EP0581583A2 - Steuerungstastenmechanismus - Google Patents

Steuerungstastenmechanismus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0581583A2
EP0581583A2 EP93305955A EP93305955A EP0581583A2 EP 0581583 A2 EP0581583 A2 EP 0581583A2 EP 93305955 A EP93305955 A EP 93305955A EP 93305955 A EP93305955 A EP 93305955A EP 0581583 A2 EP0581583 A2 EP 0581583A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
top member
key top
flexible
circuit board
portions
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP93305955A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0581583A3 (de
EP0581583B1 (de
Inventor
Hiroshi Matsumiya
Hidetoshi Suzuki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sega Corp
Original Assignee
Sega Enterprises Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP059473U external-priority patent/JPH0617071U/ja
Priority claimed from JP064031U external-priority patent/JPH0619237U/ja
Application filed by Sega Enterprises Ltd filed Critical Sega Enterprises Ltd
Publication of EP0581583A2 publication Critical patent/EP0581583A2/de
Publication of EP0581583A3 publication Critical patent/EP0581583A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0581583B1 publication Critical patent/EP0581583B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H25/00—Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
    • H01H25/04—Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick
    • H01H25/041—Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a control key mechanism, and more particularly to a control key mechanism for a simulation game system or the like which is used to control the direction of movement of a character displayed when a simulation game is running on the system.
  • a known control key device is used in a television game system or a portable electronic game system to control the direction of movement of a character displayed when a game such as a simulation game or a roll playing game is running on the system.
  • This control key device is made up of a printed circuit board, a key top member having a portion depressed by an operator, and a flexible holding member for supporting the key top member on the printed circuit board.
  • the key top member has four direction portions on its top surface. One of the four direction portions is depressed by an operator to indicate the direction of movement of a displayed character.
  • the key top member is formed with a disk portion on its bottom surface, and with a downwardly projecting portion at the center of the bottom thereof.
  • Four conductive rubber elements are arranged on the bottom of the disk portion at locations corresponding to the four direction portion.
  • the downwardly projecting portion When one of the four direction portions of the key top member is depressed, the downwardly projecting portion is brought into contact with the printed circuit board and the corresponding conductive rubber element on the disk portion is brought into contact with one of contact points of a circuit on the printed circuit board, so that the circuit is made conductive to indicate one of the four directions of movement of the displayed character.
  • the disk portion of the bottom of the key top member is supported by the holding member on the printed circuit board such that the edge of the downwardly projecting portion is maintained at a distance from the printed circuit board when the key top member is not depressed. Therefore, each time the key top member is depressed by an operator, the downwardly projecting portion hits the printed circuit board. An excessively great impact force may sometimes exert on the printed circuit board.
  • Another, more specific object of the present invention is to provide a control key mechanism which enables smooth and exact key operation for an operator to control the direction of movement of a character, and reduces the wear of the contact points of the printed circuit board due to the repeated key operation.
  • a control key mechanism which includes a circuit board having a plurality of contact points of a circuit, each contact point used to indicate one of predetermined directions of movement of a character when the contact point is subjected to short circuit; a key top member arranged within an opening of a housing of the circuit board, the key top member having a plurality of direction portions each of which can be depressed to indicate one of the predetermined directions of movement of the character, the key top member having a downwardly projecting hemispherical portion at the center of the bottom of the key top member; and a flexible member having a plurality of flexible portions arranged on the circuit board for supporting the key top member, each flexible portion having a depressing portion, the depressing portion subjecting one of the contact points of the circuit to short circuit when corresponding one of the direction portions of the key top member is depressed, wherein the hemispherical portion of the key top member is in contact with the circuit board, and wherein peripheral portions of the bottom surface of the key top
  • the control key mechanism enables smooth key operation for an operator to control the direction of movement of a character, and reduces the wear of the contact points of the printed circuit board due to the key operation.
  • FIGS.1 and 2 show a control key mechanism 1 to which the present invention is applied.
  • This control key mechanism is made up of a key top member 2, a printed circuit board 3, and a flexible member4 having four flexible portions arranged on the printed circuit board 3.
  • the printed circuit board 3 is covered with an upper housing 10 and a lower case 12.
  • the upper housing 10 is formed with an opening 11, and the key top member 2 is arranged within the opening 11 of the upper housing 10.
  • the key top member 2 is formed with four direction key portions, and these portions slightly project from the upper housing 10. When one of the four direction key portions of the key top member 2 is depressed by an operator, the corresponding one of four predetermined directions (up, down, right and left) of movement of a displayed character is indicated.
  • the four flexible portions of the flexible member 4 are arranged on the printed circuit board 3 to support peripheral portions of the bottom surface of the key top member 2.
