JPH0231783A - Circuit game device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow players to enjoy driving radio-controlled cars as if it was an actual car race by furnishing operating devices that operate the cockpit through displays and signal transmitting devices that transmit operating signals which are output from the operating devices to the radio-controlled cars. CONSTITUTION:Television cameras 21 loaded on radio-controlled cars 20 take pictures of the front sight, and transmit the images of the pictures by radio. The image signals transmitted are received by special tuners 40 and projected on CRTs 39 of operating devices 30. When players sit on seats 33 in the operating devices 30, and operate the operating devices 30 watching the images on the CRTs 39 in front of the time, operating signals are transmitted from the radio control transmitters 45, and the radio-controlled cars 20 are driven in response to the operating signals transmitted. The running states, such as the order, lap time, etc. for each of the radio-controlled cars 20, are indicated on an electric bulletin board 61 according to signals from a lap sensor 50 located at a specified place in a circuit course 10, and also displayed on the CRTs 39 of the operating devices 30 via a system controller that controls a whole circuit game device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a circuit game device in which a wirelessly controlled self-propelled vehicle is driven around a circuit course to play a game.

[Prior Art] There is a circuit game device in which radio-controlled cars are driven around a circuit course to compete for ranking. Players check the position of their radio-controlled car from a place where they can see the entire circuit course, and compete using their skills to reach the goal faster than other radio-controlled cars.It is quite difficult to control your own radio-controlled car as you want. Beginners with unskilled skills could not enjoy it.

On the other hand, there is a video display gaming machine that has a television display screen in front of the driver's seat, which is made to imitate a real car. The player sits in the cockpit and operates the steering wheel and accelerator while looking at the screen on the front.

The TV image on the front shows a screen that changes according to the player's driving, and the player enjoys simulated competition with other cars shown on the screen.

Such a video display game machine allows even beginners to easily enjoy driving a car. However, both the course and the competitors are simulated using equipment, so it lacks the intensity and excitement of a real race.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, there has been no conventional car racing game device that is easy to operate even for unskilled players and highly entertaining that even experienced players can enjoy without getting bored.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a circuit racing device that allows a user to enjoy driving a self-propelled vehicle just like in an actual race.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The above object is to provide a radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle equipped with at least an imaging device that captures an image of the front, a circuit course for the radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle to exit, and A receiving device that receives an image signal from an imaging device of a moving vehicle, a display unit that displays the image signal received by the receiving device, and a control unit that outputs a control signal for controlling the radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle. and a control device for operating the control section while looking at the display section; and a transmitting device for transmitting a control signal output from the control section of the control device to the radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle. [Function] Since the present invention is configured as described above, the player operates the control unit while viewing the image of the imaging device mounted on the radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle. The radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle is then operated in accordance with this operation.

[Example] A circuit game device according to an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the circuit game device according to this embodiment.

The circuit game device of this embodiment is for car racing on a large circuit course 10 by mounting a television camera 21 on a plurality of radio-controlled cars 20. A television camera 21 mounted on the radio-controlled car 20 photographs the front of the radio-controlled car 20 and transmits the photographed image by radio waves.

The transmitted video signal is received by the dedicated tuner 40 and displayed on the CRT 39 of the control device 30. The player sits on the seat 33 of the control device 30, and the CRT on the front
The player controls the car while looking at the image 39, and a control signal is transmitted from the radio control transmitter 45, and the radio control car 20 is driven in accordance with the transmitted control signal.

A radio-controlled car 20 is placed at a designated location on the circuit course 10.
A lap sensor 50 is provided to detect the passage of. Based on the detection signal of the lap sensor 50, it is possible to know the running status of each radio-controlled car 20, such as its ranking and lap time. This running state is displayed on the electronic display board 61, and is also displayed on the CRT 39 of the control device 30 via the system controller 70 that controls the entire circuit game device.
will be displayed. In addition, for spectators, each control device 30
The same image as that on the CRT 39 is displayed on the large monitor 80.

-Tour Course 10 As shown in FIG. 2, the circuit course 10 of this embodiment is freely assembled by combining straight lines, S curves, tunnels, etc. to form a circuit course.

It has sufficient width and length so that six radio-controlled cars 20 can run sufficiently and the race can be enjoyed.

The radio-controlled car 20 starts from the start gate 11 and takes a clockwise circuit course as indicated by the arrow.

