Game operating device

Field of the invention

0001The present invention relates to a game operating device. More specifically, the present invention relates to a game operating device in which a housing is held by one hand and, in that state, operating keys and operating switches arranged on an upper surface and lower surface of the housing are operated.

Description of the related arts

0002Conventionally, a typical controller used for playing a game is a controller in which the main body of the controller is held by both hands and the keys are operated with fingers of the both hands.

0003However, there is a problem with such a controller to be held by both hands where the user's both hands are restrained during the operation and thus he/she cannot do anything else than the operation, resulting in inconvenience for him/her.

0004As a controller to address such a problem, there is a controller disclosed in the related art, Japanese Patent Laying-open No. <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="JP2004313492A"><text>2004-313492</text></patcit> [A63F 13/06].

0005The controller disclosed in the related art is a controller to be held by both hands and can be divided into right and left parts as necessary. In the divided state, the user holds only one part and performs an operation by means of only the keys arranged on the one part.

0006The controller described in Japanese Patent Laying-open No. <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="JP2004313492A"><text>2004-313492</text></patcit> is a controller to be held by both hands that is simply divided into two, and its keys are arranged under the assumption that the housing is supported by both hands from the right and left sides. Thus, the controller is not suitable for holding by one hand.

0007More specifically, the operating keys are arranged on the upper surface and side surfaces. The user operates the keys on the upper surface with thumbs and operates the keys on the side surfaces with index fingers and middle fingers, and needs to support the housing with ring fingers and little fingers against the pressure from the operating fingers. This causes a problem that it is difficult to maintain the holding state with stability and a problem that it is hard to support the housing when no key operation needs to be performed and a finger is moved off the key.

0008Moreover, as another problem, configuring the controller as to be operated by one hand brings about a decrease in the number of the keys, which imposes a limitation to a degree of flexibility in performing an input operation. In particular, these problems become more pronounced in a case of playing a game because the user is required to operate many buttons on the controller for manipulating a game character and selecting a command.

Summary of the invention

0009Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel game operating device.

0010It is another object of the present invention to provide a game operating device that can be operated even by one hand in a stable manner.

0011It is still another object of the present invention to provide a game operating device that can be operated by one hand and offers a high degree of operation flexibility.

0012To solve the above mentioned issues, the present invention employs the structure described below. Besides, the reference numerals, supplementary explanations, etc. in parentheses just show the correspondences with the embodiments described later, for helping the understanding of the present invention, and impose no limitations on the present invention.

0013The present invention of claim 1 is a game operating device, comprising: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li>a longitudinal housing having a thickness capable of being held by one hand;</li><li>a direction designating switch provided on a first plane at one end side of said housing along a longitudinal direction;</li><li>a first operating switch provided on a second plane opposed to said first plane of - said housing at a position corresponding to said direction designating switch;</li><li>a holding portion formed between said first switch and another end side of said housing along the longitudinal direction;</li><li>a second operating switch provided on said first plane at a side of said holding portion;</li><li>at least one of a three-axis acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor provided within said housing; and</li><li>an output means for outputting information detected by said at least one of a three-axis acceleration sensor and a gyro sensor as an operating signal, together with an operation signal from at least one of said first operating switch and said second operating switch.</li></ul>

0014Preferably the game operating device further comprises a concave portion formed in the housing, wherein the second operating portion is provided in the concave portion.

0015According to the present invention, it is easy to operate the first operating switch and the second operating switch while holding the controller by one hand, which makes it possible to obtain a novel game operating device with a high degree of flexibility that is capable of being operated only by one hand. In addition, the game operating device of the present invention can be operated with stability by one hand, which allows the user to use the other hand for playing a game or for other purposes.

0016The above described objects and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

0017<ul id="ul0002" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> is a perspective view showing a controller (first controller) forming one embodiment of the present invention, and <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1 (A)</figref> presents a front side, upper side and left side, and <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1 (B)</figref> shows an upper side, rear side and right side.</li><li><figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> is a drawing of a hexahedron indicative of the first controller of this embodiment, excluding a view of a left side, and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (A)</figref> shows a front side, <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (B)</figref> a plane side, <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (C)</figref> a right side, <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (D)</figref> a bottom side, and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (E)</figref> a rear side, respectively.</li><li><figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref> is a side view of the first controller of the embodiment held by one hand.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref> is a front view of the first controller of the embodiment held by one hand.</li><li><figref idref="f0004">Figure 5</figref> is an illustrative view showing the state of <figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref> in which an index finger is taken off an A button.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Figure 6</figref> is a perspective view of the first controller shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> from which an upper housing is removed.</li><li><figref idref="f0005">Figure 7</figref> is a perspective view of the first controller shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> from which a lower housing is removed.</li><li><figref idref="f0006">Figure 8</figref> is a block diagram showing electrical circuit structure of this embodiment.</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Figure 9</figref> is a schematic view of a situation in which a game is played by means of an imaging information arithmetic unit with the use of the first controller of this embodiment.</li><li><figref idref="f0007">Figure 10</figref> is an illustrative view of a situation in which an imaging range of the imaging information arithmetic unit covers the longitudinal direction of the holding portion in alignment with the same.</li><li><figref idref="f0008">Figure 11</figref> is an illustrative view showing a situation in which, because of a relationship between an imaging range (viewing angle) of the imaging device of the first controller and a half-value angle of light intensity of LED module, two LED modules exist concurrently within the viewing angle of the imaging device.</li><li><figref idref="f0008">Figure 12</figref> is an illustrative view showing a situation in which, because of a relationship between an imaging range (viewing angle) of the imaging device of the first controller and a half-value angle of light amount of LED module, only one LED module exists within the viewing angle of the imaging device.</li><li><figref idref="f0009">Figure 13</figref> is a perspective view showing a controller (second controller) constituting another embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0009">Figure 14</figref> is a perspective view showing a combination of the second controller of this embodiment and the first controller of the preceding embodiment.</li><li><figref idref="f0010">Figure 15</figref> is a right side view showing the combination of the second controller of this embodiment and the first controller of the preceding embodiment.</li><li><figref idref="f0011">Figure 16</figref> is an illustrative view showing the case of performing an operation with the combination of the first controller and the second controller.</li><li><figref idref="f0012">Figure 17</figref> is a block diagram showing electric circuit structure with the combination of the first controller and the second controller.</li><li><figref idref="f0013">Figure 18</figref> is a perspective view showing a combination of another second controller constituting another embodiment of the present invention and the first controller.</li><li><figref idref="f0014">Figure 19</figref> is a perspective view showing a combination of still another second controller constituting still another embodiment of the present invention and the first controller.</li><li><figref idref="f0014">Figure 20</figref> is a perspective view showing a combination of further another second controller constituting further another embodiment of the present invention and the first controller.</li><li><figref idref="f0015">Figure 21</figref> is an illustrative view showing a gun-type adapter constituting yet another embodiment of the present invention.</li><li><figref idref="f0015">Figure 22</figref> is an illustrative view of the adapter of <figref idref="f0014">Figure 20</figref> embodiment to which the first controller is attached.</li><li><figref idref="f0016">Figure 23</figref> is an illustrative view showing another embodiment of the first controller, and <figref idref="f0016">Figure 23 (A)</figref> shows a layout of operating switches, in particular, on an upper surface thereof, and <figref idref="f0016">Figure 23 (B)</figref> denotes a right side thereof</li><li><figref idref="f0017">Figure 24</figref> is an illustrative view showing the imaging device of the first controller of <figref idref="f0016">Figure 23</figref> that is correctly faced toward a screen of a display.</li><li><figref idref="f0018">Figure 25</figref> is an illustrative view showing still another embodiment of the first controller.</li><li><figref idref="f0019">Figure 26</figref> presents further another embodiment of the first controller, and <figref idref="f0019">Figure 26 (A)</figref> is a perspective view showing a rear side, upper side and left side, and <figref idref="f0019">Figure 26 (B)</figref> is a perspective view showing a bottom side, front side, plane side and right side.</li><li><figref idref="f0020">Figure 27</figref> is a drawing of a hexahedron excluding a view of a left side, and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (A)</figref> shows a front side, <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (B)</figref> a plane side, <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (C)</figref> a right side, <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (D)</figref> a bottom side, and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (E)</figref> a rear side, respectively.</li><li><figref idref="f0021">Figure 28</figref> is a perspective view showing the first controller shown in <figref idref="f0019">Figure 26</figref> and <figref idref="f0020">Figure 27</figref> from which the upper housing is removed.</li><li><figref idref="f0022">Figure 29</figref> is a side view of the first controller of this embodiment held by one hand.</li><li><figref idref="f0023">Figure 30</figref> is a front view of the first controller of this embodiment held by one hand.</li><li><figref idref="f0023">Figure 31</figref> is an illustrative view showing the state of <figref idref="f0022">Figure 29</figref> in which the index finger is taken off the B button.</li><li><figref idref="f0024">Figure 32</figref> is a top view of the first controller of this embodiment that is held and operated by both hands.</li></ul>

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

0018A controller 10 of one embodiment of the present invention shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> includes a longitudinal housing 12 molded of plastic or metal, for example. The housing 12 has a required depth and includes a lower housing 14 having a shape of a flat rectangle with a top-surface opening and an bottom, an upper housing 16 assembled integrally with the lower housing 14 in such a manner as to close up the top-surface opening of the lower housing 14, and in particular, has a cross-section rectangle on the whole as shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (A) and Figure 2 (E)</figref>.

