WO1996013001A1

WO1996013001A1 - Digital/analog game controller

Info

Publication number: WO1996013001A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000702
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Joseph Michael Walker
Original assignee: Vir Systems Pty. Ltd.
Priority date: 1994-10-21
Filing date: 1995-10-23
Publication date: 1996-05-02
Also published as: AUPM896494A0

Abstract

A control device, is disclosed for use in a joystick type controller, or in other applications such as keyboards. The device is particularly applicable to digitally controlled games. The controller has a rocker switch (21) to provide signals in two opposed directions, and separate switches (22, 23) for the other two directions. But the controller may also be adopted to have control means, disposed in a single assembly, which provides proportional control signals for controlling a computer display.

Description

DIGITAL/ANALOG GAME CONTROLLER

Technical Field

The present invention relates to pad type controllers for computer systems, for example computer keyboards and games machines. Background Art

Computer games generally fall into two groups - those requiring analog or proportional control (for example flight simulators and the like) and those requiring digital control. The later group includes games of the well known Sega ™ and Nintendo ™ types, as well as some cursor controlled PC games. Joysticks currently available are either suitable for use with digital type games, or with proportional type games, but not both.

Digital movement commands are limited to combinations of four directions, with separate fire buttons. The use of these movement buttons in combination gives rise to the complexities of the game - for example, a specific combination of two or three buttons in succession may cause a game to execute a manoeuvre. Controllers or "joysticks" for digital type games have, to date, been of two general types. In the earlier arrangements, four buttons are provided on a pad of some type. These buttons correspond to forwards, backwards, left and right movement (or more properly when considering a vertically orientated games screen, up, down, left and right). In this version of such controllers, a separate button is provided for each direction, that is, four separate, individually depressible buttons are present.

A second design is shown in US patent Number 5207426 assigned to Nintendo Co Limited of Japan. In this arrangement, a single disk is arranged so that it can rock forwards and backwards and left and right, so as to depress some combination of four buttons disposed beneath. From the player's perspective therefore, there is essentially only one, disk-shaped button with a raised cross shaped path thereon.

Neither of the pre-existing switch arrangements have proved entirely satisfactory. In the former case, it is possible to depress, say, the forwards and backwards buttons simultaneously. This is likely to freeze the game figure, which will often lead to loss of the game. Both arrangements require the user to "find" the reverse position by lifting off from the forwards button or disc area, in order to move the digit to the reverse button or area. The same operation is required when it is desired to revert to the original position. This requires careful movement, in the case of the four button system so as to not hit both at once, and the user's reactions are correspondingly delayed. In the case of the disc arrangement, it is difficult to lift from back to front or vice versa without also losing left or right control. Such an action means that the user is not able to continue with the natural finger placement on the other two keys while one digit is searching for forwards and reverse.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved digital controller arrangement. Summary of Invention

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a digital control device, of the type in which commands corresponding to four generally perpendicular directions are provided, characterised in that two of the opposed directions are provided by a single rocker switch, the other two directions being provided by separate, depressible switches.

This arrangement is particularly suitable for games in which one direction of the movement is fixed as forwards or backwards most of the time, for instance, but other features may need to be rapidly depressed. It is common for games to have a dominant axis of movement. In the case of a driving type game, for example, it is generally required that the car is either moving forward and accelerating or attempting to brake. Rapid movements to left or right may, however be required. In the case of a hand to hand combat type game, however, movements to left or right may be mutually exclusive - up and down buttons may be required to effect kicks, punches, or the like. However, it is never required that both left and right be pressed. Inadvertent confusion of these usually leads to undesired consequences in game play. The inventive arrangement avoids the disadvantages noted above, and also requires less absolute movement to operate, in a more natural motion. This is believed to be a much more natural motion, and so more ergonomicaliy sound. Moreover, many of these games are critically dependant on response time. The present invention is believed to facilitate a quicker response time.

It will be appreciated that the present invention may equally be implemented on a keyboard for a personal computer, or on any similar electronic device. The inventive arrangement may be inserted into a normal keyboard, and used in the normal course in the same way as standard arrow or cursor keys. The present invention provides an arrangement which is believed to be more satisfactory ergonomically and perceptually for standard cursor operations, for example during word processing, than existing arrangements. The implementation details are not significantly different, and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a proportional-type joystick, with a generally flat upper portion provided on the moveable part of the joystick on which a digital-type joystick is included. The exact functionality and mechanism of the proportional joystick is irrelevant. All that is required to effect the joint digital facility is a generally flat upper portion, so that the necessary buttons may be included, with associated mechanical components.

It is preferable that necessary control hardware is provided such that, for example, a single output corresponds to both digital or analog output. Such an arrangement is disclosed in, for example, the co-pending PCT applications PCT/AU94/00166, PCT/AU94/00167, and PCT/AU94/00168 by the present applicant. However, it is equally feasible that separate data streams could be provided, for example by separate output plugs corresponding to digital or analog output.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view showing in more detail a switch arrangement according to the present invention; and Figure 3 is an exploded view showing the integers of the preferred arrangement. Description

An illustrative embodiment is described below. It will be understood that the present invention may be implemented in other ways, within the general concept of the invention, and that the particular implementation described is only one possible implementation.

