JPH11161416A - Three-dimensional input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a three-dimensional(3D) input device with which the 3D information in a moving direction can be inputted only by moving the main body of input device. SOLUTION: A 3D input device 10 is provided with a triaxial acceleration sensor 11 for detecting the acceleration of a 3D orthogonal coordinate system, control part 12 for converting the output of this acceleration sensor to a digital signal and outputting it to an external system, and handy type case 1 housing the acceleration sensor 11 and the control part 12. The control part 12 is composed of an A/D converter 13 for converting the analog output of the triaxial acceleration sensor 11 to a digital signal and a microcomputer for converting this output to a signal system required for synchronous communication with the host system 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a three-dimensional input device capable of inputting three-dimensional information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 2, for example, a game controller used in a game machine has function operation buttons 2 for selecting a plurality of functions on a surface of a handy type case 1.
And start / stop / pause start /
A stop instruction button 3 and direction operation buttons 4 for instructing forward, backward, left and right movements are provided, and a cord 5 extending from the case 1 is used by being connected to a game machine main body (not shown).

The direction operation button 4 has a function of inputting two-dimensional information in the X-Y direction of a two-dimensional rectangular coordinate system, but in order to cope with a 3D (dimensional) game which is currently increasing, the remaining Z is required. A separate means for inputting information in the axial (forward / backward) direction is required.

[0004]

As a device for inputting directional information, there are joysticks and operation buttons. However, operation of these devices requires skill, and furthermore, it is intuitive to input three-dimensional information. Feels strange. This is a problem to be solved by the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a three-dimensional input device capable of inputting three-dimensional information of a moving direction only by moving an input device main body.

[0006]

The above object of the present invention is to achieve a three-dimensional object.
A three-axis acceleration sensor for detecting acceleration in a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, a control unit for converting an output of the acceleration sensor into a digital signal and outputting the digital signal to an external system, and a handy type case accommodating the acceleration sensor and the control unit. This can be achieved by a three-dimensional input device including:

[0007] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit includes:
It comprises an A / D converter for converting the analog output of the axis acceleration sensor into a digital signal, and a microcomputer for converting the output of the A / D converter into a signal system required for synchronous communication with an external system. The external system is a game dedicated machine or a personal computer.

According to the present invention, the three-dimensional information of the moving direction can be input only by moving the input device main body, so that special button operation requiring skill is not required, and even inexperienced persons can intuitively operate. The user can enjoy the game by inputting three-dimensional information.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, 1
Reference numeral 0 denotes a three-dimensional input device according to the present invention, in this example, a game controller. The game controller 10 of the present example includes:
In the case 1 of the handy type, the three-axis acceleration sensor 11
The control unit 12 is accommodated, and communicates with the host system 20 through the code 5.

The three-axis acceleration sensor 11 detects accelerations applied to the case 1 in three axes X, Y, and Z in a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system. The control unit 12 converts the output of the acceleration sensor 11 into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to an external host system 20. The control unit 12 converts the analog output of the three-axis acceleration sensor 11 into a digital signal into an A / D converter 13 and converts the output of the A / D converter 13 into a signal system necessary for synchronous communication with the host system 20. Microcomputer 1 for conversion
4

The host system 20 is a game machine or a personal computer. On the surface of Case 1,
A plurality of key switches 15 are provided. This is used for a start / stop operation and a function selection operation.

In the present invention, direction information required for a 3D game or the like is input by moving the case 1 of the game controller 10 itself. For example, when moving an object in the game screen, when the case 1 is moved rightward, the acceleration sensor 11 detects acceleration in the rightward direction and outputs, for example, + X. When the case 1 is moved to the left, the sensor 11 outputs -X. Similarly, when the case 1 is moved upward, the sensor 11 outputs + Y,
When it is moved downward, an output of -Y is output.

Since the control unit 12 inputs the output of the sensor 11 to the game machine 20 in, for example, an 8-bit synchronous communication format, the game machine 20 moves an object on the screen in a designated direction.

In the 3D game, not only the input in the X and Y axis directions but also the input in the Z axis direction is required. According to the present invention, when the case 1 is moved forward, the sensor 11 outputs, for example, + Z output. Is output, and when it is moved backward, an opposite output of -Z is output, so that the game machine 20 moves the object in the screen forward or backward (in the depth direction) of the screen.

The sensor 11 not only detects the direction of acceleration but also
Since the size is also output, the game machine 20 can move the object by designating not only the direction but also the speed or the distance. Such a usage is useful not only for a game machine but also as a substitute for a mouse of a personal computer. A serial port (mouse port or PCMCIA card) is used for connection with a personal computer.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to input three-dimensional information of the moving direction only by moving the main body of the input device, so that special button operation requiring skill is not required. Even an unskilled person can intuitively input three-dimensional information and enjoy a game.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view showing an example of a conventional game controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 case 5 code 10 three-dimensional input / output device (game controller) 11 three-axis acceleration sensor 12 control unit 13 A / D converter 14 microcomputer 20 host system

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A method for detecting acceleration in a three-dimensional rectangular coordinate system.
A three-dimensional input comprising: an axial acceleration sensor; a control unit that converts an output of the acceleration sensor into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to an external system; and a handy case that houses the acceleration sensor and the control unit. apparatus. A control unit configured to convert an analog output of the three-axis acceleration sensor into a digital signal;
2. The two-dimensional input device according to claim 1, further comprising a microcomputer for converting an output of the / D converter into a signal system required for synchronous communication with an external system. 3. The three-dimensional input device according to claim 1, wherein the external system is a game dedicated machine. 4. The three-dimensional input device according to claim 1, wherein the external system is a personal computer.