0019The housing 12 has a holding portion 18 and is of size capable of being held by one hand of an adult or child on the whole. Its length L (<figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (D)</figref>) in a longitudinal direction (a direction along a center line C1 shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (B)</figref>) is set at 8 to 15cm, for example, and its width (orthogonal to the longitudinal direction C1) W (<figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (D)</figref>) is set at 2 to 4cm, for example, respectively.

0020Alternatively, the shape of the housing 12 is not limited to a longitudinal shape with a plane rectangle and may be a longitudinal shape with a plane oval or the like. Likewise, its cross-section shape is not limited to a rectangle and may be a circle or other polygons.

0021A flat main surface of the upper housing 16 constitutes an upper surface 20 of the housing 12. As can be seen well from <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1 (A)</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (B)</figref> in particular, the upper surface 20 of the housing 12 is a rectangle extending along the longitudinal direction of the housing 12. Also, the upper surface 20 is equivalent to a first plane, and a surface or main surface 22 of the lower housing 18 is equivalent to a second plane opposed to the first plane 20. The second plane 22 is approximately parallel with the first plane 20. Besides, an upward direction is assumed to be forward (side of one end) and a downward direction is assumed to be backward (side of the other end) in the longitudinal direction C1 of the housing 12.

0022A power switch 24 is provided on the upper surface 20 of the housing 12, on the slightly right side of the center in a width direction of the upper surface 20 (indicated by the center line C1 in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (B)</figref>) in the vicinity of the housing front end (one end). The power switch 24 is intended to turn on or off an electric power source to a game machine 112 (<figref idref="f0007">Figure 9</figref>) by a remote operation.

0023Besides, in this embodiment, a power switch for turning on or off the controller 10 itself is not provided. The controller 10 is turned on by operating any one of the operating switches of the controller 10, and is automatically turned off if no operation is performed for a predetermined period of time or more.

0024A direction switch 26 is provided on the width-direction center line C1 of the upper surface 20, forward of the longitudinal-direction center of the housing 12 (indicated by a center line C2 in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (B)</figref>). The direction switch 26 is a combined switch of four-direction push switches and center switch, and includes operating portions 26F, 26B, 26R and 26L for four directions indicated by arrows, forward (or up), backward (or down), right and left, and also includes a center switch 128. The operating portions 26F, 26B, 26R and 26L are arranged on a single key top, in a shape of a ring with a turn of 90 degrees among them. By operating any one of them, one of contacts (not shown) which are arranged in a shape of a polygon corresponding individually to these operating portions 26F, 26B, 26R and 26L is selectively turned on, thereby selecting any one of the directions of upward, downward, right and left. For example, by operating any one of the operating portions 26F, 26B, 26R and 26L, one of those contacts is turned on to make it possible to designate a movement direction of a character or object (player character or player object) capable of being operated by a game player or to designate a movement direction of a cursor.

0025The center switch 128 is a single push-button switch and may be used as a so-called B button. As is well known, the B button 128 can be used for changing the game mode selected by means of a select switch 32 described later, canceling the action decided by means of an A button described later, and so on.

0026Besides, as is well known, such a combined switch as described in relation to the embodiment is highly utilized for cellular telephones and the like (see http://www.jpo.go.jp/shiryou/s_sonota/hyoujun_gijutsu/small_switch/b-6-2.htm, for example), and thus a more detailed description of it is omitted.

0027As stated above, the direction switch 26 of the embodiment includes the contacts (not shown) arranged in the shape of a polygon (rectangle or rhombus) as to indicate individual directions (the four directions in the embodiment) so that these contacts are operated by means of the operating portions 26F, 26B, 26R and 26L formed on a single key top. Alternatively, the operating portions 26F, 26B, 26R and 26L may be provided as individual key tops so that one contact is operated by means of each corresponding key top.

0028In addition, the direction switch 26 may be a cross key or a joystick. In the case of the direction switch 26 as a joystick, an arbitrary direction and position can be designated by turning its tip end 360 degrees in an arbitrary direction or deflecting the same.

0029As can be seen well from <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (B)</figref>; a start switch 30 and a select switch 32 having key tops arranged in a shape of the Japanese KATAKANA character "<img file="EP1985343B1_D0001.tif" />" with the width-direction center line C1 of the housing 12 between them are provided on the supper surface 20, backward of the direction switch 26. The start switch 30 is used for starting (re-starting) and pausing a game and the like. The select switch 32 is used for selecting a game mode, etc.

0030Additionally, the start switch 30 and the select switch 32 may be provided in an arbitrary layout such as one transverse line and one vertical line, not limited to the shape of the Japanese KATAKANA character "<img file="EP1985343B1_D0002.tif" />" presented in relation to the embodiment.

0031A concave portion 34 is formed on the second plane 22 of the lower housing 14, at a position approximately corresponding to the position of the direction switch 26. The concave portion 34 is a concave formed so as to reach from one end of the other of the second plane 22 in a width direction, as can be understood from <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> (C'). Additionally, strictly speaking, the concave portion 34 of this embodiment is formed slightly forward of the direction switch 26, as can be seen from a contrast between <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (B) and Figure 2 (C)</figref>. The concave portion 34 is formed at a position where, when the player holds the controller 10, i.e., the holding portion 18 of the housing 12 by one hand as described later, the index finger of the same hand naturally falls. Therefore, a width of a valley 36 of the concave portion 34 (in the longitudinal direction of the housing 12) is formed in a size that allows the index finger to come into there. The concave portion 34 has two inclined surfaces 38 and 40 rising from the valley 36. The former inclined surface 38 is formed with a rise from the valley 36 toward the rear of the housing 12, and conversely, the latter inclined surface 40 is rising from the valley 36 toward the front of the housing 12.

0032An A button 142 is provided on the inclined surface 38 on the rear side of the concave portion 34 of the lower housing 14. The A button 142 is provided at a position corresponding to the direction switch 26. Here, the corresponding position means a position where the direction switch 26 and the A button 142 are arranged close to each other as viewed through from the upper surface of housing 12, and more preferably, the direction switch 26 and the A button 142 are arranged in such a manner as to be at least partially overlapped. As can be seen well from the illustration, the bottom of the valley 36 is on a plane approximately parallel with the upper surface 20, i.e., the first plane of the housing 12, and the rear inclined surface 38 on which the A button 142 is arranged is formed between the bottom parallel surface of the valley 36 and the holding portion 18 formed on the rear (other) side of the housing 12 described earlier. Also, the A button 142 is a push switch having a switch contact (not shown) and a key top for turning on or off the switch contact, and the key top is provided so as to move in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 38. Therefore, as described later, the player can turn on the A button 142 just by putting his/her index finger or middle finger in the concave portion 34 and pulling it toward him/her. That is, the index finger or the middle finger can be positioned in the concave portion 34, which makes it possible to operate the A button 142 quickly and reliably when needed.

0033Besides, the A button 142 allows a player character or a player object to perform an arbitrary action such as punching, throwing, capturing (obtaining), riding and jumping. For example, in an action game, the A button 142 makes it possible to designate jumping, punching and manipulating a weapon, etc. Also, in a role-playing game (RPG) or simulation RPG, the A button 142 makes it possible to designate the obtainment of an item, the selection and decision of a weapon and a command, and so on.

0034In addition, the above stated holding portion 18 is formed on the housing, backward of the concave portion 34, i.e., the A button 142. As described later, in using the controller 10, the controller 10, i.e., the housing 12 is held in such a manner that the player's palm of one hand wraps the holding portion 18. At that time, the player can hold stably the holding portion 18 only by one hand because the controller 10, i.e., the housing 12 is of a size or thickness capable of being held by one hand.

0035Moreover, the key top of the A button 142 is turned on by pushing it in the direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 38, that is, the direction toward the holding portion 18. The inclined part 38 is not perpendicular to the upper surface of the housing 12, that is, the first plane 20 and, in the end, the key top of the A button 142 is pushed in a direction not perpendicular to the upper surface 20. On the contrary, the B button 128 and the direction switch 26 are turned on by pushing them in the direction perpendicular to the upper surface 20 of the upper housing 16. These push directions mean directions in which the index finger and the thumb can apply pressure naturally in holding the holding portion 18. This makes it possible to support a periphery of the operating portion continuously by the thumb and the index finger during the operation while holding the holding portion 18, and perform the operation in the stable holding state at any time.

