JP2628477B2 - Game device and its connection device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video game machine and a connection device such as a joystick, a keyboard, a printer, and a communication terminal used by being connected to the video game machine. The present invention relates to a system for identifying connected devices when various types of models are connected and used.

(Prior Art) A video game machine is configured such that switch means such as a joystick is connected to a game main body side and the progress of the game is operated by operating the switch means. Such switch means are usually UP, DOWN, LEF
A four-way switch for controlling the four directions of T and RIGHT and a switch group for adding other additional functions are provided. Each switch for transmitting the on / off state of each switch operated by the game player to the game machine body side. Are provided with connectors having a predetermined number of connection terminals. Also, a connector having a corresponding connection terminal is provided on the game machine main body side.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In a video game machine having such a configuration, a keyboard, a printer, a communication terminal, and the like are connected to the connector having the predetermined number of connection terminals, and the game machine is used for multiple purposes. It is considered to be. In order to connect various types of connection devices to a connector consisting of a limited number of connection terminals in this way, the game machine body can identify the model connected using the limited number of connection terminals. There is a need to.

The present invention makes it possible to connect various types of devices to a connector on the main body by making it possible to identify the model of the connected device to be connected on the main body side, thereby enabling the game machine to be used for multiple purposes. It was done for the purpose.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention relates to a game device which uses a connection device connected via a connector,
A plurality of first connection terminals arranged to detect a signal generated by each direction switch of the connection device having the direction switch, and further a second connection terminal for supplying a selection signal to the connection device; And a means for detecting an identification signal from the plurality of first connection terminals,
A game device configured to identify a type of a connection device connected to the connector based on the identification signal. The present invention is further a connection device connected to the game device.

These game devices and connection devices are "up",
A direction switch including four switches responding to four-direction operations of “down”, “left”, and “right”, and “U” for supplying a signal generated by the four switches to a game device.
A connector including four first connection terminals of “P”, “DOWN”, “LEFT”, and “RIGHT”, and further, a second connection terminal for receiving a selection signal supplied from the game device; And a predetermined potential supply means between the direction switch and the first connection terminal so that a combination of potentials detected by the four first connection terminals becomes identification data representing a model of the connection device. It is characterized by being arranged in.

The present invention is also a system for identifying the model of the connection device, comprising the game device and the connection device.

(Operation) Therefore, according to the present invention, a connector having a plurality of connection terminals arranged to detect a signal generated by each direction switch when a connection device having the direction switch is connected is used. When various types of connection devices are connected to the connector and used, a predetermined identification signal unique to each connection device is set in advance. For example, when a selection signal is supplied from the game device body, predetermined identification data is output. Can be detected from the connection terminal, a model connected to the main body can be identified from the main body side. In other words, in addition to a connection device having a direction switch such as a joystick, a keyboard, a punlita, a communication terminal, and the like can be identified as being connected to the connector on the main body side, so that the game device main body itself can be used for multiple purposes. At the same time, it is possible to provide a connection device whose model can be identified by the game device, and to obtain a system that can identify such a connection device by both.

(Examples) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings with respect to examples thereof.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining one embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining the same, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining another embodiment according to the present invention. FIG.

Reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 denotes a game machine main body having a signal processing device CPU (not shown). The device 12 incorporates means for detecting an identification signal for model identification according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a connecting device 12 for providing a four-way switch SD and other operating functions to the game machine body.
A joystick equipped with a plurality of switches S1 to S4 is illustrated. Although not shown, the four-way switch SD has a stick (operated culm) operated by the player.
The direction switch SD is in the neutral state.
Each of the switches SD1 to SD4 is held in the OFF state. Switch SD1 is ON when the player tilts the stick upward and switch SD2 is ON when the player tilts the stick downward.
become. Similarly, the switches SD3 and SD4 are turned ON in the left and right directions in which the stick is tilted. The upward switch SD1 and the downward switch SD2 are configured so that the upward direction and the downward direction are not simultaneously selected. Similarly, the left switch SD3 and the right switch SD4 are configured not to be turned ON at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connectors 11 (provided respectively for the game machine main body 10 and the connection device 12) are UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, TL, TR, VCC, GND. And nine connection terminals TH. The terminal UP is connected to the up direction (upward) switch SD1, and the game machine body detects a signal indicating the up direction from the terminal UP. Similarly DOWN
Is connected to the switch SD2 and detects a signal in the down direction (downward). LEFT is connected to the switch SD3 and detects a signal in the left direction. RIGHT is connected to the switch SD4. , Terminals for detecting signals in the right direction. VCC is the power supply terminal, GND is the ground terminal, and
TH is a selection terminal for a select signal sent from the main body 10 to the connection device 12.

