Title of the Invention A program drive device for computer Technical Field to which the Invention belongs The present invention relates generally to a computer or game machine program driving device capable of prosecuting computer programs such as various game, aerobic, dance or the like which is prosecuted in a personal computer, a commercial computer, a home game machine or a commercial game machine by actions of the upper or lower part of the body of a user, for example his hands or feet, in predetermined space when the computer programs are to be prosecuted, and more particularly to a computer or game machine program driving device comprising sensor units such as infrared sensors or laser sensors, which are provided at four corners of the predetermined dimensional space and include light receiving parts and light emitting parts, wherein powerful actions of the user, such as rhythm or gymnastics, using the hands or feet of the user of the computer in the predetermined space cause on-off operation between the light emitting parts and the light receiving parts of the sensor units which are provided at the desired directions and positions and opposite to each other to obtain a signal, the signal is input to the computer via the input port such as a joystick terminal or a keyboard terminal of the computer, so that the program may be operated as if the program is operated by the mouse, the keyboard or the joystick.

Related Background Art Generally, it is well-known that various programs are prosecuted by means of keyboards or joysticks when a user wants to prosecute computer programs such as various game,

aerobic, dance or the like which is prosecuted in a personal computer, a commercial computer, a home game machine or a commercial game machine.

With the aforesaid conventional inactive prosecuting methods for the computer which are carried out by means of the keyboard or joystick, however, the operator must take a seat and prosecute the program only using the fingers of the operator while he watches the monitor of the computer.

As a result, any effect of the physical exercises can not be expected, which has a bad influence on the body of the operator when the operator uses the computer for a long time.

To this end, a computer program driving device called DDR has been developed which includes a pad with the same function as the joystick in the bottom. The operator steps on switch sensors in the form of arrows, which are indicated on the pad, in accordance with the designation of positions displayed on the monitor to prosecute the program. With this device, however, only two-dimensional prosecuting method is possible in which a part of the body, such as feet, of the operator is used in the form of jump or the like in the limited area of the pad. As a result, the effect of the rhythm or the exercises on the lower part of the body may be expected, while the effect of the exercises on the upper of the body, such as arms or hands, can not be expected at all.

Detailed Description of the Invention Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a computer or game machine program driving device in which various sensors placed in different directions are operated by means of powerful actions of

the operator which is accomplished by the use of the every parts of the body, such as hands, feet or the like in the limited space to prosecute the computer or the game machine instead of simple and dull operation of the computer or the game machine carried out by the keyboard, the joystick, DDR pad or the like as mentioned above, whereby pleasure is enhanced when the computer or the game machine is operated, the effect of the exercises of the whole body is expected.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a computer or game machine program driving device which is capable of prosecuting the computer or game machine program using arms or hands as well as feet simultaneously together with the DDR device which is an conventional two-dimensional driving device.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a computer or game machine program driving device which may be connected easily and simply to the computer via an input port of the computer, such as a keyboard terminal or a joystick terminal in a personal computer, a commercial computer, or a game machine, whereby the simple installation and use is accomplished without addition of additional complex equipment.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a computer or game machine program driving device which is capable of prosecute the computer or game machine program by actions from the movement of the body, such as rhythm or aerobic, in the predetermined space with no special operating skill so that not only a young person who is good at operating the computer but also an old person or a woman who are not good at or familiar with operating the computer may prosecute the game program of

the computer with ease.

To accomplish the objects as mentioned above, the computer or game machine program driving device according to the present invention comprises : pad of prescribed dimensions with an adjusting rail diagonally in it, pillars provided foldable at four corners of the pad and movable toward the diagonal center of the pad, and sensor units provided at the upper and lower parts of the two surfaces of the pillars which adjoin each other diagonally and including light receiving parts and light emitting parts respectively, which are composed of infrared sensors or laser sensors. The sensor units, which are provided at the pillars forming the outline of the space and comprise the light receiving parts and the light emitting parts opposite to each other, are activated by rhythm or powerful actions of the operator which are obtained by means of the hands or feet at orientation angles in the four or eight directions, instead of the keyboard, the mouse or the joystick, so that the computer or game machine program is prosecuted.

Brief Description of the Drawings The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Fig. 1 is an illustration view showing how a computer program driving device according to the present invention is arranged and operated ; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the computer program driving device according to the present invention ; Fig. 3 is a side elevation view showing how the computer program driving device according to the present

invention is arranged ; Fig. 4 is an illustration view showing the constructions of the sensor means and pillars according to the present invention ; and Fig. 5 is an illustration view showing another embodiment of the computer program driving device according to the present invention.

