JPH10137443A - Video game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lessen eye strain and deterioration of eyesight due to a long playing time. SOLUTION: A counter circuit 21 starts counting the number of clocks at power-up. A comparator 24 outputs the first switch controlling signal at the time when the counted value of the counter circuit 21 exceeds the first threshold value. An image pause circuit 16 forces the output of game contents to pause for a predetermined period when the first switch controlling signal is inputted. An operation enabling/disabling circuit 17 does not accept the operation of an operation inputting circuit when the first switch controlling signal. After the comparator 24 outputs the first switch controlling signal, the counter circuit 21 is reset and against start counting. The comparator 24 outputs the second switch controlling signal at the time when the counted value of the counter circuit 21 exceeds the second threshold value. The operation enabling/disabling circuit 17 cancels the forces pause of output of the game contents when the second switch controlling signals is inputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video game machine, and more particularly, to a video game machine using a home television or the like as a monitor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional video game machine using a home television or the like as a monitor, a player turns on / off a power supply and determines a game time by a player's own judgment. It was determined by the judgment of the administrator.

[0003] In the above-mentioned conventional video game machines, the game time is determined by the player in most cases, and the player is enthusiastic about the game for several hours. It is. For this reason, there is a problem that the human body is adversely affected by eyestrain, deterioration of vision, and sometimes tantrum.

As a means for solving such a problem, for example, a television with a time lock function described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-107870 and a power supply control device described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-183229 have been proposed. I have. The television with the time lock function described in the former publication includes timer means for setting an operable time, and the operation is stopped by a control signal from the timer means.
Further, the power supply control device described in the latter publication reads a card displaying information related to power supply control, and controls a power supply time to a power outlet.

[0005]

However, in the conventional apparatus described in the above publication, the operation is simply stopped when a predetermined time has elapsed. Therefore, when applied to a television game machine, the player restarts the game. If you try to do so, it can be restarted, and it will not solve the problems described above.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has as its object to provide a video game machine in which human health (particularly, eye health) is considered.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video game machine using a television as a monitor, and an operation input means for an operator to operate a video game. Counting means for counting the clock output from the clock generator, and comparing the count value counted by the counting means with a preset threshold value, wherein the count value exceeds the threshold value. When the excess signal is input, a comparison means for outputting an excess signal, an image pause means for forcibly stopping the output of the game content for a predetermined period of time, and a game content being forced by the image pause means An operation rejecting unit that does not accept the operation of the operation input unit when the output is temporarily stopped.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the video game machine according to the first aspect, wherein when the excess signal output from the comparing means is input, the video content previously stored in the memory is output. It is characterized in that an image switching means for causing the image to be switched is added.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a video game machine using a television as a monitor, and an operation input means for an operator to operate a video game, and a clock output from a clock generator. Counting means,
The count value counted by the counting means is compared with a preset first or second threshold value, and when the count value exceeds the first or second threshold value, A comparing means for outputting the first or second excess signal; an image pause means for forcibly stopping the output of the game content when the first excess signal is input; Is forced to be in the output stop state, the operation disabling means that does not accept the operation of the operation input means, and when the second excess signal is input, the game contents are forcibly stopped in the output stop state. When the game contents are being output, the first threshold value is set in the comparing means, and the game contents are forcibly stopped by the image pause means. The second threshold It is characterized by comprising a threshold setting means for setting the value.

The invention according to claim 4 relates to the video game machine according to claim 3, wherein the counting means is reset after the comparing means outputs the first excess signal,
It is characterized in that counting is started again.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the video game machine according to the third or fourth aspect, when the first excess signal output from the comparing means is input, the first excess signal is stored in a memory in advance. Video switching means for outputting the video content and outputting the game content again when the second excess signal is input.

Further, the invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 1,
According to the video game machine described in 2, 3, 4, or 5, the counting means starts counting when the power is turned on.

[0013] The invention according to claim 7 is based on claim 1,
In the video game machine described in 2, 3, 4, or 5, the counting means starts counting by pressing a start button provided on the operation input means.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the video game machine according to the second or fifth aspect, wherein the video content stored in the memory in advance is a display indicating that the game is forcibly stopped. It is characterized by being.

