JP6519254B2 - Game controller - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game controller that detects the motion of a player and outputs the motion to a game machine.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a game device using a board type controller on which a player rides. This board type controller has a built-in pressure sensor, and when the player mounts on the board type controller and performs a predetermined operation such as an extending operation or a stepping operation, based on the change of the measurement value of the pressure sensor, Player behavior like is detected.

JP, 2010-82340, A

  In the board type controller of Patent Document 1, the strain gauge is used to measure pressure, and the number of sensors is as small as four. For this reason, only the weight and the center of gravity can be measured. In addition, since the device may be broken, strenuous operations such as stepping, walking and jumping can not be performed.

  The main object of the present invention is to provide a game controller capable of detecting not only the measurement of weight and center of gravity, but also various operations such as stepping, walking, jumping and squatting which could not be achieved by the existing products. I assume.

In one aspect of the present invention, a game controller has a plurality of pressure sensors actively driven by transistors, and a sensor sheet for detecting a pressure distribution in a contact area by a part of a player's body, and a shape of the pressure distribution. And determining means for determining the motion of the player based on the change in the shape, and output means for outputting a signal indicating the determined motion to the game machine, the determination means comprising: Based on the shape of the pressure distribution, the direction, the shape and the center of gravity of the player's foot are detected to determine the player's motion, and the determination means determines the knee or hand in addition to the pressure distribution of the player's foot. If a pressure distribution is detected, it is determined that the motion of the player is crooked, and the pressure distribution of the player's foot and the pressure distribution of the knee or hand are detected. After that state, if the pressure distribution of the hand Hizamatawa is lost, the operation of standing up the operation of the player determines.

The above-mentioned game controller is used as an input device to a game machine, and includes a sensor sheet having a plurality of pressure sensors actively driven by transistors. As the player performs various actions on the sensor sheet, the sensor sheet detects pressure distribution by a part of the player's body. The action of the player is determined based on the shape of the pressure distribution and the change in the shape, and a signal indicating the action is output to the game machine. Specifically, based on the shape of the pressure distribution of the player's foot , the determination means detects the direction, the shape, and the center of gravity of the player's foot type to determine the player's action. The determination means determines that the motion of the player is crooked when the knee or hand pressure distribution is detected in addition to the pressure distribution of the player's foot, and the pressure distribution of the player's foot, knee or knee When the pressure distribution of the knee or the hand disappears from the state in which the pressure distribution of the hand is detected, it is determined that the action of the player is the action of standing up. Thereby, the squatting motion and the rising motion can be input to the game machine.

  In one aspect of the above game controller, the determination means determines that the player's action is a jump when the pressure distribution of the player's foot is once arranged in parallel and then disappears at the same time. Thus, the jumping action can be input to the game machine.

  In a preferred example, the sensor sheet includes a pressure sensor layer including the transistor and the pressure sensor, and a pair of protective layers sandwiching the pressure sensor layer.

It is a perspective view showing the appearance of the game system concerning an embodiment. It is a block diagram showing functional composition of a game system. It is a figure which shows the laminated constitution of a sensor sheet. It is a figure which shows a player's playing a game. It is a flow chart of operation judging processing by a game controller. The example which applied the game controller to the home game machine is shown.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Constitution)
FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a game system according to an embodiment. The game system 1 is an arcade game machine installed in a game center or the like. This game is, for example, a survival game, in which the player becomes a character in the game and acts in the game world. Specifically, when the player performs some action on the sensor sheet 20, the characters in the game world perform the same action.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the game system 1 includes a game controller 2, a game device 3, and a stage 4.

  The game controller 2 functions as an input device for the game apparatus 3 and includes a sensor sheet 20 and a control unit 25. The stage 4 functions as a base on which the sensor sheet 20 of the game controller 2 is disposed. Basically, the stage 4 is a flat top surface, and the sensor sheet 20 is placed thereon.

  FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration of the game system 1. As illustrated, the sensor sheet 20 of the game controller 2 and the control unit 25 are electrically connected. Also, the control unit 25 is connected to the game apparatus 3.

  The sensor sheet 20 is a flat rectangular sheet, and pressure sensors using TFTs are vertically and horizontally arranged. The sensor sheet 20 detects the pressure on the surface of the sensor sheet 20 and outputs the pressure to the control unit 25.

  The control unit 25 determines the movement of the player on the sensor sheet 20 based on the pressure distribution detected by the sensor sheet 20. When the player gets on the sensor sheet 20, the pressure applied to the sensor sheet 20 increases in the contact area with the player, that is, in the player's foot type area. The control unit 25 detects an area where the pressure is higher than a predetermined value in the pressure distribution output from the sensor sheet 20 as a contact area with the player, specifically, a foot type.

