U.S. patent application number 11/778577 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-14 for swing device and control method for a swing device.
Invention is credited to Motohiko Higashiguchi.
Application Number | 20080039216 11/778577 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38799307 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080039216 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Higashiguchi; Motohiko |
February 14, 2008 |
SWING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR A SWING DEVICE
Abstract
To provide a swing device capable of making a user body sense a
rising, lowering, and/or turning feeling more impressively or with
higher reality with a simple structure, there is provided a swing
device including: a swing member on which a user rides; a fulcrum
support mechanism that swingably supports the swing member at a
fulcrum; and a first driving mechanism that swingably supports a
first driving point on the swing member and moving the first
driving point in a vertical direction, the first driving point
being spaced apart from the fulcrum in a longitudinal direction of
the swing member, the fulcrum is placed on a rear side of a riding
position of the user in the longitudinal direction of the swing
member.
Inventors: |
Higashiguchi; Motohiko;
(Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP PLLC
701 FIFTH AVE
SUITE 5400
SEATTLE
WA
98104
US
|
Family ID: |
38799307 |
Appl. No.: |
11/778577 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/47 ;
472/119 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/803 20140902;
A63F 13/28 20140902; A63F 13/08 20130101; G09B 9/02 20130101; A63G
31/16 20130101; A63F 2300/302 20130101; A63G 19/20 20130101; A63F
2300/8017 20130101; G09B 9/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/047 ;
472/119 |
International
Class: |
A63F 11/00 20060101
A63F011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 4, 2006 |
JP |
2006213982 |
Claims
1. A swing device, comprising: a swing member on which a user
rides; a fulcrum support mechanism for swingably supporting the
swing member at a fulcrum; and a first driving mechanism for
swingably supporting the swing member at a first driving point
thereof and driving the first driving point in a vertical
direction, the first driving point being spaced apart from the
fulcrum in a longitudinal direction of the swing member, wherein
the fulcrum is placed on a rear side of a riding position of the
user in the longitudinal direction of the swing member.
2. The swing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a
second driving mechanism for swingably supporting the swing member
at a second driving point thereof and driving the second driving
point in a vertical direction independently from the first driving
mechanism, the second driving point being spaced apart from the
fulcrum in a longitudinal direction of the swing member, and being
spaced apart from the first driving point in a lateral direction of
the swing member.
3. The swing device according to claim 2, further comprising: a
support shaft projecting between the first driving point and the
second driving point; and static determinate maintaining mechanism
having a guide hole defined therein through which the support shaft
is rotatably inserted, to regulate movement of the support shaft in
the lateral direction of the swing member, and to guide the support
shaft in the vertical direction.
4. The swing device according to claim 1 wherein the first driving
point is placed on a front side of the riding position of the user
in the longitudinal direction of the swing member.
5. The swing device according to claim 1, further comprising: an
operation member coupled to transmit an operation signal indicative
of a processor configured to specify an operation by the user; and
processing means for specifying a movement mode of a virtual moving
object in a virtual space in response to the operation signal from
the operation member, wherein: the first driving mechanism drives
the first driving point according to the movement mode of the
virtual moving object specified by the processor.
6. The swing device according to claim 1, further comprising a
display device placed on a front side of the riding position of the
user in the longitudinal direction of the swing member, to display
one of a video image of a virtual moving object moving in a virtual
space and a video image of a virtual space drawn from a virtual
viewpoint moving in the virtual space, wherein: the first driving
mechanism drives the first driving point according to a movement
mode of one of the virtual moving object and the virtual
viewpoint.
7. The swing device according to claim 1 wherein: the first driving
mechanism is placed orthogonally to a line connecting the fulcrum
and the first driving point while the swing member is placed at a
reference position.
8. A control method for a swing device, the swing device
comprising: a swing member on which a user rides; an operation
member coupled to transmit an operation signal in response to an
operation by the user; a processor configured to specify a movement
mode of a virtual moving object in a virtual space in response to
the operation signal from the operation member; a fulcrum support
mechanism that supports the swing member at the fulcrum, the
fulcrum being placed on a rear side of a riding position of the
user of the swing member in the longitudinal direction of the swing
member; and a first driving mechanism that swingably supports the
swing member at a first driving point thereof and drives the first
driving point in a vertical direction, the first driving point
being spaced apart from the fulcrum in a longitudinal direction of
the swing member, the control method comprising: operating the
first driving mechanism so that a front portion of the swing member
rises, in a case where the movement mode of the virtual moving
object specified by the processor indicates rising in the virtual
space; and operating the first driving mechanism so that the front
portion of the swing member lowers, in a case where the movement
mode of the virtual moving object specified by the processor
indicates lowering in the virtual space.
9. A control method for a swing device, the swing device
comprising: a swing member on which a user rides; a display device
placed on a front side of a riding position of the user in the
longitudinal direction of the swing member to display one of a
video image of a virtual moving object moving in a virtual space
and a video image drawn from a virtual viewpoint moving in the
virtual space; a fulcrum support mechanism that supports the swing
member at a fulcrum, the fulcrum being placed on a rear side of the
riding position of the user of the swing member in the longitudinal
direction of the swing member; and a first driving mechanism that
swingably supports the swing member at a first driving point
thereof and moves the first driving point in a vertical direction,
the first driving point being spaced apart from the fulcrum in a
longitudinal direction of the swing member, the control method
comprising: operating the first driving mechanism so that a front
portion of the swing member rises, in a case where one of the
virtual moving object and the virtual viewpoint rises in the
virtual space; and operating the first driving mechanism so that
the front portion of the swing member lowers, in a case where one
of the virtual moving object and the virtual viewpoint lowers in
the virtual space.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention relates to a swing device in which a
swing member on which a user rides is allowed to swing to thereby
make the user sense a rising or lowering feeling and the like, and
a control method therefor. To be specific, the present invention
relates to a swing device with which a user can body sense a rising
or lowering feeling that can be felt while a moving object such as
an aircraft, a ship, a vehicle, or an animal is in a rising or
lowering movement, and a control method therefor.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Up to now, there is known a body-sensible swing game machine
placed in an amusement facility such as a game arcade, in which a
swing member on which a user rides is caused to swing according to
an operation to an operation unit (see, for example, Japanese
Utility Model Application Laid-open No. Hei 3-107993).
