KR19990076928A - Remote control rod for computer video game conversation - Google Patents

Abstract

An infrared connection remote computer mouse is installed inside the elongated rod-shaped housing 30 with a number of D-pad switches and infrared transmitter 17. The computer includes an infrared receiver for receiving and converting infrared transmission signals transmitted from the mouse. Coordinate with conventional D pads so that an extra weight or momentum actuated switch 16 can output a double-click signal from the rod each time the rod moves or shakes to provide a "magic" response to the computer video game being played. Is provided.

Description

Remote control rod for computer video game conversation

Computer devices have been very sophisticated in recent years, and so-called personal computers or "PCs" have been developed into very powerful and sophisticated computers. In the manufacture of such computers, the basic components vary somewhat, including a keyboard unit for user input and a monitor for display, as well as a processor unit supporting one or more disk drives and CD-ROM disk input devices for assimilation of information. there was. Monitors typically consist of cathode ray tube displays similar to television displays. The keyboard is similar to a conventional typing keyboard with additional keys or command input devices. In addition to the basic computer equipment, most PCs also provide a mouse input that connects to a mouse pad or other small input that sits on a convenient surface. A typical computer mouse includes a generally elliptical device with a flat bottom surface resting on the pad of the mouse. The rotatable ball supported within the trackball assembly lies between the bottom surface of the mouse and the mouse pad, providing data that the trackball rotates and is delivered to the computer processor by the movement of the mouse on the mouse pad. Conventional mice also include a pair of pressurized " click " switches or buttons actuated by a user's finger. In a typical field, the mouse cooperates with the processor device to manipulate various elements of the image shown on the screen that can be selected or otherwise manipulated by pressing one or more click switch buttons with the movable pointer and cursor on the screen. Such devices have improved the user interface and affinity of computer devices when connected with powerful software to allow the user to operate simply by "point and click" operation of the mouse and the pointer on the screen. Inside the processor, the software device operates to interpret the combination of the operation of the click switch and the trackball signal in response to the movement of the mouse into the necessary instructions for operating the device.

A relatively advanced form of this computer mouse design is the use of a wireless mouse that communicates to a computer processor via an infrared or IR transmitter link. In such a device, a mouse device with multiple push buttons supports the infrared transmitter with appropriate circuitry for encoding various switch operating combinations with data transmitted from the infrared transmitter to a receiver connected to the computer processor. Infrared transmitted data is received at the receiver and converted into the appropriate form of data available to the processor via the mouse input. In a typical remote mouse device, a standard four-button D pad is provided for user operation. By operating the D pad button, the corresponding D pad switch is operated to provide information related to the "click". In general, the clicks provided by a 4-D pad switch correspond in various combinations to the type of information conveyed to the processor through the click switch operation and trackball movement of a conventional mouse. The information is also conveyed at the second level in the form of "double clicks" that are interpreted differently by the processor.

Such remote mouse devices have proved to be entertainment devices for computer users. It is particularly interesting to use such a remote mouse device for playing computer games. Using the remote mouse to keep the user away from the computer makes the game more enjoyable in many cases.

Despite these improved remote mice, there is a continuing need for input devices that are fun, entertaining and useful for use in computer games.

The present invention relates to a computer device, in particular a device for a video computer game.

1 is a block diagram of a remote control rod constructed in accordance with the present invention,

2 is a plan view of a remote control rod according to the present invention, and

3 is a side view of the remote control rod according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: rod 11: D pad

12, 13, 14, 15: D pad switch 16: G switch

17: infrared transmitter 18: infrared beam

20 computer 21 infrared receiver

22: coupling 30: remote control rod

31: handle 32: D pad

33, 34, 35, 36: D Pad Button 40: Axis

41: head 42, 43, 44: infrared transmitter

It is a main object of the present invention to provide an improved remote control rod for computer video game dialogue, in particular an improved remote control rod for facilitating dramatic game play related to the operation of the remote control rod and the computer game.

The present invention is provided for use with a computer with a remote control receiver and a remote control rod, the remote control rod having a housing, a keypad with a user press key supported within the housing, and an input command in the form of a key being pressed. And a transmitter connected to a keypad for receiving and transmitting a symbol signal to a remote control receiver, and a move action switch connected to a transmitter that provides an input signal in response to movement of the housing within the housing.

The novel features of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description set forth below in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to designate like elements.

1 is a block diagram of a remote control rod 10 for a computer video game conversation. For the sake of clarity, the rod 10 is shown surrounded by a dotted line region, in which a conventional D pad switch device 11 is placed. The D pad 11 is constructed according to conventional manufacturing techniques and includes four sets of D pad switches 12, 13, 14, and 15. The D pad 11 is connected to an infrared transmitter 17 which converts the switch combination input from the D pad 11 into an appropriately coded and formatted infrared energy beam 18. It includes a conventional device. The connection of the D pad 11 and the infrared transmitter 17 can be made entirely according to conventional manufacturing techniques, and the data from the user's input device to the computer 20 in the form of a switch operation of the D pad 11. send. The computer 20 includes an infrared receiver 21 connected by a coupling 22. The coupling 22 as well as the connection between the infrared receiver 21 and the computer 20 can be manufactured according to conventional manufacturing techniques. As the infrared beam 18 is received by the infrared receiver 21, the conversion is carried out to a correspondingly formatted and symbolized data flow which is connected to the computer 20 for processing in the manner described above.

According to the invention, the rod 10 further comprises a G switch 16 having a different momentum response switch mechanism than the D pad 11 which responds alone to the rapid movement of the rod 10. Thus, the G switch 16 does not operate directly by the user as in the case of the switches 12-15, but only by an indirect method such as the user moving the rod 10 quickly or suddenly. The G switch 16 is operatively connected to the infrared transmitter 17 such that the operation of the G switch 16 provides a "double click" to the infrared transmitter 17. When the G switch 16 is in operation, the infrared transmitter 17 provides a properly symbolized data segment for application to the infrared beam 18 corresponding to the double click signal input.