0036Furthermore, an X button 44 and a Y button 46 are arranged on the width-direction center line C1 and backward of the longitudinal-direction center C2 of the housing 12, in a straight line with a spacing between the two. These X button 44 and Y button 46 are used to make adjustments to view point position and view point direction in displaying a three-dimension game image, that is, make adjustments to a position and a field angle of a virtual camera.

0037A battery cover 48 is detachably attached to the lower housing 14 forming the holding portion 18, and a battery 78 shown in <figref idref="f0005">Figure 7</figref> is stored inside the battery cover 48. Thus, the controller 10 operates with the battery 78 as a power source. In addition, the battery cover 48 can be detached by removing an engagement pawl 50 from the lower housing 14.

0038As stated above, the battery 78 as a relatively heavy matter is stored within a range of the holding portion 18 of the housing 12, and thus a center of gravity G (<figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (B)</figref>) is reliably contained within the range of the holding portion 18. This makes it possible to perform stably the displacement or movement of the controller 10 while holding the holding portion 18.

0039An infrared imaging device 56 forming one part of an imaging information arithmetic unit 54 described later in detail is arranged on a front-end surface 52 (<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (A)</figref>) of the housing 12, and a 32-pin edge connector 60 is provided on a rear-end surface 58 (<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (E)</figref>) of the housing 12, for example. The connector 58 is used to attach and connect the controller of this embodiment (the first controller) 10 to another second controller (described later), and so on.

0040The controller 10 structured in such a manner can be held by one hand of the game player (not shown). <figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref> and <figref idref="f0004">Figure 4</figref> show a state in which the player holds the controller 10 by his/her hand. Referring to these drawings, a player's palm 62P and balls of middle finger 62c, ring finger 62d and small finger 62e of one hand 62 (right hand in the drawings) hold the holding portion 18 of the housing 12 in such a manner as to wrap the holding portion 18 lightly. In the state, a thumb 62a of the hand 62 is positioned on the direction switch 26 and an index finger 62b is positioned in the valley 36 of concave portion 34 of the lower housing 14. More specifically, the direction switch 26 is arranged at a position reached by the thumb 62a of the hand 62 holding the housing 12, that is, at a position capable of being operated by the thumb 62a. The A button 142 is arranged at a position reached by the index finger 62b of the hand 62 holding the housing 12, that is, at a position capable of being operated by the index finger 62b. Accordingly, the player can operate the direction switch 26 by the thumb 62a and operate the A button 142 by the index finger 62b while holding the housing 12 by the hand 62. More specifically, the index finger 62b of the hand 62 is positioned in such a manner as to make contact with a surface of the valley 36 of the above stated concave portion 34 formed in the lower housing 14. By bending the index finger 62b toward him/her (rightward in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref>) in that state, the user can push the key top of the A button 142 by the ball of the index finger 62b in a direction perpendicular to the near-side inclined surface 38 of the concave portion 34. Consequently, the player can operate the A button 142 by the index fmger 62b while holding the housing 12 by the hand 62.

0041Besides, the same applies if the holding hand 62 is a left hand.

0042In addition, the A button 142 is described above as being operated by the index finger 62b. Alternatively, by further providing an A2 button (not shown) of the same shape as the A button backward of the A button 142, the housing 12 may be held by the palm 62P and the balls of the ring finger 62d and small finger 62e so that the A button 142 can be operated by the index finger 62b and the A2 button 32 by the middle finger 62c, respectively.

0043As stated above, the controller 10 of this embodiment, under the state of being held by one hand, allows the first operating portion (the direction switch 26 in the embodiment) and the second operating portion (the A button 142 in the embodiment) to be easily operated. That is, the controller 10 of this embodiment makes it possible to operate each of the operating portions with stability while holding the controller 10 by one hand. Therefore, the player can use the other hand for playing a game or for another purpose. Moreover, since it can be held only by one hand, the controller 10 can be handled more freely as compared with the case of holding by the both hands. As a consequence, it is possible to perform smoothly the carrying, movement or displacement of the controller 10.

0044Additionally, in the controller 10 of this embodiment, the position of the first operating portion, for example, the direction switch 26 provided on the upper surface 20 of the housing 12 and the position of the second operating portion, e.g., the A button 142 provided on the lower surface of the housing 12 correspond to each other on the upper and lower surfaces 20 and 22 of the housing 12 so that the housing 12 can be caught by the thumb and the index finger (or middle finger) operating these portions, resulting in further stable operations. For example, when the direction switch 26 is operated by the thumb 62a, the housing 12 is supported from underneath by the index finger 62b or the middle finger 62c positioned in the concave portion 34 for operating the A button 142, which makes it possible to push the direction switch 26 by the thumb 62a in a stable manner. Likewise, when the A button 142 is operated by the index finger 62b or the middle finger 62c, the housing 12 is supported from above by the thumb 62a for operating the direction switch 26, which make it possible to push the A button 142 by the index finger 62b or the middle finger 62c with stability.

0045Furthermore, in this embodiment, the center of gravity G of the controller 10 falls a cross point of the width-direction center line C1 and the longitudinal-direction center line C2 shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (B)</figref> or a vicinity thereto. The position of the center of gravity G is contained in a range of the holding portion 18, as can be seen well from <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref>. Therefore, when the controller 10 is held at the holding portion 18, the holding hand 62 (<figref idref="f0005">Figure 6</figref>) supports the position of the center of gravity G, which allows the holding state to be maintained with greatly high stability. Thus, it is possible to perform further smoothly the movement, carrying or displacement of the controller 10 for the imaging information arithmetic unit.

0046<figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref> shows a state that the index finger 62b presses the A button 142. When it is not necessary to press the A button 142, the index finger 62b may be moved off the A button 142 (the same applies to the middle finger 62c). That is, as shown in <figref idref="f0004">Figure 5</figref>, by pushing the index finger 62b (or the middle finger 62c) against the front-end inclined surface 40 of the concave portion 34, it is possible to make the housing stable in the state that the A button 142 is released from the index finger 62b (the middle finger 62c). Consequently, it is not necessary to change the state of holding the housing 12 (change a holding manner), depending on whether to press the A button 142 or not.

0047<figref idref="f0005">Figure 6 and Figure 7</figref> illustrate the state that the upper housing 16 is removed from the controller 10 and the state that the lower housing 14 is removed from the controller 10, respectively. As shown in <figref idref="f0005">Figure 6</figref> indicating the removal of the upper housing 16, a substrate 64 is attached to an upper end of the lower housing 14 in such a manner as to seal the upper opening of the lower housing 14. The above described power switch 24, direction switch 26, start switch 30, select switch 32, X button 44 and Y button 46 are mounted on an upper main surface of the substrate 64, and they are connected to a processor 66 (<figref idref="f0006">Figure 8</figref>) constituting a controller circuit by means of appropriate wiring (not shown).

0048Moreover, an acceleration sensor 68 and a wireless module 70 are assembled on the upper main surface of the substrate 64, between the direction switch 26 and the X button 44, for example, between the start switch 30 and the select switch 32.

0049The acceleration sensor 68 is preferably a three-axis linear accelerometer that detects linear acceleration along each of an X axis, Y axis and Z axis. Alternatively, a two-axis linear accelerometer that only detects linear acceleration along each of an X axis and Y axis (or other pair of axes) may be used in another embodiment depending on the type of control signals desired. As a non-limiting example, the three-axis or two-axis linear accelerometer 68 may be of the type available from Analog Devices, Inc. or STMicroclectronics N.V. Preferably, the acceleration sensor 68 is an electrostatic capacitance or capacitance-coupling type that is based on silicon micro-machined MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) technology. However, any other suitable accelerometers technology (e.g., piezoelectric type or piezoresistance type) now existing or later developed may be used to provide the three-axis or two-axis acceleration sensor 68.

0050As one skilled in the art understands, a linear accelerometer, such as acceleration sensor 68, is only capable of detecting acceleration along a straight line corresponding to each axis of the acceleration sensor. In other words, the direct output of the acceleration sensor 68 is limited to signals indicative of linear acceleration (static or dynamic) along each of the two or three axes thereof. As a result, the acceleration sensor 68 cannot directly detect movement along a non-linear (e.g. arcuate) path, rotation, rotational movement, angular displacement, tilt, position, attitude or any other physical characteristic.

0051However, through additional processing of the linear acceleration signals output from the acceleration sensor 68, additional information relating to the housing 12 can be inferred or calculated, as one skilled in the art will readily understand from the description herein. For example, by detecting static linear acceleration (i.e., gravity), the linear acceleration output of the acceleration sensor 68 can be used to infer tilt of the object relative to the gravity vector by correlating tilt angles with detected linear acceleration. In this way, the acceleration sensor 68 can be used in combination with the processor 66 (or another processor) to determine tilt, attitude or position of the housing 12. Similarly, various movements and/or positions of the housing 12 can be calculated or inferred through processing of the linear acceleration signals generated by the acceleration sensor 68 when the housing 12 containing the acceleration sensor 68 is subjected to dynamic accelerations by, for example, the hand of a user. In another embodiment, the acceleration sensor 68 may include an embedded signal processor or other type of dedicated processor for performing any desired processing of the acceleration signals output from the accelerometers therein prior to outputting signals to processor 66. For example, the embedded or dedicated processor could be used to convert the detected acceleration signal to a corresponding tilt angle when the acceleration sensor is intended to detect static acceleration (i.e., gravity).