[0005] In this game machine, in order to make the user body sense a
attitude or a movement mode in a virtual space of a virtual moving
object (e.g., fighter aircraft) whose moving mode in the virtual
space is determined based on an operation by the user, there is
employed a structure in which the swing member on which a seat, a
steering rod, and the like are mounted is supported by a fulcrum
placed on the front side of the seat and two driving points on the
rear side of the seat, and the driving points are moved vertically,
to thereby change a tilt angle of the swing member with respect to
a horizontal plain.
[0006] That is, in a case where an operation is performed to raise
the moving object, both of the driving points are moved downward to
tilt the swing member in a direction in which the user faces
upward, thereby the user can body sense a rising feeling. In a case
where an operation is performed to lower the moving object, both of
the driving points are moved upward to tilt the swing member in a
direction in which the user faces downward, thereby the user can
body sense a lowering feeling.
[0007] Further, in recent years, in order to make a user body sense
a rising or lowering feeling more impressively or with higher
reality, there is realized a game machine in which the number of
driving points of a swing member is increased or the degree of
freedom of driving directions of driving points is increased.
However, increasing the number of the drive points or the degree of
freedom of driving directions inevitably leads to a problem of
increased size or cost of the machine.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0008] The embodiments of present invention address the
above-mentioned problem and therefore it is an object of the
present invention to provide a swing machine which is able to make
a user body sense a rising or lowering and/or turning feeling more
impressively or with higher reality with a simple structure
[0009] Some embodiments of the present invention relate to a swing
device including:
[0010] a swing member on which a user rides;
[0011] a fulcrum support mechanism for swingably supporting the
swing member at a fulcrum; and
[0012] a first driving mechanism that swingably supports the swing
member at a first driving point thereof and drives the first
driving point in a vertical direction (upward/downward direction),
the first driving point being spaced apart from the fulcrum in a
longitudinal direction (front/rear direction) of the swing
member,
[0013] wherein the fulcrum is placed on a rear side of a riding
position of the user in the longitudinal direction of the swing
member (first aspect).
[0014] The inventors of the present invention have conducted
extensive studies about the structures of the conventional game
machines such as one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model
Application Laid-open No. Hei 3-107993, and found the reason why it
has been difficult to further enhance impression or heighten
reality of the rising or lowering feeling, to thereby complete
embodiments of the present invention.
[0015] Hereinafter, the mechanism of embodiments of the present
invention will be described in comparison with the conventional
structure described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open
No. Hei 3-107993, by way of an example of a game machine 1 a plan
view and a side view of which are shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0016] As shown in the figures, in the game machine 1, an operation
portion 3, a display device 4 and a seat 5 on which a user O can
sit are mounted on a swing member 2 swingably supported at two
support points P0 and P1. Based on an operation with respect to the
operation portion 3, a moving mode of a virtual moving object
(e.g., fighter aircraft; hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to
as moving object) in a virtual space is determined, and a video
image of the moving object in the virtual space (or a video image
of the virtual space drawn from a viewpoint of the moving object)
is displayed on the display device 4.
[0017] Note that in a case where a rotation of the game machine 1
in a lateral direction (rotation about a line connecting the two
support points P0 and P1) needs to be regulated or controlled, in
addition to support mechanisms at the support points P0 and P1, it
is necessary to provide auxiliary means such as guide means for
maintaining the level of the swing member 2 in the lateral
direction.
[0018] In the conventional structure, as shown in FIG. 2A, the
support point P1 on a front side of a riding position of the user O
serves as a fulcrum whose movement in a vertical direction is
regulated, and the support point P0 on the rear side of the riding
position of the user O serves as a driving point which is moved in
the vertical direction.
[0019] Accordingly, in a case where an operation to raise the
moving object is performed with respect to the operation portion 3,
in order to make the user O sense a rising feeling, the driving
point P0 is driven downward so as to tilt the swing member 2 in a
direction in which the user faces upward as represented by a broken
line of FIG. 2A. In this case, the vertical position of the user O
is lowered by an amount represented by reference symbol H. Thus,
the user O senses a rising feeling because his/her body faces
upward, and simultaneously senses a lowering feeling because
his/her body is moved downward, which causes the result that the
rising feeling, which is originally intended to be attained, is
cancelled.
[0020] The similar situation also occurs in a case where an
operation is performed so as to lower the moving object. In order
to make the user O sense a lowering feeling, the driving point P0
is driven upward. Then, the swing member 2 tilts in a direction in
which the user O faces downward, and at the same time, the vertical
position of the user is heightened. Thus, the user senses a rising
feeling as well as a lowering feeling, which causes the result that
the lowering feeling, which is originally intended to be attained,
is cancelled.
[0021] In at least some embodiment of the present invention, the
above-mentioned problems are solved by a constitution, as shown in
FIG. 2B, that the support point P0 on the rear side of the riding
position of the user O serves as the fulcrum whose movement in the
vertical direction is regulated, and the support point P1 apart
from the fulcrum P0 in a longitudinal direction (forward direction
in the example shown in FIG. 2B) serves as a first driving point
which is moved in the vertical direction.
[0022] Accordingly, in a case where an operation to raise the
moving object is performed with respect to the operation portion 3,
the first driving point P1 on the front side is driven upward so as
to tilt the swing member 2 in the direction in which the user O
faces upward as represented by broken line of FIG. 2B. In this
case, the vertical position of the user O is heightened by an
amount represented by reference symbol H. Thus, the user senses a
rising feeling because his/her body faces upward, and
simultaneously senses another rising feeling because his/her body
is moved upward, thereby the synergistic effect of which
significantly enhances impression or reality of the rising
feeling.
