JP2003181139A - Control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To input a plurality of pieces of operation information in addition to the input of rotation in a uniaxial direction in a control unit serving as an input interface for a game machine, or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The control unit is provided with a handle type manipulator 2 to be turned by a user, a handle shaft 3, a slide mechanism 4 for sliding the handle shaft 3 in the shaft direction and a slide quantity detecting circuit for detecting the slide quantity of the handle shaft 3 in the shaft direction. Thus, in addition to the input of an operation by a turning action, the input of an operation by a pushing/pulling action can be performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device as an input interface for a game machine or the like, and more particularly to a control device for performing an input operation by turning and an input operation by pushing and pulling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Advances in image processing capabilities and calculation capabilities of computer processing devices such as PCs (Personal Computers) have been remarkable, and advanced CG (Computer Graphics) rendering and high-speed image processing have become possible. With such progress,
For example, even game-specific devices such as those equipped with dedicated hardware for image processing and game software compatible with PCs have come to enjoy more realistic images and realistic situations.

For example, in the case of a game simulating driving a car, such as a car racing game, among so-called arcade type game machines used in game centers and the like, the user gets into a game machine simulating an automobile, There are also those that operate a car in a game as if actually driving the car while viewing an image from a viewpoint as if the car is actually in the car.

Although this type of game is sold as home-use game machine version software or PC version software, the user may feel uncomfortable operating a car with a normal button type input control device. is there. Therefore, in order to increase the operational realism, as shown in FIG. 6, the handle type operator 2 provided so as to be rotatable in the C direction.
A dedicated control device 20 equipped with 1 is also prepared.

[0005]

However, some game software is capable of simulating the operation of an airplane, and in this case, inputs for movements such as rolling, turning, ascending and descending are required. However, in the conventional control device, since the handle type operator, which is the input unit, is rotated left and right to operate the traveling direction, only the operation control of only one axis can be performed. In order to get the same sense of presence in the game, I had to purchase a dedicated control device that was capable of inputting operations that corresponded to aircraft-specific operations such as climbing and descending.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a control device capable of inputting a plurality of operation information in addition to the normal rotation input in the uniaxial direction. .

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a control device according to the present invention comprises a handle type operator that is rotated by a user, and a handle shaft that rotates together with the handle type operator. By including a slide unit that slides the handle shaft in the axial direction and a slide amount detection unit that detects the slide amount of the handle shaft in the axial direction, the slide amount of the handle shaft in the axial direction is detected.

Further, the control device according to the present invention is
It is also possible to connect the handle shaft and the slide amount detecting means by the connecting mechanism and transmit the slide amount of the handle shaft to the slide amount detecting means at a predetermined ratio. A pantograph mechanism or a gear mechanism can be used as this connecting mechanism.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A control device shown as a specific example of the present invention comprises a slide mechanism for axially moving a handle shaft, and a detection circuit for detecting an axial slide amount of the handle shaft by the slide mechanism. Thus, in addition to inputting the amount of rotation of the handle-type operator on one axis, the control device is capable of inputting in the push-pull direction.

A control device shown as a specific example of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, a first specific example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A control device 1 shown as a specific example of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 includes a handle type operator 2 rotated by a user, a handle shaft 3, a slide mechanism 4 for sliding the handle shaft 3 in an axial direction, and a handle. A slide amount detection circuit 5 for detecting the slide amount of the shaft 3 in the axial direction is provided. Of these constituent elements, the exterior casing 6 is covered except for the handle type operator 2.

Further, the control device 1 is provided with a connection connector (not shown) for connecting to an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer) or a game device, and the detected signal is a control unit of the PC or the game device. Be transmitted to.

The handle type operator 2 is directly joined to the handle shaft 3 so that the handle shaft 3 rotates as the handle type operator 2 rotates. Further, the handle shaft 3 is urged so that it can always return to the neutral position with respect to the rotational movement in both directions. The rotation amount of the handle shaft 3 is detected by a rotation amount detection circuit (not shown).

The handle type operator 2 has a central axis extending from the center of the plane of the handle type operator 2 perpendicularly to the plane, and has a bottomed cylindrical handle shaft 3.
It may be rotatably mounted in the cylinder. In this case, a rotation amount detection circuit is provided inside the cylinder so that the handle type operator 2 and the handle shaft 3 can always return to the neutral position with an appropriate biasing force with respect to the rotation operation in both directions. It is preferable to have a torsion spring structure or the like.

The slide mechanism 4 has a guide projection (hereinafter referred to as a volume knob) 7 provided on the handle shaft 3.
And a guide groove 8 provided parallel to the shaft of the handle shaft 3, and the volume knob 7 is guided along the guide groove 8 in the axial direction of the handle shaft 3.

