JP2000197774A - Controller for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continuously change the operating resistance of an operation part corresponding to a screen image of a game and improve the simulating reality of the game. SOLUTION: A controller includes a braking plate 41 provided with a braking mechanism 40 for changing the operating resistance of an operation part 10, wherein the braking mechanism 40 is associated with the movement of an operation point P of the operation part 10, and a frictional member 42 for contacting the braking plate 41, the frictional member 42 being reciprocatingly moved by a control motor 44, which positively and reversely runs through the instructions of a game machine mainbody, for changing contact pressure on the braking plate 41.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a controller for a game machine capable of changing the operation feeling of an operation section in accordance with a video scene of a game.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various operation members such as a push button type, a dial type, a ball type, and a lever type are used for an operation unit of a game machine controller (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "controller"). Of these, the lever type
It is known that an operation point can be tilted in all directions around a neutral axis, and input contents and an input amount to a game machine main body are changed according to each tilt direction and tilt angle.

Recently, the demand for the controller has become complicated, and not only an input function to the game machine itself, but also a vibration function, for example, is provided, and the controller is vibrated by a signal from the game machine body in accordance with a video scene on the display screen. There is a commercially available one having a mutual function of operating the operation unit at the same time while increasing the pseudo-realism of the game. As the mutual function type, in addition to the above-described type that applies vibration to the controller or generates sound, an attempt is also made to change the operational feeling of the operation unit corresponding to the video scene on the display screen. It has become.

[0004]

However, there has not yet been developed a controller which continuously changes the operation resistance of the operation section in synchronization with the video scene on the display screen and provides satisfactory pseudo-realism. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and accordingly, has as its object to provide a controller capable of continuously changing the operation resistance of an operation unit in order to further enhance the sense of pseudo reality. Is to do.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is a controller having an operation section for changing an output to a game machine main body by continuously moving an operation point by hand. A braking mechanism for changing an operation resistance of the operation unit, the braking mechanism including a brake plate interlocked with movement of an operation point of the operation unit, and a friction member contacting the brake plate; Is driven by a command of the game machine body to change the contact pressure with respect to the brake plate.

The controller changes the operating resistance of the operating unit by changing the contact pressure of the friction member driven by the command of the game machine body with respect to the brake plate. By transmitting a command signal from the main body to the controller, the operation resistance of the operation unit can be continuously increased or decreased, and the pseudo-realism of the game can be further enhanced.

[0007] It is preferable that the brake plate rotates in conjunction with the movement of the operation point. By rotating the brake plate, the controller can be made compact. Further, it is preferable that the friction member is driven by a control motor that rotates forward and reverse according to a command from the game machine body. Accordingly, when the control motor is rotated in one direction, the contact pressure can be continuously increased from the no-load state according to the amount of rotation, and when the control motor is rotated in the reverse direction, the contact pressure can be increased. The pressure can be continuously reduced from a high load condition to a no load condition.

It is preferable that a booster mechanism composed of a group of gears that provides a large operating resistance to the operating section with a small contact pressure of the braking mechanism is provided between the operating section and the braking mechanism. Accordingly, a large operation resistance can be generated in the operation unit by a small control motor having relatively low power.

The operating section may be an omnidirectional lever capable of moving its operating point from a neutral axis in all directions.
The omnidirectional lever is connected to a component force mechanism that separates the movement of the operating point into rotational motions of the X axis and the Y axis orthogonal to each other, and the rotational motion of each axis of the component force mechanism is provided. It is preferable that the brake mechanism is linked to the braking mechanism. As a result, the azimuth of the movement of the operation point of the omnidirectional lever and the tilt angle are divided into rotational motions of the XY axes, which are orthogonal to each other, and are interlocked with the respective braking mechanisms to independently control the contact pressures in the respective axial directions. Also, it can be changed at the same time, and the operation resistance of the operation unit can be changed in all directions.

Each of the braking mechanisms has a lever member provided with the friction member, and a movable end of each lever member changes a contact pressure of the friction member in conjunction with forward and reverse rotation of the control motor. It is preferable to make a reciprocating motion so as to cause the reciprocating motion. In this case, the contact pressure on both the XY axes can be changed simultaneously by one control motor and a compact mechanism.

It is preferable that a limit switch is provided for stopping the rotation of the control motor when the control motor rotates in the reverse direction to reduce the contact pressure and reach a standby position in a no-load state. By the operation of the limit switch, the standby position of the control motor when no contact pressure is applied is determined, and the behavior of the friction member corresponding to the command of the game machine main body can be stabilized.

