Controller
There is described a controller, for example, for a game. The controller comprises a controller body, first and second limbs extending from the controller body, a sensor array, and an output. The first and second limbs define respective first and second axes, and the limbs are each rotatable about their respective axis. The sensor array comprises at least one sensor arranged to sense relative positions of the limbs in relation to the controller body, and the output is arranged to provide a signal which varies in dependence upon the sensed relative positions. There is also described game playing equipment comprising such a controller.
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The present invention relates to a controller, for example, for a game, and to game playing equipment comprising such a game controller.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONA variety of game controllers are available to enable players to control computer games, arcade games, console games, and the like. For example, a conventional computer keyboard may be used to control many games. Alternatively, a variety of joysticks are available to control game movements and actions. Some conventional game controllers include two joysticks to be manipulated by a player's thumbs in order to control game movements. There are also available more specific game controllers, such as steering wheel controllers for steering in driving games, and gun controllers for aiming and shooting in shooting games. All such game controllers may be provided with one or more buttons which may be pressed by the player to perform a specified action (e.g. shooting or jumping) within the game.
However, there are limitations on the movements a player may make using the presently available game controllers. The present invention seeks to address this and other such problems with the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a controller comprising: a controller body; first and second limbs extending from the controller body to define respective first and second axes, the limbs each being rotatable about their respective axis; a sensor array comprising at least one sensor arranged to sense relative positions of the limbs in relation to the controller body; and an output arranged to provide a signal which varies in dependence upon the sensed relative positions.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided game playing equipment including a controller comprising: a controller body; first and second limbs extending from the controller body to define respective first and second axes, the limbs each being rotatable about their respective axis; a sensor array comprising at least one sensor arranged to sense relative positions of the limbs in relation to the controller body; and an output arranged to provide a signal which varies in dependence upon the sensed relative positions.
Preferably, the first and second limbs cooperate with the controller body to define respective first and second pivot points, and the limbs are each pivotable about their respective pivot point.
Thus, a game controller in accordance with the present invention offers a player a wider range of more versatile movements than conventional game controllers.
In a preferred embodiment, the sensor array is arranged to sense rates of change of the relative positions of the limbs; and the output is arranged to provide a signal which varies in dependence upon the sensed rates of change. Thus, the controller may provide an even wider range of types of movement.
Advantageously, the limbs are biased towards a null position. More advantageously, the null position comprises the limbs extending in substantially the same direction from the controller body, and the limbs each extending substantially orthogonally from the controller body.
In a preferred embodiment, the controller body comprises first and second body members, the first limb extending from the first body member, the second limb extending from the second body member, and the sensor array is arranged to sense relative positions of the limbs in relation to the body members from which they extend.
More preferably, the body members are able to move relative to one another, and the sensor array is arranged to sense a relative position of the body members in relation to one another.
Advantageously, the body members are able to rotate relative to one another, and the sensor array is arranged to sense a rotational position of the body members relative to one another. More advantageously, the body members define a common axis and are able to rotate about the common axis relative to one another.
Advantageously, the body members are able to move axially along the common axis relative to one another, and the sensor array is arranged to sense an axial position of the body members relative to one another. More advantageously, the body members are telescopically disposed along the common axis.
Advantageously, the body members are biased towards a null position.
In a preferred embodiment, the controller further comprises additional controlling means. In this embodiment, the sensor array is arranged to sense a state of the at least one controlling means, and the output is arranged to provide a signal which varies in dependence upon the sensed state of the at least one controlling means. More preferably, the controlling means is selected from a group consisting of a button, a switch, a joystick, and a mousepad.
Other preferred features of the present invention are set out in the appended claims.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
The game controller 10 comprises a left handle 12 and a right handle 14 extending from a game controller body 15. The left handle 12 has first and second ends 12a and 12b and the right handle 14 has first and second ends 14a and 14b. The game controller body 15 comprises a left body member 16 having first and second ends 16a and 16b, and a right body member 18 having first and second ends 18a and 18b. The left handle 12 is adapted to be held in a player's left hand, and the right handle 14 is adapted to be held in the player's right hand.