  • a depressing portion 41 is formed on the bottom surface of each flexible portion of the member 4. When one of the four direction key portions of the key top member 2 is depressed, the corresponding depressing portion 41 is brought into contact with one of four contact points (not shown) of a circuit (not shown) on the printed circuit board 3 so that the circuit is subjected to short circuit at this contact point and made conductive to indicate one of the four directions of movement of a character displayed when a simulation game is running.
  • An extremely thin sheet 5 is interposed between the bottom of the key top member 2 and the flexible portions of the flexible member 4.
  • the key top member 2 comes in contact with the thin sheet 5, and is supported on the printed circuit board 3 by the flexible member 4 via the thin sheet 5.
  • the thin sheet 5 is made of synthetic resin or plastic material, and the surface of this sheet 5 can be formed with a small friction resistance.
  • the thin sheet 5 has a center opening, and the shape thereof is annular.
  • the key top member 2 has a downwardly projecting portion 21 at the bottom of the member 2. The downwardly projecting portion 21 is inserted into the center opening of the thin sheet 5, so that it comes in contact with the printed circuit board 3. A point at which the projecting portion 21 comes into contact with the circuit board 3 serves as a supporting point when one of the direction key portions of the key top member 2 is depressed.
  • the lower case 12 is formed with a supporting portion 13, and the printed circuit board 3 is secured to the supporting portion 13 of the lower case 12.
  • Each flexible portion of the flexible member 4 is formed with a slantingly extending leg portion. These leg portions of the flexible member 4 are secured to non-conductive portions of the printed circuit board 3. Thus, the depressing portion 41 on the bottom of each flexible portion 4 is maintained by each leg portion at a distance from the printed circuit board 3 when the corresponding direction portion of the key top member 2 is not depressed, as shown in FIG.2.
  • the downwardly projecting portion 21 of the key top member 2 always comes in contact with the printed circuit board 3, and the key top member 2 is supported by the flexible portions of the flexible member 4 via the thin sheet 5.
  • the thin sheet 5 is made of synthetic resin with a small friction resistance.
  • the downwardly projecting portion does not hit the printed circuit board as in the conventional device, and it is possible for the present invention to remarkably reduce the wear of the contact points of the printed circuit board 3.
  • the control key mechanism of the present invention can be a reliable tool for an operator to indicate the right one out of the four directions of the movement of the displayed character by depressing it at the right time.
  • FIGS.3 and 4 of a second embodiment of the control key mechanism according to the present invention.
  • the parts which are the same as the corresponding parts shown in FIGS.1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals.
  • the upper housing 10 is formed with the opening 11, and a key top member 32 is arranged within the opening 11 of the upper housing 10.
  • the key top member 32 is formed with four direction key portions (not shown in FIGS.3 and 4) on the top of the member 32, and these portions are slightly and upwardly projecting from the upper housing 10 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG.1.
  • the key top member 32 is formed with four depressing portions 22 on the bottom surface thereof as shown in FIG.4, and the depressing portions 22 are downwardly projecting from the bottom peripheral surface of the key top member 32.
  • the depressing portions 22 of the key top member 32 are respectively placed on the flexible portions of the flexible member 4, and the flexible member 4 is arranged on the printed circuit board 3.
  • the key top member 32 is formed with a downwardly projecting hemispherical portion 21 at the center of the bottom surface of the key top member 32, and the hemispherical portion 21 is always in contact with the printed circuit board 3.
  • a depressing portion 41 is formed on the bottom surface of each flexible portion of the key top member 4.
  • the corresponding depressing portion 41 When one of the four direction key portions of the key top member 32 is depressed, the corresponding depressing portion 41 is brought into contact with one of the contact points of the printed circuit board 3 so that the circuit is subjected to short circuit at the contact point and made conductive to indicate the direction of movement of a displayed character.
  • a connected point 36 at which the hemispherical portion 21 comes into contact with the printed circuit board 3 serves as a supporting point when one of the direction key portions of the key top member 32 is depressed.
  • each flexible portion of the flexible member 4 is formed with a slantingly extending leg portion. These leg portions of the flexible member 4 are secured to non-conductive portions of the printed circuit board 3.
  • the depressing portion 41 on the bottom of each flexible portion is maintained by each leg portion at a distance from the printed circuit board 3 when the key top member 2 is not depressed.
  • the downwardly projecting hemispherical portion 21 of the key top member 32 always comes in contact with the printed circuit board 3, and the key top member 2 is supported by the flexible portions of the flexible member 4.
  • the downwardly projecting portion does not hit the printed circuit board as in the conventional device, and it is possible for the present invention to reduce the wear of the contact points of the printed circuit board 3.
  • the hemispherical portion 21 serves as a supporting point of the key top member 2 regardless of whether the key top member is depressed or not.
  • the hemispherical portion 21 serves as a supporting point while the corresponding depressing portion 41 is brought into contact with the printed circuit board 3 by the corresponding one of the portions 22 of the member 32. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of erroneous key operation with the control key mechanism.
  • the control key mechanism of the present invention can indicate the right one out of the four directions of the movement of the displayed character by depressing it at the right time.