It is preferable that the controller is provided with a restoring mechanism for returning the operating point to a neutral axis when the hand is released from the operating unit. Further, it is preferable to provide an over-operation prevention mechanism for preventing excessive movement of the operation unit when the operation unit is released from the operation unit and the operation point returns to the neutral axis.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 1, the controller generally includes an operation unit 10, a component force mechanism 20, a booster mechanism 30, and a braking mechanism 40.

The operating section 10 in this embodiment is a control rod type omnidirectional lever 11 capable of moving the operating point P from the neutral axis N in all directions. The component force mechanism 20 componentizes the movement of the operation point P of the omnidirectional lever 11 into rotational motion of orthogonal XY axes. The booster mechanism 30 is provided on each of the orthogonal XY axes, and each of them comprises a similar gear group. This gear group has a large diameter coaxial with the X axis or the Y axis of the force component mechanism 20. One gear 31, a second gear 32, a third gear 33, and a small-diameter fourth gear 34, each of which is a combination of two small-diameter and large-diameter gears, are meshed so as to sequentially increase in speed from the first gear 31. It is configured.

The braking mechanism 40 is a fourth mechanism of the booster mechanism 30.
A disc-shaped braking plate 41 provided coaxially with the gear 34; a friction member 42 in contact with the braking plate;
And a lever member 43 that reciprocates so as to change the contact pressure of the friction member 42 against the brake plate 41 in conjunction with the forward / reverse rotation of the control motor 44. The braking mechanism 40 is also provided on each of the X and Y axes, and the movable end 43a of each lever member 43 is connected to the crank member 45.
The crank member 45 is connected to the rotating shaft of one control motor 44 that rotates forward and backward in response to a command from a game machine main body (not shown), and the rotational movement of the control motor 44 is Member 43
This is converted into a vertical reciprocating motion of the movable end.

When the controller is not operated by hand, the base of the omnidirectional lever 11 is pulled downward by the restoring mechanism 50 composed of a spring shown in FIG. When the omnidirectional lever 11 is manually operated to move the operating point P to an arbitrary direction to an arbitrary tilt angle, a corresponding electric signal is output toward the game machine body by a circuit element (not shown), and The azimuth and the amount of the movement are divided by the component force mechanism 20 into the rotational movement of the X-axis and the rotational movement of the Y-axis, and are transmitted to the power-assisting mechanism 30 as the componentized rotation amounts, respectively, and the speed is increased. The brake plate 41 is rotated. At this time, if there is no command from the game machine main body to the control motor 44, the friction member 42 is not in contact with the brake plate 41, or even if it is in contact with the brake plate 41, the brake plate 41 idles. The operational resistance of the omnidirectional lever 11 is in the lowest state. Therefore, in this state, the omnidirectional lever 11 can be operated lightly.

While the omnidirectional lever 11 is being operated by hand, when the game machine main body sends a resistance increase command to the control motor 44 in response to a video scene, the control motor 44 starts forward rotation, and the lever is accordingly rotated. The movable end 43a of the member 43 rises, and the friction member 42 presses the brake plate 41 with a strength depending on the rotation amount of the control motor 44. This contact pressure is increased by the booster mechanism 30 and transmitted to the omnidirectional lever 11 via the component force mechanism 20 as operation resistance. When the control motor 44 increases the rotation angle, the contact pressure between the friction member 42 and the brake plate 41 increases, so that a stronger operation resistance is given to the omnidirectional lever 11. When the game machine main body sends a resistance reduction command, the control motor 44 rotates in the reverse direction, the movable end 43a of the lever member 43 descends, and the contact pressure between the friction member 42 and the brake plate 41 decreases. Therefore, the operation resistance of the omnidirectional lever 11 is attenuated.

FIG. 2 shows the structure of the component force mechanism 20. In FIG. 2, the X axis, the Y axis, and the neutral axis N are orthogonal to each other. The omnidirectional lever 11 has an arm portion 14 in which the lever shaft body 12 extends downward along the neutral axis N, penetrates an X-axis through hole 22 formed along the axis of the X-axis body 21, and further extends downward. The lower end 15 is connected to a restoring mechanism 50 composed of a spring, and is pulled downward. This lever shaft 1
2 has a rotation axis 13 along the Y axis passing through the intersection of the X axis, the Y axis and the neutral axis N. The rotation axis 13 is rotatably supported on the X axis body 21 on both sides of the X axis through hole 22. Have been.