The device 12 is provided with a selector 14 according to the present invention, and the selector 14 outputs an identification signal for identifying the device 12 in response to a TH signal transmitted from the game machine body via the terminal TH. The terminal LEFT and the terminal RIGHT are configured to transmit the signal to the game machine main body.

Here, a method for identifying the model of the connected device 12 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step ST1, the game device main body 10 sends a signal of TH = “1” via the selection terminal TH.
At this time, the main body 10 reads the potentials obtained at the terminals UP and DOWN (step ST2), determines whether or not both are on (step ST3), stores M0 = 1 if yes, and if no, M0 = 0 is stored. Here, for example, the power supply potential VCC
Is represented by “0”, and the ground potential is represented by “1”.

Next, the game device supplies TH =
In response to the signal of "1", the terminals LEFT, RIGHT
Is read (step ST4), it is determined whether or not both are on (step ST5). If yes, M1 = 1 is stored, and if no, M1 = 0 is stored.

In the case of the terminals LEFT and RIGHT, unlike the case of the terminals UP and DOWN, the selector 14 is interposed between the direction switches SD3 and SD4 and the terminals LEFT and RIGHT.
The signals transmitted from 14 are not the signals "1" and "0" indicating the ON / OFF state of the switches SD3 and SD4, but are the identification signals "1" and "0" indicating the model of the device 12 transmitted from the selector. As is apparent from FIG. 1, when the switches SD1 to SD4 are turned on, the potential appearing at the connector terminal connected to the directional switch which has been turned on as is apparent from FIG. 1 is the ground potential "1". is there.

As described above, since the left switch SD3 and the right switch SD4 are not simultaneously turned on, step ST in FIG.
In order to provide the state where both the LEFT and RIGHT terminals are ON as shown in FIG. 5, a selector 14 is arranged between the switches SD3 and SD4 and the terminals LEFT and RIGHT as shown in FIG. It is necessary to output a potential combination different from the potential combination provided by SD4. Accordingly, when the selector 14 is provided, “LEFT, RIGH
Switch T3 and SD4 are both ON
The terminal sent from the selector 14
The potential of both LEFT and RIGHT is equivalent to ON (that is, "1")
Is determined.

Next, in step ST6, the game device main body 10 sends a signal of TH = "0" via the selection terminal TH.
At this time, the main body 10 reads the potentials obtained at the terminals UP and DOWN (step ST7), determines whether or not both are ON (step ST8), stores M2 = 1 in the case of yes, and stores M2 in the case of know. = 0 is stored.

Further, in response to a selection signal of TH = "0" transmitted from the game device body 10 via the terminal TH, the potentials of the terminals LEFT and RIGHT supplied by the selector 14 are read (step ST9), and both are turned on (that is, turned on). It is determined whether or not the potential is considerable (“1”) (step ST10). If yes, M3 = 1 is stored, and if no, M3 = 0 is stored.

In step ST2 and step ST7, as described above, the up switch D1 and the down switch SD2 are both OFF or a combination of only one of them, and there is no combination in which both of them are ON. Therefore, in the configuration of FIG. 1, the determinations in steps ST3 and ST7 are always M0 = 0 and M2 = 0, respectively.

On the other hand, in the circuit configuration of FIG.
The RIGHT is configured to be supplied with a data combination as a preset identification signal from the selector 14 in response to the selection signal TH. For example, in response to the selection signal TH = “1”, M1 = 0, and in response to TH = “0”, a combination of signals such that M3 = 1 is output to the terminals LEFT and RIGHT. The selected selector 14 can be incorporated in the device 12. When the game device body 10 detects such an identification signal of the data combination,
For example, it may be configured to determine that a joystick having a four-button four-way switch is connected.

Thus, in this case, since the selector 14 configured to transmit the above identification signal is incorporated in the connected device 12 in advance, M0 = 0, M1 = 0, M2 = 0, and M3 = 1. The main unit 10 identifies that the connected device 12 is a model having, for example, a joystick of a four-button four-way switch, in other words, a four-button switch S1 to S4 and a four-way switch SD (SD1 to SD4). be able to.

