JPH07116351A - Controller for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To expand in the three-dimensional direction the motion of an image object projected on a monitor image plane with a relatively simple construction and control a game situation. CONSTITUTION:To control the shift of an image object projected on a monitor image plane not only in the two-dimensional directions of X axis and Y axis direction, but also in the Z axis direction, a controller 1 for a game machine is constituted from the connection of a first controller section 1L to a second controller section 1R through a connecting member 2. The shift in the Z axis direction corresponding to relative displacement information of the first and second controller sections to the connecting member is given to the image object to control the shift in the three-dimensional directions. Also, the game situation is controlled on the basis of the displacement information.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine controller, and more particularly to a game machine controller for controlling a particular image object or a game situation displayed on a monitor screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A game machine in which a user controls a motion of an image displayed on a home TV screen or a large screen for business use to progress a game has spread not only in Japan but also all over the world. There is. This type of game machine has a built-in recording medium (ROM) in which image information, sound information, and operation program information related to the game are stored.
A game cassette is loaded in the game machine body, and the game machine body has a built-in CPU that reads out information from the recording medium of the game cassette and generates image signals and audio signals relating to the game displayed on the monitor screen. In order to control the game progress of this type of game machine, the user sends a control signal to the main body of the game machine by operating various buttons and keys provided on the controller. To do.

As described above, the controller is used to control the movement and state of the image displayed on the monitor screen. The user holds the controller with both hands and operates various buttons and keys provided on the controller body to perform the above control. The control of the image object on the screen by the controller mainly targets the movement thereof, and controls the two-dimensional movement in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

[0004]

As described above, the conventional game machine controller controls the movement of the image object displayed on the monitor screen in the two-dimensional directions (X-axis direction and Y-axis direction). It is a thing. On the other hand, in recent years, the game contents of game machines have come to be rich in variety with various tastes. For example, if the movement of the image object can be expanded from the two dimensions defined on the screen to the three dimensions including the depth direction, the content of the game can be further enhanced. However, hitherto, a game machine controller capable of controlling movement of an image target on a monitor in three dimensions has not been proposed.

The situation of the game contents displayed on the monitor screen is usually controlled by using various keys and buttons provided on the front surface of the controller. However, when the control functions become diverse, the number of keys and buttons that must be equipped increases, which not only occupies most of the front of the controller, but also deteriorates operability. Occurs.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to make the movement of an image object displayed on a monitor screen 3 with a relatively simple structure.
It is to provide a controller for a game machine expanded in the dimensional direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a controller for a game machine, which has a function of controlling the situation of the game contents displayed on the monitor screen with a relatively simple structure other than keys and buttons. is there.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the controller for a game machine according to the present invention provides an X object on the monitor screen for an image object displayed on the monitor screen.
In a controller for a game machine in which a key for controlling movement in the axial direction and the Y-axis direction is arranged, a first controller section and a second controller section are connected via a connecting member, and the first controller section is connected to the connecting member. Relative displacement information between the controller unit and the second controller unit is detected, and Z of the image object is detected based on the detected displacement information.
It is configured to control axial movement. A controller for a game machine according to another aspect of the present invention is a controller for a game machine that controls a situation of a game content displayed on a monitor screen in response to a control signal, the first controller section and the second controller section. Is connected via a connecting member, detects relative displacement information of the first controller unit and the second controller unit with respect to the connecting member, and outputs the control signal based on the detected displacement information. Is configured.

[0009]

In the present invention, in order to control not only the two-dimensional directions of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction on the monitor screen but also the Z-axis direction of the image object displayed on the monitor screen, The game machine controller is configured by connecting a first controller unit and a second controller unit via a connecting member, and corresponds to relative displacement information of the first controller unit and the second controller unit with respect to the connecting member. The movement in the Z-axis direction is given to control the movement in the three-dimensional direction. The relative displacement information is the rotation angle of the first controller unit and the second controller unit, or the angle formed by one controller unit with respect to the plane formed by the first controller unit and the second controller unit. can do. Further, the situation of the game content displayed on the monitor screen can be controlled based on the relative displacement information.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a game machine controller according to the present invention. The controller body 1 according to this embodiment is separated into a left controller unit 1L and a right controller unit 1R, and both controller units are connected by a connecting shaft 2. The left controller unit 1L is equipped with a key 11 for moving the image object on the monitor screen in the X and Y directions. The key 11 is composed of a cross-shaped key. When the image object is moved rightward, the key portion 11R is pressed, and when it is moved leftward, the key portion 11L is pressed. The upward movement and the downward movement of the image object are controlled by pressing the key portions 11U and 11D, respectively.

The right controller 1R has a fire button 12 for instructing a special function such as a continuous shooting function.
A, 12B and 12C are provided, and a polarity changeover switch 13 described later is provided.

The left controller section 1L and the right controller section 1R are rotatably connected to each other by a connecting shaft 2.
This rotation controls the movement of the image object in the Z-axis direction (depth direction of the screen). That is, the amount of movement in the Z-axis direction can be defined according to the relative rotation angle between the left controller unit 1L and the right controller unit 1R, or when the image object is rotated by a certain angle, the image object is moved by a predetermined distance in the Z direction. However, it is also possible to move them discretely.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the section 2A-2A in FIG. In this example, when the left controller unit 1L and the right controller unit 1R are relatively rotated by a predetermined angle, the image target on the monitor screen is controlled to move in the Z direction.

In FIG. 1, a left controller section 1L and
An opening hole 30 is formed in at least one of the facing portions of the right controller portion 1R, and the connecting shaft 2 is inserted into and connected to the opening hole 30.

