WO2020091022A1

WO2020091022A1 - Controller, rhythm game machine, and karaoke system

Info

Publication number: WO2020091022A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/042948
Authority: WO
Inventors: 下村　勝; 佐野　高一; 義孝中嶋; 政之今西
Original assignee: 株式会社モノコト
Priority date: 2018-10-31
Filing date: 2019-10-31
Publication date: 2020-05-07

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a controller for preventing false recognition of beats. [Solution] In a first controller 24, beat parts 38L, 38R, 38T to be beaten by a user are disposed at a plurality of positions of a housing, and a plurality of touch sensors 140L, 140R, 140T each for detecting a touch are provided in the beat parts 38, respectively. Within the housing of the first controller 24, an acceleration sensor 142 for detecting an impact is provided. A CPU (determination unit) 44 of the first controller 24 determines the beated beat parts 38L, 38R, 38T on the basis of outputs of the touch sensors 140L, 140R, 140T and the acceleration sensor 142.

Description

Controller, rhythm game machine, and karaoke system

The present invention relates to a controller, a rhythm game machine, and a karaoke system.

 Traditionally, a music game in which a player operates a controller according to music has been known. As a controller used in the music game, for example, various types of controllers such as a controller imitating a musical instrument such as a guitar, a drum, or a drum, or a controller in which a plurality of switches are provided in a housing are used.

For example, in the music game described in the patent document, a drum type controller is used. The drum-type controller includes a plurality of pad portions that are arranged on the housing and that is struck by the user, and piezoelectric elements that are provided on each of the plurality of pad portions. The output is connected to the main unit. A vibration transmission plate is provided between the pad portion and the piezoelectric element, and the vibration transmission plate attenuates the impact applied to the pad portion to a predetermined level and transmits the shock to the piezoelectric element. Is becoming

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-129244

However, in the above drum type controller, since a plurality of pad portions are provided on the same casing, the impact generated when one pad portion is struck is transmitted to the other pad portion through the casing. It was transmitted to the piezoelectric element, and it was difficult to determine whether or not another pad portion was tapped. In particular, erroneous recognition may occur when hit with a large force or when a portion near the housing is hit.

In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a controller that prevents erroneous recognition of tapping.

(1) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the controller of the present invention is a controller in which tapping parts to be tapped by a user are arranged at a plurality of positions of a housing, and the tapping parts are provided in each of the tapping parts and contact with each other. A plurality of touch sensors for detecting a shock, a shock detection sensor provided in the housing for detecting a shock, and a judgment for judging a hit part based on the outputs of the plurality of touch sensors and the shock detection sensor. And a section.

(2) Further, in the controller of the present invention, when the impact is detected by the impact detection sensor, the determination unit taps the tapping unit corresponding to the touch sensor detecting the contact. It is characterized by specifying as a part.

(3) Furthermore, the controller of the present invention is characterized in that one of the tapping portions is provided at a position deeper and higher than the other tapping portions.

(4) The controller according to the present invention includes a grip portion, an operation portion formed to have substantially the same shape as the grip portion, and an interposition portion interposed between the grip portion and the operation portion. Characterized by being tightly bound.

(5) A rhythm game machine according to the present invention comprises the controller described in one or both of (1) and (4), and a main body device that outputs a sound in accordance with information received from the controller. Characterize.

(6) Further, a rhythm game machine of the present invention includes the controller described in (1) above, and the main body device includes a display unit that displays a plurality of icons indicating respective hitting portions of the controller, It is characterized in that the plurality of icons are displayed according to the arrangement positions of the tapping portions.

(7) Further, the rhythm game machine of the present invention includes the controller described in both (1) and (4), and the main body device includes each of the beating units included in the controller described in (1). It is characterized by comprising a display unit for simultaneously displaying a plurality of icons for indexing and an icon for indexing the operation unit included in the controller described in (4) above.

(8) A karaoke system according to the present invention comprises: the rhythm game machine according to any one of (5) to (7); and a microphone for inputting voice to the main body device, wherein the main body device is the controller. The sound input from the microphone is output together with the sound corresponding to the information received from the microphone.

(9) The karaoke system of the invention of the present application includes the rhythm game machine according to (7) above, and the display section further displays the lyrics of the reproduced song at the same time.

According to the present invention, it is possible to determine the presence or absence of a hit based on the output of the impact detection sensor. Further, since the hit pad portion can be determined based on the output of the touch sensor, erroneous recognition of the hit pad portion can be prevented.