Four lap sensors 50 are provided in the circuit course 10 at the positions shown in FIG. Lap sensor 50A
is provided immediately after the start gate 11, and lap sensors 50B and 50C150D are provided at key points within the course as shown in FIG.

-Shicon-2゜As shown in the upper left corner of FIG. 1, a television camera 21 is mounted on the radio-controlled car 20 of this embodiment.

This television camera 21 is installed at a position that provides the same field of view as when actually driving a car. Furthermore, a transmitting antenna 22 for transmitting images from a television camera 21 and a receiving antenna 23 for receiving control signals are provided.

Next, details of the radio-controlled car 20 will be explained using FIG. 3.

The radio-controlled car 20 is equipped with two NiCad batteries 24.25 as power sources. The NiCad battery 24 is 12V (
600mAh), 21 TV cameras, 2 video transmitters
6. Supply power to the wrap ID light emitting driver 27.

NiCad battery 25 is 7°2V (1200mAh),
Power is supplied to the radio control receiver 11!28 and the motor controller 29.

The video transmitter 26 transmits the image captured by the television camera 21 from the transmitting antenna 22 using weak radio waves in the 1.2 GHz band.

The wrap ID light emitting driver 27 outputs a signal corresponding to its own predetermined ID from the light emitting element 27a.

The lap sensor 50 is a light emitting element 7 of each radio controlled car 20.
Based on the signal from a, which radio-controlled car 20 has passed is detected.

The radio control receiver TL 128 receives the control signal in the 40 MHz band transmitted by the radio control transmitter 45 through the receiving antenna 23.
Receive via. The radio-controlled receiver 28 outputs an instruction signal to the motor controller 29 and steering control servo motor 210 based on the received steering signal. The motor controller 29 operates the power motor 211 according to instructions from the radio-controlled receiver 28,
The radio-controlled car 20 is moved forward or backward at a designated speed. The steering control servo motor 210 moves the steering wheel according to instructions from the radio-controlled receiver 28 to change the running direction to the right or left.

The control device 30 utilizes a video display game machine that can be played alone (for example, the video display game machine disclosed in Utility Model Application No. 108675/1986 by the same applicant).

The appearance of the control device 30 is shown in FIG. A main body 32 resembling a driver's seat of an automobile is installed on a base 31. Main body 3
2 has a seat 33, a steering wheel 34, and a brake 3.
5. Inside the cover 38 at the front of the main body 32, where operating members such as the accelerator 36 and the shift lever 37 are provided, there is a C, RT 3 placed so as to face the player sitting on the seat 33.
9 is provided. CRT39 has 20 radio controlled cars
An image captured by the television camera 21 is displayed.

The main body 32 is supported at the center of its front end by the base 31 via a ball joint 310. Therefore, the main body 32
can perform a yawing motion of swinging horizontally around the vertical axis (3) passing through the ball joint 310.

Further, in conjunction with the yawing movement of the main body 32, the main body 32
A rolling imparting device 312 is provided for imparting rolling, that is, rolling. The rolling imparting device 312 includes a pair of left and right slope members 313 that are fixed to the upper surface of the base 31 and slope downward from the inside toward the outside near the center line of the main body 32, and a bracket 314 provided on the lower surface of the main body 32. It is constituted by a pair of left and right rolling wheels 315 that are pivotally supported by the slope member 13 and move along the slope of the slope member 13.

When the main body 32 performs a yawing movement about the vertical axis V as described above, one rolling wheel 315 rises along the slope member 313, and the other rolling wheel 1f! 1
315 descends along the slope member 313, so the main body 3
2 is given rolling motion.

A block diagram of the control device 30 is shown in FIG.

When the steering wheel 34 is operated, the movable contact of the variable resistor 34a is displaced to change the resistance value, and an electric signal corresponding to this resistance value is output to the control section 316.

Variable resistors 35a and 3 are also connected to the brake 35 and the accelerator 36.
Similarly, an electric signal corresponding to the player's operation is output to the control unit 316.

A signal corresponding to the operation of the shift lever 37 is also output to the control section 316.

Based on operation signals from the steering wheel 34, brake 35, accelerator 36, and shift lever 37, the control unit 316 generates a control signal to the radio-controlled car 20 and a drive signal to the known moving motor 317. The control unit 316 generates a control signal that instructs the radio-controlled car 20 to move forward or backward at what speed and in which direction it should travel, and sends the control signal to the radio-controlled transmitter 45 via an optical cable by the optical cable interface 318. Output. The radio control transmitter 45 transmits this instruction signal via radio waves to the antenna 45.
Send from a.