0052In this embodiment, the acceleration sensor 68 and processor 66 function as a position and/or attitude determining means for determining the position and/or attitude of the controller 10 held by the player with his/her hand. By outputting information on the position and/or attitude through conversion of the acceleration signal output from the acceleration sensor 68, in addition to operation signals from the direction switch 26, the A button 142, etc. and obtaining operation signals for position or attitude at the game machine side, it is possible to perform game operations with a high degree of flexibility.

0053As stated above, by arranging the acceleration sensor 68 within the housing 12 so that the acceleration detected by acceleration sensor 68 can be used to determine the attitude and position of the housing 12, i.e. the controller 10, the player can easily change the position and attitude of the controller 10 by moving (turning) the wrist of his/her hand while holding the holding portion 18 of the housing 12 by that hand described above with reference to <figref idref="f0003 f0004">Figure 3 to Figure 5</figref>. Therefore, according to the controller 10 of this embodiment, it is possible to utilize not only operation signals from the operating switches 24 to 32, 44, 46 and 128 of the controller 10 but also the position and attitude of the controller 10 as controller data, allowing further higher degrees of operations.

0054Moreover, the acceleration sensor 68 is provided within the housing 12 of the holding portion 18, and in the course of nature, the thumb is placed on the direction switch 26 and the index finger is placed on the A button 142, and the remaining fingers support the holding portion. Thus, no variations occur among individuals in the way to hold the controller 10, which makes it possible to perform high-precision detection without variations under predetermined criteria. That is, the above mentioned turning operation of the wrist may result in a displacement of a rotational axis due to its rotation. Also, since right-handed rotation and left-handed rotation are asymmetrical, there is a possibility of causing an error. However, by providing the acceleration sensor 68 within the housing 12 of the holding portion 18 as in this embodiment, the displacement of the rotation axis due to its rotation is reduced with a decreased possibility of detection errors.

0055Additionally, in the embodiment, the acceleration sensor 68 is set up within a range of the holding portion 18 of the housing 12 (<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>). This brings about an advantage that the position and/or attitude determining means can determine the position and/or the attitude with high accuracy. Besides, the position and/or attitude determining means may be arranged at another position within the housing 12 according to the purpose. For example, as the position and/or attitude determining means is moved backward of the housing 12, the amount of change in position and/or attitude due to the displacement of the housing 12 becomes smaller. On the contrary, as the means is moved forward of the housing 12, the amount of change in position and/or attitude due to the displacement of the housing 12 becomes larger. Consequently, the position and/or attitude determining means may be arranged at the most appropriate position according to required performance.

0056In another exemplary embodiment, the acceleration sensor 68 may be replaced with a gyro-sensor of any suitable technology incorporating, for example, a rotating or vibrating element. Exemplary MEMS gyro-sensors that may be used in this embodiment are available from Analog Devices, Inc. Unlike the linear acceleration sensor 68, a gyro-sensor is capable of directly detecting rotation (or angular rate) around an axis defined by the gyroscopic element (or elements) therein. Thus, due to the fundamental differences between a gyro-sensor and an linear acceleration sensor, corresponding changes need to be made to the processing operations that are performed on the output signals from these devices depending on which device is selected for a particular application. Due to the fact that the nature of gyroscopes is known to one skilled in the art, as well as the fundamental differences between linear accelerometers and gyroscopes, further details are not provided herein so as not to obscure the remainder of the disclosure. While gyro-sensors provide certain advantages due to their ability to directly detect rotational movement, linear acceleration sensors are generally more cost effective when used in connection with the controller applications described herein.

0057An antenna pattern 72 is formed on the upper main surface of the substrate 64, and the controller 10 is provided as a wireless controller by the means of the antenna pattern 72 and the above mentioned wireless module 70. More specifically, the operation signals from the above stated individual switches and buttons 24 to 32, 44, 46 and 128, and the detection data (detection signal) from the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 and acceleration data (acceleration signal) from the acceleration sensor 68 are modulated in the wireless module 70 to weak radio wave signals, and the modulated weak radio wave signals are emitted from the antenna pattern 72. Accordingly, the game machine (not shown), by receiving the weak radio waves and performing demodulation and decoding on them, can obtain the operation signals from the above stated individual switches and buttons 24 to 32, 44, 46 and 128, and the detection data from the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 and the detected acceleration data from the acceleration sensor 68. Then, the game machine makes the game progress, based on the signals, data and game programs obtained in such a manner.

0058In addition, a crystal oscillator 74 provided on the upper main surface of the substrate 64 is intended to generate a basic clock of a computer or processor 66 (<figref idref="f0006">Figure 8</figref>) contained in the controller 10.

0059As shown in <figref idref="f0005">Figure 7</figref> in which the lower housing 14 is removed, the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 is attached to an edge of the front end on the lower main surface of the substrate 64, and the connector 60 is attached to an edge of the rear end thereof. The imaging information arithmetic unit 54 has the above mentioned infrared imaging device 56 and an image processing circuit 76 for processing image data imaged by the imaging device (imaging means) 56.

0060Additionally, the above described A button 142 is attached to the lower main surface of the substrate 64 backward of the imaging information arithmetic unit 54, and the aforesaid battery 78 is stored further backward thereof. A vibrator 80 is attached to the lower main surface of the substrate 64, between the battery 78 and the connector 60. The vibrator 80 may be a vibrating motor or solenoid, for example. The vibrator 80 creates vibrations in the controller 10, and the vibrations are transmitted to the player's hand 62 (<figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref>) holding it, which realizes a vibration-ready game. Consequently, it is possible to provide the player with a vibratory stimulus.

0061Besides, as stated above, arranging the vibrator 80 on the opposite side of the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 in the longitudinal direction of the housing 12 would decrease the possibility that the vibrations from the vibrator 80 affect adversely imaging by the imaging information arithmetic unit 54. That is, a longest distance can be secured between the vibrator 80 and the imaging information arithmetic unit 54, which makes it possible to prevent the imaging element of the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 from being blurred as much as possible.

0062Besides, in changing the direction of imaging with the imaging means or imaging device 56, the player may hold the holding portion 18 of the housing 12 by one hand and move the wrist of the hand in that state, as already described with reference to <figref idref="f0003 f0004">Figure 3 to Figure 5</figref>. At that time, the imaging means 56 is provided at the front end of the housing 12, the thumb is placed on the direction switch 26 and the index finger is placed on the A button 142 in the course of nature, and the remaining fingers support the holding portion. This makes it possible to perform an imaging operation under predetermined uniform criteria, independent of variations among individuals in the way to hold the controller 10.

0063Here, referring to <figref idref="f0006">Figure 8</figref>, a description is given as to electric circuit structure of the controller 10 of the embodiment.

0064The imaging information arithmetic unit 54 has the infrared imaging device 56 and the aforesaid image processing circuit 76 for processing image data imaged by the imaging device 56. As illustrated, the imaging device 56 includes a solid imaging element 561 such as a CMOS sensor and a CCD. An infrared filter (a filter permeable to infrared rays only) 562 and a lens 563 are arranged frontward of the imaging element 561. Accordingly, the imaging device 56 generates image data through detection of infrared rays alone. In addition, the image processing circuit 76 processes the infrared image data obtained from the imaging device 56, senses a high-intensity portion, detects the portion's center-of-gravity position and area, and outputs the data on them. The data on the position and area of the high-intensity portion is input from the image processing circuit 76 to the processor 66. Moreover, the operation signals from the aforementioned switches and buttons 24 to 32, 44, 46 and 128 are input into the processor 66. In addition, the three-axis or two-axis acceleration data (acceleration signal) from the acceleration sensor 68 is also input into the processor 66.

0065Based on the operation signals from the operating switches 24 to 32, 44, 46 and 128, the processor 66 detects which one of the operating switches and operating buttons is being operated from time to time. The operation data is output as a sequence of controller data together with the acceleration data and the high-intensity portion data, and is input into the wireless module 70. The wireless module 70 modulates a carrier wave of predetermined frequency with the controller data, and emits the weak radio wave signal from the antenna 72.

0066Besides, the signals and data input through the connector 60 provided at the rear end of the controller 10 are also input into the processor 66, and processed by the processor 66 as with the aforementioned signals and data, provided as controller data to the wireless module 70, and then output as a weak radio wave signal from the controller 10 in the same manner.

0067Additionally, the processor 66 may be independent from the wireless module 70, and, in using a wireless module based on Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, etc., it may be contained as a microcomputer in the module.

