JP2005040493A - Controller for video game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller for the video game machines which enables a simple adaptation to complicated operations. <P>SOLUTION: The controller 1 for the video game machines which has a long-sized shape and enables the players to hold and operate it making the body work is provided with a linear sensor 41 which is installed near the end part on the side away from the players being held and detects the accelerated displacement of the linear operation of the body 11 by moving a light shielding member 411 mobile in the predetermined direction and a rotation sensor 42 which is installed near the end part on the side closer to the players being held and detects the rotational displacement of the rotary operation of the body 11 by turning a light shielding member 413 made rotatable axially in the longitudinal direction of the long-sized shape. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a controller for a video game machine.

  With the advancement of IT technology, the performance of computers has greatly improved. Along with this, video games connected to television receivers at home have also made significant progress in terms of high speed, image performance, diversity, and the like. In particular, in a video game, a controller attached to a video game machine is used for a player to operate a character on the screen. Various types of controllers are known for use in this video game in order to improve the ease of operation by the player or the entertainment as a video game machine.

  For example, a controller corresponding to an experience-type game that a player experiences in a simulated manner is gaining popularity. Many of the controllers corresponding to such experience-type games are made to resemble existing tools in order to give an actual presence. As an example, Patent Document 1 discloses a controller having a shape resembling an existing fishing rod in a fishing game. In a controller resembling a fishing rod disclosed in Patent Document 1, a sensor provided inside detects a movement such as how to swing the fishing rod and determines a water entry point of the fishing hook. Patent Document 2 discloses a controller that imitates a sword. In the controller imitating this sword, the inclination of the controller is detected by a rotary encoder provided in the sword, so that the player can actually feel the sword swinging.

Since a controller made to resemble such an existing tool is used to use an existing tool, it is necessary to cope with a complicated operation in which a linear motion and a rotational motion are combined. For this reason, a controller that resembles an existing tool is provided with a sensor that can detect such a complicated operation. However, since a sensor capable of detecting such a complicated operation is expensive, there is a problem that the price of the entire controller also increases. Furthermore, when a sensor corresponding to a complicated operation is provided, a manufacturing process such as sensor arrangement and electrical wiring formation becomes complicated, and the price of the controller is further increased. Furthermore, since it is necessary to arrange the sensors with high accuracy, there arises a problem that the controller has a complicated structure and thus is liable to break down.
JP-A-10-214155 JP 2000-176150 A

As described above, in the controller of the conventional video game machine, since a sensor capable of detecting a complicated operation is expensive, there is a problem that a controller that can easily cope with the complicated operation cannot be realized. It was.
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a controller for a video game machine that can easily cope with complicated operations.

A controller for a video game machine according to the present invention is a controller for a video game machine which has a long shape and can be operated by a player holding and operating a main body, and the player in the gripped state. Acceleration of the linear motion of the main body by the movement of a movable member (for example, the light shielding member 414 in the best mode for carrying out the invention) provided in the vicinity of the end portion on the side far from the movable portion and movable in a predetermined direction. A first detection mechanism for detecting displacement, and a rotation member provided in the vicinity of the end portion on the side close to the player in the gripping state and capable of rotating about the longitudinal direction of the long shape (for example, the invention) And a second detection mechanism for detecting the rotational displacement of the rotational movement of the main body by the rotation of the light shielding member 423) in the best mode for carrying out the above. With such a configuration, it is possible to easily cope with complicated operations.
Note that the vicinity of the end portion on the side away from the player is not necessarily in contact with the end portion on the separated side, and is a portion closer to the end portion on the far side than the longitudinal center of the long shape. If it is. Furthermore, the vicinity of the end close to the player is not necessarily in contact with the end close to the player, and is a portion closer to the close end than the longitudinal center of the long shape. If it is.

Further, the controller for the video game machine has a handle shape of a sword that the player holds from both sides in the longitudinal direction of the long shape, and the predetermined direction is the shape of the long shape. It is a direction in which a cutting edge assumed to extend from the handle of the sword is directed in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the first detection mechanism moves in a direction of cutting with a sword by a linear motion of the main body. The movable member is movably attached to the inside of the main body.
Still further, the controller for the video game machine is a handle shape of a sword that the player grips from both sides in the longitudinal direction of the long shape, and the predetermined direction is the long shape. The first detection mechanism is attached to the inside of the main body so that the movable member can be moved in the longitudinal direction by a linear motion of the main body. As a result, it is possible to deal with complicated operations with good responsiveness.

