EP0581583B1 - Steuerungstastenmechanismus - Google Patents

Steuerungstastenmechanismus Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0581583B1
EP0581583B1 EP19930305955 EP93305955A EP0581583B1 EP 0581583 B1 EP0581583 B1 EP 0581583B1 EP 19930305955 EP19930305955 EP 19930305955 EP 93305955 A EP93305955 A EP 93305955A EP 0581583 B1 EP0581583 B1 EP 0581583B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
key top
top member
circuit board
flexible
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19930305955
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0581583A2 (de
EP0581583A3 (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 role 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 first aspect of the present invention provides a control key mechanism for indicating one of a plurality of predetermined directions of movement of a character displayed when a game is running, which comprises: a circuit board having a plurality of contact points of a circuit, each contact point used to indicate one of the predetermined directions of movement of the character when the circuit is subjected to electrical conduction at the contact point; a key top member arranged within an opening of a housing of the circuit board, said key top member having a plurality of direction portions each of which can be depressed to subject the circuit of the circuit board to electrical conduction at the corresponding contact point so that one of the predetermined directions of movement of the character is indicated, said 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 on the bottom surface of the flexible portion, the depressing portion subjecting the circuit to electrical conduction at
  • a second aspect of the present invention provides a control key mechanism for indicating one of a plurality of predetermined directions of movement of a character displayed when a game is running which comprises: a circuit board having a plurality of contact points of a circuit, each contact point used to indicate one of the predetermined directions of movement of the character when the circuit is subjected to electrical conduction at the contact point; a key top member arranged within an opening of a housing of the circuit board, said key top member having a plurality of direction portions each of which can be depressed to subject the circuit of the circuit board to electrical conduction at the corresponding contact point so that one of the predetermined directions of movement of the character is indicated, said 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 on the bottom surface of the flexible portion, the depressing portion subjecting the circuit to electrical conduction at the
  • 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 member 4 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.

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  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)

Claims (5)