  The sensor sheet 20 continuously detects the pressure distribution at predetermined time intervals, and the control unit 25 receives the pressure distribution, whereby the control unit 25 can detect the distance and direction in which the player's foot moves. Further, as required, the shape of the foot, the stride, the center of gravity and the like can also be detected. The control unit 25 outputs the detected information to the game apparatus 3.

  Furthermore, although the details will be described later, the control unit 25 determines the action of the player based on the position of the foot of the player, the moving distance, the moving direction, the pressure value, etc., and outputs the action to the game apparatus 3.

  The game device 3 advances the game based on the operation of the player acquired from the control unit 25 of the game controller 2. Specifically, in accordance with the operation acquired from the control unit 25, the character in the game corresponding to the player is made to act.

  FIG. 3 shows the layer configuration of the sensor sheet 20. As shown in FIG. The sensor sheet 20 includes a protective layer 21, a pressure sensor layer 22, and a protective layer 23 from the upper side in the drawing.

  The pressure sensor layer 22 arranges a plurality of pressure sensors on the entire surface of the sensor sheet 20, and actively drives them by OTFT (Organic Thin Film Transistor). The active drive using the OTFT allows a large number of sensors to be disposed over the entire surface of the sensor sheet 20, and enables high speed sensing by driving the large number of sensors at high speed.

  The protective layer 21 is a layer for protecting the surface of the sensor sheet 20, and is formed of a film, a sponge, or a sheet-like resin, rubber, cloth, paper, metal foil, glass, acrylic, or the like. The protective layer 23 is a layer for protecting the back surface of the sensor sheet 20, and is formed of a film, a sponge, or a sheet-like resin, rubber, cloth, paper, metal foil, glass, acrylic, etc. like the protective layer 21. Be done.

(How to judge the player's action)
FIG. 4 shows an example of a player playing a game. FIG. 4A shows the player P walking on the sensor sheet 20. FIG. 4B shows the player P jumping on the sensor sheet 20. The control unit 25 detects a player's foot, a knee, a hand or the like based on the pressure distribution outputted from the sensor sheet 20. Hereinafter, the pressure distribution of the player's foot is referred to as "foot pressure distribution". By analyzing the shape of the foot pressure distribution image output from the sensor sheet 20 and the temporal change thereof, the control unit 25 can determine the player's motion such as walking, running, stopping, and stepping. . Specifically, the player's action is determined as follows.
(1) "Stop"
When the foot pressure distribution images of the player's feet are detected from the output of the sensor sheet 20 and the foot pressure distribution images do not move, it is determined that the player is "stopped".
(2) "walk"
If the stepping action by the player's feet is continued, it is determined to be a "walking" action. The "stepping motion" refers to a state in which foot pressure distribution images of the left and right feet are alternately detected. The walking direction can be detected by the stepping direction when one foot is stepped from the stopped state of both feet. Further, the walking direction may be determined by calculating the center of gravity from the foot pressure distribution image, and by the moving direction of the center of gravity at the start of the stepping action.
(3) "backward"
When one foot moves in the direction of the heel from the state in which both feet of the player stop, and then the stepping action continues, it is determined to be the "backing up" action. Alternatively, if the position of the center of gravity during the stepping motion of both feet of the player exists on the heel side in the foot pressure distribution image during stepping, it is determined to be the “backing” motion.
(4) "Run"
If one foot is stepped from the stopped state and then the stepping action continues at a certain speed or more, it is determined to be a "running" action. The "running" direction is detected in the same manner as the "walking" direction described above.
(5) "Jump"
If the foot pressure distribution images of the player's feet are arranged in parallel once on the sensor sheet 20 and then disappear at the same time, it is determined as "jump".
(6) "Shake" / "rise up"
If a player's knee or hand pressure distribution image is detected in addition to the foot pressure distribution image of the player's feet, it is determined to be a "shaking" motion. On the other hand, when the knee or hand pressure distribution image disappears from the crouched state, that is, the state in which the knee or hand pressure distribution image is detected in addition to the foot pressure distribution images of both feet, it is judged as "rising" movement Be done.

(Operation determination process)
Next, the process of determining the player's action will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of the operation determination process. The control unit 25 of the game controller 2 executes this process based on the pressure distribution output from the sensor sheet 20.

  First, the control unit 25 detects the player's feet, knees, hands and the like from the pressure distribution received from the sensor sheet 20 (step S10). Next, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the left and right feet are stepping on the basis of the foot pressure distribution image of the player (step S11).