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the counting means starts counting clocks when, for example, the power is turned on or a start button provided on the operation input means is pressed. The comparing means compares the count value counted by the counting means with a preset threshold value, and outputs an excess signal when the count value exceeds the threshold value. When the above-mentioned excess signal is input, the image pause means forcibly stops the output of the game content for a predetermined period. The operation non-permission means does not accept the operation of the operation input means when the output of the game is forcibly stopped by the image pause means.

The counting means starts counting clocks when, for example, the power is turned on or a start button provided on the operation input means is pressed. The comparing means compares the count value counted by the counting means with a preset first threshold value, and when the count value exceeds the first threshold value, compares the count value with the first threshold value. Outputs an excess signal. When the first excess signal is input, the image pause means forcibly stops the output of the game content for a predetermined period. The operation non-permission means does not accept the operation of the operation input means when the output of the game is forcibly stopped by the image pause means.

The counting means is reset, for example, after the comparing means outputs the first excess signal, and starts counting again (the configuration according to claim 4). The comparing means compares the count value counted again by the counting means with a second threshold value set in advance, and when the count value exceeds the second threshold value, Outputs an excess signal. The image pause canceling unit cancels the forced output stop state of the game content when the second excess signal is input.

According to the configuration of the present invention, the operation instruction from the operation input device is forcibly disabled after a certain period of time has elapsed since the start of the game, so that even if the player tries to play a video game, Can not be performed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce adverse effects on the human body such as eye fatigue, reduced visual acuity, and sometimes tantrum caused by a long-time game.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The description will be specifically made using an embodiment. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of a video game machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the video game machine 1 of this example includes a power switch 10
, A counter circuit 21, threshold value holding circuits 22, 23,
A game time setting circuit 20 including a comparator 24, an analog switch 14, a memory circuit 15,
An image pause circuit 16 and an operation invalidation / validation circuit 17 are provided. The video game machine 1 has an AV cable 1
00 is connected to the home television 50.

When the power switch 10 and the like are turned on, the counter circuit 21 starts counting a clock CLK output from a clock generator (not shown), and outputs the counted value to the comparator 24. The threshold value holding circuit 22 holds a first threshold value to be compared with the count value of the counter circuit 21, and stores the first threshold value in the comparator 24.
To the counter circuit 21.
Holds a second threshold value that is compared with the count value of
This second threshold value is output to the counter circuit 21. However, there is a relationship of first threshold value <second threshold value,
Although it can be set arbitrarily, in this example, the first and second thresholds are set to values corresponding to 2 hours and 3 hours, respectively. The comparator 24 compares the count value with the first threshold value. When the count value becomes equal to or greater than the first threshold value, the comparator 24 outputs the first switching control signal to the analog switch 14,
It outputs to the image pause circuit 16 and the operation invalidation / validation circuit 17, and compares the count value with the second threshold value. When the count value becomes equal to or more than the second threshold value, the second switching control is performed. The signal is output to the analog switch 14, the image pause circuit 16, and the operation invalidation / validation circuit 17.

The analog switch 14 is a power switch 1
When 0 is turned on, first, the image pause circuit 16 and the AV
Connect to home TV 50 via cable 100,
Next, when the first switching control signal is input, the memory circuit 1
5 and the connection to the home television 50.
When the second switching control signal is input, the operation of switching to the connection between the image pause circuit 16 and the home television 50 is performed again.

The image pause circuit 16 outputs the input game image signal VDO to the home television 50 via the analog switch 14, and when the first switching control signal is input from the comparator 24, outputs the game image signal. It is forcibly stopped for a fixed time (1 hour in this example). The memory circuit 15 stores a video game for a predetermined time (in this example, 1
Time) Data for displaying a message image for notifying that the video game was forcibly stopped on the home television 50 is stored. When the analog switch 14 is switched to the memory circuit 15 side, the video game is played on the home television 50. The message image data for forcibly stopping is sent. Also,
The operation invalidation / validation circuit 17 invalidates (does not accept) the operation of an operation input device (not shown) when the first switching control signal is input, and operates when the second switching control signal is input. The operation of the input device is validated (accepted).

Next, the operation of this example will be described. First, when the power switch 10 is turned on, the counter circuit 21 starts counting clocks output from a clock generator (not shown), and a game image signal corresponding to the operation of the operation input device by the player is generated. , Via the image pause circuit 16 and the analog switch 14,
A game image is displayed. When the count value of the counter circuit 21 becomes a value corresponding to two hours, the comparison result of the comparator 24 satisfies the count value ≧ the first threshold value, so that the first switching control signal is output from the analog switch 14 and the image pause circuit 16. And the operation invalidation / validation circuit 17.