The moving motor 317 is a motor for providing the above-mentioned yawing motion and rolling motion. Control unit 31
The moving motor 317 is driven based on the drive signal from the seat 33, causing the seat 33 to undergo yawing motion and rolling motion. This allows you to enjoy a highly realistic driving sensation.

Note that the control unit 316 is provided with a speaker 323,
Sounds are emitted according to the player's maneuvers.

The video signal from the radio-controlled car 20 is sent to a dedicated tuner 4.
Received by 0. A video signal of the received video signal is converted into an RGB signal by an RGB converter 319 and output to a superimposing unit 320 . The superimposing section superimposes the data image from the RGB image imaging control section 316 and outputs it to the CRT 39.

The superimposed data image is a data image showing the running status of each radio-controlled car 20, such as its ranking and lap time.

The audio signal of the received video signal is converted by the audio signal converter 321 and output to the controller 316.

Each control device 30 is connected via an optical cable to a system controller 70 that controls the entire circuit game device as shown in FIG.

That is, the control unit 316 of each control device 30 is connected to the optical cable via the optical cable interface 322, and the control unit 316 of each control device 30 is connected to the optical cable via the optical cable interface 322,
It is possible to send and receive data between.

The video signal from each dedicated tuner 40 is transmitted to the system controller 70 via an optical cable and displayed on a monitor 72 within the system controller 70. The same video signal is also sent to a large monitor 80 for the audience and displayed.

The lap sensors 50 are provided at key points within the circuit course 10 and detect the passage of each radio-controlled car 20. The lap sensor 50 is attached to the lower part of the lap gate 51 that straddles the course, and detects the ID signal output from the light emitting element 27a of the radio-controlled car 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the detection signal from the lap sensor 50 is output to the lap sensor controller 52, where it undergoes processing to be described later. The lap sensor controller 52 is connected to the electronic display board controller 60 by an optical cable.

An electronic display board 61 for displaying the running status of each radio-controlled car 20 is connected to the electronic display board controller 60. The electronic display board controller 60 is also connected to the host computer 1 within the system controller 70.

The details of the configuration and operation of the lap sensor controller 52 and the electronic display board controller 60 will be explained using FIGS. 6 and 7.

The lap sensor controller 52 has a function of inputting data of the radio-controlled car 20 detected by the lap sensor 50 and outputting necessary information to the electronic display board controller 60.

The sensor data input unit 53 inputs sensor data from the lap sensor 50 and stores it in the original data memory 54. The original data memory 54 is divided into six areas for each radio-controlled car 20. The elapsed time timer 55 is a timer for elapsed time from the start of the race. The transmission data creation unit 56 creates data to be transmitted to the electronic display board controller 60 from the original data stored in the original data memory 54. The created data is stored in the transmission data memory 57. The data transmitter 58 transmits data to the electronic display board controller 60 at a predetermined transmission timing.

Although not shown, the pond lap sensor 50 is also provided with a lap sensor controller 52 having the same configuration.

The detailed configuration of the electronic display board controller 60 will be explained using FIG. 6.

The data receiving section 62 receives the data transmitted from the lap sensor controller 52 and stores it in the data memory 63.

This data memory 63 stores all the running states of each racing car 20 immediately after the start of the race.

The reverse running determination unit 64 determines the racing car 20 based on the passing state of each lap sensor 50 stored in the data memory 63.
Determine whether the vehicle is driving in the wrong direction and is in a dangerous situation. The determination result by the reverse running determining section 64 is stored in the data memory 63 again.

The ranking determining section 65 determines the current ranking of the racing car 20 from the data in the data memory 63.

The determined ranking is also stored in the data memory 63.

The display control unit 66 extracts data to be displayed from the data in the data memory 63 and displays it on the electronic display board 61.

The data transmitter 67 extracts data to be transmitted to the host computer 71 from the data in the data memory 63 and transmits it.

Next, the lap sensor controller 52 and the electronic display board controller 60
The operation will be explained using the flowchart of FIG.

First, from the electronic display board controller 60 to the lap sensor controller 5.
2 that the race has started (step 3).
200>. The lap sensor controller 52 listens for the start instruction from the electronic display board controller 60 (step Sl 00), and upon receiving this start instruction, starts the elapsed time timer 55 (step 3101). This completes the preparation for detecting the radio-controlled car 20.

