VIBRATION DEVICE

Abstract

A vibration device, which can generate impressing vibrations and is not easily broken even when a large impact of a drop, etc. is exerted, is provided. A gun-shaped controller 30 includes a barrel 32 and a barrel jacket 34 formed integral and a receiver 36 to a grip 38 are formed integral. A trigger 37 is provided on the underside of the receiver 36. Inside the grip 38 of the gun-shaped controller 30, 2 vibration actuators 40A, 40B are mounted, opposed to each other. Actual shooting sounds are applied to the vibration actuators 40A, 40B to thereby realize realistic vibrations of shooting. The vibration actuators 40A, 40B each includes a coil and a magnet. The coils are secured to the case members, the magnets are swingably mounted on the case members 38, and the movements of the vibrating magnets are restricted by restricting members.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a vibration device for generating vibrations, more specifically, a vibration device suitably mounted on members, such as controllers of game devices, which are roughly handled and are vulnerable to impacts of drops, etc.

BACKGROUND ART

The game device in which a gun-shaped controller imitating the shape of the gun is used to shot characters to be shot (e.g., enemy persons, etc.) appearing on the screen has been conventionally known. Such shooting game device is provided with a vibration device for generating vibrations of the shooting in the shooting controller so as to make the shooting by the gun-shaped controller realistic.

What easily generates vibrations of the shooting is a speaker. A vibration actuator, such as a speaker is provided in the gun-shaped controller, whereby vibrations and shooting sounds are generated in the gun-shaped controller upon a shooting to thereby make the shooting increasingly realistic.

The following Patent References 1 to 3 disclose the method of mounting the speaker to the case:

Patent Reference 1: Specification of Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 1998-224891;

Patent Reference 2: Specification of Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 2000-78683; and

Patent Reference 3: Japanese Patent No. 3454005.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The speaker ordinarily generates sounds by securing a magnet to a case and vibrating a coil and a vibration diaphragm for the magnet to thereby generate sounds.

Such ordinary speak must finely vibrate the air and output sounds and voices in a wide frequency range and, to this end, is made of light materials so that reciprocal motions of the coil and the magnet can be transmitted to the air.

On the other hand, in the case that such ordinary speaker is mounted on the gun-shaped controller, etc., the diaphragm does not vibrate the air but must vibrate the casing or the case, such as the controller, etc., made of hard and heavy material, and the ordinary speaker cannot sufficiently transmit the vibrations. This is a problem.

Then, a mounting method of securing a coil to a case corresponding to the diaphragm to thereby vibrate a magnet connected to the coil via a damper is proposed. This method vibrates the magnet heavier than the diaphragm of the ordinary speaker, and the generated vibrations can easily transmit to the casing or the case, whereby it is expected that impressive vibrations could be generated.

The vibrations of the magnet transmit via the damper, and those of the vibrations, whose frequencies are relatively high, are absorbed by the damper. However, vibrations which transmit to the operators are more effective as the frequencies are lower. This method is effective to reproduce low frequencies.

However, the controller of the game device tends to be roughly handled by the players, and large impacts of drops, etc. will be exerted to the controllers. Consequently, with the heavy magnet mounted without being secured, the part of the coil connected to the case is easily broken. This is a problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vibration device which can generate impressive vibrations and cannot be easily broken when large impacts of drops, etc. are exerted to.

Means for Solving the Problems

The above-described object can be attained by a vibration device comprising: a case coupling a couple of bisected case members; a vibration actuator incorporated in the case and mounted on at least one of the case members; and a restricting member for restricting movement of a vibration member of the vibration actuator.

In the above-described vibration device, it is possible that the vibration actuator is mounted to each of the pair of case members.

In the above-described vibration device, it is possible that the vibration actuator includes a coil and a magnet, the coil is secured to the case member, and the magnet is mounted to case member swingably, and the restricting member restrict the movement of the magnet, which is the vibration member.

In the above-described vibration device, it is possible that the inside wall of the case member coupled with the case member with the vibration actuator mounted on functions as the restricting member for restricting the movement of the magnet in the vibration direction.

In the above-described embodiment, it is possible that a cover member secured to the case member with the vibration actuator mounted on and covering the side of the magnet function as the restricting member for restricting the movement normal to the vibration direction of the magnet.