The Y-axis body 23 projects outwardly from the side wall of a U-shaped angle member 24 that is open upward so as to surround the X-axis body 21.
A Y-axis through hole 25 extending parallel to the axis is formed. Then, the arm portion 14 of the lever shaft body is connected to the Y-axis through hole 2.
5 and extends downward. The X-axis body 21 and the Y-axis body 23 are each rotatably supported by a housing (not shown) that houses the component force mechanism 20.

When the omnidirectional lever 11 is manually operated to tilt the lever shaft 12 to an arbitrary azimuth and tilt angle, the component force mechanism 20 moves the lever shaft 12 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Can rotate freely, so that the X-axis body 21 and / or the Y-axis body 23
To rotate. Since the X-axis body 21 and the Y-axis body 23 are each mechanically connected to the braking mechanism 40 via the booster mechanism 30, when a braking force is applied to the braking mechanism 40, the braking force is doubled. And transmitted as rotational resistance of the X-axis body 21 and the Y-axis body 23 of the force component mechanism 20, respectively.
It gives a sense of resistance to the operation of the omnidirectional lever 11.

In the braking mechanism 40 of this embodiment, the rotation of one control motor 44 is controlled by the crank member 45.
This is converted into a vertical reciprocating motion of two lever members 43 orthogonal to the X axis and the Y axis. FIG. 3 shows the crank member 45 and its peripheral mechanism. The crank member 45 includes a crank 45a extending in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the control motor 44, and a crank pin 45b extending from the tip of the crank 45a in parallel with the rotation axis of the control motor 44.
It consists of The tip of this crank pin 45b
It is loosely inserted into a receiving hole 46a formed in the flat connecting member 46.

Receiving holes 46b and 46c are further formed in the connecting member 46. In the receiving hole 46b, an X drive pin 47X extending from the movable end 43aX of the X-axis lever member 43X at right angles to the X-axis is loosely inserted. Has been inserted. A Y drive pin 47Y extending parallel to the Y axis from the movable end 43aY of the Y-axis lever member 43Y is rotatably inserted into the receiving hole 46c.

When the control motor 44 rotates in the forward direction, for example, the crank pin 45b also rotates in the forward direction.
6 moves upward. Thereby, each receiving hole 46
X drive pins 47X and Y inserted in b and 46c
The drive pin 47Y simultaneously moves upward, and the lever member 43X
And 43Y rotate upward about the respective rotation shafts 48X and 48Y, and the friction members 42X and 42Y formed on these lever members simultaneously press the respective brake plates 41. When the control motor 44 is rotated in the reverse direction, the connecting member 46 moves downward, and the contact pressure by the friction members 42X and 42Y decreases.

The crank 45a extends on the opposite side beyond the rotation axis of the control motor 44, and has a limit pin 45c attached at its tip parallel to the Y axis. The limit pin 45c is engaged with the limit switch 49, and the control motor 44 is rotated in the reverse direction so that the friction members 42X, 42
When the contact pressure by Y becomes zero, the limit switch 49 is turned on. The on / off signal of the limit switch 49 is electrically engaged with the power supply of the control motor 44. When the limit switch 49 is turned on, the power supply of the control motor 44 is turned off. Then, even if the limit switch 49 is on, the control motor 44 rotates in the forward direction, and the limit switch 49 is turned off.

When the limit switch 49 is turned on, the control motor 44 stops the reverse rotation at that time, so that the standby position of the control motor 44 at which the contact pressure becomes zero is always kept constant, and the resistance increase command is issued from the game machine body. As soon as comes, the contact pressure of the amount according to the command can be added.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the controller of the above-described embodiment, an over-operation preventing mechanism 51 is provided in the booster mechanism 30. The over-operation prevention mechanism 51 is formed of a leaf spring member whose upper end is mounted on a side surface of a housing (not shown) and whose lower end contacts the side surface of the brake plate 41 and presses lightly. When the lever shaft body 12 is tilted and the hand is suddenly released, the omnidirectional lever 11 returns to the neutral axis N by the action of the restoring mechanism 50. At this time, if the return speed is high, the omnidirectional lever 11 will over-operate. It may wake up and vibrate around the neutral axis N. The over-operation prevention mechanism 51 can prevent this vibration, and improves the operational feeling.

As described above, the omnidirectional lever type operation member has been described as an embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. As long as the operating point can be moved continuously by hand, the present invention can be applied to a lever-type operating member that reciprocates only in a certain direction, or to a dial-type or ball-type operating member. Also, the operation unit 10,
The configurations of the component force mechanism 20, the booster mechanism 30, the braking mechanism 40, the standby position setting mechanism, the restoring mechanism 50, the over-operation prevention mechanism 51, and the like are not limited to those of the above-described embodiment.

