KR20010083704A - Bidirectional operating apparatus for simulation game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A two-directional operating apparatus for a simulation game machine in two-ways is provided to realize the vibration similar to the mechanical vibration caused according to the real driving condition of a vehicle. CONSTITUTION: The two-directional operating apparatus for a simulation game machine comprises an input device(30) for an operator; a vibration generating device mounted on the outer surface of the input device; and a control device operatable connected with the vibration generating device to shake the vibration generating device. The vibration generating device applies the vibration generated by receiving electric signals to the hands of the operator. The vibration generating device consists of several piezoelectric sensors(54), and a device for expanding the region of vibration is installed at the outside of the piezoelectric sensors.

Description

Bidirectional control device of simulation game machine {BIDIRECTIONAL OPERATING APPARATUS FOR SIMULATION GAME MACHINE}

The present invention relates to a control device of a simulation game machine, and more particularly, to a bidirectional control device in which a manipulation force of a manipulation input means such as a handle and a joystick and a reaction force according to various simulation data previously input to a computer are provided to the manipulation input means. It relates to a two-way operation device of a simulation game machine that can generate vibration.

The simulation game virtually models a situation that can actually occur by the computer so that the operator can experience indirectly, for example, a flight simulation game, a driving simulation game, and the like.

The important thing in such a simulation game is that the operator should be able to feel the reality and liveliness, and researches on various driving mechanisms and software are continued to make the simulation game closer to reality. Recently, a large number of two-way operation apparatuses have been developed that mechanically move a main body on which an operator rides or generate reaction force on operation input means such as a handle or a joystick to provide a realistic reality to the operator.

As an example, a bidirectional operation apparatus of a car simulation game machine of a driving simulation game machine will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The handle 10 is connected to the handle shaft 12 in the center portion, the lower end of the handle shaft 12, a rotary resistor for detecting the operating angle of the handle 10 by the operator's operation (Rotary Type Potentiometer: 14) Is installed. On the upper end of the handle shaft 12, a motor 16 and a driving pulley 18 for generating a reaction force to transmit the reaction force generated to the steering wheel 10 according to the steering wheel operation, the state of the road surface previously input, the dynamic model of the vehicle, and the like. ), A belt transmission mechanism 24 composed of a driven pulley 20 and a timing belt 22 is connected.

According to the operation of the handle 10, the operation value of the handle 10 is input to the control unit 26 by the rotary resistor 14, and the control unit 26 operates the handle 10 input from the resistor 14. Value and the reaction force corresponding to the predetermined state of the road surface, the dynamic model of the vehicle, and the like, and the operation direction of the handle 10 by the timing belt 22 connected to the motor 10 and the handle shaft 12. In the opposite direction. Accordingly, the operator feels the reality of driving the actual car by the reaction force generated in the steering wheel.

However, in the conventional car simulation game machine, only the reaction force in a certain direction that is opposite to the rotational direction of the handle shaft 12 or the rotational direction of the handle 10 is generated. In various directions corresponding to various fine vibrations, such as the vibration caused by its own state, the vibration caused by the speed of the car, and the like, up and down, left and right or pivot vibrations centering on the handle shaft 10. There was a drawback to not providing vibration. Accordingly, the operation apparatus of the conventional car simulation game machine does not provide the operator with the realism and liveliness that can be felt by the driver who drives the vehicle in the actual situation. This disadvantage is not only applied to the handle 10 described above, but also occurs in other operation input means such as a joystick.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the disadvantages of the two-way operation device of the conventional simulation game machine as described above, the object of the present invention is to generate a vibration of various directions and sizes as well as the reaction force generated in a certain direction in the operation input means It is to provide a two-way operation device of the simulation game machine that can realize a realism and liveliness closer to the actual situation.

1 is a perspective view showing a two-way operation device of a conventional simulation game machine,

2 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a bidirectional operation device of a simulation game machine according to the present invention;

3 is a plan view showing the bidirectional operating device of FIG.

4 is a control block diagram of a bidirectional operating device according to the present invention;

5 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the housing of the solid handle and the piezoelectric element and its wiring in the first embodiment of the bidirectional operating device according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, in which the hollow handle and the piezoelectric element are accommodated and the wiring thereof is partially enlarged;

7 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the vibration means for cooperating with the piezoelectric element in the first embodiment of the bidirectional operating device according to the present invention;

8 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified embodiment of FIG.

9 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of a bidirectional operation device of a simulation game machine according to the present invention.