[0023] The similar situation also occurs in a case where the
operation to lower the moving object is performed. The driving
point P1 on the front side is driven downward to tilt the swing
member 2 in the direction in which the user O faces downward. In
this case, the vertical position of the user is lowered. Thus, the
user senses a lowering feeling because his/her body faces downward,
and simultaneously senses another lowering feeling because his/her
body is moved downward, thereby a synergistic effect of which
significantly enhances impression or reality of the lowering
feeling.
[0024] The effects of the embodiments of the present invention are
attained by changing the tilt angle of the swing member 2 by
rotating the swing member 2 about the fulcrum P0 placed at the rear
side of the riding position of the user O and therefore, the
vertical movement of the fulcrum P0 needs to be regulated to a
certain extent. However, note that a structure can also be employed
in which the fulcrum P0 moves vertically by an amount in a range
sufficiently small with respect to the vertical movement of the
first driving point P1.
[0025] Likewise, it is sufficient if the first driving point P1 in
the swing device is spaced apart from the fulcrum P0 by a
predetermined amount in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, even
in a case where the first driving point P1 is placed on the rear
side of the fulcrum P0 as shown in FIG. 2C, the effects of the
embodiments of the present invention can also be attained by the
mechanism similar to that explained with respect to FIG. 2B. Note
that from a viewpoint of a space efficiency or the like, it is
preferable that the first driving point P1 be placed on the front
side of the fulcrum P0, especially on the front side of the riding
position of the user as shown in FIG. 2B.
[0026] The swing device of the present invention can be used for
the body-sensible game machine 1 with which the user steers the
virtual moving object while enjoying such a feeling that the user
actually rides on the moving object. In addition, the swing device
of the present invention can also be used for a body-sensible video
image appreciation device with which a user watches a video image
from a viewpoint of a moving object while enjoying a feeling that
the user actually rides on the moving object. As such, the swing
device of the present invention can be applied to various devices
which are intended to make a user body sense a rising feeling, a
lowering feeling, or the like.
[0027] The swing member should have a strength and a size that
allows the user to ride on, and a shape thereof may be a plate-like
shape as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2A to 2C. Alternatively, the
shape may be a three-dimensional shape such as a shape of a fighter
aircraft or a shape of a cockpit thereof.
[0028] The fulcrum support mechanism and the first driving
mechanism swingably support the swing member. Examples of the
support mechanism suitable for swingably supporting the swing
member include a universal joint and a ball joint.
[0029] Any variety of mechanisms capable of driving the first
driving point P1 in a vertical direction, such as an oil hydraulic
cylinder, can be employed as the first driving mechanism. A linear
actuator excellent in a driving length, driving velocity, driving
force, and so on, is particularly preferably employed.
[0030] Note that, from a viewpoint of enhancing a transfer
efficiency of the driving force, it is most preferable that,
assuming a virtual sphere whose center corresponds to the fulcrum
P0 and radius corresponds to a line segment connecting the fulcrum
P0 and the first driving point P1, the driving force be applied in
a tangential direction with respect to the sphere. However, in a
case where a driving direction by the first driving mechanism is
made always orthogonal to the line segment connecting the fulcrum
P0 and the first driving point P1, the angle formed by a driving
direction of the first driving mechanism and the above-mentioned
line segment changes as the first driving point P1 moves on a
surface of the sphere whose radius corresponds to the line segment.
Therefore, a mechanism, such as a cylinder, which performs linear
movement cannot constantly perform tangential movement to the
sphere surface in reality.
[0031] Accordingly, in the case where the first driving mechanism
is one for performing the linear movement, it is preferable that an
operational direction of a supporting force by the first driving
mechanism is orthogonal to the line connecting the fulcrum P0 and
the first driving point P1 in a reference state (e.g., a state of
starting or finishing a game in the embodiment to be described
later, or a state where the moving object is in level flight in the
virtual space).
[0032] In some embodiments of the present invention, the riding
position refers to a position of the user on the swing member in
the operational state, i.e., while the first driving point is
driven by the first driving mechanism. For example, in the case of
the structure in which the user sits on the seat of the swing
member in the operational state, the riding position corresponds to
the position of the seat. Although, a case where the user sits on
the seat is exemplified in this example, the seat is not always
necessarily provided to realize the present application. For
example, in a case where retention mechanism or anti-drop means for
preventing a user standing upright from dropping from the swing
member is provided, the seat is not necessarily provided.
[0033] In the specification of the present invention, the terms
indicating the directions of forward, backward, left, and right are
used based on which direction the user faces in the operational
state, that is, while the first driving point is driven by the
first driving mechanism. The forward direction refers to the
direction that the user faces, the backward direction refers to a
reverse direction thereof, and the left and right directions
indicate the directions orthogonal to the front and rear directions
in the horizontal plane.
[0034] Various embodiments of the present invention preferably
relates to a swing device further including:
[0035] a second driving mechanism that swingably supports the swing
member at a second driving point thereof and drives the second
driving point in a vertical direction independently from the first
driving mechanism, the second driving point being spaced apart from
the fulcrum in a longitudinal direction of the swing member, and
being spaced apart from the first driving point in a lateral
direction of the swing member (second aspect).
[0036] That is, in addition to the structure of the first aspect of
the present invention, the second aspect of the present invention
is characterized by including the second driving mechanism for
driving the second driving point in the vertical direction, the
second driving point spaced apart from the fulcrum in the
longitudinal direction and spaced apart from the first drive means
in the lateral direction.