The first detection mechanism includes a first light-emitting unit, a first light-receiving unit that faces the first light-emitting unit and is opposed to the first light-emitting unit, and receives the light from the first light-emitting unit, and the first light-emitting unit. And a first light shielding unit that blocks or transmits light from the first light emitting unit by moving the movable member between the first light receiving unit and the first light receiving unit by the linear operation. The acceleration displacement is detected according to transmission, and the second detection mechanism is a second light-emitting means and a second light-emitting means facing away from the second light-emitting means and receiving light from the second light-emitting means. A light-receiving means, and a second light-shielding means that blocks or transmits light from the second light-emitting means by rotating the rotating member between the second light-emitting means and the second light-receiving means. Have the second light-shielding means Sensing the rotational displacement in response to the transmission.
Preferably, the first light shielding means moves the movable member via an elastic body, and the first light emitting means and the first light receiving means, and the second light emitting means and the second light receiving means are photo Configure the interrupter. Thereby, the production cost of the controller can be reduced.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the controller for video game machines which can respond easily to complicated operation | movement can be provided.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, a sword-shaped controller having a shape resembling a wooden sword or a sword handle will be described. However, linear motion and rotational motion such as a controller resembling a grip of a golf club or a baseball bat are performed. A controller operated by a combined motion can be similarly configured.
The sword-type controller in this embodiment is assumed to have a sword blade extending beyond the sword-type controller resembling a handle, and the sword blade is displayed on the video game screen. . In other words, the player assumes that the sword blade extends beyond the sword controller and operates the sword controller while looking at the sword blade on the video game screen.

Embodiment 1 of the Invention
First, the overall configuration of the sword controller according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
A configuration example of the sword controller in the present embodiment is shown in the external perspective view of FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 generally indicates the sword controller.
As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 11 of the sword-type controller 1 is composed of a long and narrow molded product having a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The sword-type controller 1 is basically used by a player in front of the sword so that the longitudinal direction of the sword-type controller 1 is substantially perpendicular to the player's front. Grasped. In this gripped state, one hand of the player grips the main body 11 half on the end 12 (hereinafter referred to as the near end 12) on the side close to the player, and the other hand is on the side far from the player. The body 11 half on the side of the end 13 (hereinafter abbreviated as the far end 13) is gripped.

  Further, the player holds the sword-type controller 1 up and down as shown in FIG. 1, and hereinafter, the top, bottom, left and right viewed from the player are the up-down direction and the left-right direction of the sword-type controller 1. In addition, this holding state is called the basic position of the sword-type controller 1. That is, the basic position indicates a gripping state in which the player grips the sword controller 1 with the longitudinal direction as viewed from the player in the front-rear direction and the short direction as viewed from the player. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, the various buttons are positioned in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sword-type controller 1 includes an L1 stick 211, an L2 stick 212, direction keys 22, management buttons 23 and 24, operation buttons 25, 26, 27 and 28, a mode button 29, An LED 30 is provided. Here, “L” indicates a button operated by the player with the left hand. When the player holds the half on the near end 12 side of the sword-type controller 1 with the left hand and the half on the far end 13 side with the right hand, the player holds the L1 stick 211, the L2 stick 212, and the direction key 22 with the left thumb. The management buttons 23, 24, the operation buttons 25, 26, 27, 28, and the mode button 29 are operated with the thumb of the right hand. In addition, when the player holds the hand in the reverse direction, the player operates the sword-type controller 1 with the reverse finger to this operation.
The L1 stick 211 and the L2 stick 212 are analog sticks with buttons and are swingable control levers. The direction key 22 is a push button switch that can be pressed in four directions of the cross. The management buttons 23 and 24 are push button switches for managing the start and pause of the game itself. The operation buttons 25 to 28 are push button switches for mainly operating the main character of the game. The mode button 29 is a push button switch for changing the operation mode of the sword controller 1. The LED 30 is a notification means for notifying the operation mode set by the mode button 29.