** Description of Reference Numerals ** 2 : pad means 3 : square pillars 4, 5 : sensor means 41, 51 : light receiving parts 42, 52 : light emitting parts 101, 102 : light receiving parts 103, 104 : light emitting parts 105, 106 : sensor means 107, 108 : pillars 109, 110 : light receiving parts 111, 112 : light emitting parts 113, 114 : sensor means 6 : computer Description of the Preferred Embodiment As shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 4, a computer program driving device according to the present invention includes pad means 2 of prescribed dimensions with an adjusting rail 1 in it. The adjusting rail 1 comprises four lanes la, lb, lc and ld which are arranged to each other diagonally.

At each of four corners of the pad means 2 is provided foldable each of square pillars 3, which is movable along each of lanes la, lb, lc and ld of the adjusting rail 1.

The square pillars 3 each is provided movably upward and downward at the upper and lower parts of the inside surfaces 31 and 32 which adjoin each other diagonally in the inside of the square pillars 3 with upper and lower sensor means 4 and 5. The sensor means 4 and 5 includes light receiving parts 41 and 51 and light emitting parts 42 and 52 respectively, which are composed of infrared sensors or laser sensors. A signal from the upper and lower sensor means 4 and 5 is transmitted to input ports such as a keyboard terminal, a joystick terminal and a mouse terminal of a computer 6 such as a personal computer, a commercial computer and a game machine.

In the adjusting rail 1 comprising four lanes, which are arranged to each other diagonally in the pad means 2, is provided sliceable a roller 12, which is disposed in an inner groove 11 of the adjusting rail 1. On the roller 12 2 is mounted a connecting member 13. The roller 12 and the connecting member 13 together form a movable member 14. To the connecting member 13 of each of the movable member 14 is connected foldable a connecting member 39 of the square pillar 3 by means of a connecting bolt 15. As a result, each of four square pillars 3 is provided in the adjusting rail 1 comprising four lanes at the four corners of the pad means 2.

The four square pillars 3 are identical in the form thereof. At the upper and lower parts of the inner surfaces 31 and 32, which adjoin each other at a right angle, is formed in the longitudinal directions thereof sliding slots 33 and 33' ; 34 and 34'respectively. In the inside of the pillars is formed a hollow part 35. At the outer surface 36, which is opposite to one of the inner surfaces 31 and 32 is formed rectangular connecting holes

37 and 37'having the same shape as the sliding slots 33 and 33' ; 34 and 34'of the inner surfaces 31 and 32. At the upper and lower parts in the inside of the hollow part 35 of the square pillar 3 is provided sliceable supporting blocks 43 and 53. The sensor means 4 and 5 are connected movably upward and downward to the supporting blocks 43 and 53 by means of connecting screws 38 and 38'. The sensor means 4 and 5 include light receiving parts 41 and 51 and light emitting parts 42 and 52, which are composed of infrared sensors or laser sensors respectively and arranged at a right angle.

Consequently, the light receiving parts 41 and 51 and the light emitting parts 42 and 52 of the sensor means 4 and 5 provided at one of the square pillars 3, which are mounted on the neighboring inner surfaces 31 and 32 of the four square pillars 3 placed erect at the four corners of the pad means 2 are opposite to the light receiving parts 51 and 41 and the light emitting parts 42 and 52 of the other square pillars 3 which are also opposite to the other light receiving and emitting parts in a horizontal position such that infrared signal or laser signal is transmitted to each other or received from each other by means of the light receiving emitting parts to accomplish a sensing operation. Therefore, if the hands, arms, feet or legs of the operator of the computer 6 in the space of the pad means 2, that is, the space defined by the square pillars 3, are placed between the light emitting parts 42 and 52 and the light receiving parts 41 and 51 of the sensor means 4 and 5 or passes between the light emitting parts 42 and 52 and the light receiving parts 41 and 51 of the sensor means 4 and 5, the transmitted or received signal is intercepted between the light receiving parts 41

and 51 and the light emitting parts 42 and 52 of the sensor means 4 and 5 which are opposite to each other. The signal detected by the on-off operation of the light receiving parts 41 and 51, in which the received signal is intercepted, is input to the computer 6 via the input port such as a keyboard terminal, a joystick terminal and a mouse terminal of a computer 6 such as a personal computer, a commercial computer and a game machine so that the program may be operated as if the program is operated by the mouse, the keyboard or the joystick.