Block diagram of karaoke system The figure which showed the use aspect of the 1st controller with which the said karaoke system is equipped. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the said 1st controller, Comprising: (a) Plan view, (b) Front view, (c) Rear view, (d) Right side view, (e) Left side view, (f) Bottom view Block diagram of the first controller The figure which showed the holding | grip aspect of the 2nd controller with which the said karaoke system is equipped. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the said 2nd controller, Comprising: (a) Front view, (b) Plan view, (c) Bottom view, (d) Side view, (e) Rear view. Block diagram of the second controller Diagram showing the screen display of the display

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, taking a karaoke system installed in a karaoke box or the like as an example.

As shown in FIG. 1, the karaoke system 2 is provided with a remote controller 4, a microphone 6, a display 8, a speaker 10, and a main body device 12 in the same configuration as a conventional karaoke system.

The remote controller 4 is a device for selecting music and adjusting the tone (tempo or key) and volume of the music being played, and is a touch panel that presents information to the user and accepts input from the user. And a memory storing a list of songs, a song information transmitting module that transmits a song selected by a user through the touch panel and information for adjusting the tone to the main body device 12, the touch panel, the memory, and the song information. A CPU for controlling the transmission module is provided. A wireless LAN module is typically used as the music piece information transmission module, but a Bluetooth (registered trademark) module or an infrared transmission module may be used. The remote controller may be configured as separate terminals such as a first remote controller for selecting a music piece and a second remote controller for adjusting a music tone and a volume.

The microphone 6 includes a conversion circuit that converts a user's voice into an electric signal (hereinafter referred to as a voice signal), and a voice transmission module that transmits the converted voice signal to the main body device 12. As the audio transmission module, an RF transmission module that analog-modulates or digitally-modulates an audio signal and transmits it as an RF signal is typically adopted, but an infrared transmission module or a Bluetooth module may be used.

The main body device 12 includes a wireless LAN module (song information receiving unit) 14 that receives information transmitted from the remote controller 4, an RF receiving module (sound receiving unit) 16 that receives an audio signal transmitted from the microphone 6, and a music piece. A memory (storage unit) 18 in which music information about music such as accompaniment, lyrics, and background is stored, and a CPU (control unit that extracts and reproduces information about music from the memory 18 based on music selection information received from the remote controller 4). ) 20, and a circuit (acoustic control section) 22 for mixing the voice signal input by the microphone 6 and the accompaniment signal reproduced by the CPU 20, and adjusting the echo and volume. The signal output through the circuit 22 is output through the speaker 10. Further, the reproduced video signal is displayed on the display (display unit) 8. The music information receiving unit 14 is not limited to the wireless LAN module 14, and a module corresponding to the music information transmitting module of the remote controller 4, such as a Bluetooth module or an infrared receiving module, is adopted. Further, the voice receiving unit 16 is not limited to the RF receiving module 16, and a module corresponding to the voice transmitting module of the microphone 6, such as an infrared receiving module or a Bluetooth module, is adopted.

Here, the karaoke system 2 described above further functions as not only a karaoke machine but also a rhythm game machine by further including the

percussion type controllers

24 and 26.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the percussion-type controller (hereinafter, referred to as the first controller 24) is a stand-alone controller that can be operated while being placed on a desk or a knee, and protrudes above the base portion 28. Each of a plurality (three in the present embodiment) of the base portions 36 formed as described above is provided with a hitting portion 38.

Specifically, the base portion 28 (housing) is a resin portion formed in a plate shape that spreads to a size that can be placed on the user's knee, and is a thin plate portion 30 located on the front side of the user. And a thick plate portion 32 located on the back side with respect to the user, and an inclined portion 34 provided so that the thickness gradually increases from the thin plate portion 30 to the thick plate portion 32. Two

table parts

36L and 36R are provided so as to project from the thin plate part 30 to the inclined part 34, and one table part 36T is provided so as to project to the thick plate part 32, and on each table part 36. Is provided with a tapping section 38 that is tapped by the user. The tapping portion 38 is a portion tapped by the user, and in the present embodiment, is formed of a dome-shaped resin member and a soft sheet arranged so as to cover the surface of the resin member. ing.