The sticks 211 and 212 and the direction key 22 are provided on the half of the main body 11 near the near end 12 of the sword-type controller 1, and along the longitudinal direction from the near end 12 to the far end 13 of the sword-type controller 1, The L1 stick 211, the direction key 22, and the L2 stick 212 are arranged in this order.
The management buttons 23 and 24, the operation buttons 25 to 28, the mode button 29, and the LED 30 are provided on the half of the main body 11 near the far end 13 of the sword controller 1. These are arranged in the order of the LED 30, the mode button 29, the operation buttons 25 to 28, and the management buttons 23 and 24 along the longitudinal direction from the far end 13 to the near end 12 of the sword controller 1. The management buttons 23 and 24 are arranged in the short direction of the main body 11, and the operation buttons 25 to 28 are arranged at four corners of a substantially rectangular shape.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the sword-type controller 1 includes an L1 button 311, an R1 button 312, an L2 button 321, and an R2 button 322 on the lower surface of the main body 11. Here, “R” indicates a button operated by the player with the right hand, and the player holds each half of the sword-type controller 1 on the near end 12 side and the far end 13 side with the left and right hands. The L1 button 311 and the L2 button 321 are operated with the left hand, and the R1 button 312 and the R2 button 322 are operated with the right hand. In addition, when the hand to be gripped is reverse, the player operates the sword-type controller 1 with the reverse hand to this operation.
The L1 button 311, the L2 button 321, the R1 button 312, and the R2 button 322 are push button switches for assisting various operations using the operation buttons 25 to 28.
The L1 button 311 and the L2 button 321 are provided on the main body 11 half near the near end portion 12 of the sword-type controller 1, and the R1 button 312 and the R2 button 322 are provided on the main body 11 half on the far end portion 13 side. The L1 button 311, L2 button 321, R1 button 312, and R2 button 322 are sequentially arranged along the longitudinal direction from the near end 12 to the far end 13 of the sword controller 1. Further, the L2 button 321 and the R2 button 322 are provided on the near end 12 side slope and the far end 13 side slope of the projecting portion projecting from the main body 11 in a substantially triangular shape, and from the far end 13 to the near end. 12 is pushed in an oblique direction.

Next, the overall configuration of the sword controller 1 will be described with reference to FIG. An example of the configuration of the sword-type controller 1 is shown in the sectional perspective view of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the sword-type controller 1 includes a linear sensor 41, a rotation sensor 42, and actuators 43 and 44 inside.
The linear sensor 41 is a detecting means for detecting the acceleration displacement in the linear direction when the sword controller 1 is swung in a substantially linear shape in the vertical direction. The rotation sensor 42 is detection means for detecting this rotational displacement when the sword-type controller 1 is rotated around the vicinity of the near end portion 12. Details of these sensors 41 and 42 will be described later.

  The actuators 43 and 44 are vibration means that vibrate in, for example, an 8-bit 256-step vibration mode. The actuator 43 is provided inside the main body 11 half near the far end 13 of the sword controller 1, and the actuator 44 is provided inside the main body 11 half near the near end 12 of the sword controller 1. In this way, by providing the actuators 43 and 44 in the main body 11 on the near end 12 side and the far end 13 side of the sword-type controller 1, the actuators 43 and 44 can be vibrated separately, or the strong and weak vibration mode. The player's fingers can be given a vibration that makes the user feel the sense of operation and realism of the game.

  Further, inside the sword-type controller 1, a board for electrically connecting the various buttons, the sensors 41 and 42 and the actuators 43 and 44, and a microcomputer for processing signals inputted from these are provided. Furthermore, a communication module is provided inside the sword-type controller 1, and various signals are transmitted to and received from the game machine body.

Next, the linear sensor 41 of the sword controller 1 in this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the linear sensor 41 includes a linear sensor-side photo interrupter 410 and a linear sensor-side light shielding mechanism 411 (hereinafter abbreviated as a photo interrupter 410 and a light shielding mechanism 411).
The photointerrupter 410 is a transmissive photointerrupter, and is provided on a concave member 412 having a substantially concave cross section with an LED (not shown) and a phototransistor facing each other. The photo interrupter 410 functions as a switch that is turned on / off depending on whether the phototransistor receives light emitted from the LED. In the present embodiment, for example, the photo interrupter 410 indicates an OFF state when the phototransistor receives light emitted from the LED, and an ON state when it does not receive light.