[0037] Accordingly, in the second aspect of the present invention,
by raising or lowering the first and second driving points
simultaneously, similarly to the first aspect of the present
invention, it is possible to make the user body sense a
rising/lowering feeling. In addition, by vertically driving the
first and second driving points in a manner that the their heights
are different to each other, it is also possible to make the user
body sense a turning feeling to the left or right of the virtual
moving object moving in the virtual space, or a combined feeling of
a turning feeling to the left or right and a rising/lowering
feeling thereof.
[0038] In various embodiments of the present invention, it is
preferable that the swing device further include:
[0039] a support shaft projecting between the first driving point
and the second driving point; and
[0040] static determinate maintaining mechanism having a guide hole
defined therein through which the support shaft is rotatably
inserted, for regulating movement of the support shaft in the
lateral direction of the swing member, and guiding the support
shaft in the vertical direction (third aspect).
[0041] In the third aspect of the present invention, a line
connecting the fulcrum and the support shaft serves as an axial
center of the swing member and the degree of freedom of the
movement of the swing member is limited to the raising and lowering
movement of the axial center along the guide hole and the
rotational movement of the swing member about the axial center.
Thus, it becomes possible to readily maintain static determinate of
the swing member. It is particularly preferable that the support
shaft be positioned such that the distances therefrom to the first
and second driving points are the same.
[0042] In some aspects of the present invention, it is preferable
that the driving point is placed on a front side of the riding
position of the user in the longitudinal direction of the swing
member (fourth aspect).
[0043] That is, assuming that driving mechanisms of identical
performances are used, the larger the distance between the fulcrum
position and the driving points are, the lower power (lower torque)
the movement can be performed with. However, since the fulcrum is
placed on the rear side of the seat of the user in the first and
second aspects of the present invention, comparing the cases where
the driving points are spaced apart from the fulcrum in one of the
front direction and the rear direction, the entire device can be
made compact in the case the driving points are placed on the front
side of the seat of the user.
[0044] In some aspects of the present invention, it is preferable
that the swing device further include:
[0045] an operation member coupled to transmit an operation signal
according to an operation by the user; and
[0046] a processor configured to specify a movement mode of a
virtual moving object in a virtual space in response to the
operation signal from the operation member, wherein:
[0047] the first driving mechanism drives the first driving point
according to the movement mode of the virtual moving object
specified by the processing means (fifth aspect).
[0048] In the fifth aspect of the present invention, the user can
recognize the movement mode of the moving object determined by the
processor based on the operation that the user performs by
himself/herself. Accordingly, it is possible to make the user body
sense a rising, lowering or turning feeling, or the like with
higher reality by activating the first driving mechanism according
to the movement mode of the moving object, e.g., in the case where
the moving object rises, the first driving point is driven so as to
raise the front portion of the swing member, and in the case where
the moving object lowers, the first driving point is driven so as
to lower the front portion of the swing member.
[0049] In some aspects of the present invention, it is preferable
that the swing device further include:
[0050] a display device placed on a front side of the riding
position of the user in the longitudinal direction of the swing
member, to display one of a video image of a virtual moving object
moving in a virtual space and a video image of a virtual space
drawn from a virtual viewpoint moving in the virtual space,
wherein:
[0051] the first driving mechanism drives the first driving point
according to a movement mode of one of the virtual moving object
and the virtual viewpoint (sixth aspect).
[0052] In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the first
driving mechanism is operated according to the movement mode of the
moving object or the virtual viewpoint recognized by the user based
on the video image displayed by the display device. Thus, it is
possible to make the user body sense a rising/lowering feeling or a
turning feeling or the like with much higher reality.
[0053] In the sixth aspect of the present invention, the video
movie can be a video image of a real moving object moving in a real
space, a video image of a landscape, an animation video image or a
video image created using computer graphics. In a case with the
former video images, the first driving mechanism can be operated
according to the movement mode of the real or virtual moving object
or the real or virtual viewpoint (video camera) recorded in the
recording means in advance. In a case with the latter video image,
the movement mode of the virtual moving object or the virtual
viewpoint can be determined based on data used for creating the
computer graphics, and the first driving mechanism can be operated
according to the determined movement mode.
[0054] The display device of the sixth aspect of the present
invention may be mounted at a position in front of the riding
position of the user on the swing member as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B
and 2A to 2C, or at a position in front of the swing member spaced
apart therefrom. In the case where the display device is mounted on
the swing member, a liquid crystal monitor, which is lighter in
weight and has a higher resistance against vibration than other
display devices such as a CRT, is preferably used.
[0055] In some aspects of the present invention, each of the first
and second driving mechanism is preferably placed orthogonal to a
line connecting the fulcrum and the first and second driving
points, respectively, while the swing member is placed at a
reference position (seventh aspect).
[0056] That is, assuming spheres whose radii correspond to a line
segments connecting the fulcrum and the first and second driving
points, it is mechanically desirable that each of the first and
second driving mechanisms be positioned in a tangential direction
with respect to each of the spheres. However, in a case of actually
positioning the first and second driving mechanism as described
above, support stages of the first and second driving mechanisms
are spaced apart from each other, with an disadvantageous result
that a width of the entire game machine becomes larger. Thus, as
described above, it is preferable that the first and second driving
mechanisms are positioned such that each the operational direction
of the driving mechanisms is orthogonal to the line connecting the
fulcrum P0 and the driving points P1 in a reference state of the
swing member (e.g., a state where the swing member is placed at a
standard position). As a result, the driving efficiency of the
driving mechanisms can be enhanced in the expanding and contracting
directions, and at the same time the width of the entire device can
be designed compact.
