A game pedal calibration and testing device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a game pedal calibration and testing device, comprising a frame, a driving mechanism, a pressure detection mechanism and a fixing mechanism for fixing a game pedal to be tested, wherein the driving mechanism and the pressure detection mechanism are both mounted on the frame, the fixing mechanism is rotatably mounted on the frame and is arranged corresponding to the pressure detection mechanism, the output shaft of the driving mechanism is transmission-connected with the fixing mechanism, the driving mechanism is used to drive the fixing mechanism to rotate relative to the frame when the game pedal is fixed to the fixing mechanism so that the pedal of the game pedal presses against the pressure detection mechanism, and the pressure detection mechanism is used to detect the pressure exerted on the pedal when the pedal of the game pedal presses against the pressure detection mechanism. The present invention controls the stroke of the pedal through the driving mechanism, and accurately obtains the pressure exerted on the pedal through the pressure detection mechanism, so as to accurately test whether the relationship between the pressure exerted on the pedal and the stroke of the pedal meets the preset requirements, thereby improving the consistency of the feel of the game pedal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of pedal detection, and in particular to a gaming pedal calibration and testing device. Background Art

[0002] Simulation racing games are becoming more and more popular. In order to enable game players to better integrate into the immersive game, existing simulation racing game devices use game pedals to control the game, so as to better simulate the actual driving of the car and enhance the sense of reality and user experience. Among them, the game pedal includes a base, a pedal rotatably mounted on the base, and a damper arranged between the pedal and the base. The game pedal is usually also provided with an angle sensor (such as a Hall angle sensor) for detecting the angle of rotation of the pedal relative to the base (i.e., the pedal stroke) or a pressure sensor (such as a strain gauge) for detecting the pressure exerted on the pedal. The main control unit of the simulation racing game device controls the changes of the car in the game according to the output value of the angle sensor or the pressure sensor collected.

[0003] During the production process, gaming pedals usually need to be tested for performance, such as testing whether the feel of the gaming pedals meets the requirements (i.e., testing whether the relationship between the pressure on the pedals and the pedal stroke meets the preset requirements). However, traditional detection methods mostly involve manually stepping on the pedals or pressing the pedals with the hands. This detection method not only has poor operability and large errors, but also manual testing determines the pressure and pedal stroke based on the feeling of the feet or hands, which is greatly affected by subjective factors and makes it difficult to ensure the consistency of the test results. In addition, since the manual testing method cannot accurately obtain the pedal stroke and the pressure on the pedal, it is impossible to calibrate the angle value detected by the angle sensor on the gaming pedal or the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor on the gaming pedal. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a game pedal calibration and testing device, comprising a frame, a driving mechanism, a pressure detection mechanism and a fixing mechanism for fixing the game foot pedal to be tested, the driving mechanism and the pressure detection mechanism are both installed on the frame, the fixing mechanism is rotatably mounted on the frame and is arranged corresponding to the pressure detection mechanism, the output shaft of the driving mechanism is transmission-connected with the fixing mechanism, the driving mechanism is used to drive the fixing mechanism to rotate relative to the frame when the game foot pedal is fixed on the fixing mechanism so that the pedal of the game foot pedal presses against the pressure detection mechanism, and the pressure detection mechanism is used to detect the pressure exerted on the pedal when the pedal of the game foot pedal presses against the pressure detection mechanism.

[0005] Preferably, the fixing mechanism includes a fixing body rotatably mounted on the frame, the output shaft of the driving mechanism is drivingly connected to the fixing body, a positioning groove for placing the game foot pedal is provided on the fixing body, and a locking mechanism for locking the base of the game foot pedal in the positioning groove is provided on the fixing body.

[0006] Preferably, the locking mechanism includes a locking piece and an elastic piece located on the periphery of the positioning groove, the middle part of the locking piece is rotatably attached to the side wall of the fixed body, a limiting portion is provided at one end of the locking piece corresponding to the notch of the positioning groove, and the elastic piece is disposed between the other end of the locking piece and the fixed body, and under the action of the elastic piece, the limiting portion can lock the base of the game foot pedal in the positioning groove.

[0007] Preferably, the limiting portion has a guiding inclined surface that enables the base of the game foot pedal to smoothly push away the limiting portion when the base of the game foot pedal is placed in the positioning groove.

[0008] Preferably, the elastic member is a spring.

[0009] Preferably, both side walls opposite to each other of the positioning groove are provided with taking and placing notches.