The light shielding mechanism 411 includes a housing 413, a light shielding member 414, and an elastic member 415, and has a function of shielding light passing through the concave portion of the concave member 412 of the photo interrupter 410.
The housing 413 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is a molded product in which both ends in the longitudinal direction are shielded. On the side surface of the housing 413, a long and narrow through hole 416 is provided along the longitudinal direction. The through hole 416 is formed from the vicinity of one end of the housing 413 along the longitudinal direction. Further, the width of the through hole is approximately the same as the thickness of the light shielding member 414. The light shielding member 414 is a molded product having a substantially flat plate shape. The elastic member 415 is an elastic means such as a spring.

The linear sensor 41 including the photo interrupter 410 and the light shielding mechanism 411 has the following overall configuration.
The photo interrupter 410 is fixed in the main body 11 with the concave portion of the concave member 412 facing downward. The photo interrupter 410 can be fixed to, for example, the lower surface of the substrate provided above the far end 13 side to which the operation buttons 25 to 28 are electrically connected. In this case, it is easy to electrically connect the photo interrupter 410 to the substrate on the far end portion 13 side. At the same time, the electrical connection form can be simplified, and the space inside the long main body 11 can be utilized efficiently.

  A housing 413 projects from the lower surface inside the main body 11. The casing 413 is arranged in parallel with the concave member 412 of the photo interrupter 410, and the vicinity of the upper end reaches the bottom surface of the concave portion of the concave member 412. In this juxtaposed state, the through-hole 416 of the housing 413 faces the side surface having the concave shape of the concave member 412 of the photo interrupter 410. That is, the inner surface of the concave portion of the concave member 412 extends in the substantially normal direction of the side surface of the housing 413 in the through hole 416. In the present embodiment, the housing 413 is configured integrally with the main body 11, but may be fixed to the inner surface of the main body 11 as a separate member.

  An elastic member 415 is provided inside the housing 413. The elastic member 415 is wrapped by the housing 413 in a state where the longitudinal direction thereof is along the longitudinal direction of the housing 413, and generates an elastic force in the longitudinal direction of the housing 413. One end of the elastic member 415 is placed on the inner surface of the main body 11 inside the housing 413, and a light shielding member 414 is provided at the other end. At this time, the elastic member 415 supports the light shielding member 414 from below and pushes the light shielding member 414 upward by its elastic force. Further, shock absorbing means such as a cushion may be provided between the light shielding member 414 and the inside of the housing 413 to prevent the light shielding member 414 from directly colliding with the inner surface of the housing 413.

  The light shielding member 414 slidable in the vertical direction protrudes from the through hole 416 on the side surface of the housing 413 and is freely installed in the through hole 416. At this time, the light shielding member 414 is inserted with a margin in the longitudinal direction so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction of the through hole 416. The light shielding member 414 is disposed near the upper end of the through hole 416 due to the elasticity of the elastic member 415 at the basic position of the sword controller 1. Further, the light shielding member 414 protrudes from the through hole 416 of the housing 413 due to the positional relationship between the through hole 416 of the housing 413 and the recessed portion of the concave member 412 at the basic position of the sword controller 1. It fits into the recess.

Next, the rotation sensor 42 of the sword-type controller 1 in this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Here, the rotation sensor 42 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a configuration example of the rotation sensor 42.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the rotation sensor 42 includes a rotation sensor side photo interrupter 420 and a rotation sensor side light shielding mechanism 421 (hereinafter, abbreviated as a photo interrupter 420 and a light shielding mechanism 421).
The photo interrupter 420 is a member having a concave member 422 similar to the photo interrupter 410.

The light shielding mechanism 421 includes a light shielding member 423, a support member 424, and a fixing member 425, and has a function of shielding light passing through the concave portion of the concave member 422 of the photo interrupter 420.
The light shielding member 423 is a substantially flat molded product having a substantially fan-shaped planar shape, and has a shaft 426 near the center of the sector shape on the side surface having the substantially fan-shaped shape. The shaft 426 is provided substantially perpendicularly to the substantially fan-shaped side surface and extends in a substantially flat plate-like thickness direction. The support member 424 is a molded product having a substantially bowl-like shape, and although not shown, a substantially semi-cylindrical depression is formed in the upper part of the opposing side surface. Further, the size of these recesses is approximately the same size as the cross-sectional radius of the shaft 426. A substantially U-shaped through hole 427 is formed in the support member 424. The through-hole 427 penetrates the opposing side surface and the bottom surface in a substantially U shape along the opposing side surface that is different from the side surface on which the depression is formed and the bottom surface of the support member 424. The fixing member 425 is a molded product having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a groove 428 having a substantially semi-cylindrical shape at the bottom is formed on the bottom surface of the fixing member 425. The size of the groove 428 is approximately the same as the cross-sectional radius of the shaft 426.

