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US 5,656,901 AGranted
Reaction force generating apparatus
AssigneeKokusai Dengyo Co., Ltd.
InventorKoji Kurita
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AssigneeKokusai Dengyo Co., Ltd.
InventorKoji Kurita
Estimating the term…
A reaction force generating apparatus is provided which generates a reaction force for a rotationally operated member to be manually or mechanically operated. An alternating motor is provided that has a stator with three-phase coils; a rotor including permanent magnets; and a rotational axle extending from the center of the rotor and having a rotationally operated member attached to its one end. A direct voltage is supplied to the three-phase coils of the alternating motor, thereby producing a magnetic field on the stator. The magnetic field is oriented in one direction and cooperates with the permanent magnets to generate an electromagnetic attraction force for maintaining the operated member in a predetermined angular position. When the operated member is moved, a torque, or reaction force, is generated to restore the initial position of the operated member.
A reaction force generating apparatus for providing a reaction force for a rotationally operated member, said apparatus comprising:
A reaction force generating apparatus for providing a reaction force for a rotationally operated member, said apparatus comprising:
A reaction force generating apparatus for providing a reaction force for a rotationally operated member, said apparatus comprising:
A method of generating a reaction force for a rotationally operated member, comprising the steps of:
A method of generating a reaction force for a rotationally operated member, comprising the steps of:
A method of generating a reaction force for a rotationally operated member, comprising the steps of:
A reaction force generating apparatus for providing a reaction force for a rotationally operated member, said apparatus comprising:
A reaction force generating apparatus for providing a reaction force for a rotationally operated member, said apparatus comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
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Responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating…
Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles: specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g.…
Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode: driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
For teaching control of vehicles or other craft: for teaching control of land vehicles
Term ended 21 Apr 2015 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
This invention relates to a reaction force generating apparatus which generates a rotational reaction force for a rotational member that is either manually or mechanically operated.
Various reaction force generating apparatuses have been conventionally incorporated into driving game machines that simulate driving. Specifically, in such driving game machines, the vehicle on the screen turns right or left when a player rotates a steering wheel of the game machine. The steering wheel is provided with a reaction force, so that the player feels as if he or she is actually driving a vehicle.
In order to provide a reaction force for steering wheel of the driving game machine, various methods have been proposed, including the Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications Nos. 2-98392 and 2-114982 in which the force is generated by means of springs, and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications Nos. 2-271382, 4-232829 and 4-92691 in which the reaction force for steering wheels is generated by the rotational outputs of a direct current motor.
FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the construction of the reaction force generating apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the alternating motor, partially in section;
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the alternating motor;
Referring to FIG. 1, the reaction force generating apparatus 2 directly generates a reaction force for a steering wheel 4, which is rotationally operated by a player to steer a virtual vehicle to the right or left, on the screen of a not shown driving game machine which provides simulation of driving. The reaction force generating apparatus 2 includes a three-phase alternating motor 6 and a controller 8 which serves as actuating means for controlling the alternating motor 6.
The alternating motor 6 is fixed to the lower part of the screen of the game machine, with its rotational axle 6a projecting toward a driver's seat where a player is to be seated. A steering wheel 4 is fixedly mounted onto an end of the rotational axle 6a. The controller 8 supplies power to the alternating motor 6, in a manner which will be described later, in response to an instruction from a controlling computer controlling the driving game machine.
Turning to FIG. 2, the alternating motor 6 includes: a case 10 rotatably supporting the rotational axle 6a; a lid 11 for closing an open side 10a of the case 10 with the rotational axle 6a penetrating therethrough; stator 12 which is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the case 10; rotor 14 which is made of iron and fixed to the outer periphery of the rotational axle 6a; and a pair of permanent magnets 16 and 18, not shown, which are mounted to the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 14. The rotational axle 6a is rotatably supported via a bearing 19a and a bearing 19b which are provided in the case 10 and the lid 11, respectively.