[0010] Preferably, the pressure detection mechanism includes a fixing plate fixedly mounted on the frame and a first pressure sensor mounted on the fixing plate.

[0011] Preferably, the driving mechanism is a stepping motor.

[0012] Preferably, the frame includes a machine platform, a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate, the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate are arranged relative to each other front and back and are both mounted on the machine platform, the fixing mechanism is rotatably mounted between the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate, and the driving mechanism and the pressure detection mechanism are both mounted on the second mounting plate.

[0013] Preferably, a control box is provided on the frame, a controller is installed in the control box, and the pressure detection mechanism and the driving mechanism are both electrically connected to the controller.

[0014] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] From the above description of the present invention, it can be seen that compared with the prior art, a game pedal calibration and testing device of the present invention drives the fixing mechanism to rotate relative to the frame through a driving mechanism so that the pedal of the game pedal fixed on the fixing mechanism presses against the pressure detection mechanism, controls the stroke of the pedal through the driving mechanism, and accurately obtains the pressure exerted on the pedal through the pressure detection mechanism, thereby being able to accurately test whether the relationship between the pressure exerted on the pedal and the pedal stroke meets the preset requirements, avoiding the defects of manual testing affected by subjective factors, and improving the consistency of the feel of the game pedal. At the same time, the pressure sensor or angle sensor on the game pedal can be calibrated according to the pressure exerted on the pedal detected by the pressure detection mechanism or the stroke of the pedal obtained by the driving mechanism, thereby ensuring a higher consistency of the gaming experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the game pedal to be tested of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 3 is a front view of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 4 is a side view of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 5 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the fixing mechanism of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fixing mechanism of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 7 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention with a game pedal fixed thereto.

[0023] The following are the descriptions of the reference numerals:

[0024] 10-game pedal, 101-base, 102-pedal, 1021-pedal body, 1022-pedal rod, 103-damper, 1-frame, 2-driving mechanism, 3-pressure detection mechanism, 4-fixing mechanism, 5-control box, 6-start switch, 7-emergency stop switch, 11-machine, 12-first mounting plate, 13-second mounting plate, 14-connecting plate, 15-fixed frame, 31-fixed plate, 32-first pressure sensor, 33-reinforcement rib, 41-fixed body, 411-positioning groove, 412-pick-and-place notch, 42-locking mechanism, 421-locking piece, 4211-limiting part, 42111-guide slope, 422-elastic piece, 43-rotating shaft one, 44-rotating shaft two. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments; however, the gaming pedal calibration and testing device of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

[0026] See also Figure 1 In this embodiment, the game pedal 10 to be detected includes a base 101, a pedal 102 rotatably mounted on the base 101, and a damper 103 arranged between the pedal 102 and the base 101. The pedal 102 includes a pedal body 1021 and a pedal rod 1022. One end of the pedal rod 1022 and one end of the damper 103 are respectively rotatably connected to the base 101, and the other end of the damper 103 is rotatably connected to the middle part of the pedal rod 1022. The pedal body 1021 is fixedly mounted on the other end of the pedal rod 1022. The game pedal 10 to be detected is also provided with an angle sensor (not shown in the figure) for detecting the rotation angle of the pedal 102 relative to the base 101 (i.e., the pedal stroke) or a second pressure sensor (not shown in the figure) for detecting the pressure exerted on the pedal 102.

[0027] See also Figure 2 and Figure 7 As shown, a game pedal calibration and testing device of the present invention comprises a frame 1, a driving mechanism 2, a pressure detection mechanism 3 and a fixing mechanism 4 for fixing a game pedal 10 to be detected, wherein the driving mechanism 2 and the pressure detection mechanism 3 are both mounted on the frame 1, the fixing mechanism 4 is rotatably mounted on the frame 1, and the fixing mechanism 4 and the pressure detection mechanism 3 are correspondingly arranged so that when the fixing mechanism 4 rotates relative to the frame 1, the pedal 102 of the game pedal 10 on the fixing mechanism 4 can press against the pressure detection mechanism 3, and the output shaft (not marked in the figure) of the driving mechanism 2 is transmission-connected with the fixing mechanism 4, and the driving mechanism 2 is used for driving the fixing mechanism 4 to rotate relative to the frame 1 when the fixing mechanism 4 is fixed with the game pedal 10 so that the pedal 102 of the game pedal 10 fixed on the fixing mechanism 4 presses against the pressure detection mechanism 3, so that the base 101 and the pedal 102 of the game pedal 10 rotate relative to each other, and the pressure detection mechanism 3 is used for detecting the pressure exerted on the pedal 102 (i.e., the pressure of the pressure detection mechanism 3 reacting on the pedal 102) when the pedal 102 of the game pedal 10 presses against the pressure detection mechanism 3.