Also, if the pad means 2 of the present invention is constructed with a pad of the conventional DDR device which is operated by means of the feet of the operator, it is possible to operate the computer program such as a game for pleasure, an aerobic dance or the like run in the computer 6 by powerful actions as if in the imaginary three-dimensional space, for example by jump or movement of the hands, arms, feet or legs of the opexator, under the control of the light receiving parts 41 and 51 and the light emitting parts 42 and 52 of the sensor means 4 and 5 in the various directions and positions, when the computer program is in operation. As a result, it is possible to enjoy various computer games with various actions and plentiful quantity of motion.

In the above, it is described that four square pillars 3 are arranged on the pad means 2 for four directional operations, for example front and rear directions and right and left directions, which does not limit the invention. For example, it is possible to arrange eight pillars 3 with the sensor means 4 and 5, which are composed of laser sensors or infrared sensors at the upper parts and the lower parts thereof, on the

corners and in the middle of the sides between the corners.

In this way, more subdivided operational signal may be obtained. Alternatively, the number of the pillars 3 with the sensor means 4 and 5 provided at the upper parts and the lower parts of thereof and composed of laser sensors or infrared sensors may be increased, for example 16, so that the operation is possible in the sixteen directions.

Also, in the present invention, it is possible to adjust the position for placement of the pillars 3 along the adjusting rail 1 of the pad means 2. In addition, it is possible to adjust the height for placement of the e sensor means 4 and 5 by moving upward and downward the sensor means 4 and 5, which are composed of laser sensors or infrared sensors, along the sliding slots 33 and 33'; 34 and 34'formed on the pillars 3, resulting in that any person may adjust the activity space freely and use the computer program driving device regardless of the height or the structure of the body.

Also, in the above, it is described that the adjusting rail 1 is arranged on the pad means 2 and that the pillars 3 with the sensor means 4 and 5 including the light receiving and emitting parts 41 and 51 ; 42 and 52, which are composed of laser sensors or infrared sensors, on the adjusting rail 1. Instead of providing the pad means 2, however, it is possible that the pillars 3 with the sensor means 4 and 5 including the light receiving and emitting parts 41 and 51 ; 42 and 52, which are composed of laser sensors or infrared sensors, are provided upright at the desired positions. As a result, the computer program for the computer 6 may be operated in the space defined by the positions. Consequently, it is possible to install simply the computer program driving device regardless of

the install sites or install condition, and prosecute the computer program of the computer 6 by powerful actions or movements.

Also, in the above, it is described that the adjusting rail 1 is arranged on the pad means 2 and that the pillars 3 with the sensor means 4 and 5 including the light receiving and emitting parts 41 and 51 ; 42 and 52, which are composed of laser sensors or infrared sensors, on the adjusting rail 1. Instead of providing the pad means 2, however, it is possible that pillars 107 and 108 with sensor means 105 and 106 including light receiving and emitting parts 101 and 102 ; 103 and 104, which are composed of laser sensors or infrared sensors, are provided upright at the desired positions, as shown in Fig.

5. And it is possible to construct the bottoms of each of the pillars 107 and 108 such that the sensor means 105 and 106 provided at the pillars 107 and 108 are opposite to sensor means 113 and 114 including light receiving and emitting parts 109 and 110 ; 111 and 112, which are composed of laser sensors or infrared sensors and the same as the sensor means 105 and 106. As a result, the computer program for the computer 6 may be operated in the space defined by the positions. Consequently, it is possible to install simply the computer program driving device regardless of the install sites or install condition, and prosecute the computer program of the computer 6 by powerful actions or movements.

Industrial Applicability With the present invention constructed as described above, it is possible to use all upper and lower parts of the body, such as hands, arms, legs, feet or the like, for

prosecuting the computer program, compared with the conventional device which prosecutes the computer program only by the hands at the seat or only by feet. That is to say, simple movement of each part of the body, such as rhythm or aerobic, in the limited space may prosecute the computer or game machine program like the joystick or the keyboard, whereby it is possible to enjoy the game with effect of interesting and powerful exercises. In addition, the effect of the exercises is increased by the powerful actions of the legs and arms as well as the upper and lower parts of the body while enjoying games from the computer and the game machine, whereby double effect of both entertainment and exercises may be obtained when the computer or the game machine is executed. Furthermore, it is possible to prosecute the computer or game machine program by actions from the movement of the body, such as rhythm or aerobic, in the predetermined space with no special operating skill so that not only a young person who is good at operating the computer but also an old person or a woman who are not good at or familiar with operating the computer may prosecute the game program of the computer with ease. Moreover, the computer or game machine program driving device may be connected easily and simply to the computer via an input port of the computer, such as a keyboard terminal or a joystick terminal in a personal computer, a commercial computer, or a game machine, whereby the simple installation and use is accomplished.