JPH1028777A - Controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller capable of quickly selecting an item even in the case of selecting and setting the item during playing/game without altering a monitor picture at the electronic device body side or the original function of a cross key, trigger button or the like. SOLUTION: A controller 1 is provided in a display device 5 with a touch sensor 8. When a character selects and equips an item or the like, a player makes the display device 5 output an item selecting picture, instantly selectively equips the same and enables a game to be succeedingly continued. Since a monitor picture at the game machine body side is not needed to make of the item selecting picture, the game can be smoothly developed. Also, at the time of item-selection, the game can be developed smoothly by operating the touch sensor 8 without altering the functions of a cross key 3 and trigger buttons 4, 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a controller connectable to an electronic device such as a video game device and a personal computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, along with the diversification of game software provided for home video games, personal computer games, and the like, controllers connected to the software have been changed from those provided with conventional trigger buttons and cross keys to the following. 3D sticks, controllers that can output analog signals, etc.
Various products are commercially available corresponding to the software used. Not only handy-type game machines, but also those in which a simple display is incorporated in the controller itself have been proposed.

[0003]

In a so-called competitive video game in which a character selects a specific item from various types of items such as weapons and equips the character with each other, then the characters fight each other. When it becomes necessary to change or add equipment items to the game, the player operates the controller to interrupt the game, display the item selection screen on the monitor screen, select an item with the cross key, etc., and then play. To resume.

[0004] However, in such a play mode, the opponent player has to stand by while selecting an item, so that when the game is resumed, a continuous sense of tension and thrill is obtained again. It is doubtful that it will be done. In addition, if the game is interrupted in this way, in a game where the environment surrounding the character changes every moment, it may be difficult to continue the game because the surrounding situation can not be grasped at the moment of resumption. However, there is a possibility that the interest of a game that emphasizes real-time properties may be impaired.

In such a video game,
Equipment items are selected and set using the controller's four-way controller and trigger buttons.
The cross key and the trigger button must be changed from a function for controlling the movement of the original character to a function for selecting and setting an item. Therefore, the game program becomes more complicated, and the operation of selecting an item by moving the cursor on the screen is liable to cause an erroneous operation of the player, and it is difficult to equip the character with the desired item accurately and quickly. It was difficult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a controller capable of performing a smooth operation input without changing the monitor screen on the electronic device main body side. Another object of the present invention is to provide a controller capable of promptly inputting an operation without changing original functions such as a cross key and a trigger button.

[0007]

An object of the present invention is to provide a controller connectable to an electronic device, comprising: a display screen for displaying a predetermined image; a touch sensor for detecting an operator touching the display screen; An operation information generating means for generating predetermined operation information based on a contact detection signal from the touch sensor.

An object of the present invention is to provide a controller incorporated in an electronic device, the display screen displaying a predetermined image, a touch sensor detecting contact of an operator on the display screen, and a contact from the touch sensor. And an operation information generating means for generating predetermined operation information based on the detection signal.

In the above-mentioned controller, the operation information generating means may generate operation information based on a contact position on the touch sensor. In the above-described controller, the operation information generation unit may generate operation information based on a contact trajectory to the touch sensor. In the above-described controller, the operation information generation unit may generate operation information based on a contact area with the touch sensor.

[0010] In the above-mentioned controller, a plurality of characters are displayed on the display screen, the touch sensor detects contact with the character displayed on the display screen, and the operation information generating means includes: Operation information for selecting and / or moving the character may be generated based on a contact position from a touch sensor.

In the above-mentioned controller, a drawing tablet is displayed on the display screen, the touch sensor detects an operator's contact locus on the display screen, and the operation information generating means detects the touch trajectory from the touch sensor. The drawing information to be drawn on the drawing tablet may be generated based on the contact trajectory.