The above-described object is attained by a vibration device comprising a vibration actuator including a case, at least a coil and a magnet, and a damper interconnecting the coil and the magnet with the magnet being movable relatively to the coil, the vibration actuator including the coil secured to the inside of the case so that when alternate current is flowed through the coil, the magnet reciprocates in the direction normal to the inside of the case, and the vibration actuator comprising: a first resting part for restricting the reciprocation of the magnet provided at a position which is away from the magnet by a first distance in the reciprocation directions of the magnet, which is away from the inside of the case with the coil secured to; and a second restricting part for restricting the movement normal to the reciprocation direction of the magnet provided at a position which is away from by a second distance from the magnet in the direction normal to the reciprocation direction of the magnet.

In the above-described vibration device, it is possible that the first distance is a distance larger than a distance over which the magnet reciprocates when alternate current is flowed through at least the coil.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

As described above, according to the present invention, the vibration device comprises a case coupling a couple of bisected case members, a vibration actuator incorporated in the case and amounted on at least one of the case members, and a restricting member for restricting movements of a vibration member of the vibration actuator, whereby the vibration device can generate impressive vibrations and is not easily broken even when a large impact of a drop, etc. exerted to.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the game device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the appearance of the gun-shaped controller of the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the gun-shaped controller of the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

• 10 . . . game device
• 12 . . . casing
• 14 . . . display
• 16 . . . operation panel
• 18 . . . coin slot
• 20 . . . advertisement unit
• 22 . . . operation button
• 24 . . . cable
• 30 . . . gun-shaped controller
• 32 . . . barrel
• 34 . . . barrel jacket
• 36 . . . receiver
• 38 . . . grip
• 40A, 40B . . . vibration actuators
• 42 . . . case
• 42A, 42B . . . case member
• 44A, 44B . . . base plate
• 46A, 46B . . . bobbin ring
• 50A, 50B . . . coil
• 52A, 52B . . . iron coil
• 54A, 56B . . . magnet
• 56A, 56B . . . housing ring
• 58A, 58B . . . damper
• 60A, 60B . . . cover member
• 62A, 62B . . . holder plate
• 64A . . . screw

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[One Embodiment]

The game device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the game device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the appearance of the gun-shaped controller of the game device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the gun-shaped controller of the game device according to the present embodiment.

(Game Device)

The game device will be explained with reference to FIG. 1.

In the game device 10, a display 14 for displaying game screens is provided at an upper part of a casing 12, an operation panel 16 for making various operations by players is provided at the middle of the casing 12, and a coin slot 18 for inserting coins is provided at a lower part of the casing 2. An advertisement unit 20 is provided on the top of the display 14.

On the operational panel 16, a couple of plural operation buttons 22 are provided left and right on the assumption that a couple of players are playing. A couple of gun-shaped controllers 30 are connected to the operation panel 16 with cables 24.

(Gun-Shaped Controller)

The gun-shaped controller 30 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the gun-shaped controller 30, a barrel jacket 34 is mounted on a barrel 32 reciprocally to the barrel 32, and a switch not illustrated is provided inside the barrel jacket 34. Every time the barrel jacket 34 reciprocates, the switch is turned on and off.

The barrel 32 is formed integral from a receiver 36 to a grip 38. A trigger 37 is provided on the underside of the receiver 36, and at the intermediate part between the receiver 36 and the grip 38, the cable 24 connected to the operation panel 16 of the game device 10 is provided.

In the cable 24, a signal connection cable which transmits ON/OFF signals outputted from the trigger 37 and the switch provided in the barrel jacket 34 to the game device 10 and transmitting signals for vibrating vibration actuators 40A, 40B from the game device 10 to the gun-shaped controller 30 are incorporated. In order that, when a game player pulls the gun-shaped controller 30 away from the game device 10, the cable 24 cannot be broken, the cable 24 may have the inside reinforced with wires, such as piano wires or others, or the outside covered with a net protection member, such as metal or others, and the wires or the protection members may be secured to the respective gun-shaped controller 30 and the game device 10.

In the present embodiment, two vibration actuators 40A, 40B are provided inside the grip 38 of the gun-shaped controller 30 to thereby generate vibrations of a shooting in the gun-shaped controller 30.

The signals for vibrating the vibration actuators 40A, 40B used in the present invention are converted from sound data of effective sounds, such as the shooting sound, etc. used in a game to sound signals and are applied to the vibration actuators 40A, 40B, whereby realistic vibrations of shooting can be realized.

The vibration actuators 40A, 40B vibrate the case of the gun-shaped controller 30, and the vibrations transmit to the air, whereby the vibration actuators 40A, 40B generate not only vibrations but also sounds.

Accordingly, effective sounds, such as the shooting sound of the gun, etc., used in a game may not be outputted essentially from the speaker used in the game. The effective sounds, such as the shooting sound of the gun, etc., are rather more realistic when generated from the gun-shaped controller 30 itself.

