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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to electronic video games and more
particularly to game controllers therefor.
Video games are becoming increasingly popular. This popularity is due
primarily to the increasing realism of video games. This realism, in turn,
is due to two primary factors. The first is the availability of
inexpensive, high-performance electronics. In the past, the computational
demands of a realistic video game required expensive electronic hardware
that placed such systems out of the reach of most consumers. Recent
generations of microprocessors such as the ubiquitous Intel 80386 and
80486 microprocessors, however, have made practical, realistic video
games.
Another factor that has lead to the increasing realism of video games is
the availability of advanced game controllers. These advanced game
controllers more closely resemble the look and feel of actual aircraft
control devices. For example, the joystick manufactured by Thrustmaster of
Tigard, Oreg. and sold under the trademark FCS.TM. simulates an actual
F-16 fighter joystick. In addition, this product provides a multiplicity
of discrete input devices such as are found on the actual F-16 joystick.
Thus, when the Thrustmaster F-16 joystick is used in a flight simulator
video game such as Falcon 3.0, the joystick provides accurate feel and
control of the fighter plane. This provides for a more realistic
simulation environment.
Comparable realism is not found in the other main game controller for
flight simulators, i.e., the throttle control. There are other advanced
throttle controllers on the market. For example, the throttle controller
sold and manufactured by Thrustmaster under the trade name WCS provides a
multiplicity of discrete and variable input devices to allow for
individual control of a plurality of various functions. The look and feel
of the WCS throttle controller, however, does not accurately reflect the
actual throttle controller found in fighter planes like the F-16. The main
difference between the WCS throttle controller and the actual throttle
controller is that the throttle stick on the WCS is mounted in the middle
of a base, whereas the actual F-16 throttle is mounted along a sidewall of
the cockpit. As a result, the user of the WCS cannot easily rest his or
her elbow in a stationary position while moving the throttle controller.
Instead, the user must lift his or her elbow to move the throttle
controller through its entire range of motion. This detracts from the
realism of the video game.
There is an additional way in which the throttle controllers, including the
WCS controller, differ from the actual fighter plane throttle controller.
The actual throttle controller includes a clutch plate for adjusting the
resistance of the throttle controller. The clutch plate includes a large
wheel that can be rotated by hand to adjust the resistance encountered in
moving the throttle handle. The clutch plate increases the friction the
throttle arm encounters responsive to moving the throttle handle. This
feature is not replicated on any throttle controllers for video games.
Accordingly, a need remains for a throttle controller for a video game that
more accurately simulates the look and feel of an actual throttle stick.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a side-mounted
throttle controller for a video game.
Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism for adjusting the
resistance in the throttle controller.
A further object of the invention is to provide additional input devices on
the throttle controller.
The throttle controller according to the invention includes a
preferably-rectangular base having a horizontal shaft pivotally mounted
therein. A handle is disposed along one side of the base and connected to
a first end of the shaft for pivotally moving the shaft responsive to
angular movement of the handle. The handle is comprised of two parts. A
radial handle member connected to the shaft and perpendicular thereto and
a handle portion connected to the vertical radial member. The handle
portion extends over the base parallel to the shaft and is adapted to be
grasped by a user's hand. The shaft is journaled in the base by means of a
circular beating or bushing that is received in a beating mount on the
base. The shaft can rotate within the bearing. The side-mounted throttle
controller also includes a potentiometer having a stem connected to the
shaft for sensing the position of the handle. An electrical cable is
connected to the potentiometer for transmitting an electrical signal
corresponding to the sensed position to a computer for input to the video
game.
