22. By detecting this rotation with the volume element 10 provided at the bottom of the support shaft 3a, the player P can aim at the target shown on the display (FIG. 2).
[0024]
In FIG. 1, a vertical roller 23 and a horizontal roller 24 are provided on the front side and the back side of the first slide table 13, respectively. Further, guide rails 26 extending in the X direction are provided on the front side and the back side of the second slide table 14. The first slide table 13 is placed on the second slide table 14 such that the vertical roller 23 is placed on the upper surface of the guide rail 26 and the horizontal roller 24 is in contact with or close to the inner surface of the guide rail 26.
[0025]
With the above configuration relating to the first slide table 13 and the second slide table 14, the first slide table 13 can freely slide in the X direction with respect to the second slide table 14, but not in the Y direction perpendicular thereto. It does n’t move.
[0026]
A vertical roller 27 and a horizontal roller 28 are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the second slide table 14. Further, guide rails 29 extending in the Y direction, which is perpendicular to the X direction, are provided on the left and right sides of the frame 16. The second slide table 14 is placed on the frame 16 such that the vertical roller 27 is placed on the upper surface of the guide rail 29 and the horizontal roller 28 is in contact with or close to the inner surface of the guide rail 29. Since the frame 16 is fixed to the operation unit housing 2, the frame 16 does not move.
[0027]
With the above-described configuration relating to the second slide table 14 and the frame 16, the second slide table 14 can freely slide in the Y direction with respect to the frame 16, but does not move in the X direction perpendicular thereto.
[0028]
Since the first slide table 13, the second slide table 14 and the frame 16 are configured as described above, the gun model 3 is located on the frame 16 in a two-dimensional plane specified in the X direction and the Y direction. Can move freely to any position. In the actual moving unit 12, the frame 16 and the first slide are arranged so that the frame 16, the second slide table 14 and the first slide table 13 which are stacked and assembled with each other are not displaced relative to each other in the vertical direction in the figure. It is desirable to provide a frame member (not shown) that regulates the position of the table 13 from above and below.
[0029]
A stopper member 31 that hangs down toward the frame 16 is fixed to the bottom surface of the first slide table 13. The stopper member 31 is made of a material that does not bend the first slide table 13. A long hole 32 that is long in the X direction is formed in a portion of the second slide table 14 corresponding to the stopper member 31. The width of the elongated hole 32 in the Y direction is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the stopper member 31 so that the stopper member 31 can be passed therethrough.
[0030]
In addition, a square hole 33 having an appropriate size is formed in a portion corresponding to the stopper member 31 in the frame 16. A bracket 34 is fixed to the bottom surface of the frame 16 at a portion corresponding to the square hole 33, and one end of a spring 36 as an elastic member is fixed to the bracket 34. The square hole 33 acts as a guide hole for restricting the movement of the stopper member 31, and the shape thereof can be a rectangle, a square, an ellipse, a circle, or any other shape as necessary.
[0031]
When the second slide table 14 and the first slide table 13 are placed on the frame 16, the stopper member 31 that hangs from the first slide table 13 has a long hole 32 of the second slide table 14 and a square hole 33 of the frame 16. One end of the spring 36 is connected to the tip of the stopper member 31 that protrudes to the bottom surface side of the frame 16 through the projection.
[0032]
In the natural state where no external force is applied to the gun model 3, the stopper member 31 is positioned at or near the center of the square hole 33 by the action of the spring force of the spring 36, that is, the elastic restoring force. Held in some initial position. As a result, the gun model 3 is held at the initial position on the operation surface of the operation unit housing 2 of FIG.
[0033]
When the gun model 3 is operated by the player P, the gun model 3 moves in a two-dimensional plane specified by the X direction and the Y direction by the action of the first slide table 13 and the second slide table 14 in FIG. To do. During this movement, the stopper member 31 moves in accordance with the sliding movement of the first slide table 13, that is, the sliding movement of the gun model 3. If the movement amount of the movement is large, the stopper member 31 collides with the peripheral edge of the square hole 33 of the frame 16 and the subsequent movement is prohibited. In addition, the square hole 33 is formed by trimming after punching a substantially rectangular shape in an elastic material. Therefore, the impact when the stopper member 31 collides with the peripheral edge of the square hole 33 is suppressed to a small level.
[0034]
That is, the gun model 3 can move in a plane specified by the X direction and the Y direction only within a range where the stopper member 31 is restricted by the square hole 33. When the player P (see FIG. 2) operates the gun model 3 to translate the gun model 3 to a position away from the initial position and then releases the hand from the gun model 3, the stopper member is removed. 31 automatically returns to the initial position by the spring force of the spring 36 connected to the bottom surface thereof, that is, the elastic restoring force.
[0035]
A movement amount detection pin 37 is provided at an appropriate position on the front side of the first slide table 13. Fits movably slip detection piece 38 to the pin 37, that end of the detection piece 3 8, connected to an input shaft 39a of the volume element or potentiometer 39 fixed to the front side of the second slide table 14 Is done.
[0036]
When the first slide table 13 slides in the X direction relative to the second slide table 14, the pin 37 moves relative to the second slide table 14, and as a result, the detection piece 38 becomes the input shaft of the potentiometer. The rotational movement is made as indicated by an arrow A around 39a, and the rotation angle is read by the potentiometer 39.
[0037]
Further, a movement amount detection pin 41 is provided at an appropriate position on the right side of the second slide table 14. A detecting piece 42 is slidably fitted to the pin 41, and an end of the detecting piece 42 is connected to a volume element fixed to the right side of the frame 16, that is, an input shaft 43 a of a potentiometer 43.
[0038]
When the second slide table 14 slides in the Y direction relative to the frame 16, the pin 41 moves relative to the frame 16, and as a result, the detection piece 42 has the arrow B about the input shaft 43 a of the potentiometer. The rotational angle is read by the potentiometer 43.
[0039]
With the above-described configuration relating to the potentiometers 39 and 43, the parallel movement direction and the parallel movement amount of the gun model 3 are detected by the potentiometers 39 and 43.
[0040]
Hereinafter, the operation of the game device and the operation input device having the above-described configurations will be described.
In FIG. 2, the player P operates a start button (not shown) provided at an appropriate position of the operation unit housing 2 to start the game. Then, a game video is displayed on the display 4 according to the game program stored in the control circuit mounted on the control board 8, and the player P operates one of the gun models 6 corresponding to the video.
[0041]
Specifically, the player P moves the gun model 3 in a desired direction by a desired amount, further rotates the gun model 3 around the axis ω as necessary, and triggers the trigger lever at an appropriate timing. 7 is operated. During this operation, the axial rotation angle of the gun model 3 is detected by the potentiometer 10 in FIG. 1, and the movement direction and amount of the gun model 3 in the two-dimensional direction are detected by the potentiometers 39 and 43 in FIG. The signal is transmitted to the control board 8 of FIG. A signal when the trigger lever 7 is operated is also transmitted to the control board 8.
[0042]
The control board 8 that has received the signal corresponding to the axis rotation angle, the two-dimensional movement direction and the two-dimensional movement amount of the gun model 3 and the signal from the trigger lever 7 calculates the game contents using these signals according to the game program. The calculated game content is displayed on the display 4. For example, whether the target image has been successfully shot or failed has been displayed by the image.
[0043]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the player P can play the game by operating the trigger lever 7 while performing the operation of moving the gun model 3 to a desired arbitrary position in the plane. Therefore, the input operations for the player P are diversified and the game can be further enjoyed.
[0044]
Further, because of the action of the stopper rotator 21 and the stopper 22 shown in FIG. 1, the gun model 3 is prevented from being operated by an unnecessarily large shaft rotation, so that a quick shaft rotation operation can be performed.
[0045]
Further, because of the action of the stopper member 31 and the square hole 33 shown in FIG. 1, the gun model 3 cannot be operated by movement in a wider range than necessary, so that a quick movement operation can be performed.
[0046]
The present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims.
For example, the operation input device of the present invention can be used as an input device for any video display device other than a game device, for example, a simulation device. Further, the gun model as the shooting input unit can have an arbitrary shape according to a request from the video display device to which the operation input device is applied.
[0047]
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the gun model 3 is assumed to move in the two-dimensional direction in addition to the movement in the two-dimensional direction. However, there is a technique in which only the movement in the two-dimensional direction is performed without rotating the shaft. It is included in the present invention.
[0048]
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the slide mechanism using the rollers 23, 24, 27, and 28 and the rails 26 and 29 is used. However, this is an example of the slide mechanism, and the slide mechanism is configured by any other structure. Of course you can. For example, a sliding mechanism having a sliding structure that does not use a roller can be used.
[0049]
【The invention's effect】
According to the operation input device and the video display device according to the present invention, since the shooting input unit can be moved to an arbitrary position in the two-dimensional direction, in the case of a conventional device that simply moves the shooting input unit in the horizontal direction of the left and right Compared to the above, the actual shooting operation can be reproduced more faithfully, and the degree of freedom of the input operation of the shooting input unit can be further increased.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of an operation input device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a game device configured using the operation input device of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Display housing 2 Operation unit housing 3 Gun model (shooting input unit)
3a Support shaft 4 CRT display (video display unit)
6 Operation Input Device 7 Trigger Lever 12 Moving Part 13 First Slide Table 14 Second Slide Table 16 Frame 17 Shielding Plate 18 Opening 19 Bearing Box 21 Rotor 22 Stopper 31 Stopper Member 33 Square Hole 36 Spring (Elastic Member)
39 Potentiometer (detector)
43 Potentiometer (detector)
P player