In the schematic representation of
In the embodiment of
The left and right handles 12 and 14 are elongate having longitudinal axes PP′ and QQ′ respectively in
In
The left handle 12 is moveable with respect to the left member 16 in three ways, as described below.
Firstly, the left member 12 is able to rotate clockwise and/or anticlockwise about its longitudinal axis PP′, as shown by arrow W in
Secondly, the left member 12 is able to pivot left and/or right about a pivot point P, as shown by arrow X in
Thirdly, the left member 12 is able to pivot up and/or down about the pivot point P, as shown by arrow Y in
The three types of movement of the left handle 12 described above may occur separately or together. Thus, it is possible to rotate the left handle 12 to the right about its longitudinal axis PP′ whilst also pivoting the left handle 12 up and to the right about the point P. Other such combinations are also contemplated.
The right handle 14 is moveable with respect to the right member 18 in a similar manner to that described above with reference to the left handle 12 and the left member 16 (i.e. the right handle 14 may rotate about its longitudinal axis QQ′, and may pivot left and/or right and/or up and/or down about the pivot point Q). Furthermore, the left and right handles 12 and 14 are moveable independently of one another.
It will be understood that the pivot points P and Q of the left and right handles 12 and 14 need not lie on the longitudinal axes of the left and right handles respectively. Instead, there may be some offset.
There may be limits imposed on the extent of movement of the handles 12 and 14 in relation to the respective members 16 and 18. For example, the game controller 10 may only allow the handles 12 and 14 to rotate a maximum of 45° in either direction about their respective longitudinal axes PP′ and QQ′. Alternatively, the game controller 10 may be operable to entirely restrict the rotation of one or more of the limbs about their respective longitudinal axes during use. In the null position, the handles 12 and 14 are not rotated at all about their respective longitudinal axes PP′ and QQ′ (i.e. the angles of rotation are both 0°). There may also be limits or complete restrictions imposed on the pivotal movement of the handles 12 and 14 about their respective pivot points P and Q.
In a preferred embodiment, the right member 18 is moveable in relation to the left member 16 in two ways.
Firstly, the right member 18 is able to rotate about its longitudinal axis OO′ in relation to the left member 16, as shown by arrow V in
Secondly, the right member 18 is able to move in an axial direction (i.e. along OO′) with respect to the left member 16, as shown by arrow Z in
The two types of movement of the right member 18 in relation to the left member 16 described above may occur separately or together. Thus, it is possible to rotate the right member 18 in one direction about its longitudinal axis OO′ whilst also moving the right member 18 away from the left member 16 in an axial direction. Other such combinations are also contemplated. Furthermore, it is also possible to perform the three handle movements together or separately from the two member movements.
Again, there may be limits imposed on the extent of movement of the right member 18 in relation to the left member 16 (e.g. maximum rotation angle of 45° in either direction). In the null position, the right member 18 is not rotated at all about its longitudinal axes OO′ (i.e. the angle of rotation is 0°).
In a preferred embodiment, it is possible to disable one or more of the three handle movements and the two member movements described above. Thus, the range of movement types available to a player may be reduced in some circumstances depending on the exact implementation or operational state of the controller.
In a preferred embodiment, the game controller 10 is biased towards a specified null position, such as the null position of
The game controller 10 further comprises sensors (not shown) to sense relative positions of the handles 12 and 14 in relation to the game controller body 15. The game controller 10 then outputs a signal to control the game based on the sensed relative position of the handles 12 and 14. In a preferred embodiment, the sensors further sense rates of change of the relative positions of the handles 12 and 14, and the output signal varies in dependence upon the sensed rates of change. This embodiment provides additional output data with which to control the game, thus there are more degrees of freedom of movement or action available in the game world.