[0057] In some aspects the present invention relates to a control
method for a swing device,
[0058] the swing device comprising: [0059] a swing member on which
a user rides; [0060] an operation member coupled to transmit an
operation signal in response to an operation by the user; [0061] a
processor configured to specify a movement mode of a virtual moving
object in a virtual space in response to the operation signal from
the operation member; [0062] a fulcrum support mechanism that
supports the swing member at the fulcrum, the fulcrum being placed
on a rear side of a riding position of the user of the swing member
in the longitudinal direction of the swing member; and [0063] a
first driving mechanism that swingably supports the swing member at
a first driving point thereof and driving the first driving point
in a vertical direction, the first driving point being spaced apart
from the fulcrum in a longitudinal direction of the swing
member,
[0064] the control method comprising: [0065] operating the first
driving mechanism so that a front portion of the swing member
rises, in a case where the movement mode of the virtual moving
object specified by the processor indicates rising in the virtual
space; and [0066] operating the first driving mechanism so that the
front portion of the swing member lowers, in a case where the
movement mode of the virtual moving object specified by the
processor indicates lowering in the virtual space (eighth
aspect).
[0067] In the eighth aspect of the present invention, the user can
recognize the movement mode of the moving object determined by the
processor based on the operation that the user performs by
himself/herself. Accordingly, the effect similar to that of the
fifth aspect of the present invention can be attained.
[0068] In some aspects, the present invention relates to a control
method for a swing device,
[0069] the swing device comprising: [0070] a swing member on which
a user rides; [0071] a display device placed on a front side of a
riding position of the user in the longitudinal direction of the
swing member, to display one of a video image of a virtual moving
object moving in a virtual space and a video image drawn from a
virtual viewpoint moving in the virtual space; [0072] a fulcrum
support mechanism that supports the swing member at a fulcrum, the
fulcrum being placed on a rear side of the riding position of the
user of the swing member in the longitudinal direction of the swing
member; and [0073] a first driving mechanism that swingably
supports the swing member at a first driving point thereof and
moves the first driving point in a vertical direction, the first
driving point being spaced apart from the fulcrum in a longitudinal
direction of the swing member,
[0074] the control method comprising: [0075] operating the first
driving mechanism so that a front portion of the swing member
rises, in a case where one of the virtual moving object and the
virtual viewpoint rises in the virtual space; and [0076] operating
the first driving mechanism so that the front portion of the swing
member lowers, in a case where one of the virtual moving object and
the virtual viewpoint lowers in the virtual space (ninth
aspect).
[0077] In the ninth aspect of the present invention, the user can
recognize the movement mode of the moving object or the virtual
viewpoint based on the video image displayed on the display device.
Accordingly, the effect similar to that of the sixth aspect of the
present invention can be attained.
[0078] Note that, the eighth and ninth aspects of the present
invention may include additional structures like in the second to
seventh aspects of the present invention, in which a swing member
further includes a second driving mechanism for driving a second
driving point spaced apart from a fulcrum in the longitudinal
direction and spaced apart from the first driving point in the
lateral direction is used, or the first and second driving
mechanisms are operated so that a front portion of the swing member
rises or lowers according to the rising or the lowering of the
virtual moving object or the virtual viewpoint.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0079] In the accompanying drawings:
[0080] FIG. 1A is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of
an exemplified swing game machine;
[0081] FIG. 1B is an explanatory view illustrating the structure of
the exemplified swing game machine;
[0082] FIG. 2A is an explanatory view illustrating a driving manner
of a swing member of a swing game machine of a conventional
structure;
[0083] FIG. 2B is an explanatory view illustrating a driving manner
of a swing member of a swing game machine of a structure of an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0084] FIG. 2C is an explanatory view illustrating a driving manner
of the swing member of a swing game machine of the structure of an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0085] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an outer structure
of a swing game machine according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0086] FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating a structure of
the swing game machine according to the embodiment of the present
invention;
[0087] FIG. 4B is a side view illustrating the structure of the
swing game machine according to the embodiment of the present
invention;
[0088] FIG. 4C is a front view illustrating the structure of the
swing game machine according to the embodiment of the present
invention;
[0089] FIG. 4D is a rear view illustrating the structure of the
swing game machine according to the embodiment of the present
invention;
[0090] FIG. 5A is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a
fulcrum support mechanism;
[0091] FIG. 5B is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of a
universal joint;
[0092] FIG. 5C is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of
an electric linear actuator;
[0093] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit of the
swing game machine according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0094] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of processing
executed in the swing game machine according to the embodiment of
the present invention;
[0095] FIG. 8A is an explanatory view illustrating a tilt mode of a
swing member in a case where a moving object is raised;
[0096] FIG. 8B is an explanatory view illustrating a tilt mode of
the swing member in a case where the moving object is lowered;
[0097] FIG. 8C is an explanatory view illustrating a tilt mode of
the swing member in a case where the moving object is turned right;
and
[0098] FIG. 8D is an explanatory view illustrating a tilt mode of
the swing member in a case where the moving object is turned
left.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0099] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
explained referring to a body-sensible swing game machine 1 as an
example in which a movement mode of a virtual moving object M
(e.g., fighter aircraft) in a virtual space is determined based on
an operation with respect to an operation member and the determined
movement mode is displayed on a display device.
[0100] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an outer structure
of the swing game machine 1 to which a swing device according to
various embodiments of the present invention is applied, and FIGS.
4A to 4D are perspective, side, front, and rear views,
respectively, illustrating the swing game machine 1 from which a
casing frame is removed.
[0101] As shown in the figures, the swing game machine 1 mainly
includes a base stage 10, a swing member 20, a fulcrum support
mechanism 30, a driving mechanism storing unit 40, and a money
processing machine 60.
[0102] Of those, the base stage 10 serves as a seating to which the
fulcrum support mechanism 30, a first driving mechanism 41a, a
second driving mechanism 41b, a static determinate maintaining
mechanism 50, and so on to be described later are provided. In an
inner space of the base stage 10, a control unit 80 for controlling
an operation of the game machine 1, various connection cables, and
the like can be stored.