Claims (4)

A shooting input unit disposed opposite to the video display unit, a moving unit for moving the shooting input unit so as to arbitrarily change the position of the shooting input unit in a two-dimensional direction with respect to the video display unit, have a detection unit for detecting a moving amount,
The shooting input unit is attached to the moving unit so as to be able to rotate about an axis substantially orthogonal to the two-dimensional direction,
The moving unit includes a first slide table that supports the shooting input unit;
A second slide table that supports the first slide table so as to be movable in one direction;
An operation input device comprising: a frame that supports the second slide table so as to be movable in a direction orthogonal to the one direction . In claim 1, the operation input device characterized in that a rotation angle detecting unit for detecting the rotation angle of axial rotation before Symbol shooting input unit. The stopper member is fixed to the first slide table, one end of an elastic member is connected to the stopper member, and the other end of the elastic member is connected to the frame. Operation input device. In Claim 1 to Claim 3,
A pin provided on the first slide table;
A potentiometer provided on the second slide table and having an input shaft and capable of detecting a rotation angle of the input shaft;
Having a detection piece partially fixed to the input shaft of the potentiometer and the other part being slidably fitted to the pin;
A pin provided on the second slide table;
A potentiometer provided on the frame and having an input shaft and capable of detecting a rotation angle of the input shaft;
A detection piece in which a part is fixed to the input shaft of the potentiometer and the other part is slidably fitted to the pin;
An operation input device having at least one of the following.

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