  If the player is stepping (step S11; Yes), the control unit 25 determines whether or not the center of gravity is on the heel side based on the foot pressure distribution image (step S12). If the center of gravity is on the heel side (step S12; Yes), the control unit 25 determines that the player's action is "backward" (step S13), and proceeds to step S21.

  On the other hand, if the center of gravity is not on the heel side (step S12; No), the control unit 25 determines that the player's action is "walking" (step S14), and proceeds to step S21.

  If it is determined in step S11 that the player is not stepping on the foot (step S11; No), the control unit 25 determines whether the change in the foot pressure distribution image of both feet corresponds to the change at the time of jumping. It determines (step S15). That is, it is determined whether the foot pressure distribution images of both feet are once arranged in parallel on the sensor sheet 20 and then the foot pressure distribution images disappear at the same time. When it corresponds to the change at the time of jump (step S15; Yes), the control unit 25 determines that the player's action is "jump" (step S16), and proceeds to step S21.

  On the other hand, when it does not correspond to the change at the time of jumping (step S15; No), the control unit 25 determines whether it corresponds to the "shaking" or "stand up" operation (step S17). That is, it is determined whether the pressure distribution image of the player's knee or hand is detected (shaking motion) or the pressure distribution image of the player's knee or hand is lost (rising motion). When it corresponds to the squatting operation or the rising operation (step S17; Yes), the control unit 25 determines that the player's operation is the "shaking" operation or the "rising" operation (step S18), and proceeds to step S21.

  On the other hand, when it does not correspond to a squatting operation or a rising operation (step S17; No), the control unit 25 determines whether the foot pressure distribution images of both feet are moving (step S19). If the foot pressure distribution images of both feet are not moving (step S19; No), the player's action is determined to be "stop" (step S20), and the process proceeds to step S21. On the other hand, when the pressure distribution of both feet is moving (Step S19; No), the control unit 25 proceeds to Step S21 noting that it is not applied to any operation.

  When the player's action is determined as described above, the control unit 25 determines whether or not the game is ended based on the player's input or the like (step S21). When the game is not finished (step S21; No), the process returns to step S10. On the other hand, when the game is over (step S21; Yes), the operation determination process is over.

  As described above, according to the game controller 2 of the present embodiment, various operations, such as walking, running, stepping, jumping, squatting, and standing up, which can not be achieved by the existing controller, can be input to the game apparatus 3 it can. Therefore, it is possible to expect effects such as an increase in calorie consumption, etc., in which the player himself can actually move the body and perform these operations, thereby being able to immerse in the game.

[Modification]
FIG. 6 shows an example in which the game controller of the present invention is applied to a home game machine. The configuration of the game controller 2 is the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. The control unit 25 transmits and receives data to and from the game machine 40 by the cable 42 or wireless communication. The game machine 40 is connected to a display device 50 such as a TV by a cable 41, for example. The image of the game is displayed on the screen 51 of the display device 50. The method of determining the player's action by the game controller 2 and outputting it to the game machine 40 is the same as that of the above-described embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the player plays the game using only the game controller 2. However, a controller using an existing hand (for example, one using an acceleration sensor), a controller using imaging by a camera and image recognition, etc. You may use together.

1, 1x game system 2 game controller 3 game device 4 stage 10 stage 20 sensor sheet 21, 23 protective layer 22 pressure sensor layer 40 game machine 50 display device

Claims (4)

A sensor sheet having a plurality of pressure sensors actively driven by transistors and detecting pressure distribution in a contact area by a part of the player's body;
Determining means for determining the action of the player based on the shape of the pressure distribution and the change in the shape;
Outputting means for outputting a signal indicating the determined operation to the game machine;
Equipped with
The determination means detects the direction, the shape, and the center of gravity of the foot type of the player based on the shape of pressure distribution of the player's foot to determine the action of the player.
The determination means determines that the motion of the player is crooked when the knee or hand pressure distribution is detected in addition to the pressure distribution of the player's foot, and the pressure distribution of the player's foot, knee or hand A game controller characterized by determining that the operation of the player is an operation of starting up when the pressure distribution of a knee or a hand disappears from a state in which the pressure distribution of is detected.   The game controller according to claim 1, wherein the action of the player includes at least one of walking, running, stopping, stepping and jumping.   3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination means determines that the action of the player is a jump when the pressure distribution of the player's foot is once arranged in parallel and then disappears at the same time. Game controller. The said sensor sheet | seat is provided with the pressure sensor layer containing the said transistor and the said pressure sensor, A pair of protective layer which pinches | interposes the said pressure sensor layer, It is described in any one of the Claims 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Game controller.