[0103] Note that the base stage 10 is unnecessary in a case where
the fulcrum support mechanism 30, the first driving mechanism 41a,
the second driving mechanism 41b, the static determinate
maintaining mechanism 50, and the like are directly installed on a
floor surface of a facility in which the game machine 1 is
installed.
[0104] The swing member 20 includes a floor member 21 extending in
a longitudinal direction, a mounting stage 22 provided to a front
portion of the floor member 21, a reinforcing frame 23, and so on.
On the floor member 21, a seat 24 (e.g., having a shape similar to
a cockpit of a fighter aircraft) is provided. To the mounting stage
22, an operation panel 25 to receive input from a user indicative
of various game operations is provided and a display device 26
supported by the reinforcing frame 23 is provided.
[0105] The operation panel 25 includes a steering rod 25a being an
operation member with which the user instructs a movement direction
and the like of the moving object M. By operating the steering rod
25a in forward and backward directions, the moving object M can be
raised and lowered, and by operating the steering rod 25a in left
and right directions, the moving object M can be turned left and
right. The operation panel 25 further includes operation members
25b and 25c with which a game is started, items of the game are
selected, and other operations are performed. Further, an auxiliary
operation member 25d is arranged at a side of the seat 24.
[0106] The display device 26 displays a video image showing a
movement mode of the moving object M in the virtual space, which is
operated by the user. The video image can be an arbitrary video
image with which the user can recognize the movement mode of the
moving object M. Examples thereof includes a video image of the
moving object M observed from a viewpoint fixed in the virtual
space, and a video image of the moving object M observed from a
viewpoint inside or behind the moving object M, which is movable in
the virtual space together with the moving object M while
maintaining a predetermined positional relation therewith.
[0107] As the display device 26, a liquid crystal monitor, which is
highly resistant to vibration compared to other display devices
such as a CRT, is preferably used. As the liquid crystal monitor is
light in weight, the display device 26 having a large screen size
as shown in the figures can be used. Therefore, a game image with a
visual impact can be displayed.
[0108] The swing member 20 is supported by a mechanism to be
described later in such a manner that the swing member 20 is spaced
apart from the base stage 10 by a predetermined distance so as to
enable the swing member 20 to perform movements including rolling
and pitching.
[0109] The fulcrum support mechanism 30 is arranged at a position
spaced apart from the seat 24 being a riding position of the user
of the swing member 20 by a predetermined distance therebehind.
[0110] FIG. 5A is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the
fulcrum support mechanism 30.
[0111] As shown in the figure, the fulcrum support mechanism 30
includes: a support column 31 having a square pole shape and
projecting upright on the base stage 10; a boll joint 32 fixed to
an upper end of the support column 31; a fixation block 33 provided
to the floor member 21 so as to cover an opening 21a defined in the
floor member 21, and having a square-C-shaped space for storing the
ball joint 32 therein; and a cover 34 for covering an upper portion
of the fixation block 33.
[0112] The ball joint 32 includes: a shaft bearing member 32a
having a sphere-shaped space defined therein; a ball portion 32b
rotatably received and held in the sphere-shaped space; and a ball
shaft 32c having an end to which the ball portion 32b is attached.
The other end of the ball shaft 32c is inserted and fixed to an
insertion hole 33a defined in a ceiling of the fixation block 33
with a nut or the like.
[0113] Accordingly, the swing member 20 is swingably supported on
the support column 31 so that the ball portion 32b of the ball
joint 32 serves as an unmovable fulcrum.
[0114] In the driving mechanism storing unit 40 located in a front
portion of the game machine 1, the first driving mechanism 41a, the
second driving mechanism 41b, and the static determinate
maintaining mechanism 50 are stored.
[0115] The first and second driving mechanism 41b, 41b include:
support stages 42a and 42b provided on left and right portions of
an upper front portion of the base stage 10; universal joints 43a
and 43b provided at the upper ends of the support stages 42a and
42b; electric linear actuators 44a and 44b provided to the
universal joints 43a and 43b; and universal joints 45a and 45b
provided to the tip ends of operation rods of the electric linear
actuators 44a and 44b, respectively. The universal joints 45a and
45b support the swing member 20 at pads 23a and 23b fixed to
mounting bases of the reinforcing frame 23, which is mounted to the
mounting stage 22.
[0116] Note that the distance from the pad 23a to the ball portion
32b of the ball joint 32 being the fulcrum of the swing member 20
is the same as the distance from the pad 23b to the ball portion
32b. Further, the support stages 42a and 42b are provided so that
the axial directions of the electric linear actuators 44a and 44b
in a stand-by state are substantially orthogonal to the lines
connecting the ball portion 32b being the fulcrum of the swing
member 20 and the pads 23a and 23b, respectively.
[0117] Herein, the universal joints 43a, 43b, 45a, and 45b are
similarly structured, and an enlarged explanatory view illustrating
the structure thereof is shown in FIG. 5B.
[0118] As shown in the figure, each of the universal joints 43a,
43b, 45a, and 45b includes: a cross shaft 43x having two shaft
members 43x.sub.1 and 43x.sub.2 orthogonally crossed and fixed to
each other; a lower plate 43y having on an upper surface thereof a
pair of shaft bearing portions 43y.sub.1 for rotatably supporting
both ends of one shaft member 43x.sub.1; and an upper plate 43z
having on a lower surface thereof a pair of shaft bearing portions
43z.sub.1 for rotatably supporting both ends of the other shaft
member 43x.sub.2. Thus, a member provided to an upper surface of
the upper plate 43z is swingably supported with respect to a member
provided to a lower surface of the lower plate 43y.
[0119] FIG. 5C is an explanatory view illustrating a structure of
the electric linear actuators 44a and 44b.