Landscapes

  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)
EP19930305955 1992-07-31 1993-07-28 Steuerungstastenmechanismus Expired - Lifetime EP0581583B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP059473U JPH0617071U (ja) 1992-07-31 1992-07-31 コントロールキー機構
JP59473/92U 1992-07-31
JP64031/92U 1992-08-18
JP064031U JPH0619237U (ja) 1992-08-18 1992-08-18 コントロールキー機構

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0581583A2 true EP0581583A2 (de) 1994-02-02
EP0581583A3 EP0581583A3 (de) 1994-11-30
EP0581583B1 EP0581583B1 (de) 1999-01-07

Family

ID=26400521

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19930305955 Expired - Lifetime EP0581583B1 (de) 1992-07-31 1993-07-28 Steuerungstastenmechanismus

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0581583B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69322910T2 (de)
ES (1) ES2127252T3 (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999022391A1 (de) * 1997-10-23 1999-05-06 Robert Bosch Gmbh Multifunktionstaste
WO2003012810A1 (en) * 2001-07-10 2003-02-13 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Electric mechanism comprising a navigation key
EP1300860A1 (de) * 2001-10-05 2003-04-09 Valeo Climatisation Multifunktionstaste für Kraftfahrzeugarmaturenbrett
GB2404788B (en) * 2003-08-07 2006-08-23 Research In Motion Ltd Printed circuit board for a mobile device

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2446007A1 (fr) * 1979-01-05 1980-08-01 Mattel Inc Appareil de commutation a circuit imprime, notamment pour jouet electronique
GB2057192A (en) * 1979-08-27 1981-03-25 Interstate Ind Inc Switching device
US4408103A (en) * 1982-01-06 1983-10-04 Smith Engineering Joystick operated multiple position switch
GB2144582A (en) * 1983-08-05 1985-03-06 Nintendo Co Ltd Multi-directional electrical switch
US4896003A (en) * 1989-06-30 1990-01-23 Hsieh Man Ching Multi-position electrical switch
WO1990015427A1 (en) * 1989-06-02 1990-12-13 Atari Corporation Multi-directional switch assembly

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2446007A1 (fr) * 1979-01-05 1980-08-01 Mattel Inc Appareil de commutation a circuit imprime, notamment pour jouet electronique
GB2057192A (en) * 1979-08-27 1981-03-25 Interstate Ind Inc Switching device
US4408103A (en) * 1982-01-06 1983-10-04 Smith Engineering Joystick operated multiple position switch
GB2144582A (en) * 1983-08-05 1985-03-06 Nintendo Co Ltd Multi-directional electrical switch
WO1990015427A1 (en) * 1989-06-02 1990-12-13 Atari Corporation Multi-directional switch assembly
US4896003A (en) * 1989-06-30 1990-01-23 Hsieh Man Ching Multi-position electrical switch

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999022391A1 (de) * 1997-10-23 1999-05-06 Robert Bosch Gmbh Multifunktionstaste
WO2003012810A1 (en) * 2001-07-10 2003-02-13 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Electric mechanism comprising a navigation key
EP1300860A1 (de) * 2001-10-05 2003-04-09 Valeo Climatisation Multifunktionstaste für Kraftfahrzeugarmaturenbrett
FR2830675A1 (fr) * 2001-10-05 2003-04-11 Valeo Climatisation Touche multifonction pour tableau de bord de vehicule automobile
GB2404788B (en) * 2003-08-07 2006-08-23 Research In Motion Ltd Printed circuit board for a mobile device
US7923649B2 (en) 2003-08-07 2011-04-12 Research In Motion Limited Printed circuit board for a mobile device
US8076602B2 (en) 2003-08-07 2011-12-13 Research In Motion Limited Printed circuit board for a mobile device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0581583A3 (de) 1994-11-30
DE69322910T2 (de) 1999-06-10
EP0581583B1 (de) 1999-01-07
ES2127252T3 (es) 1999-04-16
DE69322910D1 (de) 1999-02-18

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