In step 5102, wrap gate 51 to radio controlled car 2
It is determined whether or not 0 has passed, and if no radio controlled car 20 has passed, the process moves to step 5105.

When one of the radio-controlled cars 20 passes through the lap gate 51, the sensor data input section 53 inputs data from the radio-controlled car 20, and transfers the input data to the original data memory 5.
Store in 4. Also, the elapsed time when the radio-controlled car 20 passes the lap gate 51 is read from the elapsed time timer 55 and is also stored in the original data memory 54 (
Step 3103).

When the original data is prepared, the transmission data creation unit 56 creates transmission data (step 3104). The transmitted data includes (1) ID of the radio-controlled car 20 that passed, (2) passing time, and (2) presence or absence of battery energy.

These transmission data are stored in the transmission data memory 57.

The processing from Stellar 73102 to Step 5104 is repeated until the communication timing with the electronic display board controller 60 matches (Step 3105).

As a result, the latest transmission data is always stored in the transmission data memory 57.

When communication with the electronic display board controller 60 becomes possible, first,
After clearing the contents of the original data memory 54 (step 5106), the data stored in the transmission data memory 57 is transmitted by the data transmitter 58 (step 310).
7).

When data is transmitted from the lap sensor controller 52, the data receiving unit 62 of the electronic display board controller 60 receives the data and stores it in the data memory 63 (step 3201).
, other lap sensor controllers 52 also transmit data, and all are stored in the data memory 63.

At step 5202, the radio-controlled car 20 enters the lap gate 5.
1, and if none of the radio-controlled cars 20 has passed through the lap gate 51 at all, the process proceeds to step 5212, where the current running state is displayed on the electronic display board 61.

When any radio-controlled car 20 passes through the lap gate 51, the radio-controlled car 20
It is determined whether the NiCd batteries 24 and 25 are OK (step 3203). If data indicating that the NiCd batteries 24, 25 are running low is transmitted, the data transmitter 67 transmits a battery error signal to the host computer 71 (step 3204).

Note that when the amount of stored electricity in the NiCd batteries 24 and 25 decreases and the voltage becomes low, the tail light of the radio-controlled car 20 is made to blink to prompt the player to charge the battery.

Next, the electronic display board controller 60 determines whether or not the radio-controlled car 20 has entered a reverse driving state in which it is traveling in the opposite direction to the traveling direction, using the reverse driving determination unit 64.

Reverse running means: ■ passing from the first lap gate 51A to the fourth lap gate 51D, ■ passing from the second lap gate 51B to the first lap gate 51A, ■ starting from the third lap gate 51C. When the vehicle passes through the second wrap gate 51B, (2) when the vehicle passes through the fourth wrap gate 51D to the third wrap gate 51C.

When it is determined that the vehicle is running in the wrong direction, the host computer 71
(Step 3206), and the player is notified of the reverse run on the CR739 screen and also with a sound.

If the player runs in the wrong direction, there is a risk of colliding with another radio-controlled car 20, so if the player does not perform a corrective maneuver after a certain period of time, radio control may be disabled.

If the radio-controlled car 20 is not running in the opposite direction, it is determined whether or not it has passed the first lap gate 5LA (step 5207>; if it has not passed, step 521
If the process has passed through 1, it is determined whether it has already passed through the other wrap gates 51B and 51C151D (step 5208).

If the radio-controlled car has passed the other lap gates 51B and 51C251D, it means that the radio-controlled car has completed one lap, so the number of laps memory in the data memory 60 is
step 3209) and calculate the lap time (step 5210).

Next, the ranking determination unit 65 calculates the ranking, and stores the calculation result in the data memory 63 (step 521
1).

When the ranking calculation is completed, the display control unit 66 turns on the electronic display board 6.
1 displays the running status such as ■ranking, ■lap time, and ■running time (step 3212).

Subsequently, it communicates with the host computer 71 and transmits data indicating running conditions such as the above-mentioned ranking, lap time, and running time.

Next, it is determined whether the circuit game has ended (step 5214), and if it has not ended, the process returns to step 5201 and the above-described process is repeated.

System Controller 70 The system controller 70 is provided with a host computer 71 as shown in FIG. 1, and controls the entire circuit game device. Others, system controller 70
is provided with a monitor 72 that displays images on the CRT 3-7 of each control device 30, and an audio device 73 for transmitting information from the system operator to the players and spectators.