(Method of Mounting the Vibration Actuators)

The inner structure of the grip 38 will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.

The grip 38 is a case 42 formed by securely coupling a pair of bisected case members 42A, 42B. The case members 42A, 42B are formed by plastic molding but may be formed by machining wood, metal or others.

In the case 42, the two vibration actuators 40A, 40B are disposed. The vibration actuator 40A is mounted on the inside wall of one case member 42A of the pair of case members 42A, 42B, and the vibration actuator 40B is mounted on the inside wall of the other case member 42B.

The vibration actuators 40A, 40B may be arranged, shifted by at least one vibration actuator from the position where the vibration actuators 40A, 40B are opposed to each other when the case members 42A, 42B are engaged with each other so that the vibration actuators 40A, 40B are arranged side by side in the grip 38.

Thus, even in the case or others of a small thickness, such as the gun-shaped controller 30, a space of a thickness of 1 vibration actuator may be ensured inside the case 42, and the gun-shaped controller 30 (especially the grip 38) does not need to have a special configuration, which makes the operation natural.

The two vibration actuators 40A, 40B are arranged opposed to the different sides of the gun-shaped controller 30 (especially the grip 38), whereby the vibration can be transmitted to the entire gun-shaped controller 30.

The method of mounting the vibration actuators 40A on the case member 42A will be explained

To a base plate 44A for attaching the vibration actuator 40A to the case member 42A, a cylindrical bobbin ring 46A is secured with one cylindrical opening being in contact with the base plate 44A. To the bobbin ring 46A, a cylindrical coil holder 48A is secured. A coil 50A is wound on the top of the coil holder 48A. In the vibration actuator 40A of the present embodiment, the coil 50A, not a magnet generally disposed in a speaker, is secured to the case member 42A.

The bobbin ring 46A may have the bottom of L-shape section so as to increase the area of the contact with the base plate 44A.

The bobbin ring 46A and the coil holder 48A may be formed integral in a cylinder. An iron core 52A and a magnet 54A may be replaced by a magnet alone.

To the underside of the iron core 52A, the round magnet 54A is secured. In the underside of the iron core 52A, a circular groove receiving the coil holder 48A and the coil 50A is formed. A housing ring 56A is put around the iron core 52A. The housing ring 56A is put around by a damper 58A swingably to the coil holder 48A. In the vibration actuator 40A of the present embodiment, the iron core 52A, the magnet 54A and the house ring 56A, not a coil generally disposed in a speaker, are disposed swingably to the case member 42A.

Thus, in the vibration actuator 40A of the present embodiment, when current flows through the coil 50A, the heavy iron core 52A and magnet 54A, not the light bobbin ring 46A and coil holder 48A secured to the case member 42A, vibrate, whereby impressive vibrations can be generated.

Furthermore, a cover member 60A for covering the side and the top of the housing ring 56A disposed around the iron core 52A is provided. The cover member 60A has a circular opening in the top the iron core 52A is put through. When the iron core 52A and the housing ring 56A make a large movement in a vibration direction or normally to the vibration direction, the side or the top of the housing ring 56A collide the cover member 60A, and its motion is restricted. To this end, it is preferred that the distance L3 between the side of the housing ring 56A and the opposed side of the cover member 60A is, e.g., about 0.2-0.3 mm, and the distance L2 between the top of the housing ring 56A and the opposed side of the cover member 60A is, e.g., about 4 mm.

These distances are not essentially in the ranges described above.

For example, the vibration actuator 40A is driven vertically to the mounted surface. The top of the housing ring 56A and the opposed side of the cover member 60A may be spaced by a distance L2 which is equal to a drive range of the vibration actuator 40A driven when a rated alternate current is applied to the vibration actuator 40A, or a little longer distance.

The vibration actuator 40A is not driven from the side of the housing ring 56A toward the opposed side of the cover member 60A. The side of the housing ring 56A and the opposed side of the cover member 60A may be spaced by a distance L3 so that, when the vibration actuator is postured horizontally, the damper should be deformed due to the weight of the iron core 52A and the magnet 54A but the side of the housing ring 56A should not contact the cover member 60A.

Thus, the iron core 52A and the magnet 54A are damaged by a drop of the gun-shaped controller 30, but the range of the vibrations of such impact is larger than the drive range of the vibration actuator 40A. The vibrations (impact) of the iron core 52A and the magnet 54A due to the drop are suppressed by the housing ring 56A contacting the cover member 60A not to exceed the drive range of the vibration actuator 40A, and the bobbin ring 46A can be retained secured to the base plate 44A. The vibration actuator 40A is prevented from coming off the gun-shaped controller 30 and being damaged.