Referring to figure 1 , this shows a joystick 10 capable of both analog (or proportional) operation and digital type operation, particularly for controlling games of various sorts but capable of use for other reasons, such as controlling screen displays, if desired. The analog operating mechanism is not critical to the present invention and so will not be referred to in any detail. The device could be simply a projection of top of the handle part of a conventional base - mounted joystick. The controller incorporates fire buttons 12, which may also be required for the digital game.

Referring to figure 2, it can be seen that the digital switch arrangement 20 includes a rocker switch 21 and two separate depressible switches 22 and 23. As illustrated, rocker switch 21 provides the left or right instructions; forwards and backwards are on separate buttons 22 and 23. It will be appreciated by the reader, however, that the reverse arrangement with forwards and backwards on a single rocker switch, is equally encompassed within the present invention. An appropriate control arrangement, for example a selector switch 24, may be used to switch between different operations or modes, so as to allow the left to right buttons to become forwards/backwards, or to fix digital or proportional mode for the joystick. These control modes could also be used to switch from left to right handed, so as to allow for the control device to be held in whatever orientation is most convenient for the user. This would simply be by switching the forward/reverse outputs to left/right and vice versa. A software mode control could alternatively be used. It will be appreciated that the switch arrangement per se need not be incorporated within a proportional joystick - it can simply be a stand alone, digital controller arrangement, similar to that described in relation to the Sega ™ and Nintendo ™ devices referred to above, in which it is readily possible to simply realign the entire device.

Referring to figures 2 and 3, the switch is shown mounted on a PCB 11. It will be understood that this is convenient, but not essential. On the PCB 11, four switch units 30, 31 , 32, 33 are provided, each with a depressible button element 30A, 31 A, 32A, 33A. The switches have the same performance requirements as in any conventional digital controller. Pad units 22, 21 , 23 overlap the switches. Each has associated a downward projection foot or feet 51 , 41 , 63, 64, which act to depress buttons 31 A, 33A, 30A, and 32A respectively. Pad 23 pivots via flange 52 which rests on seats 22, 26. Pad 23 similarly pivots via flange 42, which rests on seats 23, 24. Both "single" pads 22, 23 accordingly pivot towards and away from the central pad 21 about an axis adjacent the central pad - however, alternative pivot sites could be used if desired. Each single pad 22, 23 has a further downward projection 43, 53 associated with foot 41 , 51 , which operatively engages switch units 33, 31 to limit the extent of downward travel of the pad 22, 23. This is not required for pad 21.

Pad 21 pivots via axles 61 , 62 carried on seats 27, 25. The seats 22-27 are provided on assembly 20, formed for example from a plastics material, which serves to support and orient the pads relative to the switches.

It will further be appreciated that the depressible switches may be of any conventional construction. The rocker switch can be of any suitable construction, for example using a pin or the like mounted across the middle. The main design criteria is that it should not be possible to press, in the case illustrated, left and right simultaneously. An arrangement similar to that used on the disk type device of the above referenced Nintendo patent, but adapted to depress only two concealed switches, could be used. The present invention could even be provided as an add-on device for an existing controller, with the normally depressible keys left uncovered or covered with a facia type cover button, and a roller or rocker device operating the two opposing keys. A similar arrangement to convert the conventional arrow type keys of a computer keyboard could also be provided. Rocker switches of various mechanical constructions are well known for other purposes.

It is believed that the arrangement described provides a closer approximation to the range of movement required by a player.

Further modifications and additions are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, as will be apparent to the reader.

Claims

1. A digital control device, of the type adapted to provide signals corresponding to four generally perpendicular directions, characterised in that two of the opposed directions are provided by a single rocker switch, the other two directions being provided by separate, depressible switches.

2. A control device according to claim 1 , wherein said rocker switch is adapted to pivot about a central axis so as to depress either of two switches located either side of said axis.

3. A control device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said separate depressible switches pivot about an axis adjacent to said rocker switch.

4. A control device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein means are provided to change the directional interpretation of said rocker switch from a first position to a generally perpendicular position.

5. A control device for a computer system, comprising a first control means adapted to provide proportional control signals for controlling a computer display, and a second control means adapted to provide digital control signals for controlling a computer display, said first and second control means being disposed in a single assembly.

6. A control device according to claim 5, wherein said control device further comprises at least one firing button, said button being adapted to provide signals for use with both the digital and proportional controllers.

7. A control device according to claim 6, wherein said second control means comprises a digital control device, of the type adapted to provide signals corresponding to four generally perpendicular directions, characterised in that two of the opposed directions are provided by a single rocker switch, the other two directions being provided by separate, depressible switches.

8. A control device according to claim 7, wherein said rocker switch is adapted to pivot about a central axis so as to depress either of two switches located either side of said axis.

9. A control device according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein said separate depressible switches pivot about an axis adjacent to said rocker switch.

10. A control device according to any one claims 7 to 9, wherein means are provided to change the directional interpretation of said rocker switch from a first position to a generally perpendicular position.

11. A computer keyboard, including a control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

12. A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising at least one further switch device to provide one or more firing buttons.

13. A control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said device is adapted to be affixed as a conversion unit for a four button arrangement on either a computer keyboard or a digital controller device.