In the above-mentioned controller, a selection menu is displayed on the display screen, the touch sensor detects a contact position of the operator on the display screen, and the operation information generating means outputs the operation information from the touch sensor. The selection information of the menu in the selection menu may be generated based on the contact position.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A controller according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The controller of the present embodiment is, for example, a pad-type game controller connected to a video game machine main body and operated by a player as an electronic device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 1 comprises a controller main body 2 formed in a shape that is easy to hold with both hands of the player. On one side of the controller main body 2, a cross key 3 as operating means is provided. A plurality of trigger buttons 4 are provided on the opposite side of the cross key 3 and on the front part thereof. A display device 5 is incorporated substantially in the center of the controller main body 2, and a function switch used when switching a function as a controller or switching a screen displayed on the display device 5 is provided below the display device 5. A switch 6 and a trigger button 7 are provided. The display device 5 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display unit capable of outputting a color image.

In such a controller 1, according to the present embodiment, a high-resolution touch sensor 8 having a function as a pointing device described later is attached to the surface of the display device 5. The touch sensor 8 is a sheet type in which transparent electrodes are arranged in a matrix. When the voltage of the touch sensor 8 drops locally via the human body or the like, the voltage drop position, that is, the contact position of the player is detected. In addition, as the touch sensor 8, in addition to the conduction type described above, a plurality of pressure sensors may be disposed on the surface thereof.

The controller 1 and the game machine body 10 are connected by a communication cable 9 as communication means.
The communication cable 9 transmits an operation signal from the controller main body 2 to the game machine main body and transmits a signal from the video game machine main body to the controller main body 2.
FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the controller 1 of the present embodiment.

The controller 1 includes a controller control section 11 for controlling the entire controller, and the controller 1
A communication unit 12 that communicates with a game machine main body (not shown) connected to the controller, a controller operation unit 13 that serves as an interface with the player, a display unit 14 including the display device 5, and these units are interconnected. Bus 1
5.

The controller control section 11 comprises a random access memory (RAM) 11a, a read only memory (ROM) 11b, and a microprocessor (MPU) 11c for performing arithmetic processing. The ROM 11b contains a microprocessor initial operation program for starting the controller, an arithmetic program for operating the function of the controller alone, and image information common to a plurality of game software. Image information that does not need to be loaded, such as a character function selection menu screen, an image program for outputting this image information, and the like are stored. In addition,
These programs may be transferred from the game software such as a CD-ROM to the RAM 11a via the game machine main body every time the main body of the game machine starts up.

The communication unit 12 includes a communication interface 12
a and the controller terminal 1 to which the communication cable 9 is connected
2b. The controller operation unit 13 has a key input interface 13a for inputting key signals from the above-described cross key 3, trigger buttons 4, 7, the function changeover switch 6, and the touch sensor 8.

The display section 14 has a display interface 14a and a video RAM (VRAM) 14b together with the display device 5. This V
The RAM 14b stores an image pattern stored in the ROM 11b of the controller control unit 11 when the controller is activated or playing, and an image pattern transferred from the game machine body 10 when the game is started. This is provided to secure the memory capacity of the control unit 11 and avoid a decrease in the processing speed of the microprocessor 11c.

The controller control section 11 generates predetermined operation information based on the image information displayed on the display section 14 and an operator contact detection signal from the touch sensor 8. This operation information is transmitted to the game machine main body 10 via the communication cable 9. Next, an example of use of the controller 1 and the operation of each part of the controller will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

FIG. 3 shows an example of use in a competitive game. In the competitive game, when changing or adding a character's equipment item during game play, the player presses the function switch 6 of the controller 1. Then, a command signal for instructing a function switching is output from the key input interface 13 a to the controller control unit 11 via the bus 15. In response, the MPU 11c outputs a command to the display unit 14 to output an image of the corresponding item.

