KR20030069615A - Input units and method for games - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An input device for a game machine and an input method therefor are provided to control the operation of an image displayed on a screen by detecting the operation of a player and inputting the detected signal into a microprocessor. CONSTITUTION: The device comprises: a pad portion(10) which is provided with first detecting units(S1-S3,R1-R3) and second detecting units(S4-S6,R4-R6); two posts(11,12) which have third detecting units(S14-S16,R14-R16) mounted at a predetermined height; a transverse bar(13) which is provided with fourth detecting units(S8,R9,S10,R11,S12,R13); and a protrusion(14) which has a fifth detecting unit(SR).

Description

Input device for game machine and its input method {INPUT UNITS AND METHOD FOR GAMES}

The present invention relates generally to an input device for an entertainment game machine and an input method thereof, and more particularly, to an input device for a game machine for controlling the operation of an image on a screen by detecting and inputting motion of each part of a player's body and It relates to the input method.

In general, many entertainment game machines, which are made for arcade or home use, usually use a keyboard or a joystick to adjust information or images provided through a screen of a certain size, to execute a program, and to display characters or characters in various kinds of entertainment programs. It is well known that a function such as adjusting an instrument is performed.

However, in the operation of the computer entertainment program by the keyboard or the joystick as described above, the operator of the program is executed by an extremely static operation method in which the operator operates the keyboard or the joystick by using his hand while watching the screen. Physical defects such as disability and visual acuity have occurred. Also, by sitting on a chair and manipulating the entertainment program by an extremely simple operation, it has led to the emergence of entertainment game machines that can be operated more dynamically.

More dynamic entertainment gamers are called DDR or pumps, which have pads on the floor that function like joysticks and are operated by stepping on the switch sensor in the direction of the arrow marked on the pad to be electrically aligned with the position shown on the monitor. Various entertainment game consoles have emerged, but this also has an exercise effect on the lower body by simply stepping on the arrow on the pad using only the foot, which is a part of the human body, to manipulate the image on the monitor screen. It is a program that detects only movements on the foot and interfaces with the program, so that a user needs to use a whole body to detect active and complex movements and detect them through a computer.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to detect the motion of a player and control the motion of an image displayed on a screen of a game machine by inputting a detected signal, both feet and both hands. The game consists of a pad part and two posts and a horizontal bar on top of the two posts including sensing means for forming a sensing line having a sensing area for detecting the player's motions in detail, such as kicking, jumping and sitting. The present invention provides an input device and an input method thereof.

1 is a front perspective view of an input device for a game machine according to the present invention.

2 is a side view of the input device according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a signal processor for processing a sense signal of an input device according to the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: pad portion 11, 12: holding

13: Gabar 14: Exodus

20: signal processor 21: amplifier

23: Filter part 25: S / H part

27: A / D conversion unit 29: Microprocessor

S1-S16: Light emitting portion R1-R16: Light receiving portion

L1-L16: Detection line A1-A16: Detection area

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, by detecting the operation of the player through the sensor and input the detected signal to the microprocessor and processing through software, thereby controlling the operation of the image displayed on the screen Input device for game machine,

First sensing means for forming first and second sensing lines in a horizontal row for detecting forward and backward movements of the player, and second sensing lines in a vertical row on both sides of the player to detect left and right movement of the player; A pad portion having a second sensing means to form, and third sensing means for forming a third sensing line horizontal to the pad portion is mounted at a predetermined height to detect kicking motion, and the player of the pad portion is positioned A second sensing substantially perpendicular to the pad portion which connects the upper portions of the two pillars and is directed downward from both sides to the pad portion so as to detect hand movements, which are erected opposite to each other on both front sides thereof. A horizontal bar including a fourth sensing means for forming a line, and protruding in a cross direction with the horizontal bar, such that The upper body of the player to detect the small, characterized in that it comprises a protrusion including a fifth sensing means which is automatically detected in the predetermined height area at the lower end.