The inside of the other case member 42B, which is opposed to and above the iron core 52A, functions as the vibration restricting part to restrict the movement of the iron core 52A in the vibration direction. When the iron core 52A makes a large movement, the top of the iron core 52A collides the inside of the case member 42B, and its movement is restricted. To this end, the distance L1 between the top of the iron core 52A and the inside of the case member 42B is preferably a little longer, e.g., about 4 mm than a distance over which the iron core 52A vibrates when current flows through the coil 50A.

A holder plate 62A is mounted on a base plate 44A, the cover member 60A is mounted on the holder plate 62A, and a screw 64A is put through a fitting hole of the cover member 60A, the holder plate 62A, the base plate 44A to be screwed to the case member 42A.

It is possible the base plate 44A and the holder plate 62A are omitted, and the bobbin ring 46A is fixed directly to the case 42, or the cover member 60A is also fixed directly to the case 42.

Next, the method for mounting the vibration actuator 40B on the case member 42B will be explained. This mounting method is the same as that for mounting the vibration actuator 40A on the case member 42A.

To a base plate 44B for attaching the vibration actuator 40B to the case member 42B, a cylindrical bobbin ring 46B is secured with one cylindrical opening being in contact with the base plate 44B. To the bobbin ring 46B, a cylindrical coil holder 48B is secured. A coil 50B is wound on the top of the coil holder 48B. In the vibration actuator 40B of the present embodiment, the coil 50B, not a magnet generally disposed in a speaker, is secured to the case member 42B.

The bobbin ring 46B may have the bottom of L-shape section so as to increase the area of the contact with the base plate 44B.

The bobbin ring 46B and the coil holder 48B may be formed integral in a cylinder. An iron core 52B and a magnet 54B may be replaced by a magnet alone.

To the underside of the iron core 52B, the round magnet 54B is secured. In the underside of the iron core 52B, a circular groove receiving the coil holder 48B and the coil 50B is formed. A housing ring 56B is put around the iron core 52B. The housing ring 56B is put around by a damper 58B swingably to the coil holder 48B. In the vibration actuator 40B of the present embodiment, the iron core 52B, the magnet 54B and the house ring 56B, not a coil generally disposed in a speaker, are disposed swingably to the case member 42B,

Thus, in the vibration actuator 40B of the present embodiment, when current flows through the coil 50B, the heavy iron core 52B and magnet 54B, not the light bobbin ring 46B and coil holder 48B secured to the case member 42B, vibrate, whereby impressive vibrations can be generated.

Furthermore, a cover member 60B for covering the side and the top of the housing ring 56B disposed around the iron core 52B is provided. The cover member 60B has a circular opening in the top the iron core 52B is put through. When the iron core 52B and the housing ring 56B make a large movement in a vibration direction or normally to the vibration direction, the side or the top of the housing ring 56B collide the cover member 60B, and its motion is restricted. To this end, it is preferred that the distance L3 between the side of the housing ring 56B and the opposed side of the cover member 60B is, e.g., about 0.2-0.3 mm, and the distance L2 between the top of the housing ring 56B and the opposed side of the cover member 60B is, e.g., about 4 mm.

These distances are not essentially in the ranges described above.

For example, the vibration actuator 40B is driven vertically to the mounted surface. The top of the housing ring 56B and the opposed side of the cover member 60B may be spaced by a distance L2 which is equal to a drive range of the vibration actuator 40B driven when a rated alternate current is applied to the vibration actuator 40B, or a little longer distance.

The vibration actuator 40B is not driven from the side of the housing ring 56B toward the opposed side of the cover member 60B. The side of the housing ring 56B and the opposed side of the cover member 60B may be spaced by a distance L3 so that, when the vibration actuator is postured horizontally, the damper should be deformed due to the weight of the iron core 52B and the magnet 54B but the side of the housing ring 56B should not contact the cover member 60B.

Thus, the iron core 52B and the magnet 54B are damaged by a drop of the gun-shaped controller 30, but the range of the vibrations of such impact is larger than the drive range of the vibration actuator 40B. The vibrations (impact) of the iron core 52B and the magnet 54B due to the drop are suppressed by the housing ring 56B contacting the cover member 60B not to exceed the drive range of the vibration actuator 40B, and the bobbin ring 46B can be retained secured to the base plate 44B. The vibration actuator 40B is prevented from coming off the gun-shaped controller 30 and being damaged.