[0028] See also Figure 3 and Figure 4 In this embodiment, the frame 1 includes a machine table 11, a first mounting plate 12, a second mounting plate 13 and a connecting plate 14. The first mounting plate 12 and the second mounting plate 13 are arranged opposite to each other front and back and are both installed on the machine table 11. The connecting plate 14 is installed on the machine table 11 and connected between the first mounting plate 12 and the second mounting plate 13. The fixing mechanism 4 is rotatably mounted between the first mounting plate 12 and the second mounting plate 13. The driving mechanism 2 and the pressure detection mechanism 3 are both installed on the second mounting plate 13.

[0029] See also Figure 2 and Figure 4 In this embodiment, the driving mechanism 2 is a stepping motor mounted on the rear side of the second mounting plate 13 through a fixing bracket 15 .

[0030] See also Figures 2 to 4 In this embodiment, the pressure detection mechanism 3 is located within the rotation radius of the fixing mechanism 4, so that when the fixing mechanism 4 rotates relative to the frame 1, the pedal 102 of the game pedal 10 on the fixing mechanism 4 can press the pressure detection mechanism 3. The pressure detection mechanism 3 includes a fixing plate 31 fixedly mounted on the frame 1 and a first pressure sensor 32 mounted on the fixing plate 31. Specifically, the fixing plate 31 is horizontally mounted on the upper front side of the second mounting plate 13, a reinforcing rib 33 is provided between the top of the fixing plate 31 and the second mounting plate 13, and the first pressure sensor 32 is mounted on the bottom of the fixing plate 31.

[0031] See also Figures 2 to 6 In this embodiment, the fixing mechanism 4 includes a fixing body 41 rotatably mounted on the frame 1, the output shaft of the driving mechanism 2 is transmission-connected to the fixing body 41 to drive the fixing body 41 to rotate relative to the frame 1, a positioning groove 411 for placing the game foot pedal 10 is provided on the fixing body 41, and a locking mechanism 42 for locking the base 101 of the game foot pedal 10 in the positioning groove 411 is provided on the fixing body 41. Specifically, the first pressure sensor 32 is located within the rotation radius of the fixed body 41, and the front and rear sides of the fixed body 41 are rotatably mounted on the first mounting plate 12 and the second mounting plate 13 through the rotating shaft 1 43 and the rotating shaft 2 44 respectively. One end of the rotating shaft 2 44 is fixedly connected to the rear side of the fixed body 41, and the other end of the rotating shaft 2 44 is movable through the second mounting plate 13 and then transmission connected to the output shaft of the driving mechanism 2. The rotating shaft 1 43, the rotating shaft 2 44 and the output shaft of the driving mechanism 2 are coaxially arranged, and the shape of the positioning groove 411 is adapted to the shape of the base 101 of the game foot pedal 10 to be detected. When the base 101 of the game foot pedal 10 is placed in the positioning groove 411, the axis of the rotational connection between the pedal rod 1022 and the base 101 coincides with the axis of the rotating shaft 1 43 or the axis of the rotating shaft 2 44.

[0032] See also Figure 5 and Figure 6In this embodiment, the locking mechanism 42 includes a locking piece 421 and an elastic piece 422 located on the periphery of the positioning groove 411. The length direction of the locking piece 421 is arranged along the depth direction of the positioning groove 411. The middle part of the locking piece 421 is rotatably mounted on the side wall of the fixed body 41. A limiting portion 4211 is provided at one end of the locking piece 421 corresponding to the notch (not marked in the figure) of the positioning groove 411. The elastic piece 422 is abutted between the other end of the locking piece 421 and the side wall of the fixed body 41. Under the action of the elastic piece 422, the limiting portion 4211 can lock the base 101 of the game foot pedal 10 in the positioning groove 411; the limiting portion 4211 has a guiding inclined surface 42111 that allows the base 101 of the game foot pedal 10 to smoothly push open the limiting portion 4211 when the base 101 of the game foot pedal 10 is placed in the positioning groove 411, so that the game foot pedal 10 can be quickly fixed on the fixed body 41. When the game pedal 10 needs to be fixed on the fixed body 41, the base 101 of the game pedal 10 is placed in the positioning groove 411 accordingly, and the base 101 of the game pedal 10 pushes the limiting part 4211 along the guiding inclined surface 42111 of the limiting part 4211, and the elastic member 422 is compressed. After the base 101 is placed, the locking member 421 is reset under the action of the elastic member 422, and the limiting part 4211 is blocked at the notch of the positioning groove 411. The base 101 cannot be removed from the positioning groove 411 due to the blocking of the limiting part 4211, thereby locking the base 101 in the positioning groove 411. When the game pedal 10 needs to be removed from the fixed body 41, the end of the locking member 421 away from the limiting part 4211 is pressed to compress the elastic member 422, and the limiting part 4211 releases the limiting of the base 101, so that the base 101 can be removed from the positioning groove 411.