In addition, according to the present invention, by detecting the motion of the player located at a predetermined position through the sensor and inputs the detected signal to the microprocessor for processing through software, thereby controlling the operation of the image displayed on the screen The input method is

In order to detect the forward and backward movements and jumps of the player, the first sensing means is arranged in the transverse direction on the pad portion in which the player is positioned to form first rows of horizontal lines at regular intervals,

In order to detect the left and right movement of the player, the second sensing means are arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction on the pad portion on which the player is positioned to form vertical second lines on each side,

In order to sense the kicking motion, a third sensing line horizontal to the pad portion is formed at a predetermined height through third sensing means disposed opposite two pillars facing each other on both sides of the front side where the player of the pad portion is positioned. Forming,

In order to sense the movement of both hands of the player, a horizontal bar connecting the upper portions of the two struts has a fourth sensing means directed downward on both sides to face the sensors mounted on the pad portion and is substantially perpendicular to the pad portion. To form a fourth sensing line in the direction,

It is characterized in that the detection area of the predetermined height range is automatically formed through the fifth sensing means disposed on the lower end of the protrusion formed in the center of the horizontal bar to detect the bending or sitting motion of the player.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the front of the input device 1 for a game machine having the configuration of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention (the direction in which the rear view is seen when the player is positioned on the pad portion 10).

Referring to the schematic configuration of the game machine input device 1, the rectangular pad portion 10 and the amount of the pad portion 10 is large enough to allow the player to move up to the top to input his motion. Struts 11 and 12 that are erected on side surfaces, horizontal bars 13 connecting upper portions of the struts 11 and 12, and the pad part 10, struts 11 and 12, horizontal bars 13, respectively. ) And a plurality of sensors mounted on the protrusions.

The sensors S1-S16 and R1-R16 are generally paired and have photosensors S1-S16, R1-R16 and one having the light emitting units S1-S16 and the light receiving units R1-R16, respectively. It is a direct reflection sensor SR which has a light emitting part and a light receiving part integrally with a sensor.

Among these, the pad unit 10 includes the plurality of pairs of sensors S1-S6 and R1-R6 in order to detect an operation in which the two feet of the player move back and forth, left and right, or a jump motion. In addition, the pad unit 10 may be paired with a light receiving and light emitting sensor mounted on the horizontal bar 13, which will be described below, to detect movement of both hands, and light emitting sensors R8-R13 and S8-S13. Among them, the light receiving sensors R8, R10, and R12 and the light emitting sensors S9, S11, and S13 are also included on the opposite side where the player is located with respect to the two pillars 11 and 12. In addition, another sensor pair (S6, R6) is provided to input the start of the game.

As the device for inputting the game start signal, a joystick (not shown) mounted together with the screen of the game machine may be further mounted.

Referring to the drawings of FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail. In order to recognize the forward and backward movements and the jumping motion of the player, the sensing line L1 in three horizontal rows in the A1 detection area where the player is located is described. In order to form -L3), the light emitting sensors S1-S3 and the light receiving sensors R1-R3 are arranged at intervals smaller than the sole size of the player, as shown. When the player jumps in the area A1 formed by the sensing lines L1 to L3 of the three rows, that is, when the sensing line L1 to L3 is not sensed for more than a predetermined time, the player recognizes the jump operation. .

Next, in order to detect the kicking motion according to the present invention, the two posts 11 and 12 which are set up to face each other on the front sides of the pad part 10 in which the player is positioned are included. The two struts 11 and 12 form a sensing line L14-L16 that crosses the upper portion of the pad part 10 at a height sufficient to reach even when a child kicks a leg. Sensing areas A4 and A5 are formed by including three rows of light receiving and light emitting sensors S14-S16 and R14-R16 facing each other at a predetermined height.

