Games controllers

Abstract

A controller is disclosed, especially but not exclusively, for use in combination with an exercise apparatus. The controller comprises in one arrangement a handlebar assembly and one or more input devices, of at least one of the input device being responsive to movement of the handlebars. The controller may include a support such as a handlebar stem, and may provide output signals to a microprocessor in turn to control operation of a programme running on the microprocessor.

1 . A controller for a microprocessor-based unit, said controller comprising: 
 a handlebar assembly which can be held by a user and which includes at least one input device adapted to generate input signals for supply to a microprocessor-based unit, at least one of said at least one input device being responsive to movement of said handlebar assembly by said user.    
     
     
         2 . A controller according to  claim 1  wherein said handlebar assembly comprises a handlebar rotably attached to a handlebar support, such that said handlebar may rotate relative to said handlebar support about three perpendicular axes.  
     
     
         3 . A controller according to  claim 1  wherein said handlebar assembly comprises a handlebar rotably attached to a handlebar support, such that said handlebar may rotate relative to said support about three perpendicular axes, and further wherein said handlebar can be translated relative to said support in at least one direction.  
     
     
         4 . A controller according to  claim 3  wherein said handlebar can translate relative to said support in two orthogonal directions.  
     
     
         5 . A controller according to  claim 4  wherein said handlebar can translate relative to said support in three orthogonal directions.  
     
     
         6 . A controller according  claim 2  wherein said handlebar can rotate through 360 degrees relative to said support.  
     
     
         7 . A controller according to  claim 1  wherein said handlebar assembly comprises a handlebar rotably attached to a handlebar support such that said handlebar may rotate relative to said handlebar support about at least two perpendicular axes and may translate in at least one linear direction.  
     
     
         8 . A controller according to  claim 7  wherein at least one of said at least one linear directions is perpendicular to said two perpendicular axes.  
     
     
         9 . A controller according to  claim 2  wherein said handlebar assembly includes a resistance means which is adapted to oppose the movement of said handlebar relative to said support about at least one of the available degrees of freedom.  
     
     
         10 . A controller according to  claim 9  wherein a respective resistance means is provided which is associated with each rotation about each of said three perpendicular axes.  
     
     
         11 . A controller according to  claim 9  in which said handlebar, in use, returns to a self-centre position under the action of said resistance means.  
     
     
         12 . A controller according to  claim 9  wherein a damping means is associated with said resistance means.  
     
     
         13 . A controller according to  claim 1  which further includes at least one actuator which causes movement of said handlebar assembly in response to signals from at least one of said at least one input devices and from said microprocessor-based unit.  
     
     
         14 . A controller according to  claim 1  which further includes a seat which can be sat upon by said user and which includes at least one additional input device which generates input signals for supply to said microprocessor-based unit, at least one of said at least one additional input devices being responsive to force applied to said seat by said user.  
     
     
         15 . A controller according to  claim 14  wherein said seat comprises a cover which includes said at least one additional input device and which fits onto an existing seat.  
     
     
         16 . A controller according to  claim 14  wherein said seat is supported by a first portion of a support which is adapted to rotate relative to a second portion of said support, and in which a seat input device is provided which is responsive to rotation of the first portion of the support relative to said second portion.  
     
     
         17 . A controller according to  claim 14  wherein said seat is supported by a first portion of a support which is at least one of compressible and extendible relative to a second portion of said support, and in which a seat input device is provided which is responsive to movement of said first portion of said support relative to said second portion.  
     
     
         18 . A controller according to  claim 16  wherein said second portion comprises a tube which fits within a seatpost of at least one of a bicycle and an exercise bicycle.  
     
     
         19 . A controller according to  claim 14  which further includes at least one actuator which is adapted to cause movement of said seat in response to signals from at least one of said input devices and from the microprocessor-based unit.  
     
     
         20 . A controller according to  claim 1  which further includes at least one actuator which is adapted to cause movement of said handlebar assembly or an external supporting means in response to signals from at least one of said at least one input device and from said microprocessor-based unit.  
     
     
         21 . A controller according to  claim 1  which further includes a variable speed electric fan which is adapted to change speed in response to signals from at lest one of said at least one input devices and from said microprocessor-based unit.  
     
     
         22 . A controller according to  claim 1  wherein at least one foot operated input device is provided, said at least one foot operated input device comprising at least one pressure sensitive device.  
     