If there is information to be transmitted, the user speaks into the microphone 73a and the speaker 73b amplifies the sound so that it can be heard throughout the circuit.

Furthermore, this system controller 70 is equipped with a charger 74 for charging the NiCad battery 24,25,
When a battery error occurs, I try to charge the battery immediately.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, the player
When you operate the steering, brake, accelerator, shift lever, etc. in the control device while looking at the image displayed on the T, the radio-controlled car will be controlled according to your operations, so you can feel like you are actually racing a car. You can experience the feeling of being there. Even if the player makes a mistake while driving, there is no danger to the player himself, so bold driving is possible.
For example, you can experience high-speed driving that you would never normally experience.

In this way, even beginners can easily operate the car, and even experienced people can fully enjoy it, as it provides an experience similar to actually racing a car.The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and can be modified in various ways. .

For example, instead of using the output signal from the operating member as a direct control signal to the radio-controlled car, it may be used as a control signal that simulates the actual driving of a car. Then, the radio-controlled car accelerates in steps. However, in an actual car, even if you step on the accelerator due to inertia, the car will gradually accelerate.

Therefore, in the present invention, the control signal is gradually increased even when the accelerator is depressed.4 In the present invention, the control unit of the control device can perform desired processing on the signal from the operating member, so that the control signal is gradually increased. Control that mimics the movement of an actual car is possible.

Furthermore, although the above embodiment is a circuit game device in which a radio-controlled car is driven, any self-propelled vehicle that is operated by radio may be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the grayer can drive the vehicle while looking at the image captured by the imaging device mounted on the self-propelled vehicle, and therefore can enjoy a circuit game similar to an actual race.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the entire circuit game device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of a circuit course of the circuit game device, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a radio-controlled car of the circuit game device. Figure 4 is an external view of the control device of the same circuit game device, Figure 5 is a block diagram of the same control device, Figure 6 is a block diagram of the lap sensor controller and electronic display board controller of the same circuit game device, and Figure 7 is a block diagram of the control device of the same circuit game device. The figure is a flowchart showing the operations of the lap sensor controller and the electronic display board controller. 10...Circuit course, 11...Start gate, 20...Radio-controlled car, 21...TV camera, 2
2... Transmitting antenna, 23... Receiving antenna, 24
．． 25... NiCd battery, 26... Video transmitter,
27... ID light emitting driver for lap, 28... Radio control receiver, two... Motor controller, 210...
...Steering control servo motor, 30...Control device, 31...Base, 32...Main body, 33...Seat, 34...Steering, 35...
- Brake, 36... Accelerator, 37... Shift lever 139... CRT, 310... Ball joint, 312... Rolling imparting device, 313... Slope member, 314... Bracket, 315... Rolling wheel, 316... Control unit, 317... Moving motor, 318... Optical cable interface,
319... RGB converter, 320... Superimpose unit, 321... Audio signal converter, 322
... Optical cable interface, 323 ... Speaker 40 ... Dedicated tuner, 45 ... Radio control transmitter, 50 ... Lag sensor, 51 ... Lap gate,
52... Lap sensor controller, 53... Sensor data input section, 54... Original data memory, 55... Elapsed time timer, 56... Transmission data creation section, 57...
・Transmission data memory, 58...data transmission section, 60.
...Electronic display board controller, 61...Electronic display board, 62.
...Data receiving section, 63...Data memory, 64...
Reverse running determination section, 65... J@ position determination section, 66... Display control section, 67... Data transmission section, 70... System controller, 71... Host computer, 72... Monitor , 73...Audio device, 74...Charger, 80...Large monitor Applicant SEGA Enterprises Co., Ltd. Agent Ben
Yoshi Kitano, Physician, Personal Procedures Amendment 1986

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle equipped with an imaging device that captures at least an image of the front, a circuit course for the radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle to run, and an imaging device for the radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle. a receiving device that receives an image signal of the radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle; a display unit that displays the image signal received by the receiving device; and a control unit that outputs a control signal for controlling the radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle; A circuit game comprising: a control device for operating the control section while looking at a display; and a transmitting device for transmitting a control signal output from the control section of the control device to the radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle. Device. 2. The circuit game device according to claim 1, further comprising: a lap sensor provided at a predetermined position on the circuit course to detect passage of the radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle; and detection of passage of the radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle by the lap sensor. A circuit game device comprising: a determination device that determines a running state of the radio-controlled self-propelled vehicle based on the following.