The side-mounted throttle controller according to the invention preferably
includes a braking mechanism for adjusting the resistance of the handle to
pivotal movement. The braking mechanism includes a braking arm pivotally
mounted on the base and having an arcuate portion frictionally engaged
with the shaft. The braking mechanism also includes an adjustment
mechanism that includes a knob for manually adjusting the braking
mechanism. The knob includes a helical thread for applying pressure to a
distal end of the braking arm responsive to rotation of the knob. The
braking arm includes a compatible helical thread which tides along the
helical thread of the knob as the knob is rotated. Rotation of the knob
thereby causes the downward movement of the distal end of the braking arm
thus increasing the pressure of the arcuate portion of the braking arm
against the shaft. In this manner, the user can adjust the resistance of
the throttle handle.
In another aspect of the invention, a switch mechanism is described which
uses an inexpensive toggle switch to effectively implement a slide switch.
The switch mechanism includes a toggle switch having a stem, a switch
holder having an opening extending therethrough for receiving the stem,
and a switch actuator slidably mounted on the switch holder and which also
includes an opening for receiving the switch stem. The actuator is mounted
in a channel formed on a top side of the switch holder. The switch holder
includes shoulders or flanges for retaining the actuator in the channel.
The switch holder also includes two legs for mounting the switch mechanism
in an opening such as on the throttle control handle. The switch mechanism
operates as a slide switch by toggling the toggle switch through its
successive positions responsive to linear movement of the actuator along
the switch holder channel. In this way, an inexpensive toggle switch can
be used in lieu of an expensive slide switch.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention
will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description
of a preferred embodiment of the invention which proceeds with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the side-mounted throttle controller
according to the invention shown in wire-frame lines to reveal internal
structure.
FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the side-mounted throttle controller
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of the shaft, handle and braking
mechanism of the side-mounted throttle controller of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the throttle controller taken along
lines 4--4 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the throttle controller taken along
lines 5--5 in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the throttle controller taken along
lines 6--6 in FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the throttle controller taken along
lines 7--7 in FIG. 4.
FIG. 8 is an exploded view of one half of the handle portion of the
throttle controller of FIG. 1
FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a second half of the handle portion of the
throttle controller of FIG. 1.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a slide switch mechanism of the throttle
controller of FIG. 1 employing a toggle switch shown in dashed lines.
FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the switch mechanism of FIG. 10.
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the switch mechanism of FIG. 10.
FIG. 13 is a rear elevational view of the switch mechanism of FIG. 10.
FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the switch mechanism of FIG. 10
showing the switch mechanism in a first position.
FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the switch mechanism of FIG. 10
showing the switch in a second position.
FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the switch mechanism of FIG. 10
showing the switch in a third position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now to FIG. 1, a side-mounted throttle controller according to
the invention is shown generally at 10. The controller includes a base 12
adapted to support the controller on a horizontal surface and a handle 14
pivotally mounted on the base. The base is preferably rectangular and
formed in upper and lower portions 12A, 12B (see FIG. 5). The handle
includes a radial member or arm 16 mounted on one side of the base and
extending perpendicular thereto and a handle portion 18 connected to the
member arm 16 and extending horizontally over the base 12. The handle
portion is adapted to be grasped in a user's hand. In the preferred
embodiment, the handle portion is adapted to receive a user's left hand.
Alternatively, the handle portion 18 could be transposed to receive a
user's right hand. However, conventionally the user's right hand is used
to grasp the joystick, which is used in conjunction with the throttle
controller.
The handle 14 is pivotally mounted on the base by means of a horizontal
shaft 20 journaled in the base. The radial member 16 is connected to a
first end of the shaft so that the shaft rotates responsive to angular
movement of the handle. In the preferred embodiment, the radial arm 16 and
the shaft 20 are comprised of a single injection molded piece;
alternatively, the two could be formed separately and connected together
by screws or similar attachment means.
The shaft 20 is mounted in the base 12 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The shaft
is journaled in the base by means of three bearings or bushings 22, 24 and
26. Each of the bearings includes an annular flange or ridge 23 extending
along the outer circumference of the bearing. The ridge is received in a
corresponding bearing mount formed by two opposing sidewalls or webs such
as sidewalls 28A and 28B in FIG. 4, which receives the ridge of bearing
portion 24A. These sidewalls 28A and 28B can either be formed continuously
around the shaft or, alternatively, two sets of sidewalls can be used on
opposing sides of the shaft such as sets 28A, 28B and 30A, 30B, as shown
further in FIG. 7. Bearing 26 is similarly mounted between a third
sidewall 29A and a fourth sidewall 29B, as shown in FIG. 4.