     
         23 . A controller according to  claim 1  wherein at least one hand operated input device is provided, said at least one hand operated device comprising at least one pressure sensitive device to sense said user's hands on handlebar grips of said handlebar assembly.  
     
     
         24 . A controller according to  claim 1  in which said at least one input device is attached to or forms an integral part of said handlebar assembly.  
     
     
         25 . A controller according to  claim 1  in which said handlebar assembly comprises a set of handlebars attached to a handlebar support so that said handlebars can move relative to said handlebar support.  
     
     
         26 . A controller according to  claim 25  wherein at least one of said at least one input devices produces an output signal responsive to relative movement between said handlebar and said handlebar support.  
     
     
         27 . A controller according to  claim 25  wherein said handlebar assembly may move with at least one degree of freedom and includes at least one of a resistance and a damping means which provide at least one of a resistance and a damping to movement of said handlebars relative to said handlebar support about any of said at least one degrees of freedom.  
     
     
         28 . A controller according to Claim.  27  wherein at least one of said resistance and said damping is adjustable by said user.  
     
     
         29 . A controller according to  claim 28  wherein at least one of said resistance and said damping means is adjusted automatically in response to signals generated by said input devices or by said microprocessor unit.  
     
     
         30 . A controller according to  claim 14  wherein at least one of a handlebar lock and a seat lock are provided for locking said handlebar or said seat assembly in place against movement about one of said degrees of freedom.  
     
     
         31 . A controller according to  claim 1  wherein said handlebar assembly further includes at least one lever which can be operated by said user, said at least one lever producing a respective input signal dependent upon a position of said at least one lever.  
     
     
         32 . A controller according to  claim 1  wherein said handlebar assembly further includes at least one rotable grip which can be operated by said user, said at least one rotable grip producing a respective input signal dependent upon a position of said at least one rotable grip.  
     
     
         33 . A controller according to  claim 1  wherein said handlebar assembly further includes at least one gear lever which can be operated by at least one of a hand and a foot of said user, said at least one gear lever producing a respective input signal dependent upon a position of said at least one gear lever.  
     
     
         34 . A controller according to  claim 1  wherein said handlebar assembly includes a wiring loom which includes at least one connector to which at least one additional input device may be attached.  
     
     
         35 . A controller according to  claim 1  which includes a video camera which captures images of said user and transmits said images to said microprocessor-based unit.  
     
     
         36 . A controller according to  claim 1  which includes a microphone which detects sounds made by said user and transmits said sounds to said microprocessor-based unit.  
     
     
         37 . A controller according to  claim 1  which includes a microprocessor, input means and a display which is adapted to enable user configuration of functional relationships of input and output devices of said controller to and from inputs and outputs available with regard to said microprocessor-based unit.  
     
     
         38 . A controller for a microprocessor based unit, said controller comprising; 
 a handlebar assembly comprising a handlebar which can be held by a user and a handlebar support which rotably supports said handlebar;    wherein said handlebar assembly includes at least one input device generating signals indicative of movement of the handlebars by said user;    and wherein said handlebar support supports said handlebar such that said handlebar may rotate in three roughly perpendicular directions relative to said handlebar support.    
     
     
         39 . A controller for a microprocessor based unit, said controller comprising: 
 a handlebar assembly comprising a handlebar which can be held by a user and a handlebar support which rotably supports said handlebar;    wherein said handlebar assembly includes at least one input device generating signals indicative of movement of the handlebars by said user;    and wherein said handlebar support supports said handlebar such that said handlebar may rotate in two roughly perpendicular directory relative to said handlebar support and may translate in a further direction relative to said handlebar support.    
     
     
         40 . An exercise apparatus comprising: 
 a programmable microprocessor-based unit including a receiving means adapted to receive signals from a programmable cartridge or other programme storage device that provides programme instructions for controlling the operation of the programmable microprocessor-based unit;    output means through which output signals can be passed from the microprocessor to a display;    a display adapted to display images dependent upon said output signals from the microprocessor-based unit;    an exercise device adapted to allow a user to perform a range of movements associated with a sport; and    a controller according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one input device is adapted to supply signals to said microprocessor-based unit to modify operation of said programme instructions running on said microprocessor in turn to modify said images displayed on said display;    in which at least one of said at least one input devices is responsive to movement of said user on said exercise apparatus.    
     
     
         41 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 40  wherein said controller may operate independently of said exercise device.  
     