When the first switch control signal is input, the analog switch 14 switches to the memory circuit 15 side. The memory circuit 15 is such that the analog switch 14
When the mode is switched to the fifth side, message image data indicating that the video game is forcibly stopped is transmitted to the home television 50. The home television 50 displays the input message image data on the screen. On the other hand, when the first switching control signal is input, the image pause circuit 16 forcibly stops the output of the game image for a certain period of time. When the first switching control signal is input, the operation rejection circuit 17 invalidates the operation of the operation input device (not shown). Note that the timer circuit 41
Is reset, starts counting the clock CLK output from the clock generator again from the initial value, and outputs the counted value to the comparator 24.

The player sees the message image displayed on the home television 50 and knows that the video game has been forcibly stopped. And in this state,
Even if the player tries to play a video game, the game cannot be continued because the operation is disabled.

When the count value of the counter circuit 21 reaches a value corresponding to three hours after the forced stop period of the video game has elapsed for one hour, the comparison result of the comparator 24 becomes count value ≧ second threshold value. Therefore, the second switching control signal is output to the analog switch 14, the image pause circuit 16, and the operation invalidation / validation circuit 17. When the second switching control signal is input, the operation invalidation / validation circuit 17 sends a release signal to the image pause circuit 16 to release the forced output stop state of the game content. When the release signal is input, the image pause circuit 16 releases the forced output stop state of the game contents. In addition, the analog switch 14
When the second switching control signal is input, the image pause circuit 16
Switch to the side. In this way, the game image signal is again transmitted via the image pause circuit 16 and the analog switch 14,
The game image is supplied to the home television 50 and displayed on the home television 50. The counter circuit 21 is reset by pressing the operation start button of the operation input device,
The counting operation is started from the initial value.

According to the above configuration, at a preset time after the power switch 10 is turned on, the video game operation is temporarily stopped. At this time, the video game is played on the home television 50 instead of the game image. Since the message image indicating that the video game is forcibly stopped is displayed, the player knows that the video game has been forcibly interrupted. In the forced interruption state, the operation of the operation input device is disabled, so that even if the player tries to play a video game, the player cannot play the game. Therefore, it is possible to reduce adverse effects on the human body such as eye fatigue, reduced visual acuity, and sometimes tantrum caused by a long-time game. Also, after the interruption for a certain period of time, the video game can be resumed, and the video game can be started from the state before the interruption, so that the continuity of the video game is not lost.

Second Embodiment FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of a video game machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the second embodiment is largely different from that of the first embodiment in that, instead of the counter circuit 21 as shown in FIG.
A timer circuit 41 is provided which is the same as a clock that performs a four-hour clock operation. A time indicating a pause time of a video game is set as a first threshold value of a threshold value holding circuit 42. The point is that the time indicating the restart of the video game is set as the second threshold value of 43.

As shown in FIG. 2, the video game machine 3 of this embodiment has a power switch 10, a game time setting circuit 40 comprising a counter circuit 41, threshold value holding circuits 42 and 43, and a comparator 24. , Analog switch 1
4, a memory circuit 15, an image pause circuit 16, and an operation invalidation / validation circuit 17. In the threshold value holding circuits 42 and 43, the first and second threshold values are set, for example, at 17:00 and 19:00, respectively. The comparator 24 determines the time of the timer circuit 41 and the first time.
And when the time becomes equal to the first threshold value, the first switching control signal is sent to the analog switch 1
4 and the image pause circuit 16, and compares the time of the timer circuit 41 with the second threshold value.
The second switching control signal is output to the analog switch 14, the image pause circuit 16 and the operation invalidation / validation circuit 17 when the threshold value becomes equal to the threshold value. Otherwise, the configuration is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. In this figure, the same reference numerals are given to the components corresponding to the components in FIG. 1 and the description is simplified.

Next, the operation of this example will be described. First, it is assumed that the power switch 10 of the video game machine 3 is turned on and the player starts a video game. After this,
When the time of the timer circuit 41 becomes 17:00, the comparison result of the comparator 24 becomes the time = the first threshold value. Therefore, the first switching control signal is sent to the analog switch 14, the image pause circuit 16 and the operation invalidation / validation circuit 17. Is output. When the first switch control signal is input, the analog switch 14 switches to the memory circuit 15 side. When the analog switch 14 is switched to the memory circuit 15 side, the memory circuit 15 sends message image data to the home television 50 to forcibly stop the video game. The home television 50 displays the input message image data on the screen. On the other hand, when the first switching control signal is input, the image pause circuit 16 forcibly stops the output of the game image for a certain period of time. When the first switching control signal is input, the operation rejection circuit 17 invalidates the operation of the operation input device (not shown).