The mounting positions of the kick detection sensors S14-S16 and R14-R16 are arranged at regular intervals, for example, to a height of about 30 to 100 cm. This is for illustrative purposes only, and its height is not limited. Alternatively, the height can be adjustable by detaching one strut into a lower support and a movable portion that is fitably coupled to the support and mounting the sensors on the movable portion.

Horizontal bars 13 are placed on both sides of the struts 11 and 12, and the heights of the struts 11 and 12 are higher than the height of an adult, and the horizontal bars 13 are substantially positioned above the front of the player. Done. The horizontal bar 13 has a light receiving and emitting sensor mounted at a shoulder width so as to be convenient when the player inputs an input signal using both hands, and is directed downward.

The light receiving and emitting sensors S8, R9, S10, R11, S12, and R13 directed downward are paired with the light receiving and emitting sensors R8, S9, R10, S11, R12, and S13 mounted on the pad unit 10. The sensing areas A3 and A2 are formed by three sensing lines L8-L10 and L11-L13 on each side. The lower sensors R8, S9, R10, S11, R12, and S13 are spaced apart by a predetermined distance to the rear with respect to the two struts 11 and 12, as shown in FIG. Thus, the hand sensing line is formed in a slightly inclined direction rather than perpendicular to the player.

At the center of the horizontal bar 13, the protrusion 14 is formed in a L shape, and the linear reflection sensor SR is mounted as shown in the lower end thereof. The direct reflection sensor is installed in a predetermined area A6, that is, the upper body of the player is detected to continuously monitor the position of the player, and then detects when the player disappears in the area A6.

The linear reflection sensor (SR) is substantially automatically recognized according to the height of the key to determine the detection range, but selectively through the rotation axis at the lower end of the protrusion 14 so that the detection angle can be adjusted manually. It is coupled to the angle adjustable.

In addition, the input device 1 for a game machine of the present invention is a signal processing unit having a configuration as shown in Figure 3 to receive and process the signal information for the operation of each part of the body input through the sensor as described above It is connected with (20).

The signal processing unit 20 includes an amplifier at the front end to amplify the first fine signal. A filter unit 23 is included to filter the amplified signal components so that they do not include substantially unwanted signals such as noise.

The S / H unit 25 is included to sample the signal filtered through the filter unit 23, and the A / D converter 27 is digitally converted to the sampled signal. The microprocessor 29 is linked with the gaming software to control the operation of the image displayed on the screen of the game machine.

In the present invention, as described above, although the input signals to the game input device are described as being processed in software, the input may be processed using substantially TTL logic.

Next, the operation and effect according to the present invention configured as described above will be described.

In the input method of the input device 1 for a game machine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, first, through the plurality of pairs of sensors (S1-S6, R1-R6), the forward and backward movements and jumps on the pad of the player. Detect motion

In more detail, the forward and backward movements and the jump motions of the player are detected through the sensing lines formed by the three pairs of sensors S1-S3 and R1-R3. That is, moving from the sensing line L1 to the sensing line L2 or L3 inputs the forward operation, and conversely, moving from the L3 to the sensing line L2 or L1 inputs the reverse operation.

In addition, when the player is not detected from the sensing lines L1, L2, and L3 for a predetermined time or more, the player detects the movement by lifting the foot at the same time, and performs a jump operation with the image on the game screen.

The left and right movements of the player's motion are sensed through sensing lines L4 and L5 formed on both sides of the player through two pairs of sensors S4, S5, R4 and R5. That is, the player stands in the middle position and inputs that the player moves to the left when the user presses on L4. On the contrary, the player inputs the movement to the right when the user presses on L5.

The movement of both hands of the player, i.e., such as a punch in a martial art game, is sensed through a sensing line, L8-L13, formed through a plurality of pairs of sensors S8-S13, R8-R13. . Among the sensing lines of L8 to L13, L8-L10 senses the movement of the left hand, and L11-L13 detects the movement of the right hand.

The upper SR sensor constructs an area A6 by a predetermined height, and if the player is not detected within the range, the SR sensor detects this as a sitting motion of the player.