[0120] As shown in the figure, each of the electric linear
actuators 44a and 44b mainly includes in a cylinder-shaped casing
44.sub.1; a servo motor 44.sub.2; a boll screw shaft 44.sub.3
rotationally driven by the servo motor 44.sub.2; a ball circulation
nut 44.sub.4 screwed by the boll screw shaft 44.sub.3 and
prohibited to rotate together with the boll screw shaft 44.sub.3;
and an operation rod 44.sub.5 integrally fixed to the ball
circulation nut 44.sub.4. The ball circulation nut 44.sub.4
converts a rotational movement of the boll screw shaft 44.sub.3 by
the servo motor 44.sub.2 into a liner movement, thereby driving the
operation rod 44.sub.5 forward and backward in the shaft direction
thereof.
[0121] Accordingly, the swing member 20 is swingably supported by
the universal joints 45a and 45b via the pads 23a and 23b being
driving points, and is driven so as to be vertically moved by the
forward and backward movement of the operation rod 44.sub.5 of the
electric linear actuators 44a and 44b.
[0122] As illustrated, the static determinate maintaining mechanism
50 includes: a support shaft 51 projectingly provided to the
reinforcing frame 23 at a midst position between the pads 23a and
23b being the driving points of the swing member 20; a support
stage 52 provided on a front portion of an upper surface of the
base stage 10 and a guide frame 53 provided on the upper surface of
the support stage 52 with a predetermined slant angle and having a
guide hole 53a, in which the support shaft 51 is rotatably
inserted, for guiding the support shaft 51 only in the vertical
direction.
[0123] Herein, the support shaft 51 is provided in such a manner
that an axial center thereof directs the ball portion 32b being the
fulcrum of the swing member 20. The support shaft 51 is guided by
the guide hole 53a, whereby the degree of freedom of the movement
of the swing member 20 is limited to the vertical movement along
the guide hole 53a of the support shaft 51 (pitching), and the
rotational movement of the swing member 20 about the support shaft
51 (rolling). Thus, static determinate of the swing member 20 is
prevented from being lost while the swing member 20 is driven by
the electric linear actuators 44a and 44b.
[0124] The money processing machine 60 may include: a coin
insertion opening 61 defined in an outer surface of the casing, for
receiving a game fee; and a coin processing unit 62 provided inside
the casing, for detecting an inserted coin and transmitting a coin
detection signal to the control unit 80.
[0125] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of
the control unit 80 of the swing game machine 1.
[0126] As shown in the figure, the control unit 80 includes a main
game board 81, an interface I/O board (JVS I/O BD) 82, a solid
state relay (SSR) control board (relay BD) 83, a swing control
board (MOTION PC) 84, a left drive control circuit 85, a right
drive control circuit 86, an image processing circuit 87, and an
audio sound processing circuit 88.
[0127] Herein, the main game board 81 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and
the like and integrally controls the operation of the game machine
1. To be specific, the CPU expands a game program and a system
program stored in the ROM in advance on the RAM, performs computing
according to an operation signal input from the various operation
members 25a to 25d via the interface I/O board 82 to compute
movement mode and the position of the moving object M in the
virtual space momentarily, and transmits a tilt angle instruction
signal for instructing a pitching angle and a rolling angle of the
swing member 20 to the swing control board 84 based on a result of
the computation. Further, the main game board 81 generates a
drawing command and an audio sound command as tasks for drawing a
performance image and outputting a performance audio sound, and
transmits the commands to the image processing circuit 87 and the
audio sound processing circuit 88, respectively.
[0128] The solid state relay control board 83 generates a safety
signal for instructing to suspend the movement of the electric
linear actuators 44a and 44b in response to a signal from a
detection sensor 28 provided in the vicinity of the game machine 1,
and transmits the signal to the swing control board 84. Examples of
the detection sensor 28 includes a mechanical sensor for detecting
a seatbelt wearing state at the seat 24 and an optical sensor for
detecting that a person is approaching a dangerous portion of the
game machine 1.
[0129] The swing control board 84 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the
like for processing the driving of the swing member 20, and
controls the driving of the electric linear actuators 44a and 44b
according to a swing control program expanded from the ROM onto the
RAM and in response to the signals from the main game board 81 and
the solid state relay control board 83.
[0130] To be specific, the swing control board 84 determines a
rotational direction and a rotational rate of the servo motor
44.sub.2 in the electric linear actuators 44a and 44b in response
to the tilt angle instruction signal from the main game board 81,
and transmits a driving signal for instructing the rotational
direction and the rotational rate to the left and right drive
control circuits 85 and 86. Further, in a case of receiving the
safety signal indicating that a seatbelt is not worn, a person is
approaching a dangerous portion, or the like, the transmittance of
the driving signal to the left and right drive control circuits 85
and 86 is suspended.
[0131] The left and right drive control circuits 85 and 86 control
the rotation of the servo motors 44.sub.2 in the electric linear
actuators 44a and 44b in response to the driving signal from the
interface I/O board 82, thereby controlling the pitching and the
rolling of the swing member 20.
[0132] The image processing circuit 87 performs a drawing
processing of the game image in response to the drawing command
from the main game board 81, which is displayed on the display
device 26. The audio sound processing circuit 88 causes, for
example, left and right speakers 27a and 27b embedded in a backrest
of the seat 24 to output a game audio sound synthesized based on
the audio sound command from the main game board 81.
[0133] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of processing
executed in the main game board 81.
[0134] As shown in the figure, when the money processing machine 60
receives the detection signal indicating insertion of a
predetermined game fee (S11), the main game board 81 starts game
processing (S13 to S17), on receiving a game start operation with
respect to the operation member 25b or 25c or the like (S12).
[0135] In the game processing, the following processing is executed
in every frame-times.
[0136] That is, the main game board 81 checks presence/absence of
an operation signal from the steering rod 25a (S13), and according
to the presence/absence and the content of the signal, determines
the movement mode and the position of the moving object M in the
virtual space (S14).