0068In order to play a game using the controller 10 in a game system 100, a player 102 holds the controller 10 (the housing thereof) by one hand 62, as shown in <figref idref="f0007">Figure 9</figref>. Then, the player 102 faces the imaging device 56 (<figref idref="f0006">Figure 8</figref>) of the aforementioned imaging information arithmetic unit 54 at the front end of the controller 10 toward a screen 106 of a display 104. At that time, two LED modules 108A and 108B are set up in a vicinity of the screen 106 of the display 104. Each of the LED modules 108A and 108B outputs infrared rays. Meanwhile, the infrared filter 562 (<figref idref="f0006">Figure 8</figref>) is incorporated into the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 of the controller 10 held by the player, as described above.

0069The image processing circuit 76 (<figref idref="f0006">Figure 8</figref>) of the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 obtains information on the positions and areas of the LED modules 108A and 108B as high-intensity point information, by processing the taken image containing the infrared rays. Data on the positions and magnitudes of the intensity points is transmitted from the controller 10 to a game machine 112 by radio (weak radio waves), and received by the game machine 112. When the player moves the controller 10, i.e. the imaging information arithmetic unit 54, the data on the intensity point positions and magnitudes is changed. By taking advantage of this, the game machine 112 can obtain an operation signal corresponding to the movement of the controller and make the game progress according to that.

0070In this manner, the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 can image a marker (an infrared light from the LED in the embodiment) and obtain an operation signal according to a change in the position of the marker in the taken image. This allows coordinate direct input and rotational input to the screen, unlike operations with the operating switches, operating keys or operating buttons which are manipulated with fingers. However, the principle of the imaging information arithmetic unit is well known as described in Japanese Patent No. <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="JP3422383B"><text>3422383</text></patcit>, and thus a more detailed explanation on it is omitted here. Besides, motion tracking means an analysis of the movement of an object or camera (the controller 10 here) with a specific mark or pattern as a target in the screen (image).

0071<figref idref="f0007">Figure 10</figref> is a schematic view of the controller 10 illustrated in detail in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref>, for example. As depicted in <figref idref="f0007">Figure 10</figref>, the holding portion 18 is set up near a one end of the longitudinal direction of the housing 12 of the controller 10, that is, a one end of the direction along the width-direction center line C1, and the imaging device 56 is installed at the other end of the housing 12, on the center line C1 and on the opposite side of the holding portion 18. Accordingly, as shown in <figref idref="f0003">Figure 3</figref>, a straight line (the width-direction center line C1) passing through the palm 62P of the hand 62 holding the holding portion 18 is in alignment with the direction of designation by the imaging device 56, which brings about an advantage that it is easy to recognize the direction in which the imaging device 56 is faced. More specifically, since the direction of imaging by the imaging device 56 (corresponding to a direction in which a viewing angle C described later is faced) is in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the housing 12, it is possible to grasp the direction of designation by the imaging device 56 through intuition while holding the housing 12. Here, the longitudinal direction of the housing 12, in the case of a rectangular housing as with the embodiment, is represented by the width-direction center line C1, for example. In addition, when the thumb is placed in the center of the direction switch 26, for example, and the holding portion 18 is held by the palm and the other fingers as shown in <figref idref="f0022">Figure 29</figref> described later, the direction of imaging by the imaging device 56 denotes a direction in which the thumb is faced.

0072Besides, the LED modules 108A and 108B shown in <figref idref="f0007">Figure 9</figref> and the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 of the controller 10 have viewing angles A, B and C, respectively. In the embodiment, the viewing angles A and B are equal to each other and they are 34° (half-value angle), for example, and the viewing angle C is 41°, for example. Additionally, in tracking operation, when the two LED modules 108A and 108B exist within the viewing angle C of the imaging device 56 as shown in <figref idref="f0007">Figure 10</figref>, the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 detects the movements of the imaging information arithmetic unit 54, i.e. the controller 10, by using the information on the positions and magnitudes of high-intensity points from the two LED modules 108A and 108B.

0073However, when only one LED module 108A or 108B exists within the viewing angle C of the imaging device 56 as shown in <figref idref="f0008">Figure 11</figref>, the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 detects the movement of the controller 10 by using the information on the position and magnitude of high-intensity point from only one of the two LED modules 108A and 108B.

0074The above described controller 10 sufficiently carries out the functions as a game operating device by itself. Furthermore, as in an embodiment described below, it is possible to make the controller 10 cooperate with another controller (or an adapter).

0075In the embodiment represented in <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012">Figure 13 to Figure 17</figref>, a second controller 200 shown in <figref idref="f0009">Figure 13</figref> and the first controller 10 of the embodiment described earlier are employed. More specifically, the second controller 200 includes a transverse housing 202, unlike the longitudinal housing 12 of the first controller 10. Left and right sides of the transverse housing 202 function as holding portions 204 and 206, respectively. The holding portion 204 is wrapped and held by the palm of the left hand 63, and the holding portion 206 is wrapped and held by the palm of the right hand 62, as illustrated in <figref idref="f0011">Figure 16</figref>. That is, the holding portion 204 is a left-hand holding portion and the holding portion 206 is a right-hand holding portion. The same thing applies to a different embodiment of <figref idref="f0013 f0014">Figure 18 to Figure 20</figref>. In addition, a surface of the holding portion 204 and a surface of the holding portion 206 are located in the same plane, and form together an upper surface 203 of the housing 202 shown in <figref idref="f0009">Figure 14</figref> and <figref idref="f0010">Figure 15</figref>.

0076A receiving portion 208 is formed between the left-hand holding portion 204 and right-hand holding portion 205 of the housing 202. The receiving portion 208 is a concave portion for accepting the housing 12 of the first controller 10. The receiving portion 208 has a shape with opened front surface and upper surface, and its inner shape is similar to the outer shape of the housing 12 (<figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (E)</figref>) in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the first controller 10, and is slightly larger in dimensions than the same. More specifically, a width Wa of the receiving portion 208 is equal to or slightly larger than the width W of the housing 12 of the first controller 10 shown in <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (D)</figref>, and a depth D 1 of the same is almost equal to the thickness T of the housing 12 (<figref idref="f0002">Figure 2 (A) and (E)</figref>). However, a length D2 of depth of the same is set in correspondence with the length of the holding portion 18 of the housing 12 of the first controller 10 clearly illustrated in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>, for example. That is, the depth D2 of the receiving portion 208 is equal to or slightly longer than or slightly shorter than the length of the holding portion 18 of the first controller 10 (in the longitudinal direction of the first controller).

0077Additionally, although not illustrated with precision, a connector 210 to be connected with the connector 56 provided to the first controller 10 is arranged in a back of the receiving portion 208. Since the connector 56 of the first controller 10 is a male connector, the connector 210 of the second controller 200 is a female connector.

0078A well-known analog joystick 212 and direction switch (digital joystick) 214 are arranged on the upper surface of the left-hand holding portion 204 of the housing 202 of the second controller 200. Also, an A button 216 and B button 218 are provided on the upper surface of the right-hand holding portion 206, and an X button 220 and Y button 222 are provided so as to surround the slightly larger A button 216. Moreover, a joystick 224 is provided for changing a position, i.e. view point of a virtual camera while a three-dimensional game image is displayed in the display screen 106 (<figref idref="f0007">Figure 9</figref>). The functions and actions of the A button 216 and B button 218 are the same as those of the A button 142 and B button 128 of the first controller 10. The X button 220 is used to change an angle of gaze around an X axis of the virtual camera, for example, and the Y button 222 is used for changing an angle of gaze around the Y axis, for example.

0079The housing 12 of the first controller 10 is inserted from its other end (rear end) thereof into the opening of the front surface of the receiving portion 208 of the second controller 200. Then, the housing 12 is pushed into until the connector 56 of the first controller 10 is connected to the connector 210 of the receiving portion 208. By doing that, the first controller 10 is combined with the second controller 200, as shown in <figref idref="f0009">Figure 14</figref>.

0080In the state of a combination of the first controller 10 and the second controller 200, the holding portion 18 of the first controller 10 is almost buried in the receiving portion 208, as can be seen well from <figref idref="f0009">Figure 14</figref> and <figref idref="f0010">Figure 15</figref> in particular. This is because the depth of the receiving portion 208 is set as to be equal to or slightly longer than or slightly shorter than the length of the holding portion 18. Accordingly, the center of gravity of the first controller 10 is supported by the second controller 200, and thus the first controller 10 can be stably supported by the second controller 200.

0081Moreover, the width of the receiving portion 208 is set as to be equal to or slightly longer than the width of the housing 12 of the first controller 10, and the depth of the same is formed so as to be equal to or slightly longer than the thickness of the housing 12. Thus, when the first controller 10 is inserted into or attached to the receiving portion 208 of the second controller 200, no rattle occurs between the first controller 10 and the second controller 200. In addition, as can be well understood from <figref idref="f0010">Figure 15</figref>, the upper surface 20 of the housing 12 of the first controller 10 is flush with the upper surface 203 of the housing 202 of the second controller 200, and thus the first controller 10 never protrudes from the surface of the second controller 200 or interferes with the operation of the second controller 200.