As a result, in the display unit 14 of the controller 1, a predetermined image pattern program is loaded from the VRAM 14b to the display device 5, and the screen of the display device 5 is displayed as shown in FIG.
The equipment item i as shown in (a) is displayed. The player directly presses the touch sensor portion on a desired item among the displayed items with the finger f. As a result, a signal corresponding to the selected item is output from the touch sensor portion pressed from the touch sensor 8, and the signal is output from the controller control unit 11 to, for example, the VRAM1.
After the selected item is stored in 4b, it is output from the communication unit 12 to the game machine body 10 via the communication cable 9, and the game machine body 10 performs processing according to the selected item.

As described above, the controller 1 of this embodiment
Is used, the item i, which could only be displayed on the monitor display device 17 (FIG. 4) on the main body side,
This can be displayed directly on the player's hand. As a result, the game progresses smoothly without interrupting the play while the screen common to the players is displayed on the monitor display device 17.

According to the present embodiment, by providing the touch sensor 8 on the display device 5, a desired item can be directly and promptly compared with the operation using the cross key 3 and the trigger buttons 4 and 7. Can be selected and set. In the above-described example of use, as shown in FIG. 3A, the player selects the desired item i by directly touching the item displayed on the display device 5 with the finger f. As an example of the selection operation, as shown in FIG. 3B, the equipped character k and the equipped item i are simultaneously displayed on the screen, and the player moves to the character k while pressing the desired item i with the finger f. Alternatively, a selection instruction may be given.

FIG. 4 shows an example of use in drawing software. Using the characteristics of the touch sensor 8 as a display device 5 as a tablet for drawing software, the player traces the surface of the display device 5 with a finger f to display the trajectory of the finger on the display device 5 on the monitor display device 17. Thus, in this use example, the touch sensor 8
The finger and the finger f have a relationship between a tablet and a pointing device (touch pen), and can be used as a controller for a drawing game without connecting a special tablet.

In this case, the display device 5 does not display a specific image in principle, but outputs an image for assisting the drawing by the player, if necessary, for example, a setting screen such as a canvas or a line thickness. You may make it. FIG. 5 is an example of use of a battle game. The extended function menu m of the controller 1 and the character is displayed on the display device 5 so that the player can change the function of the controller 1 and the operation mode of the character during game play or at the start of play. That is, in the illustrated example, for example, in order to change the rate of fire of a machine gun fired from a fighter in a fighting game, the player
By pressing the function changeover switch 6, the function selection menu m is displayed on the display device 5 of the own controller 1, and FIG.
As shown in (a), the display portion of the rapid-fire mode is pressed with the finger f. Then, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the display device 5 displays a setting screen of the rapid-fire function, and the player changes the rapid-fire rate of the machine gun by setting a desired rapid-fire rate with a finger. Can be.

It is preferable that such an operation mode change of the character is performed on the controller side, and is not displayed on the monitor display device 17 of the main body. Thereby, the entertainment property as a battle game can be enhanced. This is because the use of the controller 1 allows the player to change the movement characteristics and performance of the fighter without knowing by the opponent player during the game, and a variety of battle scenes is developed accordingly.

Next, a connection example of a game system using the controller 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The controller 1 according to the present embodiment can also be used in the same connection method as the conventional controller. For example,
As shown in FIG. 6, the two controllers 1 may be connected to the game machine main body 10 to be connected so as to play a two-player competitive game, or as shown in FIG. And five controllers 1 may be connected to play a battle royal type game in which a large number of simultaneous matches can be played.

By using the controller 1 of the present embodiment, an image different from the unified image displayed on the monitor display device 17 can be individually provided to each player in these games. As described above, in a battle type game in which various types of items and the like are selectively equipped, there is no need to temporarily suspend the game for the optional equipment and display the selection screen on the monitor display device 17 on the main body side. A continuous sense of tension can be maintained as a game, and game play with higher entertainment can be achieved.