The rotation sensor 42 including the photo interrupter 420 and the light shielding mechanism 421 has the following overall configuration.
The photo interrupter 420 is fixed in the main body 11 with the concave portion of the concave member 422 facing upward. For example, the photo interrupter 420 can be fixed to the upper surface of the substrate provided below the near end 12 side to which the L1 button 311 and the like are electrically connected. In this case, it is easy to electrically connect the photo interrupter 420 to the substrate on the near end 12 side. At the same time, the electrical connection form can be simplified, and the space inside the long main body 11 can be utilized efficiently.
In this fixed state, the side surface having the concave shape of the concave member 422 of the photo interrupter 420 faces the short direction of the sword controller 1. That is, the photo interrupter 420 is fixed so that the LED emits light parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sword controller 1.

The fixing member 425 protrudes from the upper side surface inside the main body 11 with the groove 428 facing downward. In this projecting state, the groove 428 of the fixing member 425 extends in the longitudinal direction of the sword-type controller 1. Further, the bottom portion of the fixing member 425 faces the concave member 422 of the photo interrupter 420. In the present embodiment, the fixing member 425 is configured integrally with the main body 11, but may be fixed to the inner surface of the main body 11 as a separate member.
The support member 424 is sandwiched between the fixing member 425 and the concave member 422 with the through hole 427 facing downward, and a recess (not shown) of the support member 424 faces upward. In this holding state, the depressions of the support members 424 face the longitudinal direction of the sword controller 1, and the through holes 427 are arranged in the short direction of the sword controller 1.

The light shielding member 423 is inserted from above into the through hole 427 of the support member 424 with the shaft 426 facing upward. In this inserted state, the light shielding member 423 protrudes downward from the through hole 427 of the support member 424. The light shielding member 423 is loosely provided in the through hole 427 with a margin in the longitudinal direction so that the light shielding member 423 can move in the fan-shaped outer peripheral direction. In this idle state, the shaft 426 of the light shielding member 423 is placed in a recess (not shown) formed on the opposite side surface of the support member 424. The shaft 426 of the light shielding member 423 is fitted and fixed in the groove 428 of the fixing member 425, and the light shielding member 423 can only rotate in the outer peripheral direction around the shaft 426. Therefore, the fixing member 425 is fitted into the recess of the substantially bowl-shaped support member 424 with the groove 428 facing a not-shown depression of the support member 424.
At the basic position of the sword-type controller 1, the light shielding member 423 is pivotally supported by the support member 424 and faces substantially vertically downward (downward) due to gravity. The light shielding member 423 protrudes from the through hole 427 of the support member 424 and fits into the recess of the concave member 422 due to the positional relationship between the through hole 427 of the support member 424 and the concave portion of the concave member 422.

  The operation when using the sword-type controller 1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an operation when using the sword controller 1. Here, the player swings the entire sword-type controller 1 up and down from the state in which the sword-type controller 1 is held in front (hereinafter abbreviated as vertical cutting), and the player holds the sword-type controller 1 in the front. Next, an operation (hereinafter, abbreviated as “crossing”) of swinging in the left-right direction after rotating horizontally around the near end 12 of the sword-type controller 1 will be described. In addition, the player operates the sword-type controller 1 while operating as if the blade was provided below the sword-type controller 1 at the time of vertical cutting and crossing, and finally the sword-type controller 1 is used as the blade surface. Shake in parallel. Although the vertical and horizontal cutting of the sword-type controller 1 will be described, the sword-type controller 1 can be operated in a stationary state without performing vertical and horizontal cutting.

  In the basic position where the player holds and holds the sword-type controller 1, in the linear sensor 41, the light shielding member 414 protruding from the housing 413 is fitted in the concave portion of the concave member 412 of the photo interrupter 410. Thereby, the photo interrupter 410 is in a state where the phototransistor does not receive light, that is, in an OFF state. At this basic position, like the linear sensor 41, in the rotation sensor 42, the photo interrupter 420 is in a state where the phototransistor does not receive light, that is, in an OFF state. That is, in the rotation sensor 42, the light shielding member 423 protruding from the support member 424 is fitted in the concave portion of the concave member 422 of the photo interrupter 420 at the basic position of the sword controller 1.