0082When the first controller 10 and the second controller 200 are combined to each other, the player holds the holding portions 204 and 206 of the housing 202 of the second controller 200 by the left hand 63 and the right hand 62, respectively, as shown in <figref idref="f0011">Figure 16</figref>. In that state, there is no need for using all the operating switches and buttons of the first controller 10 but a few of them. However, the wireless transmission function of the firs controller 10 and the function of the imaging information arithmetic unit can be used as they are.

0083When the first and second controllers 10 and 200 are combined with each other as shown in <figref idref="f0009">Figure 14</figref> and <figref idref="f0010">Figure 15</figref>, the electric circuit structure is as shown in <figref idref="f0012">Figure 17</figref>. More specifically, in <figref idref="f0012">Figure 17</figref>, the operating switches 212 to 224 are the operating switches and buttons of the second controller 200, and operation signals from these operating switches 212 to 224 are input from the connector 210 through the connector 56 into the processor 66 of the first controller 10. Accordingly, the processor 66 processes the operation signal from the second controller 200 in the same manner as the operating signals from the first controller 10, and inputs them as controller data into the wireless module 70. Therefore, the operating signals from the individual switches and buttons 212 to 24 of the second controller 200 can be wirelessly transmitted as controller data via weak radio waves from the wires module 70 through the antenna 72. As a consequence, the combination of the first controller 10 and second controller 200 functions as a wireless controller.

0084In addition, the imaging information arithmetic unit 54 of the first controller 10 is never affected by the combination of the first controller 10 and the second controller 200. Thus, by displacing the housing 202 of the second controller 200 held by both hands as shown in <figref idref="f0011">Figure 16</figref> from side to side or up and down, it is possible to play a game with the use of the function of the imaging information arithmetic unit of the first controller 10.

0085Besides, in the state where the first controller 10 and the second controller 200 are combined with each other, the first operating portion is typically the aforesaid direction switch 26 of the first controller 10, and the second operating portion is the A button 142 in the same sense. The third operating portion is the joystick 212 and the direction switch 214 provided in the left-hand holding portion 204 of the second controller 200. The fourth operating portion is the A button 216, etc. provided in the right-hand holding portion 206 of the second controller 200. However, the correspondences of the third operating portion and the fourth operating portion may be exchanged. In either case, the third operating portion and the fourth operating portion can be operated by the thumb 63a of the left hand 63 and the thumb 62a of the right hand 62, as shown in <figref idref="f0011">Figure 16</figref>.

0086As described above, in the first controller 10, the first operating portion (the direction switch 26) is arranged at a position that can be operated by the thumb 62, and the second operating portion (the A button 142) is arranged at a position that can be operated by the index finger 62b or the middle finger 62c when the first controller 10 is held at the holding portion 18. Thus, in the first controller 10, it is a little hard to operate the X button 44 and the Y button 46 provided within a range of the holding portion 18. On the contrary, in the second controller 200, the X button 220 and the Y button 222 are both provided in the right-hand holding portion 206 of the housing 202 and are easy to operate by the thumb 62a in the state that the holding portion 206 is held by the right hand 62 (<figref idref="f0011">Figure 16</figref>).

0087As stated above, it is possible to make the one-handed first controller 10 easier to operate by one hand by arranging a minimum required number of operating switches or keys therein. However, the aforementioned X button 44 and Y button 46, for example, may need to be operated with considerable frequency depending on the kind of a game. In the first controller 10, the X button 44 and the Y button 46 are not necessarily easy to operate because they are provided in the range of the holding portion 18. That is, the player may be dissatisfied with the first controller 10 alone due to difficulty of operating the X button 44 and the Y button 46. In this case, by combining the second controller 200 and the first controller 10, it is possible to prevent the player from having such dissatisfaction because the X button 220 and the Y button 222 of the second controller 200 are easy to operate.

0088In addition, the joystick 212 and the direction switch 214 are arranged as direction designation means in the second controller 200 as well. Meanwhile, the joystick 212 and the direction switch 214 are provided in the left-hand holding portion 204 of the housing 202 and easy to operate by the thumb 63a in the state that the holding portion 204 is held by the left hand 63 (<figref idref="f0011">Figure 16</figref>). Accordingly, when the first and second controllers 10 and 200 are combined with each other, the direction designation means also becomes easy to operate. Moreover, the direction switch 26 is originally provided in the first controller 10 at an easy-to-operate position, the direction designation means to be used with a relatively high frequency has easy operability in both the cases of the first controller 10 is used singly and in combination with the second controller 200.

0089Besides, in the embodiment of <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012">Figure 13 to Figure 17</figref>, the A button 216, the B button 218, the X button 220 and the Y button 222 are arranged in the right-hand holding portion 206 of the second controller 200. Alternatively, in the case of this embodiment, it is possible to eliminate the A button 216 and the B button 218 from the second controller 200 so that only the X button 220 and the Y button 222 are arranged in the second controller 200.

0090That is, even when the first controller 10 and the second controller 200 are combined with each other, the A button 142 and the B button 128 (<figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>) can be operated. without hindrance, and thus it is possible to eliminate some operating switch(es) and operating button(s) with duplicate functions from the second controller 200, resulting in cost reduction. On the other hand, the X button 44 and the Y button 46 of the first controller 10 becomes hard in some degree to operate at the time of the controller combination, and the functions of these buttons are covered by the operating switches (buttons) separately provided in the second controller 200. This would eliminate the inconvenience of operation resulting from the controller combination.

0091An embodiment shown in <figref idref="f0013">Figure 18</figref> is the same as the embodiment shown in <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012">Figure 13 to Figure 17</figref> except that the operating switches provided on upper surface of the right-hand holding portion 206 of the housing 202 of the second controller 200 are slightly different from those of the embodiment shown in <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011">Figure 13 to Figure 16</figref>. A duplicate description is omitted below, with assignment of the same reference numerals to similar operating switches or operating buttons. In the embodiment of <figref idref="f0013">Figure 18</figref>, provided on the upper surface of the right-hand holding portion 206 of the housing 202 are the A button 216, the B button 218, the X button 220, the Y button 222, a C button 226, and a D button 228. The A button 216 and the B button 218 have the same functions as those of the A button 216 and the B button of the above described embodiment. The X button 220, the Y button 222, the C button 226 and the D button 228 realize the equivalent functions of the joystick 224 of the preceding embodiments.

0092Besides, in the embodiment of <figref idref="f0013">Figure 18</figref>, the A button 216 and the B button 218 may be eliminated from the right-hand holding portion 206 of the second controller 200 so that only the X button 220 and the Y button 222 are arranged in the second controller 200, as in the case of the embodiment of <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012">Figure 13 to Figure 17</figref>. This makes it possible to achieve cost reduction and prevent a decrease in operability at the time of the controller combination.

0093An embodiment of <figref idref="f0014">Figure 19</figref> is identical with the embodiment of <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012">Figure 13 to Figure 17</figref> and the embodiment of <figref idref="f0013">Figure 18</figref> except for a point described below. Specifically, in both the embodiment of <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011">Figure 13 to Figure 16</figref> and the embodiment of <figref idref="f0013">Figure 18</figref>, the housing 202 has a sufficient width (in the longitudinal direction of the first controller 10) and thus the holding portion 18 of the first controller 10 is almost buried in the housing 202 of the second controller 200. On the contrary, in the embodiment of <figref idref="f0014">Figure 19</figref>, the width of the housing 202 is slightly smaller as compared with the embodiment of <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011">Figure 13 to Figure 16</figref> and the embodiment of <figref idref="f0013">Figure 18</figref>, most part of the holding portion 18 of the first controller 10 is exposed from the housing 202. Accordingly, this embodiment is slightly unstable as compared with the preceding embodiments. However, the upper surfaces 20 and 203 of the respective housings 12 and 202 of the first controller 10 and second controller 200 are flush with each other as in the cases of the preceding embodiments.

0094Since the width of the housing 202 is slightly shorter, the joystick 212 provided in the left-hand holding portion 204 of the housing 202 of <figref idref="f0013">Figure 18</figref> embodiment is omitted and some changes are made to the switches of the right-hand holding portion 206 in this embodiment. In this embodiment, only the A button 216, the B button 218, the X button 220 and the Y button 222 are arranged in the right-hand holding portion 206.

0095Besides, in the embodiment of <figref idref="f0014">Figure 19</figref>, the A button 216 and the B button 218 of the right-hand holding portion 206 of the second controller 200 may be eliminated so that only the X button 220 and the Y button 222 are arranged in the second controller 200, as in the case of the embodiment of <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011 f0012">Figure 13 to Figure 17</figref>. This makes it possible to achieve cost reduction and prevent a decrease in operability with the controller combination.

0096An embodiment of <figref idref="f0014">Figure 20</figref> is the same as the embodiment of <figref idref="f0014">Figure 19</figref> except for a point described below. Specifically, as with the <figref idref="f0014">Figure 19</figref> embodiment, the holding portion 18 of the first controller 10 protrudes or is exposed longer from the housing 202 of the second controller 200 as compared with the embodiment of <figref idref="f0009 f0010 f0011">Figure 13 to Figure 16</figref> and the embodiment of <figref idref="f0013">Figure 18</figref>. Thus, also in this embodiment, only the A button 216 and the B button 218 are provided in the right-hand holding portion 206 of the housing 202. Alternatively, these buttons 216 and 218 may function as X button and Y button, not as A button and B button.