It is needless to say that the same operation and effect can be obtained when the controller 1 of the present embodiment is used for other electronic devices such as a normal personal computer in addition to the game machine main body 10 shown in the figure. Nor. As described above, according to the present embodiment, in the competitive video game with a high real-time property, when an item or the like is selectively equipped, the item screen is output to the display device 5 and the cross key 3 and the trigger button provided on the controller 1 are provided. It is possible to instantly select the equipment by the touch sensor 8 without changing the functions of 4 and 7, and the game can be smoothly developed without interrupting the game.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the cross key 3 is provided in addition to the touch sensor 8, the game character can be operated with the cross key 3 using the same screen of the monitor display device 17, for example. If the cursor is operated by the touch sensor 8, it is possible to selectively use the operation target with emphasis on operability. Further, according to the controller 1 of the present embodiment, even if the trigger button 4 provided as standard does not allow the control of the character operation or the function setting to be covered, the controller 1 according to the present embodiment compensates for the software switch using the touch sensor 8. Can handle a wide range of application software.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a pad-type controller, but the present invention may be applied to other types of controllers. For example, FIG.
As shown in the arcade game machine shown in FIG.
The display device 5 and the touch sensor 8 may be provided to the controller 18 having the controller 9.

In the above-described embodiment, the operation information based on the contact position is input by the player using the touch sensor 8. The analog operation information may be input in such a manner as to be input to the main body 10. Further, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the controller of the game machine. However, the present invention is not limited to the game machine, but can be applied to the controller of another electronic device such as a microcomputer.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, a touch sensor for detecting a contact of an operator with a display screen displaying a predetermined image is provided, and a predetermined operation is performed based on a contact detection signal from the touch sensor. Since the information is generated, an image different from the image of the monitor display device on the main body side can be provided to each player, and the players can operate individually while watching the image. Therefore, even when selecting or setting items during a game, items can be quickly selected without changing the screen of the monitor display device on the main unit or changing the original functions such as the cross key and the trigger button. The game can continue smoothly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of use of the controller shown in FIG. 1 in a competitive game.

FIG. 4 is an example of use of the controller shown in FIG. 1 with drawing software.

FIG. 5 is an example of use of the controller shown in FIG. 1 in a battle game.

FIG. 6 is a system external view showing a connection example of controllers according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a system external view showing another connection example of the controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an external view of a controller according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Controller 2 ... Controller main body 3 ... Cross key 4,7 ... Trigger button 5 ... Display device 6 ... Function changeover switch 8 ... Touch sensor 9 ... Communication cable 10 ... Game console 11 ... Controller controller 12 ... Communication unit 13 ... Controller operation unit 14 ... Display unit 15 ... Bus 16 ... Extension tap 17 ... Monitor display device 18 ... Controller 19 ... Operation lever

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A controller connectable to an electronic device, comprising: a display screen for displaying a predetermined image; a touch sensor for detecting an operator's contact with the display screen; and a contact detection signal from the touch sensor. And an operation information generating means for generating predetermined operation information based on the operation information. 2. A controller incorporated in an electronic device, comprising: a display screen for displaying a predetermined image; a touch sensor for detecting a touch of an operator on the display screen; and a contact detection signal from the touch sensor. And an operation information generating means for generating predetermined operation information based on the operation information. 3. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the operation information generation unit generates operation information based on a contact position on the touch sensor. 4. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the operation information generating means generates operation information based on a trajectory of contact with the touch sensor. 5. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the operation information generation unit generates operation information based on an area of contact with the touch sensor. 6. The controller according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of characters are displayed on the display screen, wherein the touch sensor detects contact with the character displayed on the display screen, A controller, wherein the operation information generation means generates operation information of selection and / or movement of the character based on a contact position from the touch sensor. 7. The controller according to claim 1, wherein a drawing tablet is displayed on the display screen, the touch sensor detects a contact trajectory of an operator on the display screen, and the operation information is generated. The controller generates drawing information on the drawing tablet based on a contact trajectory from the touch sensor. 8. The controller according to claim 1, wherein a selection menu is displayed on the display screen, the touch sensor detects a contact position of an operator on the display screen, and the operation information generation unit. The controller generates selection information of a menu in the selection menu based on a contact position from the touch sensor.