The slide amount detecting circuit 5 is a linear type volume sensor installed in the guide groove 8 and is capable of detecting the slide amount of the volume knob 7. As such a slide amount detection circuit 5, for example, a variable resistor or the like can be used.

Therefore, in the control device 1 having the above-described structure, as shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the normal operation input by the rotational movement in the direction of the drawing A, the operation input by the push-pull operation in the direction of the drawing B is possible. Becomes

Further, in the control device 1, the handle shaft 3 and the slide amount detecting circuit 5 are connected using a connecting mechanism so that the slide amount of the handle shaft 3 is transmitted to the slide amount detecting circuit 5 at a predetermined ratio. You can also Such a control device will be described as a second specific example with reference to FIG.

The control device 10 shown in FIG. 3 has a pantograph mechanism 11 as a connecting mechanism. In the control device 10, components having the same functions as those of the control device 1 shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The pantograph mechanism 11 has a four-bar link structure, and is fixed to the exterior housing 6 at one place by a fixing projection 12. The volume knob 13 has a handle shaft 3
It is provided at a position where the slide amount can be transmitted to the slide amount detecting circuit 5 at a predetermined ratio. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the control device 10 seen from above, showing a state in which the handle type operator 2 is pushed into the exterior housing 6, and FIG. 5 shows the handle type operator 2 in the exterior housing 6. It shows the state of being pulled out from inside. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the control device 10, the slide mechanism 11 changes the slide amount of the handle shaft 3 at a predetermined ratio and transmits it to the slide amount detection circuit 5.

As described above, since the control device 10 can apply the slide amount detection circuit 5 having a small size without changing the specifications of the sensor, not only the manufacturing cost is reduced but also the control device 10 itself is provided. The depth size can be regulated.

Here, as the connecting mechanism in the control device 10, a gear mechanism including a spur gear and a gear can be applied.

Therefore, the control device 10 having the above-mentioned structure can transmit the slide amount of the handle shaft 3 to the slide amount detecting circuit 5 at a predetermined ratio.

As described above, according to the control device described as the first and second specific examples, in addition to the operation input for changing the traveling direction in the game software, the airplane, the submarine or the It is possible to perform operation input for ascending and descending (submerging, ascending) movements of a similar aircraft.
It goes without saying that the control devices 1 and 10 can be applied to operation inputs other than operation inputs to vehicles such as airplanes.

[0025]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the control device according to the present invention is provided with a handle type operator that is rotated by a user, a handle shaft that rotates together with the handle type operator, and a handle shaft. The control device according to the present invention is provided with the slide means for sliding the handle shaft in the axial direction and the slide amount detecting means for detecting the slide amount of the handle shaft in the axial direction. To detect.

Therefore, according to the control device of the present invention, in addition to the normal rotation input in the uniaxial direction, for example, an operation input for ascending / descending (submerging, ascending) operation is possible.

Further, the control device according to the present invention is
It is also possible to connect the handle shaft and the slide amount detecting means by the connecting mechanism and transmit the slide amount of the handle shaft to the slide amount detecting means at a predetermined ratio. A pantograph mechanism or a gear mechanism can be used as this connecting mechanism. In this case, since the slide amount detecting means can be downsized, not only the manufacturing cost can be reduced but also the depth size of the control device itself can be regulated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of an internal structure of a control device shown as a first specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a control device shown as a first specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of an internal structure of a control device shown as a second specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view for explaining the outline of the internal structure in the state where the handle shaft is pushed in in the control device shown as the second specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a plan view for explaining the outline of the internal structure in a state where the handle shaft is pulled out in the control device shown as the second specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an external view illustrating the external appearance of a conventional control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 control device 2 Handle type operator 3 handle shaft 4 slide mechanism 5 Slide amount detection circuit 6 Exterior case 7 Volume knob 8 guide groove 10 Control device 11 Pantograph mechanism 12 Fixing convex part 13 Volume knob

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A handle type operator that is rotated by a user, a handle shaft that rotates together with the handle type operator, a slide means that slides the handle shaft in an axial direction, and an axial direction of the handle shaft. And a slide amount detecting means for detecting the slide amount of the control device. 2. The control device according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting mechanism that connects the handle shaft and the slide amount detecting means and transmits the slide amount of the handle shaft to the slide amount detecting means at a predetermined ratio. . 3. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the connecting mechanism is a pantograph mechanism. 4. The control device according to claim 2, wherein the coupling mechanism is a gear mechanism.