In the case of the circuit configuration shown in FIG.
Are not built in, the up switch SD1 and down switch SD2, and the left switch SD3 and right switch
Since SD2 is not simultaneously turned on at the same time, the terminals UP and DOWN are not turned on at the same time, and the terminals RIGHT and LEFT are not turned on at the same time. Therefore, M0 = 0, M1 = 0, M2 =
0, M3 = 0, and the configuration is such that identification data different from the device 12 in FIG. Therefore, when the game apparatus main body 10 detects this data combination, for example, the main body 10 is configured in advance so as to be determined to be a two-button four-way joystick, in other words, a two-button four-way joystick, in other words. And two switches S1, S2 and four-way switch SD
The main unit 10 can identify that a model having (SD1 to SD4) is connected.

Therefore, UP, DOW which becomes the basis of the judgment result of M0 to M3
By incorporating a predetermined selector 14 in a device connected to the game device in advance so that the data combinations of N, LEFT, and RIGHT are different, the main body 10 can identify 16 types of 2 × 4 powers.

(Effects of the Invention) The present invention as described above utilizes a connector used for detecting data transmitted from a connection device connected to a game device, and more specifically, operates data of a four-way switch. UP, DOWN, LEFT, RI
A special connection terminal for transmitting an identification signal because the predetermined model identification signal is supplied to the game device body using the GHT and further in response to the selection signal TH transmitted from the game device body. The identification signal can be transmitted by using the connection terminal for transmitting the operation data without increasing the number of operation signals.
Therefore, since it is possible to identify various connection devices with a minimum number of connection terminals, it is possible to provide a connection device that has an effect that the game device itself can be used for multiple purposes and that a model can be identified by the game device. And a system that can identify such a connection device can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining one embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the same, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining another embodiment according to the present invention. It is a block diagram. 10: Game device body 11: Connector 12, 16: Device connected to game device 14: Selector

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-60-27566 (JP, A) JP-A-63-118830 (JP, A) JP-A-63-118928 (JP, A) JP-A-58-207121 (JP) JP-A-57-79540 (JP, A) JP-A-50-111949 (JP, A)

Claims (16)

