Expanding operating device and operation system

Abstract

An expanding operating device has a first connector, a second connector and a sensor. The first connector has a first shape physically and electrically connectable with a connector provided with an operating device. Thus, by connecting the first connector to the connector of the operating device, the expanding operating device can be used with the operating device as a single unit, which eventually adds the sensor to the operating device. On the other hand, the second connector has a second shape connectable with a connector with the first shape. This allows a connector conventionally connected to the connector of another operating device to be also connected with the second connector. Accordingly, if the connector of another device is connected to the second connector in a state that the first connector is connected to the connector of the operating device, the another device is eventually connected to the operating device via the expanding operating device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An expanding operating device, by being connected to an operating device via a connector, which is used with said operating device as a single unit, comprising:
 a housing;   a first connector having a first shape physically and electrically connectable to a connector provided to said operating device;   a second connector having a second shape connectable to a connector having said first shape, and   a sensor.   
     
     
         2 . An expanding operating device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said sensor is a motion sensor for detecting a motion of itself.   
     
     
         3 . An expanding operating device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said motion sensor is a three-axis gyro sensor.   
     
     
         4 . An expanding operating device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 at least one through hole portion is provided on a surface to which said connector of said operating device is provided, further comprising   a protrusion member capable of being fit to said through hole portion.   
     
     
         5 . An expanding operating device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 said protrusion member is a pawl member capable of being opened and closed, further comprising   a protrusion locking mechanism for locking the opening and closing thereof.   
     
     
         6 . An expanding operating device according to  claim 2 , further comprising
 a concave portion from a side of said first connector to a bottom surface of said housing.   
     
     
         7 . An expanding operating device according to  claim 2 , further comprising
 a lid capable of covering said second connector, and being captive from said housing when it is detached.   
     
     
         8 . An expanding operating device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 data is fetched from an external device through said second connector, and the data from said external device and the data from said motion sensor are output to said operating device through said first connector.   
     
     
         9 . An expanding operating device according to  claim 8 , further comprising
 an output data controlling means for controlling output data including the data from said sensor;   a bus switch for directly connecting a line on a side of said second connector to the side of said first connector; and   a bus switch controlling means for switching a connection of said bus switch between on and off, wherein   when said bus switch is turned off, the line on the side of said second connector is connected to the side of said first connector via said output data controlling means.   
     
     
         10 . An expanding operating device according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a sensor power managing means for switching a power supply to said sensor between on and off, wherein   said bus switch controlling means turns the connection to said bus switch on when the power source of said sensor is turned off.   
     
     
         11 . An expanding operating device according to  claim 10 , further comprising
 a connection detecting means for detecting whether or not a predetermined device is connected to said second connector, wherein   said output data controlling means alternately outputs first data output from said predetermined device and second data based on an output from said sensor from said first connector when a connection with said bus switch is turned off, and said predetermined device is connected to said second connector.   
     
     
         12 . An expanding operating device according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an angular velocity determining means for determining a size of an angular velocity of each axis detected by said gyro sensor; and   an angular velocity data output controlling means for outputting first angular velocity data with low accuracy in a case that the size of said angular velocity is large, and outputting second angular velocity data having data amount the same as that of said first angular velocity data and having high accuracy in a case that the size of said angular velocity is small.