The bearings 24 and 26 are each formed of two semicircular piece: bearing
24 comprised of piece 24A, 24B and bearing 26 comprised of piece 26A, 26B
in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the two respective pieces are joined. together
there is a rectangular portion of the ridge formed on each side of the
bearing (e.g., 25A and 25B in FIG. 3). These rectangular portions are
received in notches formed between the two sets of sidewalls (e.g., 28B
and 30B in FIG. 7) in order to keep the bearing from rotating responsive
to movement of the shaft. These notches can most easily be seen in FIG. 7.
Bearing 26 is similarly constructed and mounted and is therefore not
further described.
The bearing 22 is constructed differently from bearings 24 and 26 because
bearing 22 also serves the dual purpose of retaining the shaft 20 in the
base 12. Bearing 22 is formed in one piece and does not have rectangular
portions protruding from the annular flange. Instead, it includes two
parallel legs 32 and 34 that are received in notches, such as notch 36,
formed at a second end of the shaft 20. When the legs are received in the
notches, the bearing 22 rotates with the shaft when the shaft is rotated.
The sidewalls 38A and 38B, which form the bearing mount for bearing 22
prevent the shaft from moving horizontally, thereby retaining the shaft 20
in the base 12.
The throttle controller 10 also includes the ability to set the handle in
two predetermined conditions. These predetermined conditions can
correspond to desired settings such as for idle or afterburners. These
positions are know as detents. The shaft 20 includes two horizontal ridges
40 and 42, shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. An arcuate spring 44 having a slot
45 bisecting its length for receiving the ridges 40 and 42 is mounted on
the upper wall of the base so that the slot 45 can receive the ridges. One
of the ridges engages the slot when the handle 14 is pivotally moved to
either of the predetermined positions. The spring 44 is supported in a
bowed condition in a pocket in the upper wall of the base. The ridge is
retained in the slot until sufficient pressure is applied to the handle to
release the ridge from the slot, overcoming biasing force of the bowed
spring.
The range of motion of the handle is limited by two stops 46 and 48 mounted
on the radial member 16 at 45 degree offsets from vertical. These stops 46
and 48 limit the angular travel of the handle to a 90 degree quadrant by
abutting against an interior wall of the base 12 when the handle is moved
to the maximum and minimum positions, respectively. The operation of the
stops can clearly be seen in FIG. 5 where the radial member 16 is shown in
broken line with the stop 46 abutting an interior wall 50 when the handle
is in the minimum position.
Referring back to FIGS. 3 and 4, the throttle controller 10 includes a
potentiometer 52 mounted inside the base for sensing the position of the
handle. The potentiometer 52 includes a stem 54 that is received in a
semicircular bore 56 at a second end of the shaft 20. The potentiometer 52
is fixedly mounted on the base 12 so that only the stem rotates responsive
to movement of the shaft. An electrical conductor (not shown) is used to
transmit the potentiometer setting to a printed circuit board, described
hereinafter. The potentiometer setting is then transmitted to a personal
computer or other video game platform (not shown) via a cable 166 shown in
FIG. 1.
The side-mounted throttle controller 10, according to the invention, also
includes a braking mechanism for adjusting the resistance of the handle to
angular movement by the user. The braking mechanism includes a braking arm
58 pivotally mounted on the base 12 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6. The braking
arm 58 includes a pivot pin 60 received in a mount 62 in the top portion
12A of the base, as shown in FIG. 6. The braking arm includes an arcuate
portion 64 which frictionally engages the cylindrical surface of shaft 20.