The motion detection signals of each part of the body detected by the various sensors are transmitted along a signal line which is hidden and extended inside each device.

In the signal processing unit 20, the first input fine signal is amplified by the amplifier 21, and the noise component among the amplified signals is filtered by the filter unit 23.

The filtered analog signals are sampled through the S / H section 25 and these sampled data are converted into digital signals through the A / D converter 27.

The digital signal is linked with the gaming software through the microprocessor 29 to more dynamically control the operation of the image displayed on the screen of the game machine.

As described above, the game machine according to the present invention detects various movements such as bending or jumping movements of the player in addition to the movements of both feet and both hands, and dynamically increases the fun of the game by expressing the movement of the image on the game machine screen. It has an excellent effect.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present invention are merely for illustrative purposes, and do not limit the present invention, and modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

Claims (10)

In the input device for a game machine for controlling the operation of the image displayed on the screen through the process of sensing the player's motion through the sensor and input the detected signal to the microprocessor through the software, First sensing means for forming first and second sensing lines in a horizontal row for detecting forward and backward movements of the player, and second sensing lines in a vertical row on both sides of the player to detect left and right movement of the player; A pad portion having a second sensing means formed thereon; Two posts mounted on a predetermined height with a third sensing means for forming third sensing lines horizontal to the pad part, the two posts being opposed to each other on both sides of the front side where the player of the pad part is located; Horizontal sensing means comprising a fourth sensing means connecting the upper portions of the two struts to sense the hand movement and forming a fourth sensing line substantially directing from the upper sides of the two pillars to the pad portion extending to the pad portion Bar: and A protrusion which protrudes in the cross direction with the horizontal bar and includes a fifth sensing means at its lower end, the fifth sensing means being automatically sensed in a predetermined height area so as to sense a sitting motion of the player; Input device for a game machine comprising a. The input device for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein the first to fourth sensing means are opposing pairs of light receiving and emitting photoelectric sensors. The input device for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein the fifth sensing means is a direct reflection sensor. In the input method for a game machine for controlling the operation of the image displayed on the screen by sensing the motion of the player located at a predetermined position through the sensor and input the detected signal to the microprocessor through the software, In order to detect the forward and backward movements and jumps of the player, the first sensing means is arranged in the transverse direction on the pad portion in which the player is positioned to form first rows of horizontal lines at regular intervals, In order to detect the left and right movement of the player, the second sensing means are arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction on the pad portion on which the player is positioned to form vertical second lines on each side, In order to sense the kicking motion, a third sensing line horizontal to the pad portion is formed at a predetermined height through third sensing means disposed opposite two pillars facing each other on both sides of the front side where the player of the pad portion is positioned. Forming, In order to sense the movement of both hands of the player, a horizontal bar connecting the upper portions of the two struts has a fourth sensing means directed downward on both sides to face the sensors mounted on the pad portion and is substantially perpendicular to the pad portion. To form a fourth sensing line in the direction, And a sensing area of a predetermined height range is automatically formed through a fifth sensing means disposed at a lower end of a protrusion formed at the center of the horizontal bar to sense a bending or sitting motion of a player. 5. The input method for a game machine according to claim 4, wherein said first to fourth sensing means are a light receiving and light emitting photosensor pair. 5. The input method for a game machine according to claim 4, wherein said fifth sensing means is a direct reflection sensor. 6. The input method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein when it is not sensed for a predetermined time or more by the first sensing means mounted on the pad part, the input method for a game machine is recognized. The input method for a game machine according to claim 4 or 6, wherein when the sensing region of the fifth sensing unit is not detected for a predetermined time or more, the upper body bending operation is recognized. The input method for a game machine according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the third sensing means adjusts the height according to the size of the player. 7. The input method for a game machine according to claim 4 or 6, wherein the fifth sensing means can be angle-deformed according to the size of the player.