[0028]

According to the game machine controller of the present invention, the contact pressure between the brake plate and the friction member interlocked with the operation section is changed by a command from the game machine body. The operation resistance of the operation unit can be continuously and smoothly changed in accordance with the video scene, and the pseudo-realism of the game can be further enhanced. If the friction member is driven by a control motor that rotates forward and reverse according to a command from the game machine main body, the operation resistance can be continuously changed as needed from a no-load state to a high-load state. If a booster mechanism is provided between the operation unit and the braking mechanism, a large operation resistance can be generated in the operation unit by a small control motor with relatively low power. Even if the operation unit is an omnidirectional lever, by connecting the component force mechanism, it is possible to follow an arbitrary movement of the operation unit and continuously change the operation resistance. If a limit switch for stopping the reverse rotation of the control motor at the standby position is provided, the change behavior of the operation resistance corresponding to the command of the game machine main body can be stabilized. If an over-operation prevention mechanism for preventing over-operation of the operation unit is provided, over-operation at the time of restoration of the operation unit can be prevented, and the operational feeling is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the component force mechanism in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the braking mechanism in the embodiment.

[Description of Signs] 10: Operation unit 11: Omnidirectional lever 12: Lever shaft 13: Rotating shaft 14: Arm unit 15: Lower end 20: Component force mechanism 21: X-axis body 22: X-axis through hole 23: Y-axis Body 24: Angle member 25: Y-axis through hole 30: Boost mechanism 31: First gear 32: Second gear 33: Third gear 34: Fourth gear 40: Braking mechanism 41: Braking plates 42, 42X, 42Y: Friction member 43: lever member 43a, 43aX, 43aY; movable end 43X; X-axis lever member 43Y; Y-axis lever member 44: control motor 45: crank member 45a; crank 45b; crank pin 45c; limit pin 46: coupling Members 46a, 46b, 46c; Receiving hole 47X: X drive pin 47Y: Y drive pin 48X, 48Y: Rotating shaft 49: Limit switch 50: Restoring mechanism 51: Over-operation prevention Stop mechanism P: Operating point N: Neutral axis X, Y: Right axis

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F-term (reference) 2C001 BA02 BC00 BC10 BD00 BD07 CA00 CA06 5B068 AA05 AA11 BD01 BD07 BD13 BE03 5B087 AA09 AB12 AE00 BC02 BC12 BC13 9A001 DZ11 JJ76

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A game machine controller having an operation section for changing an output to a game machine body by continuously moving an operation point by hand, wherein a braking mechanism for changing an operation resistance of the operation section is provided. The brake mechanism includes a brake plate interlocked with the movement of the operation point of the operation unit, and a friction member that comes into contact with the brake plate. A controller for a game machine, wherein a contact pressure on the game machine is changed. 2. The controller for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein the brake plate rotates in conjunction with the movement of the operation point. 3. The game machine controller according to claim 1, wherein the friction member is driven by a control motor that rotates forward and backward according to a command from the game machine body. 4. A boosting mechanism comprising a group of gears for providing a large operating resistance to the operating unit with a small contact pressure of the braking mechanism is provided between the operating unit and the braking mechanism. A game machine controller according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The controller for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein the operation section is an omnidirectional lever capable of moving an operation point of the operation section from a neutral axis in all directions. . 6. The omnidirectional lever is connected to a component force mechanism that separates the movement of the operating point into a rotational motion of the X axis and the Y axis orthogonal to each other, and a rotational motion of each axis of the component force mechanism. 6. The controller for a game machine according to claim 5, wherein said controller is interlocked with said braking mechanisms provided respectively. 7. Each of the braking mechanisms has a lever member provided with the friction member, and a movable end of each lever member has a contact pressure of the friction member in conjunction with forward and reverse rotation of the control motor. 7. The controller according to claim 6, wherein the controller reciprocates so as to change the controller. 8. A limit switch is provided for stopping rotation of the control motor when the control motor rotates in the reverse direction to reduce the contact pressure and reach a standby position in a no-load state. A game machine controller according to claim 3 or claim 7. 9. The game machine according to claim 1, further comprising a restoring mechanism for returning an operation point to a neutral axis when the hand is released from the operation unit. controller. 10. The game according to claim 9, further comprising an over-operation prevention mechanism for preventing excessive movement of the operation unit when the operation point returns to the neutral axis by releasing the hand from the operation unit. Machine controller.