In this example, the opening hole 30 is formed on the left controller 1L side, one end of the connecting shaft 2 is rotatably inserted, and the right controller 1R has the other end of the connecting shaft 2. Is fixed. The X-axis line shown in FIG.
It is a horizontal line that passes through the center of the opening hole 30 of the left controller portion 1L and the connecting shaft 2, and the Y-axis line is a line that passes through the center and is orthogonal to the X-axis line. The conductive electrodes 15U and 15D are provided at positions inclined by θ in the + Y direction and the −Y direction with respect to the X-axis line of the inner wall of the opening hole 30, and these electrodes 15U and 15D are provided at symmetrical positions with respect to the Y-axis. Similar electrodes 14U and 14D are provided. On the other hand, when the left control unit 1L and the right controller unit 1R are in a horizontal relationship on the surface of the outer peripheral portion of the connecting shaft 2 fixed to the right controller unit 1R that faces the inner surface of the opening hole 30, the X-axis line Conductive electrode 21 located above
Also, an electrode 22 is formed at a position symmetrical to the Y axis of the electrode 21.

The user operates the left controller unit 1 shown in FIG.
L is gripped with the left hand, right controller 1R is gripped with the right hand, and various buttons and switches are operated with fingers,
When the right controller unit 1R is rotated counterclockwise by θ with respect to the connecting shaft 2, the connecting shaft 2 fixed to the right controller unit 1R rotates by θ, and the electrodes 22 and 21 formed on the connecting shaft 2 are rotated. However, the opening hole 3 of the left controller 1L
Contact the electrodes 15D and 14U formed on the inner wall of 0,
This contact state is electrically detected, and the image object on the monitor screen is controlled to move in the Z direction by a predetermined distance.

In the above description, the connecting shaft 2 is fixed to the right controller section 1R, but the left controller section 1L.
It is needless to say that the same electrode may be provided in the opening hole provided in the right controller portion 1R by fixing the same to the above.

Although the structure shown in FIG. 2 enables movement in the Z-axis direction, a rotation angle detector such as a rotary encoder is provided in the rotating portion of the connecting portion 2 so that Z can be moved in accordance with the detected rotation angle. Axial movement can be performed. Optical or magnetic means may be used as the rotation angle detector. It is also possible to detect the angle formed by one controller with respect to the plane formed by the left controller and the right controller, and control the movement of the image target in the Z-axis direction based on the detected angle.

The control of the movement in the Z-axis direction is
Not only is it given by rotation about the connecting shaft 2 of the left control unit 1L and the right controller unit 1R, but it is also possible to control by relative movement of both controller units in another mode. For example, when both controller parts are connected by a connecting member, the relative movement of both controllers other than such rotation, that is, the rotation in the direction # 1 in FIG. You can also control directional movement.

In the above embodiment, the left controller 1L and the right controller 1R are rotated and moved in order to control the movement in the Z-axis direction.
Operations such as movement are usually performed by the user's dominant hand. Therefore, the dominant hand sets the movement in the Z direction in the opposite direction. That is, while a right-handed person rotates the right controller unit 1R to move in the Z-axis direction, a left-handed person rotates the left controller unit 1L, so that a left-handed person operates it. , The movement in the Z-axis direction is opposite to that when the right-handed person operates.

In this embodiment, a changeover switch 13 is provided on the front surface of the controller body 1 to electrically compensate the above-mentioned change in polarity for right-handed and left-handed users. That is, the changeover switch 13 of the slide switch structure of FIG.
Is set to R for right-handed people, and set to L for left-handed people.
Inversion of direction movement can be avoided, and correct Z direction movement can be controlled at all times.

Further, the situation of the game contents displayed on the monitor screen is controlled based on the relative displacement information of the first controller unit and the second controller unit with respect to the connecting member in the above description (for example, the continuous shooting function is displaced). If it is configured to control according to the state), it becomes possible to control by means other than the keys and buttons mounted on the front of the controller as in the past, and the operability is remarkably improved.

[0023]

As described above, the controller for a game machine according to the present invention constitutes the controller body.
Since one controller part is connected by a connecting member and the image object on the monitor screen is moved in the Z-axis direction based on the relative movement of the two controller parts, three-dimensional movement control is possible, which is simple. With the configuration, the contents of the game can be further enhanced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a game machine controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a section 2A-2A in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Controller Main Body 1L Left Controller Part 1R Right Controller Part 2 Connection Shaft 11 Keys 12A-12C Fire Button 13 Changeover Switch 14U, 14D, 15U, 15D, 21, 22 Electrode 30 Open Hole

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image object displayed on a monitor screen,
In a game machine controller having keys for controlling movement in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction on the monitor screen, a first controller section and a second controller section are connected via a connecting member, Relative displacement information of the first controller unit and the second controller unit with respect to the connecting member is detected, and movement of the image target in the Z-axis direction is controlled based on the detected displacement information. Controller for game consoles. 2. The rotation angle of the first controller unit and the second controller unit is detected as the relative displacement information,
The controller for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein movement of the image object in the Z-axis direction is controlled based on the detected rotation angle. 3. As the relative displacement information, an angle formed by one controller unit with respect to a plane formed by the first controller unit and the second controller unit is detected, and the image is detected based on the detected angle. The controller for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein movement of the object in the Z-axis direction is controlled. 4. A controller for a game machine, which controls a situation of a game content displayed on a monitor screen in response to a control signal, wherein a first controller section and a second controller section are connected via a connecting member. A controller for a game machine, which detects relative displacement information of the first controller unit and the second controller unit with respect to the connecting member, and outputs the control signal based on the detected displacement information. .