  When the player cuts the sword-type controller 1 vertically, the linear sensor 41 detects an acceleration displacement in the vertical direction by the vertical movement of the sword-type controller 1. More specifically, the light shielding member 414 of the light shielding mechanism 411 slides downward from the vicinity of the upper end of the through hole 416 by this vertical movement. When the light shielding member 414 slides downward by a certain amount, light can be transmitted through the concave portion of the concave member 412 of the photo interrupter 410. As a result, the photo interrupter 410 enters a state in which the photo transistor receives light, that is, an ON state. The photo interrupter 410 that is turned on in this way outputs a signal indicating that the linear sensor 41 is turned on to the microcomputer mounted on the sword controller 1. Thereafter, the microcomputer of the sword-type controller 1 transmits a signal indicating that the linear sensor 41 is turned on to the game machine body via the wireless module.

When the player finishes longitudinal cutting of the sword-type controller 1, the shading member 414 that slides downward temporarily stops its operation. The light shielding member 414 slides downward to press the elastic member 415 downward, so that the light shielding member 414 moves back upward due to the elasticity of the pressed elastic member 415. Thereby, after the vertical cut, the light shielding member 414 blocks the light of the photo interrupter 410 and the photo interrupter 410 returns to the OFF state. Thereafter, the photo interrupter 410 in the OFF state outputs a signal indicating the end of vertical cutting to the game machine body via the microcomputer and the wireless module of the sword controller 1.
At the time of this vertical cutting, the vertical movement of the sword-type controller 1 at the time of vertical cutting is an operation in a substantially vertical direction, so the light shielding member 423 of the rotation sensor 42 stops in a state of facing the gravitational direction, and the photo The interrupter 410 is maintained in the OFF state.

  When a player crosses the sword-type controller 1, first, the player rotates the sword-type controller 1 horizontally around the proximal end portion 12. Then, the rotation sensor 42 detects the rotation displacement by the rotation operation of the sword controller 1. Specifically, since the light shielding member 423 always faces substantially vertically downward (downward) due to gravity, the light shielding member 423 having the substantially sector shape of the light shielding mechanism 421 is rotated in the outer circumferential direction by this rotation operation. When the light shielding member 423 rotates in the outer peripheral direction by a certain amount, for example, about half of the central angle of the sector, light can be transmitted through the concave portion of the concave member 422 of the photo interrupter 420. As a result, the photo interrupter 420 enters a state where the photo transistor receives light, that is, an ON state. The photo interrupter 420 that is turned on in this way outputs a signal indicating that the rotation sensor 42 is turned on to the microcomputer mounted on the sword controller 1.

  Further, the player swings left and right in a state where the sword-type controller 1 is rotated, and completes the crossing. The horizontal movement of the sword controller 1 corresponds to the above-described vertical cutting operation for the sword controller 1. Therefore, the linear sensor 41 detects the acceleration displacement in the left-right direction by the operation in the left-right direction. That is, in the same manner as described above, the photo interrupter 410 in the linear sensor 41 is turned on, and the photo interrupter 410 in the on state is in the state in which the linear sensor 41 is turned on with respect to the microcomputer mounted on the sword controller 1. Outputs a signal indicating that

  In the case of this crossing, the microcomputer of the sword-type controller 1 does not send a signal indicating the crossing to the game machine body via the wireless module until the rotation sensor 42 is turned on and the linear sensor 41 is turned on. Send. As a result, the game machine main body distinguishes the vertical cut and the horizontal cut from the game machine main body. That is, the linear sensor 41 is turned on at the time of crossing as well as at the time of vertical cutting. However, if the rotation sensor 42 is on before the linear sensor 41 is turned on, A signal indicating cross-cutting is transmitted to recognize that cross-cutting has been performed. If the rotation sensor 42 remains in an OFF state, a signal indicating vertical crossing is transmitted to recognize that vertical cutting has been performed.

  When the player finishes crossing the sword-type controller 1, the photo interrupter 410 returns to the OFF state as in the case of the above-described vertical cutting. At this time, the photo interrupter 420 of the rotation sensor 42 remains in the ON state. The photo interrupter 410 in the OFF state transmits a signal indicating the end of crossing to the game machine body via the microcomputer and the wireless module of the sword controller 1.