Capacitive touch sensors

140L, 140R, 140T that detect that the palm of the user's palm has come into contact with the inside of each hitting portion 38 (inside the soft sheet in this embodiment), as shown in FIG. It is provided. The

touch sensors

140L, 140R, 140T, for example, output a contact signal indicating the presence or absence of contact based on a change in the capacitance generated on the electrode sheet arranged inside each tapping unit 38 and the electrode sheet. The contact signal is input to the CPU 44. The touch sensor is not limited to the capacitance type, and may be the resistance film type. For example, two electrode films coated with a conductive film are arranged one above the other with a minute gap, and the user's contact causes the upper electrode film to contact the lower film, causing electricity to flow to the lower film. May be detected to detect contact.

Further, an acceleration sensor 142 is provided in the central portion of the housing of the first controller 24, that is, inside the inclined portion located between the three tapping portions 38. The impact generated when one of the tapping units 38 is tapped is transmitted to the acceleration sensor 142 via the housing of the first controller 24. The acceleration sensor 142 inputs an impact signal according to the degree of the transmitted impact to the CPU 44 via the ADC 144.

The CPU 44 executes the program stored in the memory 46 to execute the acquisition process, the determination process, and the transmission process in this order at a predetermined timing. The acquisition process is a process of acquiring the outputs of the touch sensor and the acceleration sensor. The determination process is a process of determining the hitting portion 38 and the strength of the hitting based on the outputs of the

touch sensors

140L, 140R, 140T and the acceleration sensor 142 acquired in the acquisition processing.

For example, when the impact signal input from the acceleration sensor 142 is larger than a predetermined threshold value and the contact signal input from the touch sensor 140L of the tapping unit 38L indicates “contact”, the tapping unit is indicated. It is determined that 38L has been tapped. On the other hand, although the contact signal input from the touch sensor 140L of the tapping unit 38L indicates "contact", when the impact signal input from the acceleration sensor does not reach the threshold value, the tapping unit 38L is tapped. Determine not.

Further, in the present embodiment, the threshold value to be compared with the impact signal is set to three levels of “strong”, “medium”, and “weak”, and when the impact signal value is larger than the “strong” threshold value. Is determined to be a strong hit (strongly struck), and if the value of the shock signal is smaller than the “strong” threshold and larger than the “medium” threshold, it is determined to be a medium hit (struck with a medium strength). If the impact signal value is smaller than the “medium” threshold value and larger than the “weak” threshold value, it is determined as a weak hit (weakly tapped), and if it is smaller than the “weak” threshold value. Determines that it has not been struck.

ㆍ The result judged by the judgment process is transmitted in the transmission process. In the transmission process, the Bluetooth module 48, which is a wireless communication module, transmits the determination result to the main body device 12. The transmitted determination result includes information indicating the strength of the hit such as the above-mentioned strong hit, middle hit, and weak hit, and information for identifying the hit part 38 such as right, left, and upper (beat hit part identification). Information) is included.

As described above, the acceleration sensor 142 functions as a shock detection sensor that detects a shock applied to the hitting section 38. Further, the CPU 44 functions as a determination unit that determines the hitting portion 38 and the strength of the hitting based on the outputs of the

touch sensors

140L, 140R, 140T and the acceleration sensor 142 (impact detection sensor). .. In addition, the Bluetooth module 48 functions as a transmission unit that transmits the beating information determined by the CPU 44 (determination unit) to the main body device 12. In the beating information, the beating strength level is not essential, and may be information indicating whether or not the beating unit 38 is struck.

Returning to FIG. 1, when the main body device 12 of the present embodiment receives the tapping information (judgment result) from the first controller 24 via the Bluetooth module (tapping information receiving unit) 78 which is a wireless communication module, the received judgment. The sound corresponding to the result is output from the speaker 10. Specifically, the sound of the musical instrument corresponding to each tapping section 38 of the first controller 24 is previously stored in the memory 18 of the main body apparatus 12, and the CPU 20 of the main body apparatus 12 receives the tone color corresponding to the received tapping section. Is output from the memory 18, and the extracted tone color is output to the sound control unit 22 in a volume corresponding to the information indicating the strength of tapping. As a result, a sound is output from the speaker 10 with a volume corresponding to the strength hit by the user.