The braking arm extends tangentially away from the arcuate portion to a
second end 66 having a helical thread 68 formed around a hole at the end
of arm 58. The braking arm 58 further includes a vertical ridge 70
extending therealong, which strengthens the braking arm.
The braking mechanism also includes a rotatable knob 72 rotatably engaged
and aligned with the helical thread 68 of the braking arm 58. The knob is
mounted between the helical thread 68 and an interior cylindrical wall or
receptacle 75 extending downwardly from the top portion 12A of the base.
The cylindrical wall 75 abuts against a concentric cylindrical portion 76
of the knob 72. A pin 78 received within receptacle 75 extends vertically
from the top portion of the base 12A to the second end 66 of the braking
arm through knob 72 to act as a pivot point about which the knob 72
rotates. Surrounding the pin 78 is an optional spring 80 to provide some
downward biasing force. On a bottom side of the knob 72 (not visible in
FIG. 3 but shown in FIG. 7) is a helical thread portion 81 engaged with
the helical thread 68 of the braking arm. The helical thread 81 engages
the helical thread 68 of the braking arm as the knob is rotated thereby
acting as an axial cam. The threads are said to be complementary in that
the entire surfaces can be brought together for minimal downward
displacement of the end 66 of arm 58. As the helical portion 81 of the
knob 72 moves long the helical portion 68 of the braking arm, a downward
pressure is applied to the braking arm 58 thereby causing the arcuate
portion 64 to increase the friction applied to the shaft 20.
The amount of adjustment provided by the knob 72 is determined by the
height of the thread 68 and therefore the helical portion 81. The knob 72
can make one full rotation worth of adjustment. After one complete
rotation of applying increasingly more downward pressure, the helical
portion 81 will snap back to the lowest position. It should be noted that
the knob 72 remains in substantially the same vertical position throughout
the full range of rotational movement thereof and only the braking arm 58
moves responsive thereto.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the base 12 is comprised of two separate pieces:
the top piece 12A and the bottom piece 12B. These two pieces are joined
together by means of screws such as screws 82 and 84. The pieces forming
base 12, in the preferred embodiment, are made of injection molded plastic
so that the screws self-thread into the plastic cylindrical receptacles
formed by the top and bottom base pieces.
Mounted on the base is a printed circuit board 86, a part of which is shown
in FIGS. 5-7. Mounted on the printed circuit board are a plurality of
electrical and electronic components that perform the electrical functions
of the throttle controller. In the preferred embodiment of the throttle
controller, the electronics include a reconfiguration ability which allows
each of the input devices to be reconfigured pursuant to the user's
specification. The electronics and method of operation necessary to
implement this reconfiguration feature are described in commonly assigned
copending application Ser. No. 08/177,625 filed Jan. 5, 1994,
RECONFIGURABLE JOYSTICK CONTROLLER WITH MULTI-STAGE TRIGGER AND
RECALIBRATION incorporated herein by reference. Because the focus of the
invention is on the mechanical structure and operation of the controller,
a discussion of the electronics is omitted.
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the handle portion 18 comprises two separate
pieces: a bottom piece 18A and a top piece 18B. These pieces are formed of
injection molded plastic in order to snap together to form the contiguous
handle portion 18.
The top piece 18B is shown in FIG. 8 and the switch mechanisms mounted
therein are shown in greater detail in FIGS. 10-16. The top piece 18B
includes two openings 88 and 90 for receiving respective switch
mechanisms. Each switch mechanism includes three individual components.
For example, the switch mechanism shown generally at 92 includes a toggle
switch 94, a switch holder 96 and a switch actuator 98. The toggle switch
94 is received in a slot formed by two interior sidewalls or webs and a
rear wall opposite the opening 88. When the switch 94 is received in the
slot, the switch stem 100 extends through the opening 88 to protrude from
the top piece 18B of the handle portion. The switch holder 96 then snaps
into the opening 88 over the stem 100. The switch holder 96 includes a
central opening into which the stem 100 is inserted. The switch holder 96
is retained in the opening 88 by means of two legs 150, 152, described
further below. The switch actuator 98 is slidably mounted in a channel
formed on a top side of the switch holder 96. The actuator 98 also
includes an opening 102 in which the stem 100 is inserted and retained. A
more complete description of the switch mechanism 92 is included herein
below with reference to FIGS. 10-16.