In the embodiment of
Any type of sensor that is able to sense relative positions (or rates of change of relative positions) may be used in the game controller 10. However, two specific types of sensor will be described below for the purposes of illustration. In the two examples below, the sensors are described with reference to sensing the rotational position of the left handle 12 about its longitudinal axis PP′, and it is assumed that the handle 12 may rotate between rotation angles of −α and +α.
The first type of sensor (type 1) senses whether the left handle 12 is fully rotated to either −α or +α with respect to the left member 16. The handle 12 has a metal contact that rotates with the handle 12, and the member 16 has two metal contacts located at −α and +α which are fixed with respect to the member 16 and do not rotate with the handle 12. Thus, when the handle 12 is rotated to its full extent in either direction, the metal contact of the handle 12 makes contact with one metal contact of the member 16 and the game controller 10 outputs an associated signal to control the game. In an alternative embodiment, further metal contacts could be provided on the member at −α/2 and +α/2, for example.
The second type of sensor (type 2) senses how far the left handle 12 is rotated towards either −α or +α with respect to the left member 16. This sensor comprises a potentiometer on left handle 12 and left member 16 of the game controller 10. The potentiometer is adapted to have a variable resistance that varies smoothly from r Q to R Q as the handle 12 is rotated from −α to +α. At angle 0° (the null position), the resistance is (r+R)/2Ω. For r<R, as the handle 12 is rotated towards −α the sensed resistance falls, and as the handle 12 is rotated towards +α the sensed resistance increases. Thus, the game controller 10 outputs a signal that corresponds to the sensed resistance. In this way, the game controller output is able to differentiate between a small clockwise (or anticlockwise) turn and a larger clockwise (or anticlockwise) turn.
It will be appreciated that the two types of sensor described above could be used to sense other relative positions of the handles 12 and 14 and the members 16 and 18 (i.e. not only the rotational position of the left handle 12 about its longitudinal axis PP′). In a preferred embodiment, type 2 sensors are used to sense all relative positions of the handles 12 and 14 and the member 16 and 18.
In use, the handles 12 and 14 are gripped by a player. The player then uses the controller 10 to control a game by moving the handles 12 and 14 and the members 16 and 18 relative to one another within the limitations of an allowed range of movements. An example of a player 20 using the controller 10 is shown from above in
In
In
In
Thus, the game controller 10 senses the relative positions of the handles 12 and 14. Based on the sensed relative positions, the game controller 10 is then able to output an associated signal to control the game.
As seen in
Alternatively, depending on the game being played, it is envisaged that the player 20 could simulate walking or running in the gameworld by moving their arms 22 and 24 between the following Figure positions in sequence: 5a, 5b, 5a, 5c, 5a, 5b, 5a, 5c, etc. Alternatively, this sequence of movements could be intended to perform other actions in the gameworld. Accordingly, a player may expend considerable energy while using the game controller 10, and the game controller 10 could therefore be used in conjunction with exercise games.
In a preferred embodiment, the hand-held game controller 10 is used in conjunction with a foot controller (not shown) for increased versatility of movement.
The game controller 10 is therefore able to provide a gaming experience similar to virtual reality, and yet the controller 10 may be manufactured at a relatively low cost.
In a preferred embodiment, the game controller 10 comprises one or more buttons which may be pressed by the player 20 to perform a specified action (e.g. shooting or jumping) in the gameworld. The game controller may also (or instead) comprise other controlling means such as joysticks and/or mousepads. Alternative additional controlling means may also be provided on the game controller 10.
Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, it is to be understood that this is by way of example only and that various modifications may be contemplated. For example, a controller according to the present invention could be used to operate a robotic arm, a surgical device, or any other such piece of equipment.
Claims
1. A controller, for example, for a game, comprising:
- a controller body;
- first and second limbs extending from the controller body and defining respective first and second axes, the limbs each being rotatable about their respective axis;
- a sensor array comprising at least one sensor arranged to sense relative positions of the limbs in relation to the controller body; and
- an output arranged to provide a signal which varies in dependence upon the sensed relative positions.