By thus outputting the tapping sound of the first controller 24 together with the karaoke piece, a person other than the singer can join the rhythm game, and a sense of unity with the singer can be felt.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, in the first controller 24, the tapping

portions

38L and 38R provided on the two

table portions

36L and 36R on the front side are formed to have different sizes. And the positions are shifted forward and backward. Specifically, the left base portion 36L and the tapping portion 38L are formed larger than the right base portion 36R and the tapping portion 38R, and are arranged on the user side (front side). The left and right tapping

portions

38L, 38R are formed with the

respective base portions

36L, 36R so that they have the same height. Further, the beating portion 38T provided on the table portion 36T on the back side is formed so as to have a different size from the two

beating portions

38L and 38R provided on the front side, and the heights thereof are staggered. It is provided. Specifically, the back platform 36T and the beating portion 38T are formed smaller than the right platform 36R and the beating portion 38R, and the height of the beating portion 38T is higher than the beating portion 38R. Is formed. The back-side beating portion 38T is provided so as to be located between the left and right

front beating portions

38L and 38R.

According to the first controller 24 as described above, it is possible to determine based on the output of the acceleration sensor 142 whether or not a tap has been made, and further, the

touch sensors

140L, 38R, 38T arranged at the tapping

portions

38L, 38R, 38T, respectively. The tapped

parts

38L, 38R, 38T can be specified based on the outputs of 140R, 140T. Then, since no touch is detected from the

touch sensors

140L, 140R, 140T of the

non-beating hitting portions

38L, 38R, 38T, it is possible to prevent erroneous recognition of the hitting

portions

38L, 38R, 38T.

According to the first controller 24 as described above, the tapping section 38T located at the innermost position is provided at a position higher than the

other tapping sections

38L and 38R, so that the user who taps the back tapping section 38T. It is possible to reduce an erroneous operation in which the

tapping portions

38L and 38R in the front are struck by mistake, and an intended operation is possible.

Further, the left and right tapping

portions

38L and 38R provided in the front are also formed so as to have different sizes, and the front and rear positional relationships are also shifted so that the left and right tapping

portions

38L and 38R are arranged. It is possible to make the user aware of not making a mistake.

Further, in the karaoke system 2 of the present embodiment, the second controller 26 may be used in addition to the first controller 24 or in place of the first controller.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second controller 26 is a hand-held percussion-type controller that can be operated while the user holds it with one hand. It is provided with a beating unit 52 that is beaten by a hand, and an interposition unit 54 interposed between the gripping unit 50 and the beating unit 52.

The gripping portion 50 and the tapping portion 52 are sized to fit in the palm of the user's hand, and are formed in a disk shape with rounded sides. The grip portion 50 and the tapping portion 52 formed in this way are arranged to face each other, and the interposition portion 54 is formed so as to connect the grip portion 50 and the tapping portion 52. The shapes of the grip portion 50 and the beating portion 52 are not limited to the disc shape as described above, and may be a square flat plate shape.

The surface of the beating portion 52 is covered with a soft member such as rubber, and as shown in FIG. 7, an acceleration sensor 56 is provided inside. The acceleration sensor 56 is a sensor for measuring the strength of tapping by the user, and its output is connected to the CPU 60 via the ADC 58.

The CPU 60 executes the program stored in the memory 62 to perform the acquisition process, the determination process, and the transmission process in this order at a predetermined timing. The acquisition process is a process of acquiring the output of the acceleration sensor 56 converted by the ADC 58, in which the CPU 60 transmits a conversion command to the ADC 58 and receives the signal converted by the ADC 58. The determination process is a process of determining the strength of the beating given to the beating unit 52 based on the output of the acceleration sensor 56 obtained in the obtaining process. Judge as medium or weak. The determination is performed by comparing the acquired output of the acceleration sensor 56 with a threshold value set for each strength in advance. The result (information indicating the strength of tapping) determined by the determination process is transmitted in the transmission process. In the transmission process, the information indicating that the tapping unit 52 has been tapped and the determination result are transmitted to the main body device 12 as tap information via the Bluetooth module 64 that is a wireless communication module. In the determination processing, the attitude of the second controller 26 may be determined based on the acquired output of the acceleration sensor 56, and the determined attitude information may be transmitted to the main body device 12.

Here, the interposition part 54 of the second controller 26 is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to connect the grip part 50 and the tapping part 52, but the outer diameter thereof gradually decreases from both ends toward the middle. .. That is, the interposition part 54 is formed so as to be constricted to the grip part 50 and the tapping part 52.

According to the second controller 26, since the constriction is formed between the grip portion 50 and the tapping portion 52, the user can easily grip the grip portion 50 and can operate the grip portion 50 in a stable gripped state. Is becoming

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, during the rhythm game of the musical composition, the lyrics 66, the operation guide 68 of the first controller 24, and the operation guide 70 of the second controller 26 are displayed on the display 8.