The inside of the other case member 42A, which is opposed to and above the iron core 52B, functions as the vibration restricting part to restrict the movement of the iron core 52B in the vibration direction. When the iron core 52B makes a large movement, the top of the iron core 52B collides the inside of the case member 42A, and its movement is restricted. To this end, the distance L1 between the top of the iron core 52B and the inside of the case member 42A is preferably a little longer, e.g., about 4 mm than a distance over which the iron core 52B vibrates when current flows through the coil 50B.

A holder plate 62B is mounted on a base plate 44B, the cover member 60B is mounted on the holder plate 62B, and a screw 64B is put through a fitting hole of the cover member 60B, the holder plate 62B, the base plate 44B to be screwed to the case member 42B.

It is possible the base plate 44B and the holder plate 62B are omitted, and the bobbin ring 46B is fixed directly to the case 42, or the cover member 60B is also fixed directly to the case 42.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when vibrated, the iron cores and magnets of the vibration actuators are vibrated, whereby impressive vibrations can be generated.

According to the present embodiment, the vibration actuators are mounted in opposing directions on a pair of the case members, whereby the 2 vibration actuators can be incorporated in the small space inside the case, and impressive vibrations can be realized.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the movements of the vibrating iron cores and magnets are restricted by the cover members and the opposing case members, whereby even when the gun-shaped controller is roughly handles or dropped, and large forces are exerted from the outside to the heavy iron cores and magnets, movements exceeding the movements due to the vibrations can be restricted to thereby prevent the disconnection of the iron cores and the magnets, and the resultant malfunction of the vibration actuators.

[Modified Embodiments]

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can cover other various modifications.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the vibration direction of the housing rings secured to the iron cores and transverse movement normal to the vibration direction are restricted by the cover members. However, it is possible that the cover members are disposed only in the transverse direction of the housing rings to thereby restrict only the transverse movement. It is possible that the cover members are not provided, and the movement of the iron cores and magnets in the vibration direction alone is restricted by the case members. Furthermore, it is possible that the insides of the case members are not used, the movement in the vibration direction of the housing rings or the transverse movement normal to the vibration direction of the housing rings may be restricted by the cover members alone.

Furthermore, it is possible that the movement of the iron cores and the magnets in the vibration direction is restricted by the case members, and the cover members are provided only in the transverse direction of the housing rings to thereby restrict the transverse movement by the cover members. It is also possible that the interior of the case members is formed in a cavity which is a little larger than the configuration of the vibration actuators (e.g., a cavity which is larger by about 4 mm in the vibration direction and by about 0.2-0.3 mm in the transverse direction normal to the vibration direction), and the movements of the iron cores and the magnets in the vibration direction and the movement in the transverse direction are restricted only by the vibration restricting part provided in the case members.

Furthermore, it is possible that in arranging a plurality of the vibration actuators side by side, the opposed sides of the vibration actuators are spaced by a prescribed distance (e.g., about 4 mm in the vibration direction and by 0.2-0.3 mm in the transverse direction normal to the vibration direction) so that the respective opposed sides have the same function as the cover members (vibration restricting members) of the above-described embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment, two vibration actuators are incorporated in the small space in the case, but the vibration actuators may be mounted in only one of the pair of case members.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be used as a vibration device for generating vibrations, more specifically, a vibration device suitably disposed in a member, such as the controller of a game device, which is roughly handled and is vulnerable to impacts of drops, etc.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. A vibration device comprising a vibration actuator including a case, at least a coil and a magnet, and a damper interconnecting the coil and the magnet with the magnet being movable relatively to the coil,

the vibration actuator including the coil secured to the inside of the case so that when alternate current is flowed through the coil, the magnet reciprocates in the direction normal to the inside of the case, and

the vibration actuator comprising:

a first resting part for restricting the reciprocation of the magnet provided at a position which is away from the magnet by a first distance in the reciprocation directions of the magnet, which is away from the inside of the case with the coil secured to; and

a second restricting part for restricting the movement normal to the reciprocation direction of the magnet provided at a position which is away from by a second distance from the magnet in the direction normal to the reciprocation direction of the magnet,

wherein the first distance is a distance larger than a distance over which the magnet reciprocates when alternate current is flowed through at least the coil.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. A vibration device according to claim 6, wherein and

the case couples a couple of bisected case members,

the vibration actuator is incorporated in the case and is mounted on at least one of the case members.

10. A vibration device according to claim 9, wherein

the vibration actuator is mounted to each of the pair of case members.

11. A controller comprising a vibration device according to any one of claims 6, 9 and 10, and operation means to be operated by a user.