♣ Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing ♣

30: operation input means 32: handle

34: Rim 40: Handle Shaft

42: rotary resistor 44: motor

52: belt transmission mechanism 54: piezoelectric element

58: controller 60: recess

70: vibration means 72: plate

74: spring 86: hinge

88: joystick

In order to achieve the above object, a bidirectional operation device of a simulation game machine according to the present invention includes: operation input means which an operator can operate; Vibration generating means which is received on an outer surface of the manipulation input means and generates vibration in response to an electrical signal to provide vibration to an operator's hand; It consists of a control means operatively connected to the piezoelectric element to vibrate and control the vibration generating means.

In a preferred feature of the present invention, the vibration generating means comprises a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and in order to enlarge the vibration region, a plate which is a vibration means having a larger area is installed outside the piezoelectric element, and the plate is provided on the spring. By elastic support.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of a bidirectional operating device of a simulation game machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 to 9 are diagrams for explaining the two-way operation device of the simulation game machine according to the present invention.

First, referring to FIG. 2, a first embodiment of a bidirectional manipulation device applied to a handle includes a handle 32, which is a manipulation input means 30, having an outer rim 34, a hub at a center 36. ), Spokes 38 that connect the rim 34 and the hub 36 are configured. The belt drive mechanism (10) includes a handle shaft (40), a rotary resistor (42), a motor (44), a drive pulley (46) and a driven pulley (48), and a timing belt (50) connecting them. 52) is connected.

As can be seen from Figures 2 and 3, in a characteristic embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of piezoelectric elements 54 are housed on the outer surface of the rim 34 as an example of the vibration generating means. The piezoelectric element 54 has piezo-electricity that generates deformation and vibration according to a potential difference, and may be variously modified under control of a controller. In the figure, four piezoelectric elements 54 are housed inside the outer surface of the rim 34 at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. The number, position, size, shape, etc. of the piezoelectric element 54 can be appropriately changed as necessary, and the storage positions of the piezoelectric elements 54 are preferably set symmetrically at equal intervals. Since the tip of the finger is most sensitive in the hand of the human hand, the piezoelectric element 54 is stored in a position where the tip of the finger touches when the operator grabs the rim 34 by hand as shown in FIG. It is desirable to. On the other hand, although the piezoelectric element is employed as the vibration generating means in this embodiment, it is a matter of course that other small vibration generators operated by electric signals other than the piezoelectric element can be employed.

Referring to FIG. 4, the bidirectional operating device of the present invention includes a control unit 58 for controlling the piezoelectric element 54, and the control unit 58 includes a rotary resistor 42, a motor 44, and a piezoelectric element. Respectively connected with (58).

5 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the solid handle 32 according to the first embodiment of the bidirectional operating device according to the present invention. In the solid handle 32, a recess 60 is formed on the outer surface of the rim 34 to accommodate the piezoelectric element 54. The surface of the piezoelectric element 54 accommodated in the recess 60 of the rim 34 coincides with the outer surface of the rim 34 in an initial state, i.e., undeformed, and a potential difference is formed in the piezoelectric element 54, thereby piezoelectric. In the state in which the element 53 is deformed, it protrudes finely to the outer surface of the rim 34. Vibration caused by the deformation of the piezoelectric element 54 is transmitted to the operator variously by the piezoelectric element 54 to the outer surface of the rim 34 by the control according to the electrical signal of the control unit 58, the operator through the fingertips Will feel the vibration. Accordingly, the operator feels that the handle 32 itself vibrates as a whole.

In addition, a wiring groove 62 communicating with the recess 60 is formed on the outer surface of the rim 34, and the wiring groove 62 is closed by a removable cover 64. Referring to FIG. 3, in the case of the solid handle 32, the wiring groove may be formed in the spoke 38. On the other hand, the piezoelectric element 54 and the control unit 58 is operatively connected to transmit an electrical signal through the wire 56.

Fig. 6 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a hollow handle 32 according to the first embodiment of the bidirectional operating device according to the present invention. In the case of the hollow handle 32, the recess 60 is formed by a wall 66 immersed from the outer surface of the rim 34, and the wall 66 has a recess 60 and an inner side of the rim 34. Wiring holes 68 for connecting are formed. The piezoelectric element 54 accommodated in the recess 60 of the handle 32 is operatively connected to the control unit 58 via the wiring hole 68 and the hollow portion of the rim 34 via the wire 56. .