2. The controller of claim 1 in which:
- the first and second limbs cooperate with the controller body to define respective first and second pivot points; and
- the limbs are each pivotable about their respective pivot point.
3. The controller of claim 1 in which:
- the sensor array is arranged to sense rates of change of the relative positions of the limbs; and
- the output is arranged to provide a signal which varies in dependence upon the sensed rates of change.
4. The controller of claim 2 in which at least one limb is pivotable about its respective pivot point in two orthogonal directions.
5. The controller of claim 1 in which the sensor array is arranged to sense a rotational position of at least one limb about its respective axis.
6. The controller of claim 2 in which the sensor array is arranged to sense a pivotal position of at least one limb about its respective pivot point.
7. The controller of claim 1 in which a range of relative positions of the limbs in relation to the controller body is limited.
8. The controller of claim 7 in which the sensor array is arranged to sense when at least one limb is moved to a full extent in a specified direction in relation to the controller body.
9. The controller of claim 1 in which the sensor array is arranged to sense how far at least one limb is moved in a specified direction in relation to the controller body.
10. The controller of claim 1 in which the limbs of the controller are biased towards a null position.
11. The controller of claim 10 in which the null position comprises:
- the limbs extending in substantially the same direction from the controller body; and
- the limbs each extending substantially orthogonally from the controller body.
12. The controller of claim 1 in which the controller body comprises first and second body members, the first limb extending from the first body member, and the second limb extending from the second body member.
13. The controller of claim 12 in which the sensor array is arranged to sense relative positions of the limbs in relation to the body members from which they extend.
14. The controller of claim 12 in which:
- the body members are able to move relative to one another; and
- the sensor array is arranged to sense a relative position of the body members in relation to one another.
15. The controller of claim 14 in which:
- the body members are able to rotate relative to one another; and
- the sensor array is arranged to sense a rotational position of the body members relative to one another.
16. The controller of claim 14 in which:
- the body members define a common axis;
- the body members are able to rotate about the common axis relative to one another; and
- the sensor array is arranged to sense a rotational position of the body members relative to one another.
17. The controller of claim 14 in which:
- the body members define a common axis;
- the body members are able to move axially along the common axis relative to one another; and
- the sensor array is arranged to sense an axial position of the body members relative to one another.
18. The controller of claim 17 in which the body members are telescopically disposed along the common axis.
19. The controller of claim 14 in which a range of relative positions of the body members in relation to one another is limited.
20. The controller of claim 19 in which the sensor array is arranged to sense when the body members are moved to a full extent in a specified direction in relation to one another.
21. The controller of claim 14 in which the sensor array is arranged to sense how far the body members are moved in a specified direction in relation to one another.
22. The controller of claim 12 in which the body members of the controller are biased towards a null position.
23. (canceled)
24. (canceled)
25. The controller of claim 1 in which:
- the controller further comprises at least one additional controlling means;
- the sensor array is arranged to sense a state of the at least one controlling means; and
- the output is arranged to provide a signal which varies in dependence upon the sensed state of the at least one controlling means.
26. The controller of claim 25 in which the controlling means is selected from a group consisting of a button, a switch, a joystick, and a mousepad.
27. Game playing equipment including a game controller comprising:
- a controller body;
- first and second limbs extending from the controller body to define respective first and second axes, the limbs each being rotatable about their respective axis;
- a sensor array comprising at least one sensor arranged to sense relative positions of the limbs in relation to the controller body; and
- an output arranged to provide a signal which varies in dependence upon the sensed relative positions.
28. (canceled)
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 29, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 4, 2008
Applicant: NEW CONCEPT GAMING LIMITED (Swindon, Wiltshire)
Inventor: Brendan Patrick Ludden (Swindon)
Application Number: 12/089,886
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);