[0137] Next, the main game board 81 places the moving object M at
the position determined at S14 in the virtual space in which
various objects are arranged to construct a virtual model, and
generates a game image as if the image is drawn from a virtual
viewpoint located at the predetermined position (e.g., behind the
moving object M) (S15). Further, the main game board 81 generates
the tilt angle instruction signal based on the attitude, the
movement mode and the like of the moving object M obtained at S14,
and transmits the signal to the swing control board 84 (S16).
[0138] Then, at S17, whether or not the predetermined gameover
condition is established is detected. In a case of being
established, the game end processing is executed (S18), and in a
case of being unestablished, the processing is returned to 13 in
order to execute the game processing in the subsequent
frame-time.
[0139] FIGS. 8A to 8D are explanatory views illustrating the
various swing modes of the swing member 20 while the game is in
progress.
[0140] FIG. 8A illustrates a swing mode in a case where a raising
operation is performed with respect to the steering rod 25a. In
this case, the operation rods 44.sub.5 of the electric linear
actuators 44a and 44b extend with an identical feeding amount to
thereby drive upward the pads 23a and 23b being the driving points.
As a result, the swing member 20 tilts in a direction in which a
user O faces upward, and at the same time, a vertical position of
the user O is heightened. Accordingly, due to the change of the
posture and the height, the user O can sense a rising feeling
extremely impressively. Further, as a video image showing that the
moving object M is rising is displayed on the display device 26,
the reality of the rising feeling of the user O can further be
enhanced.
[0141] FIG. 8B illustrates a swing mode in a case where a lowering
operation is performed with respect to the steering rod 25a. In
this case, the operation rods 44.sub.5 of the electric linear
actuators 44a and 44b contract with an identical feeding amount to
thereby drive downward the pads 23a and 23b being the driving
points. As a result, the swing member 20 tilts in a direction in
which a user O faces downward, and at the same time, the vertical
position of the user O is lowered. Accordingly, due to the change
of the posture and the height, the user O can sense a lowering
feeling extremely impressively. Further, as a video image showing
that the moving object M is lowering is displayed on the display
device 26, the reality of the lowering feeling of the user O can
further be enhanced.
[0142] Each of FIGS. 8C and 8D illustrates a swing mode in a case
where a right-turning operation or a left-turning operation is
performed with respect to the steering rod 25a. In these cases,
each of the operation rods 44.sub.5 of the electric linear
actuators 44a and 44b extends or contracts in such a manner that
the heights of the pads 23a and 23b are made different to each
other. As a result, the swing member 20 is tilted right or left to
make the user O sense a right-turning feeling or a left-turning
feeling. Further, at the same time, as a video image showing that
the moving object M is turning right or left is displayed on the
display device 26, the reality of the turning feeling of the user O
can further be heightened.
[0143] Note that, in a case where the operation rod 44.sub.5 of one
of the electric linear actuators 44a and 44b is extended by a
predetermined amount and the operation rod 44.sub.5 of the other of
the electric linear actuators 44a and 44b is maintained at a
neutral position, the swing member 20 tilts right or left (rolling)
and at the same time tilts in the direction in which the user O
faces upward (pitching). Accordingly, the user O can sense a
combined feeling of a turning feeling and a rising feeling.
Likewise, in a case where the operation rod 44.sub.5 of one of the
electric linear actuators 44a and 44b is contracted by a
predetermined amount and the operation rod 44.sub.5 of the other of
the electric linear actuators 44a and 44b is maintained at the
neutral position, the swing member 20 tilts right or left (rolling)
and at the same time tilts in the direction in which the user O
faces downward (pitching). Accordingly, the user O can sense a
combined feeling of a turning feeling and a lowering feeling. As
such, the tilt of the swing member 20 can be changed in the various
modes.
[0144] The present invention has been explained by way of the
exemplified embodiments. However, the present invention is not
limited to the above-mentioned embodiments of the present
invention, and various modifications and alterations can be made
within the scope of the claims.
[0145] For example, in the above-mentioned embodiments of the
present invention, description has been made by way of an example
in which the left and right driving points 23a and 23b and the
driving mechanisms 41a and 41b are provided to the front side of
the ball portion 32b. However, the driving points 23a and 23b and
the driving mechanisms 41a and 41b may be provided to the rear side
of the ball portion 32b. In this case, for example, when a raising
operation is performed with respect to the steering rod 25a, the
driving points 23a and 23b are driven downward, and when a lowering
operation is performed with respect to the steering rod 25a, the
driving points 23a and 23b are driven upward. As such, a swing game
machine operating in a similar manner to that of the
above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention can be realized
except that the driving direction of the driving points are
different from that of the above-mentioned embodiments of the
present invention.
[0146] Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments of the present
invention, by adjusting the distance between the seat 24 being the
riding position of the user and the ball portion 32b, the distances
between the ball portion 32b and the driving points 23a and 23b,
the distance between the driving points 23a and 23b, and the like,
the degree of the change of the tilt angle of the swing member 20
by extending or contracting the operation rods 44.sub.5 of the
driving mechanisms 41a and 41b by the same amount, the distance
that the user moves in vertical direction by the tilt of the
pitching of the swing member 20 by the same angle, and the like can
be adjusted.
[0147] Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments of the present
invention, description has been made by way of an example in which
the electric linear actuators 44a and 44b are employed in the
driving mechanisms. However, any arbitrary means can be used to
vertically drive the driving points 23a and 23b. For example, the
driving points 23a and 23b can be driven in a similar manner to
that of the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention by
employing another mechanism such as an oil hydraulic cylinder.
Alternatively, the driving points 23a and 23b can be hung from an
upper position of the game machine 1 and driven by towing or the
like.
[0148] In addition, the shape, the dimension, and the like of the
respective members constituting the swing game machine of the
above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention are merely
described as examples. Any alternative shape and dimension can be
employed to implement the present invention.
* * * * *