     
         42 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 40  which includes one of an exercise bicycle and a road bicycle which is modified to behave as a stationary exercise bicycle.  
     
     
         43 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 40  wherein said exercise device includes pedals and said controller further includes pedal pressure sensitive means to detect, user pressure applied in a downward or upward manner on said pedals.  
     
     
         44 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 40  wherein said programmable microprocessor-based unit comprises a games console.  
     
     
         45 . The exercise apparatus, of  claim 40  wherein said programme cartridge or other programme storage device contains programme instructions which when run on said microprocessor-based unit and provides said images on said display corresponding to a simulation of exercise undertaken by said user.  
     
     
         46 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 40  wherein said exercise apparatus includes a resistance setting means which is adjustable to vary an amount of effort required from said user to perform a movement on said exercise device, and at least one resistance input device is provided which is responsive to a setting of said resistance setting means of said exercise apparatus.  
     
     
         47 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 46  in which said resistance setting means comprises a gear mechanism.  
     
     
         48 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 40  wherein said handlebar assembly includes a resistance display upon which a setting of said resistance setting means is displayed.  
     
     
         49 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 40  wherein said handlebar assembly includes a speaker.  
     
     
         50 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 49  wherein one or more prompts are at least one of displayed on said display, displayed on said resistance display and sounded through said speakers, said prompts which instructing said user of said exercise apparatus to change said setting of said resistance setting means.  
     
     
         51 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 50  in which resistance changing means are provided for automatically changing said setting of said resistance setting means in response to signals obtained from at least one of said at least one input device and from signals obtained from said programmable microprocessor-based unit.  
     
     
         52 . An exercise apparatus comprising; 
 a programmable microprocessor-based unit including a receiving means adapted to receive signals from a programmable cartridge or other programme storage device that provides programme instructions for controlling operation of said programmable microprocessor-based unit;    output means through which output signals can be passed from said microprocessor to a display;    said display adapted to display images dependent upon said output signals from said microprocessor-based unit;    an exercise device adapted to allow a user to perform a range of movements associated with a sport in which said exercise device includes a resistance setting means which is adjustable to vary the amount of effort required from said user to perform a movement on said exercise device; and    a controller comprising at least one input device adapted to supply signals to the microprocessor-based unit to modify the operation of said programme instructions running on said microprocessor in turn to modify said images displayed on said display;    wherein at least one of said input devices is responsive to said movements of said user on said exercise device and at least one resistance input device is provided which is responsive to the setting of said resistance setting means of said exercise apparatus.    
     
     
         53 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 52  wherein said resistance setting means additionally or alternatively comprises a gear mechanism.  
     
     
         54 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 52  wherein said resistance setting means additionally or alternatively comprises an incline mechanism.  
     
     
         56 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 52  wherein said controller includes a resistance display upon which a position setting of said resistance setting means is displayed.  
     
     
         57 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 56  wherein said controller includes a speaker.  
     
     
         58 . An exercise apparatus according to claims  57  wherein at least one prompt is at least one of displayed on said display, displayed on said resistance display and sounded through said speaker, which instructs said user of said exercise apparatus to change said setting of said resistance setting means.  
     
     
         59 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 52  wherein resistance changing means are provided for automatically changing said setting of said resistance setting means in response to at least one of signals obtained from at least one of said at least one input devices and in response to signals obtained from said microprocessor-based unit.  
     
     
         60 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 40  wherein said controller supports a second microprocessor and an area of memory, wherein said area of memory contains a training map which consists of at least one target signal representing signals to be received from said at least one input device mapped over a time period; and wherein said second microprocessor provides at least one output signal to said microprocessor, said at least one output signal being representative of said input signals as against said target signals.  
     
     
         61 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 52  wherein said controller supports a second microprocessor and an area of memory, wherein said area of memory contains a training map which consists of at least one target signal representing signals to be received from said at least one input devices mapped over a time period; and wherein said second microprocessor provides at least one output signals to said microprocessor, said at least one output signals being representative of said input signals as against said target signals and further wherein said second microprocessor varies a setting of said resistant setting means as a function of said training map.  
     
     
         62 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 60  wherein said second microprocessor, said at least one input device and said display provide for user configuration of relationships between said input signals, said training map and said output signals.  
     
     
         63 . An exercise apparatus according to  claim 62  wherein said relationships are overridden by an absence of at least one of said at least one input signals.