JPH05200161A - Wireless controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an alarming means informing of necessity to replace cells, by which a player of a game does not get fretful in spite of a sudden break of the game function due to voltage drop in the electric power source battery of a wireless controller, in a telvision game device. CONSTITUTION:The controller is designed so that the input reaction of a key switch 5 or the like becomes dull by the decrease of input numbers or the change of interval of input time, when the voltage of the battery 9 is detected to be lower than a specified level by a voltage detection circuit 10 at the time when one is playing a game by the wireless controller 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wireless controller, and more particularly to a wireless controller for a video game device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, so-called video game devices (or computer game devices) using home-use television receivers have become widespread. Most of the controllers of conventional game devices of this type are wired, and since a relatively long cable for connecting a monitor and a power supply is attached to the controller, these controllers are used to improve operability and handleability. Proposals for making the system wireless are, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-82688 or Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-145.
No. 27, etc.

[0003]

Conventionally, in a wireless communication device, when the power supply battery of a mobile terminal is depleted and its voltage drops, the mobile terminal generally issues an alarm and temporarily suspends communication. Was urging the battery recovery work.

However, in the case of a game device of this type, if the user is enthusiastic about the game, he or she may not notice the low battery voltage alarm, or if he / she notices it, if it is still operating, it continues as it is. . In this case, if the battery voltage drops below a certain voltage, control suddenly becomes impossible in the middle of the game, which is extremely frustrating to the game player. In order to solve this problem, none of the above cited references particularly mentions the measures to be taken when the power supply battery voltage of the controller drops.

The present invention has been made in view of the above situation. In such a case, the sudden stop of the game function is prevented, and the game player is strongly warned of the necessity of battery replacement. It is intended to provide a means for

[0006]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a controller comprising a game operation state input means, a wireless transmission means of its output signal and a power supply battery, and a wireless reception means and a video / audio signal to a monitor. A game device capable of varying the image and sound on the monitor according to an operation input of the controller, the voltage level of the controller power supply battery. Is lower than a predetermined value, the game operation state input reaction is configured to be slowed down, or the game operation state input reaction is slowed down by thinning out the number of inputs.
Alternatively, at the time of thinning out the number of inputs, the thinning rate is changed in accordance with the voltage level of the power supply battery. It is an object of the present invention to achieve the above-mentioned object by performing the change or by changing the change rate according to the voltage level of the power supply battery when the read time interval of the input changes.

[0007]

With the above-described configuration, the game player does not need to replace the battery by slowing down the input reaction of the operation keys without suddenly stopping the function even when the power supply battery voltage of the controller drops. Since it can be recognized, it is possible to prevent the conventional feeling of irritability of sudden loss of control.

[0008]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described below based on examples. FIG. 2 shows a basic block diagram of a wireless controller system to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a circuit configuration of the controller. 1 and 2, 1 is a game device (main body), 2 is a monitor which is usually a television receiver, 3 is an adapter equipped with a radio receiver and an antenna, and 4 is a wireless controller according to the present invention. The wireless controller 4 includes a plurality of key switches 5 as game operation state input means 5, a CPU for signal processing 6, a wireless transmission circuit 7 to the adapter 3, an antenna 8, and a power supply battery 9. Battery 9
Voltage level detection circuit 10 and L as warning display means
It is characterized by having an ED11.

At the time of game operation, the controller 4 converts the input state of the key switch 5 into serial data, thereby modulating and transmitting the carrier wave of the radio wave. Controller 4
When the voltage level detection circuit 10 lowers the voltage level of the battery 9 below a predetermined threshold value, the CPU 6 controls the key switch 5 to slow down the input reaction according to the sequence flowchart shown in FIG. Has been done.

That is, when the monitor voltage is at the normal voltage level, the normal signal transmission is always performed with the set count value N = 1, but when the monitor voltage drops to a predetermined value, the counter value N is changed and successively. By repeating this, for example, when the N value is set to n, the signal is controlled to be transmitted once by reading the key 5 n times.

Further, as shown in an example of the voltage V vs. time T characteristic diagram in FIG. 4, when the normal voltage V ₀ drops to, for example, V ₁ , the count value N ₁ is set, and similarly, the counter with the voltage V ₂ is set. Set to the value N ₂ . If V _X is a voltage threshold (a level sufficient for normal transmission), V _X
The voltage level between _{0 and} V _X can be set to an arbitrary number n, and the key input reaction (sensitivity) is performed by transmitting once for n key readings according to the N _n value at that time. It can be controlled to slow down.

(Other Embodiments) In FIG. 5, in order to slow down the input reaction of the key switch 5, instead of thinning out the number of key inputs shown in FIG. 3 of the embodiment, the change of the key reading time interval is performed. 3 shows a sequence flowchart of the method according to.

That is, the monitoring voltage drops to a predetermined value.
The key reading time interval is changed as shown in FIG.
Common voltage V₀ Reading interval t₀ T_X (Ta
Dashi t ₀ <T_X ) To slow down the reaction
It is something that can be done. Regular voltage V₀Is V₁ Read when reduced to
Interval t₀ T₁ Set to V₂ At t₂ To
To Where V_X Is the threshold value, V₀ ~ V_X while
You can set any number of
It is possible to control the key input reaction (sensitivity) by the specified t value.
it can. T here₀ <T₁ <…… <t_X Is.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, an example in which the input means of the controller is the key switch 5 is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a joystick, a trackball, etc. Alternatively, a change amount input device such as a mouse may be used. Also, FIG.
The warning display LED 11 may blink in accordance with the battery voltage, and the LED 11 may not be necessarily provided.

In FIG. 6, a spare battery 29a is additionally provided in the controller 4 in addition to the regular battery 19 so that the game can be continued even when the battery is replaced. It is a block diagram.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the voltage of the power supply battery of the controller is lowered during the execution of the game, the game operation state of the keys and the like does not occur without sudden stoppage of the function as in the conventional case. By slowing down the reaction of the input means, it is possible to strongly warn the gamer of the need to replace the battery, so that the feeling of frustration when faced with sudden out-of-control can be eliminated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram of an embodiment of a controller.

[Fig. 2] Basic configuration block diagram of a wireless controller system

[Fig. 3] Input reaction dulling sequence flowchart

[Figure 4] Voltage vs. time characteristic diagram

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 of another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a main part of FIG. 1 of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Game Device 2 Monitor 3 Adapter 4 Wireless Controller 5 Key Switch (Game Operation State Input Means) 6 CPU 7 Wireless Transmission Circuit 8 Antenna 9 Battery (Power Battery) 10 Voltage Level Detection Circuit

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A controller comprising a game operation state input means, a wireless transmission means of its output signal, and a power supply battery,
It comprises a wireless receiving means and an adapter comprising a control means for transmitting a control signal to a game device for transmitting an image / sound signal to a monitor, and varies the image / sound on the monitor according to an operation input of the controller. In the game device to be obtained, the wireless controller is configured such that when the voltage level of the controller power supply battery drops below a predetermined value, the game operation state input reaction is slowed down. 2. The wireless controller according to claim 1, wherein the slowing down of the game operation state input reaction is performed by thinning out the number of inputs. 3. The wireless controller according to claim 2, wherein when the number of times of input is thinned, the thinning rate is changed according to the voltage level of the power supply battery. 4. The wireless controller according to claim 1, wherein the game operation state input reaction slowing is performed by changing a reading time interval of the input. 5. The wireless controller according to claim 4, wherein when the read time interval of the input changes, the change rate is changed corresponding to the voltage level of the power supply battery.