0097Shown in <figref idref="f0015">Figure 21</figref> is a gun-type adapter 300. The adapter 300 has a butt 302 for holding by hand, as with general gun-type controllers. The butt 302 is provided with a trigger 306 surrounded by a trigger guard 304. A gun barrel 308 extends from the butt 302 through a magazine. Besides, the gun barrel 308 can be detached by a connector 310 with respect to the butt 302.

0098In addition, by pulling out the gun barrel 308 from the connector 310 and inserting the connector 60 of the controller 10 into a connector 310, the first controller 10 can be attached instead of the gun barrel 308. In this case, it is possible to make the shooting game more interesting by allowing the trigger 306 to be used in place of the A button 142 of the controller 10.

0099In the first controller 10 of an embodiment shown in <figref idref="f0016">Figure 23</figref>, the operating switches and buttons 24 to 32, 44, 46 and 128 are changed in shape and layout as compared with the embodiment of <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref>. The direction switch 26, in particular, employs not the combined switch of <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> embodiment but a direction switch formed of a cross key frequently used in game machines. The cross key, i.e. the direction switch 26 may be identical with the direction switch 214 of the second controller 200. Also, in the first controller 10 of this embodiment, the start switch 30 and the select switch 32 are arranged in a sideway line, not arranged in the shape of the character "<img file="EP1985343B1_D0003.tif" />" as with the preceding embodiments.

0100Moreover, a plurality of (four in this embodiment) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 821, 822, 823 and 824 are provided at one end (front end) of the upper surface 20 of the controller 10 of this embodiment,. Light from the LEDs 821 to 824 can be visually recognized from outside, but they are buried in the upper surface 20 of the housing 12 and thus do not appear to protrude in <figref idref="f0016">Figure 23 (B)</figref>. Alternatively, it is absolutely acceptable that they are arranged so as to appear to protrude. When the first controller 10 transmits a radio wave signal as a controller signal (controller data), these LEDs 821 to 824 indicate the number of the controller because the LED corresponding to the controller number is turned on.

0101For example, when the game machine 112 shown in <figref idref="f0007">Figure 9</figref> is designed to accept four controllers at a time, each of four game players uses the first controller 10. The selective lighting of the LEDs 821 to 824 allows each of the users to ascertain which is his/her own controller, out of the first to fourth ones. When the LED 821 of his/her controller 10 is turned on, for instance, the player can understand that the controller is assigned as first controller.

0102Additionally, in the embodiment of <figref idref="f0016">Figure 23</figref>, the front-end surface 52 of the housing 10 is formed as an inclined surface, not a surface orthogonal to an axis along the longitudinal direction of the housing 12, unlike the preceding embodiments. Also, the imaging device 56 of the imaging information arithmetic unit is attached to the inclined front-end surface, and thus a central axis in the imaging range of the imaging information arithmetic unit, i.e. the imaging device 56 crosses obliquely the axis along the longitudinal direction of the housing 12. Accordingly, the housing 12 can be inclined on the whole by holding the housing 12 at the holding portion 18 and facing the inclined front-end surface 52, i.e. the imaging device 56 straight toward the screen 106 of the display 104. Consequently, according to this embodiment, the player may feel less tiredness on his/her hand in operating the controller 10 in his/her chair, for example.

0103That is, in the preceding embodiments, the front-end surface of the housing 12 is orthogonal to the axis along the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, in facing the imaging device 56 attached thereto straight toward the screen 106, it is necessary to hold the controller 10 in such a manner that the upper surface 20 of the housing 12 is faced upward and that the axis is in a horizontal state. Also, in that state, the imaging device 56 needs to be brought to a place within the screen 106. In that case, the wrist of the hand holding the holding portion 18 may be under too much tension. On the contrary, in the embodiment of <figref idref="f0016">Figure 23</figref>, the imaging device 56 can be faced straight toward the screen 106 even while holding the housing 12 by the wrist at a natural angle or in a natural state. This makes it possible to reduce the tiredness on the player's wrist without causing excessive stress on it.

0104Based on the same idea, as with an embodiment shown in <figref idref="f0018">Figure 25</figref>, a front end 12H of the housing 12 of the controller 10 is separated from another part and is attached to a front end of the other part by means of a shaft 84. By doing this, since the front end 12H can be folded in such a manner as indicated by dotted lines if required, an imaging surface of the imaging device 56 of the imaging information arithmetic unit is displaced according to that, as shown in <figref idref="f0018">Figure 25</figref>. Thus, as with the embodiments shown in <figref idref="f0016">Figure 23</figref> and <figref idref="f0017">Figure 24</figref>, the effect of reducing wrist tiredness can be expected. Besides, if this is not required for the embodiment of <figref idref="f0018">Figure 25</figref>, the front end 12H may be in an upright state (a state indicated by solid lines in <figref idref="f0018">Figure 25</figref>) according to the axis along the longitudinal direction.

0105<figref idref="f0019 f0020 f0021">Figure 26 to Figure 28</figref> represents still another embodiment of the first controller 10. The controller 10 of this embodiment is identical with the controller of the embodiment shown in <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> and <figref idref="f0002">Figure 2</figref> except for points described below. Duplicate descriptions are omitted below with assignment of the same reference numerals to the same or similar components.

0106The controller 10 of this embodiment also includes the housing 12 of a longitudinal and cross rectangular shape or a shape close thereto that is structured by the lower housing 14 and the upper housing 16. Also, the holding portion 18 of a size or thickness capable of being held by one hand is formed at the rear end of the housing 12. In addition, the direction switch 26 is arranged on the upper surface 20 of the housing 12, at the side (front end) opposite to the holding portion 18 in the longitudinal direction C1 (<figref idref="f0020">Figure 27</figref>). Besides, in this embodiment, the direction switch 26 is a so-called cross key, not a combined switch such as that of the <figref idref="f0001">Figure 1</figref> embodiment. Additionally, the A button 42 is provided below (near the rear end) of the cross key, i.e. the direction switch 26, at center of the housing 12 in a width direction. In the preceding embodiments, the A button 42 is provided in the concave portion 34 on the bottom surface 22 of the housing 12, and in this embodiment, the A button 42 is changed so as to be arranged on the upper surface 20 of the housing 12. This is intended to allow the A button 42 to be operated by the thumb quickly and reliably because the A button 42 is operated more frequently than the B button 28, as can be well understood from <figref idref="f0022">Figure 29</figref> described later, for example. The direction switch 26 and the A button 42 correspond to the first operating portion in this embodiment. Accordingly, the direction switch 26 and the A button 42 are a key top pushed in a direction orthogonal to the first plane 20 and a push switch having contacts (not shown) operated by the key top.

0107Moreover, in this embodiment, as understood well from <figref idref="f0020">Figure 27(C)</figref> especially, a height H1 from the first plane 20 of the key top of the cross switch, i.e. the direction switch 26 is made higher as compared with a height H2 from the first plane 20 of the key top of the A button 42. That is, the direction switch 26 is set to be higher than the A button 42. This aims to prevent the A button 42 from being pushed by accident while the cross key, i.e. the direction switch 26 is operated.

0108The start switch 30 and the select switch 32 are arranged in one straight line in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (width direction), and also a menu switch 86 is provided between them. The menu switch 86 is used to select a menu item of a game to be executed by means of the controller 10 (for example, a one-person play mode, a match-up mode, etc.) and to switch the game mode instantly to the menu to be provided immediately after the startup of the game machine or the like. The center of the menu switch 86 is aligned with that of the A button 42 in the width direction of the housing 12, and the start switch 30 and the select switch 32 are arranged at positions with uniform spacing at left and right from the menu switch 86 (i.e. the A button 42).

0109With such a button layout as mentioned above, in manipulating the controller 10 with the right hand, for example, the player can operate the select switch 32 quickly just by sliding the thumb placed on the A button 42 without having to bending the thumb. Additionally, in the case of operation with the left hand, the start switch 30 is a switch suitable for a quick operation in the same manner. Accordingly, it is possible to perform a quick operation regardless of whether the user is right-handed or left-handed, by making a change to the assignments of the select switch 32 and the start switch 30 through the use of a software program or the like.

0110Besides, the menu switch 86 and the power switch 24 are provided in such a manner as to be caved in or buried in holes formed on the upper surface 20 of the housing 12 so that they are invisible from a side view as shown in <figref idref="f0020">Figure 27 (C)</figref>. These switches 24 and 86 are caved because, although they may be operated only on specific occasions such as the time of starting the game, operating these switches by accident during the game would cause some inconvenience such as data loss, and thus these switches are designed to be capable of being intentionally operated at the game start but incapable of being unconsciously operated during the game.