The top piece 18B also includes slots for receiving nuts that are used to
connect the handle portion 18 to the vertical member 16, as shown in FIG.
3. For example, a slot 104 adapted to receive a nut 106 is formed on the
top piece 18B. The web forming slot 104 is open on both sides to allow a
screw to be threaded into the nut 106 when the handle is attached to the
vertical member 16 by means of the screw.
The top piece 18B, as well as the bottom piece 18A, includes a plurality of
cylindrical receptacles for receiving a corresponding guidepost that allow
the two pieces 18A and 18B to be fitted together. For example, bottom
piece 18A includes a guidepost 110 that is received in a cylindrical
receptacle 108 when the two pieces are joined together. Similarly, the top
piece 18B includes guideposts such as guidepost 112 that are received in
corresponding cylindrical receptacles on the bottom piece 18A such as
channel 114. These may be freely varied as suits the designer.
Referring now to FIG. 9, the bottom piece 18A of the handle portion is
shown in an exploded view. The bottom piece 18A is generally similar to
the top piece and complementary thereto except that the bottom piece
includes a plurality of user-actuatable input devices not found on the top
piece. A detent potentiometer 118 is mounted on the lower piece 18A so
that the stem 119 of the potentiometer is received in an opening formed in
a sidewall of the piece. A cap (not shown) is the fitted over the stem 119
to allow the user manually to actuate the potentiometer 118. A flange 123
helps retain the potentiometer in the handle, along with a series of
interior walls that create a slot for receiving the potentiometer.
The bottom piece 18A includes two compound digital and analog input
devices. The first such device includes potentiometer 116 and switch 124.
The potentiometer 116 is mounted on the bottom piece so that its rotatable
stem 117 protrudes from the bottom piece 18A through an opening formed in
a sidewall thereof. A cap 128 is then fitted over the stem to allow the
user to rotate the stem and thereby actuate the potentiometer.
The potentiometer 116 also functions as an actuator arm for a corresponding
push button switch 124 juxtaposed to the potentiometer 116. Thus, when
both the potentiometer and corresponding push button switch are mounted on
the handle portion, the user can depress the cap thereby actuating the
corresponding push button switch. The potentiometer includes a flange 121
that limits the travel of the potentiometer.
The bottom piece also has mounted thereon a trackball mechanism 122. The
trackball mechanism is a conventional trackball mechanism in that it
includes two quadrature encoders that encode the movement of the
trackball. These encoders encode the movement of the trackball in its two
quadrature signals from which the relative movement of the trackball can
be determined. The trackball mechanism 122 is mounted on the handle
portion to be easily accessible by the user's thumb when grasped by the
user's hand. The trackball mechanism also has associated therewith a
discrete switch 126 that is mounted on the lower piece 18A and juxtaposed
to the rear end of the trackball 122. The trackball 122 has a certain
degree of freedom to move within the handle so that a user can actuate the
switch 126 by depressing the trackball. In this way, the trackball
provides for both an analog trackball and a discrete switch.
Finally, the lower piece 18A of the handle portion includes a large 4-way
switch 120 received in an opening 130 formed on the bottom piece 18A. The
opening 130 includes at least one notch such as notch 132 to receive a
corresponding shoulder such as shoulder 134 on the switch 120. To mount
the switch 120 on the bottom piece 18A the shoulder is aligned with the
notch and the button is then inserted into the opening. To retain the
switch in the opening, the switch 120 is then rotated so that the shoulder
134 abuts against the interior of the sidewall of the bottom piece 18A.