  As described above, in the sword-type controller 1 according to the present invention, the linear sensor 41 and the rotation sensor 42 detect the linear operation and the rotational operation by turning on / off the photo interrupters 410 and 420. It can be easily detected. Thereby, the sword-type controller 1 can easily cope with a complicated operation in which a linear operation and a rotation operation are combined.

  In particular, when the player rotates the sword-type controller 1, the movement range is small in the vicinity of the near-end portion 12. It is possible to detect well. Conversely, when the player moves the sword-type controller 1 in a linear direction such as the up-down direction or the left-right direction, the range of motion in the vicinity of the far-end portion 13 is large. By providing 41, it becomes possible to detect the linear motion with high accuracy. Therefore, by providing the rotation sensor 42 and the linear sensor 41 at the near end portion 12 and the far end portion 13 respectively, it is possible to accurately cope with a complicated operation in which a linear operation and a rotation operation are combined.

  Furthermore, the sword-type controller 1 according to the present invention turns the photointerrupters 410 and 420 on and off by the light shielding members 414 and 423 to block or transmit the light of the photointerrupters 410 and 420, thereby performing a linear motion or a rotational motion. Detect. Since the sword-type controller 1 has such a simple configuration, the manufacturing process and the assembly process can be simplified, and the production cost of the sword-type controller 1 can be reduced. Moreover, since the sword-type controller 1 has a simple configuration, the failure of the sword-type controller 1 can be reduced, and the quality can be improved.

  The weight of the light shielding members 414 and 423 can be changed. For example, when the weight of the light shielding members 414 and 423 is increased, the light shielding members 414 and 423 can move quickly, and the linear motion can be accurately detected. can do. Furthermore, the elasticity of the elastic member 415 may be changed. For example, when the elastic member 415 having a low elasticity is used, the elastic member 415 can be easily contracted, so that the detection of the linear motion of the sword-type controller 1 is possible. Accuracy can be improved. In addition, the width of the fan-shaped shape of the light shielding member 423 can be changed. For example, when the fan-shaped shape has a small central angle and a narrow width, the light of the photointerrupter 420 with respect to the rotation of the light shielding member 423. Can be easily transmitted, and the detection accuracy with respect to the rotation operation of the sword controller 1 can be improved.

Embodiment 2 of the Invention
In the second embodiment of the invention, another configuration example of the linear sensor in the sword controller will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a sectional perspective view showing another configuration example of the linear sensor. In FIG. 5, the code | symbol 61 shows this linear sensor. The linear sensor 61 detects acceleration displacement in the linear direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the sword controller 1. In FIG. 5, the same members and parts as those of the linear sensor 41 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 5, the linear sensor 61 is configured to lie on the light shielding mechanism 411 so that the light shielding member 414 of the light shielding mechanism 411 can slide in the longitudinal direction of the sword-type controller 1. Specifically, the photo interrupter 410 is fixed in the main body 11 like the linear sensor 41, whereas the light shielding mechanism 411 has a through-hole 416 (not shown in FIG. 5) of the housing 413 facing upward. It is laid down and fixed to the lower surface inside the main body 11. At this time, the light shielding member 414 is located on the right side (near end portion 12 side) of the elastic member 415.
The light shielding member 414 can slide from the near end portion 12 toward the far end portion 13 to push down the elastic member 415, and slides to the right when returning by the elasticity of the elastic member 415. Further, the light shielding member 414 is fitted in the concave portion of the concave member 412 of the photo interrupter 410 at the basic position of the sword-type controller 1.

Next, the operation when using the sword controller 1 will be described.
When the player cuts the sword-type controller 1 vertically, the linear sensor 61 detects acceleration displacement in the longitudinal direction by the vertical movement of the sword-type controller 1. Specifically, the light shielding member 414 of the light shielding mechanism 411 slides to the left from the vicinity of the right end of the through hole 416 on the side surface of the housing 413 by this vertical movement. As a result, similarly to the linear sensor 41, in the linear sensor 61, the light shielding member 414 turns the photo interrupter 410 to the ON state. At the end of the longitudinal cutting, the light shielding member 414 moves backward from the left to the right due to the elasticity of the elastic member 415, and the photo interrupter 410 is returned to the OFF state.