[0033] See also Figure 5 and Figure 6 In this embodiment, the two opposite walls of the positioning groove 411 are provided with a pick-up and placement notch 412 to facilitate the pick-up and placement of the game pedal 10; the elastic member 422 is specifically a spring. Of course, in other embodiments, the elastic member 422 can also be a torsion spring or other elastic components, and the specific implementation is not limited thereto.

[0034] See also Figure 2 In this embodiment, a control box 5 is provided on the frame 1, and a controller (not shown) is installed in the control box 5. The first pressure sensor 32 and the stepper motor are both electrically connected to the controller. Figure 2 and Figure 3In this embodiment, two start switches 6 and one emergency stop switch 7 are provided on the machine 11, and the controller is electrically connected to the two start switches 6 and the emergency stop switch 7. It can be understood that the controller can be any conventional processor, such as a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), a single chip microcomputer, etc.

[0035] The method of use of the present invention is briefly described as follows:

[0036] Step 1: See Figure 7 After fixing the game pedal 10 to be tested on the fixed body 41, press the two start switches 6 at the same time to start the test. At this time, the controller sends a control signal to control the stepper motor (i.e., the driving mechanism 2) to rotate forward, and the stepper motor drives the fixing mechanism 4 to rotate relative to the frame 1 and move in the direction close to the pressure detection mechanism 3 (with Figure 7 Take the direction shown in as an example, at this time, the stepper motor drives the fixing mechanism 4 to rotate clockwise), and the game pedal 10 to be detected rotates with the fixing mechanism 4;

[0037] Step 2: When the pedal body 1021 of the game pedal 10 just contacts the first pressure sensor 32, the controller obtains the small pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor 32, and the controller immediately records the current angle of the stepper motor as the initial angle;

[0038] Step 3: The stepper motor drives the fixing mechanism 4 to continue to rotate. During this process, the pedal body 1021 presses the first pressure sensor 32 upward. The direction of the pressure exerted by the first pressure sensor 32 on the pedal body 1021 is always perpendicular to the contact surface between the first pressure sensor 32 and the pedal body 1021. The base 101 of the game pedal 10 rotates relative to the pedal 102, and the rotation angle of the base 101 relative to the pedal 102 is equal to the rotation angle of the rotating shaft 2 44. The controller obtains the rotation angle of the stepper motor (referring to the angle rotated by the stepper motor relative to the initial angle in step 2) and the pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor 32 in real time. The rotation angle of the stepper motor is the rotation angle of the base 101 relative to the pedal 102 (i.e., the stroke of the pedal), and the pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor 32 is the pressure on the pedal 102.

[0039] Step 4: When the stepper motor rotates to a preset angle (i.e., the maximum stroke of the pedal), the stepper motor stops rotating. At this time, it is checked whether the pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor 32 meets the preset pressure requirement. If it meets the requirement, step 5 is executed. If it does not meet the requirement, the detection result of the game pedal 10 is unqualified; or, when the pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor 32 reaches the preset pressure value, the stepper motor stops rotating. At this time, it is checked whether the rotation angle of the stepper motor meets the preset angle requirement. If it meets the requirement, step 5 is executed. If it does not meet the requirement, the detection result of the game pedal 10 is unqualified;

[0040] Step 5: Calibrate the angle sensor or the second pressure sensor on the game pedal 10, so that the angle value detected by the angle sensor on the game pedal 10 is consistent with the angle of rotation of the base 101 relative to the pedal 102 (i.e., the angle of rotation of the stepper motor), or the pressure value detected by the second pressure sensor on the game pedal 10 is consistent with the pressure value of the pedal 102 (i.e., the pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor 32);

[0041] Step 6: The controller sends a control signal to control the stepper motor to rotate in the opposite direction and reset to the initial angle in step 2;

[0042] Step 7: The controller sends a control signal to control the stepper motor to rotate forward at a fixed angle, and checks whether the pressure value detected by the first pressure sensor 32 at this time meets the set range, and verifies whether the angle value detected by the angle sensor on the game pedal 10 or the pressure value detected by the second pressure sensor meets the set range. If both meet, the product consistency is good and the test result of the game pedal 10 is qualified, otherwise the test result is unqualified.