  1. Funktionstastenmechanismus zur Anzeige einer von mehreren festgelegten Bewegungsrichtungen eines Zeichens, das angezeigt wird, wenn ein Spiel läuft, aufweisend
    eine gedruckte Schaltung (3) mit mehreren Kontaktpunkten einer Schaltung, wobei jeder Kontaktpunkt verwendet wird, um eine der festgelegten Bewegungsrichtungen des Zeichens anzuzeigen, wenn in der Schaltung eine elektrische Leitung an einem Kontaktpunkt erzeugt wird,
    ein oberes Tastenelement (2, 32), das in einer Öffnung eines Gehäuses (10) der gedruckten Schaltung angeordnet ist, wobei das obere Tastenelement eine Vielzahl von Richtungsbereichen aufweist, von denen jeder gedrückt werden kann, um in der Schaltung der gedruckten Schaltung eine elektrische Leitung an dem entsprechenden Kontaktpunkt zu erzeugen, so daß eine der festgelegten Bewegungsrichtungen des Zeichens angezeigt wird, und das obere Tastenelement einen nach unten vorstehenden halbkugelförmigen Bereich (21) im Zentrum der Unterseite des oberen Tastenelementes aufweist, und
    ein flexibles Element (4) mit einer Vielzahl von flexiblen Bereichen, die auf der gedruckten Schaltung angeordnet sind, um das obere Tastenelement zu halten, wobei jeder flexible Bereich einen Druckbereich (41) an der unteren Fläche des flexiblen Bereichs aufweist und der Druckbereich in der Schaltung eine elektrische Leitung an dem entsprechenden Kontaktpunkt der gedruckten Schaltung bewirkt, wenn der jeweilige Richtungsbereich des oberen Tastenelementes gedrückt wird,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß der halbkugelförmige Bereich (21) des oberen Tastenelementes (2, 32) sich in Kontakt mit der gedruckten Schlaltung (3) befindet,
    entlang des Umfangs angeordnete Bereiche der unteren Fläche des oberen Tastenelementes durch die flexiblen Bereiche des flexiblen Elementes (4) gehalten werden,
    eine äußerst dünne Platte (5), die aus Synthesekautschuk hergestellt ist, zwischen den entlang des Umfangs angeordneten Bereichen der unteren Fläche des oberen Tastenelementes (2) und den flexiblen Bereichen des flexiblen Elementes (4) derart angeordnet ist, so daß sie den Reibungswiderstand zwischen diesen verringert,
    wobei die am Umfang angeordneten Bereiche der unteren Fläche des oberen Tastenelementes durch flexible Bereiche des flexiblen Elementes (4) über die dünne Platte (5) gehalten werden.
  2. Funktionstastenmechanismus zur Anzeige einer von mehreren festgelegten Bewegungsrichtungen eines Zeichens, das angezeigt wird, wenn ein Spiel läuft, aufweisend
    eine gedruckte Schaltung (3) mit mehreren Kontaktpunkten einer Schaltung, wobei jeder Kontaktpunkt verwendet wird, um eine der festgelegten Bewegungsrichtungen des Zeichens anzuzeigen, wenn in der Schaltung eine elektrische Leitung an einem Kontaktpunkt erzeugt wird,
    ein oberes Tastenelement (2, 32), das in einer Öffnung eines Gehäuses (10) der gedruckten Schaltung angeordnet ist, wobei das obere Tastenelement eine Vielzahl von Richtungsbereichen aufweist, von denen jeder gedrückt werden kann, um in der Schaltung der gedruckten Schaltung eine elektrische Leitung an dem entsprechenden Kontaktpunkt zu erzeugen, so daß eine der festgelegten Bewegungsrichtungen des Zeichens angezeigt wird, und das obere Tastenelement einen nach unten vorstehenden halbkugelförmigen Bereich (21) im Zentrum der Unterseite des oberen Tastenelementes aufweist, und
    ein flexibles Element (4) mit einer Vielzahl von flexiblen Bereichen, die auf der gedruckten Schaltung angeordnet sind, um das obere Tastenelement zu halten, wobei jeder flexible Bereich einen Druckbereich (41) an der unteren Fläche des flexiblen Bereichs aufweist und der Druckbereich in der Schaltung eine elektrische Leitung an dem entsprechenden Kontaktpunkt der gedruckten Schaltung bewirkt, wenn der jeweilige Richtungsbereich des oberen Tastenelementes gedrückt wird,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß der halbkugelförmige Bereich (21) des oberen Tastenelementes (2, 32) sich in Kontakt mit der gedruckten Schlaltung (3) befindet,
    das obere Tastenelement (32) mit einer Vielzahl sich nach unten erstreckender vorstehender Bereiche (22) ausgebildet ist, die jeweils mit den flexiblen Bereichen des flexiblen Elementes (4) derart verbunden sind, daß der halbkugelförmige Bereich (21) sich in Kontakt mit der gedruckten Schaltung (3) befindet und daß die sich nach unten erstreckenden vorstehenden Bereiche (22) durch die jeweiligen flexiblen Bereiche gehalten werden.
  3. Funktionstastenmechanismus nach Anspruch 1 oder 2,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß das obere Tastenelement (2, 32) vier Richtungsbereiche aufweist, von denen jeder gedrückt werden kann, um eine von vier festgelegten Bewegungsrichtungen des Zeichens anzuzeigen.
  4. Funktionstastenmechanismus nach den Ansprüchen 1, 2 oder 3,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß das flexible Element (4) mit vier flexiblen Bereichen ausgebildet ist, die auf der gedruckten Schaltung (3) angeordnet sind, um das obere Kastenelement (2, 32) zu halten.
  5. Funktionstastenmechanismus nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    daß die flexiblen Bereiche des flexiblen Elementes (4) mit sich schräg erstreckenden Fußbereichen ausgebildet sind, wobei die Fußbereiche an der gedruckten Schaltung (3) befestigt sind und jeder Druckbereich (41) des flexiblen Elementes (4) durch die Fußbereiche in einem Abstand von der gedruckten Schaltung (3) gehalten wird.
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 EP0581583A2 (de) 1994-02-02
EP0581583A3 EP0581583A3 (de) 1994-11-30
EP0581583B1 true 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)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19746843A1 (de) * 1997-10-23 1999-05-12 Bosch Gmbh Robert Multifunktionstaste
EP1407465A1 (de) * 2001-07-10 2004-04-14 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Elektrisches gerät mit navigationstaste
FR2830675B1 (fr) * 2001-10-05 2004-07-09 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

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4246452A (en) * 1979-01-05 1981-01-20 Mattel, Inc. Switch apparatus
US4256931A (en) * 1979-08-27 1981-03-17 Interstate Industries, Inc. Multiple dome switch assembly having pivotable common actuator
US4408103A (en) * 1982-01-06 1983-10-04 Smith Engineering Joystick operated multiple position switch
GB2144582B (en) * 1983-08-05 1987-06-10 Nintendo Co Ltd Multi-directional electrical switch
US4992631A (en) * 1989-06-02 1991-02-12 Atari Corporation Multi-directional switch assembly
US4896003A (en) * 1989-06-30 1990-01-23 Hsieh Man Ching Multi-position electrical switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69322910T2 (de) 1999-06-10
EP0581583A2 (de) 1994-02-02
EP0581583A3 (de) 1994-11-30
DE69322910D1 (de) 1999-02-18
ES2127252T3 (es) 1999-04-16

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