When the time of the timer circuit 41 becomes 19:00 after the forced stop period of the video game has elapsed for 2 hours, the comparison result of the comparator 24 becomes the time = the second threshold value. The signal is an analog switch 14, an image pause circuit 16, and an operation invalid / valid circuit 1.
7 is output. When the second switching control signal is input, the operation invalidation / validation circuit 17 sends a release signal to the image pause circuit 16 to release the forced output stop state of the game content. When the release signal is input, the image pause circuit 16 releases the forced output stop state of the game contents. When the second switching control signal is input, the analog switch 14 switches to the image pause circuit 16 side.
Thus, the game image signal is again transmitted to the image pause circuit 1
6. Home television 5 via the analog switch 14.
0, and the game image is displayed on the home television 50.

As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment, substantially the same effects as described in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and even if there is a design change within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. Included in this invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the counting by the counter circuit 21 and the timer circuit 41
Is triggered by turning on the power switch, but alternatively, pressing of a start button provided on the operation input device may be used as a trigger. Also, game time setting circuit,
Regardless of whether the image pause circuit or the operation invalidation / validation circuit has a hardware configuration or a software configuration, the whole or a part thereof has a hardware configuration.

[0034]

As described above, according to the structure of the present invention, the operation instruction from the operation input device is forcibly disabled after a certain period of time has elapsed since the game started.
Even if a player tries to play a video game, the player cannot play the game. Therefore, it is possible to reduce adverse effects on the human body such as eye fatigue, reduced visual acuity, and sometimes tantrum caused by a long-time game. Also, according to the configuration of the third aspect, the video game image can be automatically returned after a predetermined time has elapsed after the video game is interrupted, so that the usability is good.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of a video game machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of a video game machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1, 3 TV game machine 14 analog switch (video switching means) 15 memory circuit (memory) 16 image pause circuit (image pause means) 17 operation invalid / valid circuit (operation non-permission means, image pause release means) 21) counter circuit (counting means) 22, 23, 42, 43 threshold value holding circuit 24 comparator (comparing means) 41 timer circuit (counting means) 50 home television (monitor)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A video game machine using a television as a monitor, comprising: operation input means for an operator to operate a video game; counting means for counting a clock output from a clock generator; Comparing the count value counted by the means with a preset threshold value, and when the count value exceeds the threshold value, comparing means for outputting an excess signal; and receiving the excess signal. Image pause means for forcibly stopping the output of the game content for a predetermined period; and accepting the operation of the operation input means when the game content is forcibly stopped for output by the image pause means. A video game machine comprising: an operation non-permission means. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a video switching unit for outputting video content stored in a memory in advance when the excess signal output from the comparison unit is input. Video game console. 3. A video game machine using a television as a monitor, comprising: operation input means for an operator to operate a video game; counting means for counting a clock output from a clock generator; Comparing the counted value counted by the means with a preset first or second threshold value, and when the counted value exceeds the first or second threshold value, A comparing means for outputting a second excess signal; an image pause means for forcibly stopping the output of the game content when the first excess signal is input; An operation disabling unit that does not accept the operation of the operation input unit when the output is temporarily stopped; and cancels a forced output stop state of the game content when the second excess signal is input. Image port When the game content is being output, the comparing means outputs the first
Threshold value setting means for setting the second threshold value when the output of the game is forcibly stopped by the image pause means. A video game machine. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the counting means includes:
4. The video game machine according to claim 3, wherein after outputting an excess signal, the count is reset and the counting is started again. 5. When the first excess signal output from the comparing means is input, the video content stored in a memory in advance is output, and when the second excess signal is input,
5. The video game machine according to claim 3, further comprising a video switching means for outputting the game content again. 6. The video game machine according to claim 1, wherein said counting means starts counting when power is turned on. 7. The video game machine according to claim 1, wherein said counting means starts counting by pressing a start button provided on said operation input means. 8. The video game machine according to claim 2, wherein said video content stored in said memory in advance is an indication that a game has been forcibly stopped.