When the player crosses the sword-type controller 1, the rotation sensor 42 detects the rotational displacement caused by the rotation operation around the near end 12 of the sword-type controller 1 as described above. Further, since this rotation operation is rotation with the near end portion 12 as the center and the length of the sword-type controller 1 as the radius, the linear sensor 61 also detects acceleration displacement in the direction from the center to the circumference in this rotation operation. . When the player swings the sword-type controller 1 in the left-right direction, the linear sensor 61 detects this linear motion by the linear sensor 61 as in the case of vertical cutting.
Thus, since the linear sensor 61 detects the acceleration displacement in the longitudinal direction of the sword-type controller 1 in the transverse rotation operation, the rotation operation can be detected easily and quickly. As a result, the responsiveness of the sword-type controller 1 can be improved, and the sword-type controller 1 can cope with a complex operation that combines a linear operation and a rotational operation with high responsiveness.

  In this embodiment, the case where one linear sensor is provided has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of linear sensors that detect linear operations in different directions may be provided. Furthermore, although the case where one rotation sensor is provided has been described in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of rotation sensors that detect a rotation operation related to different rotation axes may be provided. When a plurality of linear sensors and rotation sensors are provided in this way, it is possible to cope with more complicated operations that combine linear motions and rotational motions in various directions, and a controller for a video game machine is an existing tool. It is possible to approach.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the whole structure of the sword-type controller in embodiment of this invention. It is a section perspective view showing an example of 1 composition of a sword type controller in an embodiment of the invention. It is a section perspective view showing an example of 1 composition of a rotation sensor of a sword type controller in an embodiment of the invention. It is a schematic schematic diagram which shows operation | movement of the sword-type controller in embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional perspective view which shows the other structural example of the linear sensor of the sword-type controller in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sword type controller, 11 Main body, 12 Near end part, 13 Far end part, 41, 61 Linear sensor, 42 Rotation sensor, 43, 44 Actuator, 410, 420 Photo interrupter, 411, 421 Light shielding mechanism

Claims (5)

A controller for a video game machine which has a long shape and can be operated while a player holds and operates the main body,
A first detection mechanism that is provided in the vicinity of an end portion on the side away from the player in the gripping state and detects an acceleration displacement of a linear motion of the main body by moving a movable member that is movable in a predetermined direction; ,
A rotation displacement of the rotation operation of the main body is detected by rotation of a rotation member that is provided in the vicinity of the end portion on the side close to the player in the gripping state and is rotatable about the longitudinal direction of the long shape. The controller for video game machines provided with the 2nd detection mechanism. The controller for the video game machine has a handle shape of a sword that the player grips from both sides in the longitudinal direction of the long shape.
The predetermined direction is a direction in which a cutting edge that is assumed to extend from a handle of the sword is directed in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the long shape,
2. The video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the first detection mechanism is attached to the inside of the main body so that the movable member can be moved in a direction of cutting with a sword by a linear motion of the main body. Controller. The controller for the video game machine has a handle shape of a sword that the player grips from both sides in the longitudinal direction of the long shape.
The predetermined direction is a longitudinal direction of the long shape,
2. The controller for a video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the first detection mechanism is attached to the inside of the main body so that the movable member can be moved in the longitudinal direction by a linear motion of the main body. . The first detection mechanism includes a first light emitting unit, a first light receiving unit that faces and separates the first light emitting unit, receives light from the first light emitting unit, the first light emitting unit, and the first light emitting unit. A first light-blocking unit that blocks or transmits light from the first light-emitting unit by moving the movable member between the light-receiving units by the linear movement, and blocks or transmits light by the first light-blocking unit. In response, the acceleration displacement is detected,
The second detection mechanism includes a second light emitting unit, a second light receiving unit that faces the second light emitting unit and is spaced apart from each other, receives the light from the second light emitting unit, the second light emitting unit, and the second light emitting unit. A second light-shielding means that blocks or transmits light from the second light-emitting means by rotating the rotating member between the two light-receiving means by the rotating operation. 4. The controller for a video game machine according to claim 1, wherein the rotational displacement is detected in accordance with transmission.   The first light shielding means moves the movable member via an elastic body, and the first light emitting means and the first light receiving means, and the second light emitting means and the second light receiving means constitute a photo interrupter. The controller for a video game machine according to claim 4.

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