7 shows another storage example of the piezoelectric element 54. Referring to the drawings, the piezoelectric element 54 is housed in a central portion which is part of the recess 60 formed on the outer surface of the rim 34. The wires 56 of the piezoelectric element 54 are wired through the wiring groove 62. Outside the piezoelectric element 54, a plate 72 having a larger area than the piezoelectric element 54 is attached to the vibration means 70 in order to enlarge the vibration region caused by the vibration of the piezoelectric element 54.

In addition, the plate 72 is supported by a spring 74 for biasing the outer surface of the rim 34 to vibrate the plate 72 elastically. The spring 74 is interposed between the boss 76 protruding from the bottom of the recess 60 and the boss 78 protruding from the inner surface of the plate 72.

According to the configuration of FIG. 7, when an electrical signal is transmitted to the piezoelectric element 54 through the wire 56, and a potential difference is formed, vibration is generated by the deformation of the piezoelectric element 54. The vibration of the piezoelectric element 54 is continuously transmitted to the plate 72 which is the vibration means 70, and the vibration of the plate 72 is transmitted to the operator's hand holding the rim 34 of the handle 32. . At this time, the spring 74 provides elastic vibration by biasing the plate 72 while repeating the elastic deformation by the vibration of the plate 72, the area of the plate 72 is larger than the area of the piezoelectric element 54 The vibration area is greatly expanded because it is much larger.

Next, FIG. 8 shows a modification of the vibration means 70 shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 8, the piezoelectric element 54 is accommodated in one side of the recess 60, and the vibration region of the piezoelectric element 54 is vibrated on the outer side of the piezoelectric element 54, similar to FIG. 7. In order to enlarge, the plate 72 which has a larger area than the piezoelectric element 54 is provided so that pivoting about the hinge 86 is possible. In this case, the plate 72 may be attached to the piezoelectric element 54 or may be installed by maintaining a gap enough to receive the vibration of the piezoelectric element 54.

Fig. 9 shows a second embodiment of the bidirectional manipulation device applied to a joystick as manipulation input means. The joystick 88 which is widely used as the operation input means 30 of the simulation game machine, like the case of the handle 32 according to the first embodiment described above, has a plurality of piezoelectric elements (eg 54 is housed. 9 shows that the piezoelectric elements 54 are housed in the circumferential direction at equal intervals on the outer surface of the joystick 88. The piezoelectric element 54 is accommodated on the outer surface of the joystick 88 by the configuration as shown in Figs. 4, 7 and 8, and the vibration of the piezoelectric element 54 is generated by the potential difference, the operator of the joystick is various You feel fine vibrations. Since the housing structure of the piezoelectric element 54 applied to the joystick 88 is understood from FIGS. 4, 7 and 8, the description thereof will be omitted.

According to the bidirectional operation apparatus of the simulation game machine according to the present invention having the above-described configuration, the operator inputs a variety of minute vibrations, such as a pivot vibration about the handle input, for example, the top and bottom, the left and the right, or the handle axis, to the operator. Try to feel more realistic and lively. Actual conditions such as the start-up state where the vehicle is started and the steering wheel is not operated at all, the vibration caused by the rotation of the engine during normal driving, as well as the vibration of the vehicle speed and its changes, and the external force transmitted to the entire body. All possible vibrations occurring at can be implemented by the present invention. The data of the vibrations are input to the computer in advance, and the controller controls the piezoelectric element to generate the vibration.

The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of application of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be changed to other various configurations within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the number, shape, structure, etc. of each component shown in the embodiment of the present invention can be modified.

As described above, according to the bidirectional operation apparatus of the simulation game machine according to the present invention, the mechanical vibration generated in relation to the actual state of the vehicle is realized by vibration generating means such as a piezoelectric element so that the operation input means vibrate in various directions. As the vibration is transmitted to the operator, there is a remarkable effect of providing the operator with realism and liveliness closer to the actual situation.

Claims (4)

Operation input means operable by an operator; Vibration generating means which is received on an outer surface of the manipulation input means and generates vibration in response to an electrical signal to provide vibration to an operator's hand; And a control means operatively connected to the vibration generating means to vibrate and control the vibration generating means. 2. The bidirectional simulation game machine according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generating means is composed of a plurality of piezoelectric elements, and on the outside of the piezoelectric element, vibration means having an area larger than that of the piezoelectric element is provided to enlarge the vibration region. Controls. The method of claim 2, wherein the vibration means, A plate in which the piezoelectric element is located at the center portion; And a spring means for elastically supporting the plate to bias the plate to the outside of the manipulation input means. The method of claim 2, wherein the vibration means, A plate on which the piezoelectric element is located; And a hinge for allowing the plate to pivot about one end.