In the preferred operation of the remote control rod according to the invention, the user can use the rod 10 at an appropriate distance from the infrared receiver 21 and the computer 20, and the D pad 11 can be used for various input values. By controlling, the computer 20 can be operated. This interaction between the rod 10 and the computer 20 is performed in the same general manner as a conventional infrared remote mouse.

However, in accordance with the main features of the present invention, the user can physically move the rod 10 to operate the G switch 16 to generate a double click output signal. In the anticipated use of the remote control rod according to the present invention, a user playing a computer game can play the computer game using the D pad switches 12 to 15 and operate the G switch 16 for a "magic" conversation. The rod 10 can be shaken or swung. This action provides a double-click effect, resulting in a dramatic change in screen depending on the game play software inside the computer 20. Therefore, a user who is a child can observe a dramatic change such as disappearing an image from the screen of the computer 20 when the rod 10 is swung like a magic wand.

2 is a plan view of a remote control rod 30 for a computer video game conversation constructed in accordance with the present invention. The remote control rod 30 is manufactured in a fancy form to have an appearance reminiscent of a magic wand. However, it is apparent that other fancy appearances can also be used in the remote control rods of the present invention. The remote control rod 30 includes a handle 31 connected to the D pad 32. The remote control rod 30 further includes an elongated shaft 40 extending from the handle 31 and terminating at the star head 41. The head 41 may include one or more infrared transmitters 42 or 43 on both sides (the transmitter 43 see FIG. 3). Optionally, the infrared transmitter may be located on the bottom surface of the D pad 32 as shown by transmitter 44 in FIG. D pad 32 includes a number of D pad buttons 33, 34, 35, 36 that can be pressed to actuate D pad switches 12, 13, 14, 15, see FIG. 1, respectively. The infrared transmitter 17 is shown in dashed lines and is preferably located inside the remote control rod 30. In accordance with conventional fabrication techniques, the infrared transmitter 17 is operatively connected to an D transmitter 32 and an infrared transmitter, such as transmitter 42, to provide the aforementioned operation. According to the invention, the remote control rod 30 further comprises a G switch 16, shown in dashed lines, operatively connected to the infrared transmitter 17 in relation to the foregoing.

3 is a side view of a remote control rod 30 with a D pad 32, a shaft 40, and a handle 31 supporting the head 41. As noted above, the remote control rod 30 has one or more sensing devices, such as infrared transmitters 42, 43 or 44, alone or in combination as desired. As also described above, the D pad 32 includes a number of pressurized buttons, such as buttons 33 and 34. The infrared transmitter 17 and the G switch 16 are placed in the remote control rod 30 as shown in dashed lines. In other words, suitable electrical connections (not shown) using conventional wiring techniques or equivalent may include the D pad 32, the G switch 16, the infrared transmitter 17, and one or more selected infrared transmitters ( 42, 43 or 44) is operatively connected.

In operation, the user grips the handle 31 and utilizes various combinations of the D pads 32 to generate certain instructions that are sent to the computer in the form of infrared symbol data as described above. In addition, the user then shakes or grabs the remote control rod 30 to operate the G switch 16 to generate a double click encoding signal that is also sent to the computer.

The transmission protocol used by the remote control rod 30 can be made using various conventional protocols. For example, the remote control rod 30 of the present invention uses the following protocol.

The remote control rod 30 has no parity and uses a 3-byte / 2-button protocol in which serial data as 7 bits, 1 stop bit is transmitted to 1200 baud. Data is transmitted only when the button changes state, or continuously when the D-Pad switch is activated. The array of data is as follows.

Byte 1

D7 not used

D6 logical 1 (interpreted as byte 1)

D5 Left switch button: 1 = On

D4 right switch button: 1 = On

D3 Y7

D2 Y6

D1 X7

D0 X6

Byte 2

D7 not used

D6 logic 0

D5 X5

D4 X4

D3 X3

D2 X2

D1 X1

D0 X0

Byte 3

D7 not used

D6 logic 0

D5 Y5

D4 Y4

D3 Y3

D2 Y2

D1 Y1

D0 Y0

X0 to X7 = X position change. 2's complement + = move right,-= move left. Y0 to Y7 = Y position change. 2's complement + = move down,-= move up. The remote control rod generates two speeds when the D pad switch is activated. The value of X or Y is usually + -2. If the (Speed) button is pressed, this value changes to + -5. One X and one Y switch can be activated at the same time.

The left and right switches of the control rod are activated once each time the state changes. The button down code is sent once when the switch is pressed and once when the switch is released. When the D pad switch is activated, the actual status of the left and right buttons are transmitted. The control rod also includes a "G" switch that generates a double click message sent in the form of a delay below the left button, above the left button, below the left button, and above the left button. The movement of the cursor is suspended during the double click transfer.

A remote control rod for computer video game conversation has been described, which uses a transmitter coupled with a remote control infrared access D pad and a gravity or momentum actuated G-switch and allows the user to control the rod for dramatic effects on a game play computer. It offers new play characteristics that simply shake or swing.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the invention. Therefore, it is the object of the appended claims to cover all such modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (1)

In a remote control rod for use with a computer equipped with a remote control receiver, Housings, A keypad with a user press key supported by the housing; A transmitter connected to the keypad for receiving an input command of a form in which the key is pressed and for transmitting a sign signal to the remote control receiver; and And a moving action switch connected to said transmitter for providing an input signal in response to movement of said housing within said housing.