The operation guide 68 of the first controller 24 indicates three lines 72 displayed so as to cross the screen, a note 74 moving on the line 72, and a timing at which the tapping unit 38 should be tapped in relation to the notes 74. And an icon 76. Here, each of the line 72 and the icon 76 is displayed corresponding to the position of the tapping section 38. Specifically, the line 72a and the icon 76a displayed at the top of the screen correspond to the hitting section 38T provided on the back side of the first controller. Further, the line 72c and the icon 76c displayed at the bottom correspond to the tapping section 38L provided on the foremost side in the first controller. The middle line 72b and the icon 76b correspond to the tapping portion 38R. Since each line 72 and the icon 76 are displayed corresponding to the arrangement position of the tapping unit 38 in this manner, the relationship between the line 72 or the icon 76 and the tapping unit 38 can be intuitively grasped, and each line 72 can be displayed. The tapping section 38 can be easily operated according to the moving Notes 74.

Like the operation guide 68, the operation guide 70 of the second controller 26 also has a line 72 displayed across the screen, a note 74 moving along the line 72, and a hitting section 52 in relation to the notes 74. And an icon 76 indicating the timing at which is to be tapped.

The present invention can be implemented in a mode in which various improvements, modifications, or variations are added based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Further, within the range in which the same action or effect is produced, any of the matters specifying the invention may be replaced with another technique.

<Modification 1>
Although the acceleration sensor is used as the impact detection sensor of the first controller in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and a piezo element may be used. When the tapping unit 38 is tapped, the vibration is transmitted to the piezo element via the housing of the first controller, and the piezo element vibrates. By vibrating the piezo element in this way, an impact signal corresponding to the strength of the hit is output from the piezo element. The output of the piezo element is input to the CPU 44 via the ADC.

<Modification 2>
In the above-described embodiment, the first controller and the second controller are configured to transmit the information indicating the strength of tapping and the information indicating the hitting portion that has been tapped. It is possible to transmit only the information indicating the tapped portion that has been tapped without making a determination.

<Modification 3>
The acceleration sensor (impact detection sensor) provided in the first controller is not limited to the center of the housing, and may be provided between a plurality of striking parts arranged in proximity. Further, it is preferable that the tapping portions are provided at positions equidistant from a plurality of tapping portions arranged in proximity. Further, when a plurality of beating units (a beating unit group) arranged in proximity are provided at a plurality of locations on the same casing, an acceleration sensor may be provided for each of the beating unit groups. Further, one acceleration sensor may be provided between the plurality of tapping unit groups.

2 ... Karaoke system 24 ... First controller 26 ... Second controller 38 ... Striking unit (operating unit)
50 ... Gripping part 54 ... Interposition part 140 ... Touch sensor 142 ... Acceleration sensor (impact detection sensor)

Claims

The controller is provided with tapping parts to be tapped by the user at a plurality of locations on the housing,
A plurality of touch sensors provided in each of the tapping units and detecting contact,
An impact detection sensor provided in the housing to detect an impact,
Based on the outputs of the plurality of touch sensors and the impact detection sensor, a determination unit that determines the hitting portion,
A controller comprising:
The determining unit specifies the tapping unit corresponding to the touch sensor detecting the contact as a tapped unit when an impact is detected by the impact detection sensor. The controller according to Item 1.
The controller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one of the tapping sections is provided at a position deeper and higher than the other tapping sections.
A grip portion,
An operation portion formed in substantially the same shape as the grip portion,
An interposition part interposed between the grip part and the operation part,
Equipped with
A controller, wherein the interposition part is constricted.
A controller according to one or both of claim 1 and claim 4,
A main body device that outputs sound according to the information received from the controller,
A rhythm game machine equipped with.
In a rhythm game machine including the controller according to claim 1,
The main body device includes a display unit that displays a plurality of icons indicating each of the tapping units of the controller,
The rhythm game machine according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of icons are displayed in accordance with the arrangement positions of the tapping portions.
In a rhythm game machine including the controller according to both claim 1 and claim 4,
The main body device simultaneously displays a plurality of icons for indexing each of the tapping sections included in the controller according to claim 1 and an icon for indexing an operation section included in the controller according to claim 4. The rhythm game machine according to claim 5, further comprising:
The rhythm game machine according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
A microphone for inputting voice to the main body device,
Equipped with
The main body device outputs a sound input from the microphone together with a sound corresponding to the information received from the controller.
A karaoke system including the rhythm game machine according to claim 7,
9. The karaoke system according to claim 8, wherein the display unit further displays the lyrics of the reproduced song at the same time.