Once the input devices are properly mounted on their respective pieces of
the handle portion, the two pieces 18A and 18B are fitted together so that
the guideposts are engaged with the corresponding cylindrical channels.
The friction between the guideposts and the cylindrical receptacles is
sufficient to hold the handle portion together. Once the handle portion is
assembled in the above-described manner, the handle portion is attached to
radial member 16 as shown in FIG. 3. The handle portion 18 is attached to
the radial member 16 by means of screws such as screw 136 (FIG. 3) that
are screwed into the corresponding nuts 106 held in the handle portion.
The radial member 16 also includes a plurality of arches which receive
corresponding notches formed on the handle portion. For example, notch 138
is received in arch 140. After the screws are tightened down, a cover 142
is snapped over the outer side of radial member 16 to cover the heads of
the screws.
Referring now to FIGS. 10-13, the method of construction the switch
mechanism 92 is shown. The switch mechanism 92 effectively emulates an
expensive slide switch using an inexpensive toggle switch 94. The toggle
switch 94 is a multi-position switch so that the switch mechanism 92 has
multiple discrete settings.
The switch holder 96 has a central channel 142 formed on a top side thereof
for receiving the slide actuator 98. The switch holder 96 also includes a
central opening 144 extending from the top side through the bottom side to
allow the switch stem 100 to be inserted therein. The opening 144 must be
large enough to allow the stem 100 to move through its full angular range
of motion when inserted therein. The switch holder has two shoulders 146
and 148 (FIG. 13) extending along respective sides of the channel to
retain the switch actuator 98 in the channel 142. The switch holder 96 is
retained in an opening by means of two parallel legs 150 and 152. Each leg
has a lip (154 and 156) at a distal end thereof for retaining the switch
holder 96 in an opening such as opening 88 in FIG. 8.
The switch actuator 98 is slidably mounted on the switch holder channel
142. The actuator includes a first foot or flange 158 slidably engaged in
the channel beneath the switch holder shoulder 146 and a second foot or
flange 160 slidably engaged in the channel beneath the shoulder 148. This
foot and shoulder combination, along with the switch stem 100, forms a
guideway which retains the actuator 98 slidably in the channel. The
actuator further includes two shoulders 160 and 162 extending over the
shoulders 146 and 148 of the switch holder, respectively, when the
actuator is slidably mounted on the channel. In the preferred embodiment,
the actuator 98 includes a plurality of raised ridges along a top side of
the switch actuator. These ridges allow for easy manipulation of the
actuator 98. The switch actuator also has a central opening formed in a
bottom side thereof to receive the switch stem 100. This allows the switch
actuator to move the stem as the actuator is slid along the channel.
Referring now to FIGS. 14-16, a method of using the switch mechanism is
shown. In FIG. 14, the switch mechanism is in a first position with the
switch actuator slid to its leftmost position. In FIG. 15, the switch
actuator is moved to the right with respect to FIG. 14 to place the switch
at a second position. Finally, in FIG. 16, the actuator is moved to its
rightmost position thereby placing the switch in a third position. Thus,
the switch mechanism 92 effectively emulates an expensive multi-position
slide switch using only a multi-position toggle switch. This technique can
be extended to a multiplicity of different positions depending on the
number of positions of the toggle switch.
Referring again to FIG. 1, the throttle controller 10 includes a cable 166
for connecting the throttle controller to a video game platform. The cable
includes a connector 168 that performs the physical connection. In the
preferred embodiment, this connector is compatible with a keyboard
connector as used on a personal computer. Alternatively, the connector can
be a game card connector as provided by video game cards such as described
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,320 issued to Bouton. Although the throttle
controller is preferably used in combination with personal computer video
games, it is not limited thereto. The invention described herein can be
used in conjunction with a variety of video game platforms such as
Nintendo, Sega, 3DO, etc.
Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in a
preferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the invention can
be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such
principles. We claim all modifications and variation coming within the
spirit and scope of the following claims.
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