0111Furthermore, in the controller 10 of this embodiment, the LEDs 821 to 824 for indicating the controller numbers are provided as with the controller of <figref idref="f0016">Figure 23</figref>. However, the LEDs 821 to 824, of <figref idref="f0016">Figure 23</figref> embodiment are provided at one end (front end) of the housing 12, whereas those of this embodiment are arranged at the other end (rear end) of the housing 12.

0112The concave portion 34 is formed on the lower surface 22 of the housing, at a position approximately corresponding to the position of the above mentioned direction switch 26, on the side opposite to the holding portion 18 in the longitudinal direction. In the preceding embodiments, the concave portion 34 has the valley 36 with a plane parallel to the first plane 20, and in this embodiment, the concave portion 34 has no valley and includes the first inclined surface 38 and the second inclined part 40 that have gentle inclination. Also, the B button 28 is provided on the first inclined surface 38 extending in the direction of the holding portion 18. In addition, the B button 28 is provided at a position corresponding to the direction switch 26 and the A button 42 forming the first operating portion. Besides, the corresponding position denotes a position where the B button 28 is arranged close to the direction switch 26 and the A button 42 when viewed through the upper surface of the housing 12.

0113Besides, the A button is arranged on the lower surface of the housing in the preceding embodiments, whereas the A button 42 of this embodiment is arranged at a position easier to press as compared with the center switch of the preceding embodiments. Thus, this button is assumed to be the frequently-used A button and the switch on the lower surface 22 of the housing is assumed to be the B button, which makes button operations to be easier.

0114Additionally, in this embodiments, the B button 28 corresponds to the second operating portion. The B button 28 therefore has a key top to be pushed in a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 38 but non-perpendicular to the first plane 20, and a contact (not shown) turned on or off by the key top.

0115Moreover, in this embodiment, an angle of inclination of the second inclined surface 40 extending toward the front end 52 of the housing 12, with respect to the first plane 20 is set as to be smaller than an angle of inclination of the first inclined surface 38 with respect to the first plane 20, as can be well understood from <figref idref="f0019">Figure 26</figref> and <figref idref="f0020">Figure 27 (C)</figref>. That is, the second inclined surface 40 has gentle inclination as compared with the first inclined surface 38. In this manner, by making the second inclined surface 40 more gentle in inclination than the first inclined surface 38, there are such advantages that it is easier to hold the controller with both hands as shown in <figref idref="f0024">Figure 32</figref> described later and it is possible to take the index finger properly off the B button 28 because the finger can be sufficiently moved in the direction of the takeoff.

0116Furthermore, as can be understood from <figref idref="f0021">Figure 28</figref>, because of a layout of the start switch 30, the menu switch 86 and the select switch 32 arranged in one horizontal straight line, in this embodiment, the wireless module 70 is arranged on the right side of the housing 12 in the width direction. Also, the power switch 24 is provided on the left side of the housing 12 of the substrate 64 in the width direction, in contrast to the preceding embodiments, and the antenna pattern 72 is arranged at the front end on the right side of the substrate 64 in the width direction. As stated above, by arranging the antenna pattern 72 at the front end on the right side of the housing 12 in the width direction, there is such an advantage that, even in the case of holding with both hands as shown in <figref idref="f0024">Figure 32</figref>, the emission of weak radio waves from the antenna 72 is not affected by the hands holding the housing 12, that is, the controller 10. That is, the antenna pattern 72 is arranged on the side opposite to the hands holding the controller 10, in the width direction of the housing 12.

0117Besides, in the embodiment of <figref idref="f0019 f0020 f0021">Figure 26 to Figure 28</figref>, the switch provided in the concave portion 34 on the lower surface of the housing 12 is the B button 28. Alternatively, the B button 28 may be replaced with an operating means having the functions of the Z button. In addition, the Z button is used as a trigger switch in a shooting game, for example, and also operated on occasions when a non-player object is to be targeted by a player object (a so-called Z-targeting feature), etc.

0118<figref idref="f0022">Figure 29</figref> and <figref idref="f0023">Figure 30</figref> show the state that the controller 10 such structured as stated above is held by the game player's hand. Referring to these drawings, the palm 62P and the balls of middle finger 62c, ring finger 62d and small finger 62e of the player's right hand 62 hold the holding portion 18 of the housing 12 in such a manner as to wrap the holding portion 18 lightly. In the state, the thumb 62a of the hand 62 is positioned on the direction switch 26, and the index finger 62b is positioned in the concave portion 34 of the lower housing 14. Specifically, the direction switch 26 is arranged at a position reached by the thumb 62a of the hand 62 holding the housing 12, that is, at a position capable of being operated by the thumb 62a. The B button 28 is arranged at a position reached by the index finger 62b of the hand 62 holding the housing 12, that is, at a position capable of being operated by the index finger 62b. Accordingly, the player can operate the direction switch 26 by the thumb 62a and operate the B button 28 by the index finger 62b while holding the housing 12 by the hand 62. More specifically, the index finger 62b of the hand 62 is positioned in such a manner as to make contact with the surface of the second inclined surface 40 having gentle inclination in the front-end direction of the above stated concave portion 34 formed in the lower housing 14. By bending the index finger 62b toward him/her (rightward in <figref idref="f0022">Figure 29</figref>) in that state, the user can push the key top of the B button 28 by the ball of the index finger 62b in a direction perpendicular to the near-side inclined surface 38 of the concave portion 34. Additionally, in the case of this embodiment, the A button 42 is to be operated by the thumb 62a of the one hand 62 as with the direction switch 26, as can be seen well from <figref idref="f0022">Figure 29</figref> in particular. That is, in this embodiment, the direction switch 26 is operated by extending the thumb 62a and the A button 42 is operated by bending the thumb 62a. As a consequence, both the direction switch 26 and the A button 42 are operated by the thumb 62a. Thus, the thumb 62a may also be placed in an operation-waiting state (rest state) on the A button 42, not on the direction switch 26.

0119<figref idref="f0022">Figure 29</figref> shows a state that the B button (or the Z button) 28 is pushed by the index finger 62b. When it is not required to push the B button 28, the index finger 62b (or the middle finger 62c) may be taken off the B button 28. More specifically, by placing the index finger 62b (or the middle finger 62c) on the second inclined surface 40 of the concave portion 34, it is possible to make the index finger 62b (the middle finger 62c) stable in the state of being separated from the B button 28. Thus, there is no need for changing the state of holding the housing 12 (passing the housing 12 from one hand to the other) depending on whether or not to push the B button (or Z button) 28.

0120As described above, the controller 10 of this embodiment makes it easy to operate the first operating portion (the direction switch 26 and the A button 42 in the embodiment) and the second operating portion (the A button 42 in the embodiment) while holding the controller 10 by one hand. That is, in the controller 10 of this embodiment, it is possible to operate the individual operating portions in a stable manner while holding the controller 10 by one hand, which brings about a highly favorable effect of allowing the other hand to be used for playing a game or for another purpose, and which also makes it possible to perform operations in a state of holding by both hands. <figref idref="f0024">Figure 32</figref> shows the state of holding by both hands. Additionally, in this embodiment, the A button 42 is arranged at a place on the holding portion in vicinity of the direction switch 26. Moreover, the B button 28 is arranged at the back of the area in which the direction switch 26 and the A button 42 are arranged (in other words, slightly rearward of the immediate back of the direction switch 26), which makes it easy to operate the A button 42 and the B button by one hand in a stable manner. Furthermore, as stated above, since the direction switch 26 is in a higher position than the A button 42, it is possible to make the A button hard to press by mistake.

0121In the case of holding by both hands, as shown in <figref idref="f0024">Figure 32</figref>, the front end of the housing 12 is held by the left hand 63, and the rear end of the housing 12 is held by the right hand 62. At that time, with commonality between the right hand and the left hand, the controller 10, i.e. the housing 12 is held in such a manner that the upper surface 20 (<figref idref="f0020">Figure 27</figref>) is retained by the balls of the thumbs 62a and 63a and the bottom surface 22 (<figref idref="f0020">Figure 27</figref>) is supported by the sides of the index fingers 62b and 63b. Accordingly, the direction switch 26 and the A button 42 are operated by the ball of the thumb 63a of the left hand 63, and the B button 28 (<figref idref="f0019">Figure 26</figref> and <figref idref="f0020">Figure 27</figref>) is operated by the tip of the index finger 63b of the left hand. Also, the X button 44 and the Y button 46 are operated by the thumb 62a of the right hand 62.

0122However, in the case of holding by both hands, the manner in which the controller is held, and the hands and fingers to operate the individual operating switches and operating buttons are not limited to the example of <figref idref="f0024">Figure 32</figref>. Thus, for example, it is possible to operate the A button 42 by reaching out the thumb 62a of the right hand 62 or the like. Besides, holding in such a manner as shown in <figref idref="f0024">Figure 32</figref> would prevent radio emission through the antenna 72 (<figref idref="f0021">Figure 28</figref>) from being affected by the holding hand.

0123Although the present invention has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.