[0043] To sum up, compared with the prior art, a game pedal calibration and testing device of the present invention drives the fixing mechanism 4 to rotate relative to the frame 1 through the driving mechanism 2 so that the pedal 102 of the game foot pedal 10 fixed on the fixing mechanism 4 presses against the pressure detection mechanism 3, controls the stroke of the pedal 102 through the driving mechanism 2, and accurately obtains the pressure exerted on the pedal 102 through the pressure detection mechanism 3, thereby being able to accurately test whether the relationship between the pressure exerted on the pedal 102 and the pedal stroke meets the preset requirements, avoiding the defects of manual testing affected by subjective factors, and improving the consistency of the foot feel of the game foot pedal 10. At the same time, the pressure sensor or angle sensor on the game foot pedal 10 can be calibrated according to the pressure exerted on the pedal 102 detected by the pressure detection mechanism 3 or the stroke of the pedal 102 obtained by the driving mechanism 2, thereby ensuring a high consistency of the game experience.

[0044] The above embodiments are only used to further illustrate a game pedal calibration and testing device of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention fall within the protection scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A gaming pedal calibration and testing device, characterized in that: The device comprises a frame, a driving mechanism, a pressure detection mechanism and a fixing mechanism for fixing a game pedal to be detected, wherein the driving mechanism and the pressure detection mechanism are both mounted on the frame, the fixing mechanism is rotatably mounted on the frame and is arranged corresponding to the pressure detection mechanism, the output shaft of the driving mechanism is in transmission connection with the fixing mechanism, the driving mechanism is used to drive the fixing mechanism to rotate relative to the frame when the game pedal is fixed on the fixing mechanism so that the pedal of the game pedal presses against the pressure detection mechanism, and the pressure detection mechanism is used to detect the pressure exerted on the pedal when the pedal of the game pedal presses against the pressure detection mechanism; The fixing mechanism comprises a fixing body rotatably mounted on the frame, the output shaft of the driving mechanism is in driving connection with the fixing body, a positioning groove for placing the game pedal is provided on the fixing body, and a locking mechanism for locking the base of the game pedal in the positioning groove is provided on the fixing body; The locking mechanism comprises a locking piece and an elastic piece located around the positioning groove, the middle part of the locking piece is rotatably mounted on the side wall of the fixed body, one end of the locking piece is provided with a limiting portion at a notch corresponding to the positioning groove, the elastic piece is disposed between the other end of the locking piece and the fixed body, and under the action of the elastic piece, the limiting portion can lock the base of the game pedal in the positioning groove; The game foot pedal includes a base, a pedal rotatably mounted on the base, and a damper arranged between the pedal and the base. The pedal includes a pedal body and a pedal rod. One end of the pedal rod and one end of the damper are respectively rotatably connected to the base, and the other end of the damper is rotatably connected to the middle part of the pedal rod. The pedal body is fixedly mounted on the other end of the pedal rod. The game foot pedal is also provided with an angle sensor for detecting the rotation angle of the pedal relative to the base or a second pressure sensor for detecting the pressure exerted on the pedal.

2. The gaming pedal calibration and testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The limiting portion has a guiding inclined surface which enables the base of the game foot pedal to smoothly push away the limiting portion when the base of the game foot pedal is placed in the positioning groove.

3. The gaming pedal calibration and testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic member is a spring.

4. The gaming pedal calibration and testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The two opposite side walls of the positioning groove are both provided with taking and placing notches.

5. The gaming pedal calibration and testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure detection mechanism includes a fixing plate fixedly mounted on the frame and a first pressure sensor mounted on the fixing plate.

6. The gaming pedal calibration and testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The driving mechanism is a stepping motor.

7. The gaming pedal calibration and testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The frame includes a machine platform, a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate. The first mounting plate and the second mounting plate are arranged opposite to each other front and back and are both mounted on the machine platform. The fixing mechanism is rotatably mounted between the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate. The driving mechanism and the pressure detection mechanism are both mounted on the second mounting plate.

8. The gaming pedal calibration and testing device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A control box is arranged on the frame, a controller is installed in the control box, and the pressure detection mechanism and the driving mechanism are both electrically connected to the controller.

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