JPH11471A - Computer game controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a computer game controller having a vibrating function. SOLUTION: A solenoid actuator 10 is fixed in a housing 2 of a computer game controller and a weight 12 is attached on both sides of a movable magnetic core 11. A compression coil spring 13 is mounted between both sides of the movable magnetic core 11 to keep it in a neutral position. Depending on the polarity of a bipolar pulse current output from a solenoid drive circuit, the movable magnetic core 11 oscillates back and forth. The reaction of the weight 12 causes the housing 2 to vibrate, resulting in vibration transmitted to the hand of the player.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer game controller, and more particularly, to a computer game controller having a vibration function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A driving simulation device for an automobile or an aircraft or a so-called arcade computer game machine is provided with a vibration device for applying vibration to a steering wheel or a control stick of a controller. It has been known. A typical example of a vibration device is to attach an eccentric weight to the shaft of a motor provided in the controller, control the rotation of the motor according to the operation of the controller, and generate vibration caused by the rotation of the eccentric weight, such as a steering wheel or a control stick. There is something to communicate. This allows
For example, when a car enters a rough road in the simulation screen, when an aircraft enters turbulence, or when a gun is fired, vibration is given to the operator's hand via a steering wheel or a control stick. It is possible to make the user feel the actual operation feeling.

[0003] In a home computer game machine, if the controller can be vibrated according to the content of the game, it is considered that the interest of the game will be increased. However, a simulator device or an arcade computer game machine with less space restrictions is considered. Unlike the conventional vibrating device, it is difficult to incorporate a conventional vibrating device into a computer game controller that requires miniaturization.
For example, the eccentric weight type vibration device described above is not suitable for a computer game controller since the rotation space of the eccentric weight is large and the size is increased. In addition, if the rotation space is reduced by reducing the size and eccentricity of the weight, it is possible to incorporate the weight into a small controller housing. However, there is a problem that the vibration becomes weak and a sufficient vibration effect cannot be obtained. .

[0004] Therefore, there arises a technical problem to be solved in order to provide a small computer game controller having an effective vibration function, and the present invention aims to solve the above problem. I do.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is proposed to achieve the above object, and comprises a solenoid in a housing of a computer game controller and a movable magnetic core loosely inserted into a center hole of the solenoid. By attaching a solenoid actuator, attaching a weight to the movable magnetic core, interposing a coil spring for urging the movable magnetic core to a neutral position, controlling the solenoid actuator by a solenoid drive circuit to drive the movable magnetic core, It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer game controller capable of generating vibration in a housing.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a computer game controller 1. A housing 2 is formed with a grip portion 3 extending from both left and right sides to the front side, and various function keys 4 such as start / stop and select are arranged on the right side of the upper surface of the housing 2. The cross key 5 is arranged on the left side. A trigger key 6 is provided at the front of the back surface of the left and right grip portions 3, and a vibration device 7 is provided in the distal end portion of the grip portion 3.
Is incorporated. The center 8 of the front edge of the housing 2 is a computer connection cable, and 9 in the housing 2 is a circuit board.

As shown in FIG. 2, a vibrating device 7 includes weights 12 at both ends of a movable magnetic core 11 of a solenoid actuator 10.
Which is engaged with and fixed to a solenoid fixing seat 2 a formed on the inner surface of the housing 2. Both the front and rear sides of the movable magnetic core 11 are magnetized to form a magnet portion 11a.
And the same poles (N poles in FIG. 2) of the magnet portions 11a on both sides are opposed to each other. A compression coil spring 13 is mounted on both sides of the movable core 11 so that the compression coil spring 13 presses against the weight 12 and the solenoid case 14 to maintain the movable core 11 in a neutral position.

The solenoid 15 is connected to a solenoid drive circuit (not shown) of the circuit board 9, and a control circuit (not shown) outputs a control signal to the solenoid drive circuit based on a computer game software program. The solenoid drive circuit outputs a bipolar pulse current in response to the control signal to drive the solenoid 15.

According to the direction of the solenoid drive current, when the right side of the solenoid 15 in FIG. 2 has an N pole, the N pole of the right magnet portion 11a of the movable magnetic core 11 repels the N pole of the solenoid 15 and is applied to the movable magnetic core 11. A rightward force is generated,
The N pole of the left magnet portion 11a of the movable core 11 is attracted to the left S pole of the solenoid, and the movable core 11 moves rightward by a push-pull operation in which a rightward force is also generated on both sides of the movable core 11.

When the polarity of the pulse current is reversed, the polarity of the magnetic force generated by the solenoid 15 is also reversed, and the polarity of the magnet portion 11a of the movable core 11 is invariable. Move left. In this manner, each time the polarity of the pulse current is reversed, the moving direction of the movable core 11 is reversed and vibrates in the housing 2, and the solenoid case 1
The housing 2 vibrates via 4 to give vibration to the operator's hand.

The oscillation frequency of the movable magnetic core 11 can be changed by controlling the pulse frequency of the solenoid driving current by the PWM control circuit. Further, by controlling the solenoid drive voltage, the movable magnetic core 11 is controlled.
Vibration amplitude and amplitude can be changed. These controls depend on a computer game software program.For example, in a car driving simulation game, by changing the period and amplitude of vibration generated in the controller according to the state of the running road surface and the running speed. , It is possible to give a simulated experience closer to the actual driving feeling.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In FIG. 1, the vibrating devices 7 are provided in the left and right grip portions 3 respectively. For example, one vibration device 7 is arranged,
Various modifications are possible within the technical scope of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention extends to those modifications.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, a vibration device is formed by combining a solenoid actuator and a weight, and a vibration is generated in the entire controller by vibrating a movable magnetic core having the weight attached thereto. It is possible to provide a small-sized computer game controller which has high vibration generation capability, easily controls the vibration frequency and amplitude, and has a small size.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a computer game controller, showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a vibration device portion of the computer game controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer game controller 2 Housing 3 Grip part 7 Vibration device 10 Solenoid actuator 11 Movable magnetic core 11a Magnet part 12 Weight 13 Compression coil spring 14 Solenoid case 15 Solenoid

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A solenoid actuator comprising a solenoid and a movable magnetic core loosely inserted into a center hole of the solenoid is mounted in a housing of a computer game controller, a weight is mounted on the movable magnetic core, and the movable magnetic core is mounted at a neutral position. A computer game controller in which a vibration is generated in the housing by energizing a coil spring and controlling the solenoid actuator by a solenoid driving circuit to drive the movable magnetic core. 2. The computer game controller according to claim 1, further comprising a control circuit for controlling a pulse width of an output current of said solenoid drive circuit.