(57) [Claims] 1. A game device for connecting and using a connection device via a connector, wherein a plurality of first devices arranged to detect a signal generated by each direction switch of the connection device having the direction switch. A connector including a connection terminal and a second connection terminal for supplying a selection signal to the connection device, and a connector distinguished from the plurality of first connection terminals when a predetermined selection signal is supplied via the second connection terminal. Means for detecting a signal, and configured to identify a type of a connection device connected to the connector based on the identification signal, and wherein the plurality of first connection terminals are “UP”. ,
Includes four connection terminals, “DOWN”, “LEFT”, and “RIGHT”, (“UP”, “DOWN”) and (“LEFT”, “RIGHT”
GHT ") as a set, each of which is configured to identify a type of a connection device connected to the connector based on an identification signal detected from the first connection terminal. apparatus. 2. When the potential detected at the connection terminals of "UP" and "DOWN" is "ON" when "1" is supplied as the selection signal, M0 = 1 and not "ON". If M0 =
0, M1 = 1 when the potentials detected at the connection terminals of “LEFT” and “RIGHT” are both “ON”, and M1 when the potentials are not “ON”
= 0, M2 = 1 when the potentials detected at the connection terminals of “UP” and “DOWN” are both “ON” when “0” is supplied as the selection signal, and M2 when the potential is not “ON”. = 0, M3 = 1 when the potentials detected at the connection terminals of “LEFT” and “RIGHT” are both “ON”, M3 = 0 when they are not “ON”
Wherein the type of the connection device connected to the connector is identified based on the data combination (M0, M1, M2, M3) obtained from the data combination. The game device according to the above. 3. An "UP", "DOWN", "LEFT", or "RIGHT" which is arranged so that a connector of a connection device is connected.
A connector including two connection terminals, a combination of potentials at the connection terminals "UP" and "DOWN", and a connection terminal "LEF
A game device comprising: detection means for detecting a combination of potentials at "T" and "RIGHT"; and identification means for identifying a type of a connection device connected to a connector based on the detected combination of potentials. 4. The connector further includes a connection terminal for supplying a selection signal to a connection device, and when a predetermined selection signal is supplied through the connection terminal, the combination of the potentials is detected from the four connection terminals. 4. The game device according to claim 3, wherein the game device is configured to play the game. 5. A connection device used by connecting to the game device according to claim 2, wherein the data combination result (M
0, M1, M2, and M3) use the four connection terminals “UP”, “DOWN”, “LEFT”, and “RIGHT” as identification signals that give a predetermined data combination indicating the model of the connection device. A connection device configured to be supplied to the game device via the connection device. 6. A connection device used by connecting to the connector of the game device according to claim 2, wherein a combination of potentials at connection terminals “UP” and “DOWN” and the connection terminal. A connection device characterized in that a combination of potentials in “LEFT” and “RIGHT” is configured as an identification signal indicating a model of the connection device. 7. A connection device for use by connecting to the connector of the game device according to claim 4, wherein when a predetermined selection signal is supplied from the selection signal supply connection terminal, at least one of the potentials of the selection signal is supplied. A connection device, further comprising means for transmitting a signal that is simultaneously turned ON from both connection terminals in the combination. 8. A direction switch including four switches responding to four-direction operations of "up", "down", "left", and "right", and a signal generated by the four switches is used for a game. "UP", "DOWN", "LEFT", "RIGH"
A connector including four first connection terminals of “T” and a second connection terminal for receiving a selection signal supplied from the game device; and a predetermined connection from the game device via the second connection terminal. When the selection signal is supplied, the combination of the potentials at the first connection terminals of “UP” and “DOWN”, and “LEFT” and “RIGH”
A predetermined signal supply means is arranged between the direction switch and the first connection terminal so that a combination of potentials at the first connection terminal of "T" indicates a model of the connection device and becomes identification data. A connection device used by connecting to a game device. 9. A direction switch including four switches responding to four-direction operations of “up”, “down”, “left”, and “right”, and a signal generated by the four switches is used for a game. "UP", "DOWN", "LEFT", "RIGH"
A connector including four first connection terminals "T", a second connection terminal for receiving a selection signal supplied from the game device, a combination of potentials at the connection terminals "UP" and "DOWN", and Having a selector disposed between the direction switch and the first connection terminal so that a combination of potentials at the connection terminals “LEFT” and “RIGHT” becomes an identification signal indicating a model of the connection device; The selector is configured to supply the identification signal to the game device via the first connection terminal when a predetermined selection signal is supplied from the game device via the second connection terminal. A connection device that is used by connecting to a characteristic game device. 10. The selector according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the combinations of the potentials simultaneously outputs an "ON" signal from both of the connection terminals. Connecting device. 11. The connection device according to claim 9, wherein the combination of the first connection terminals from which the “ON” signal is transmitted is a combination of “LEFT” and “RIGHT”. 12. The connection device according to claim 10, wherein the “ON” signal is “ground potential”. 13. A system for identifying a model of a connection device connected to a game device via a connector, wherein the connector includes “UP” and “DOWN” for supplying a signal from the connection device to the game device. , “LEFT” and “RIGHT”, the game device has a combination of potentials at the connection terminals “UP” and “DOWN”, and the connection terminals “LEFT” and “RIGHT”
Detecting means for detecting the combination of the potentials in, and identification means for identifying the model of the connection device connected to the connector using a combination of data obtained based on the detected combination of potentials, wherein the connection device is Combination of potentials at connection terminals "UP" and "DOWN", and connection terminals "LEFT" and "RIGHT"
A system for identifying the model of the connection device connected to the game device, characterized in that the combination of the potentials in (1) is used as an identification signal indicating the model of the connection device. 14. The connector further has a selection signal connection terminal for supplying a selection signal from the game device to the connection device, wherein the connection device is “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”. 4 of
The direction switch including four switches responding to the direction operation, the combination of the potentials at the connection terminals "UP" and "DOWN", and the combination of the potentials at the connection terminals "LEFT" and "RIGHT" are the model of the connection device. And a selector disposed between the direction switch and the first connection terminal so as to provide an identification signal indicating that the game device has supplied a predetermined selection signal via the selection signal connection terminal. The identification signal is detected from the four first connection terminals to identify the model of the connection device connected to the connector, and the model of the connection device connected to the game device is identified. Claim to identify
The system according to 13. 15. A game device which is used by connecting a connection device via a connector, wherein "UP" and "DOW" for receiving a signal from the connection device.
N "," LEFT ", and" RIGHT ", a connector including four first connection terminals and a second connection terminal for supplying a selection signal to the connection device, through the second connection terminal. Using a combination of potentials at "UP" and "DOWN" detected from the first connection terminal when a predetermined selection signal is supplied and a combination of potentials at "LEFT" and "RIGHT" as identification data, A game device configured to identify a type of a connection device connected to a connector. 16. A connection device used by connecting to the game device according to claim 1 or 15, wherein the game device supplies the predetermined selection signal.
A connection device characterized in that a combination of potentials supplied to the game device via the four first connection terminals is used as identification data indicating a model of the connection device.