FR3024784A1 - CONTROL INPUT DEVICE FOR ELECTRONIC / COMPUTER APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH CONTROL PALLET (S). - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a control input device (100) for an electronic / computer device comprising: - a body delimited by a frame (102), - a processor (204) disposed in said body, - at least one pallet ( 106,108) disposed on a rear face (104) or upper of said frame (102); and - for each pallet (106, 108), at least one position sensor (206, 208) of said pallet (106, 108); characterized in that it further comprises at least one electronic chip (210), electrically connected: - auditing at least one position sensor (206,208), and - said processor (204) removably or removably.

Description

The present invention relates to a control input device for an electronic / computer device, in particular for controlling an electronic game. / computer. The field of the invention is the field of control input devices for electronic / computer apparatus, particularly for electronic / computer apparatus performing electronic / computer games. State of the art Most electronic / computer games are controlled by control input devices, also known as joysticks. Electronic games are becoming more sophisticated and allow more and more commands to be entered at the same time. through command buttons. The increase in the number of commands is accompanied by the increase in the number of control buttons on the control input devices, such as the joysticks. At the same time, the players in this field offer control entry devices that allow users to enter orders more ergonomically and faster. For example, US Patent No. 8,641,525 B2 discloses a control input device, ie a joystick, having control paddles disposed on a rear face of the control device and allowing a user to enter commands using the fingers of one hand other than the thumb. However, the production of such a joystick comprising one or more control pallets 30 is made from an existing joystick on which one or more control pallets are added and, for each pallet, at least one sensor which has for function to detect the position of the pallet and to communicate this position, or a function associated with this position, to the processor of the joystick. The addition of one or more sensors on an existing controller 35 requires on the one hand to fix these sensors in / on the joystick and on the other hand to make an electrical connection between these sensors and the processor of the controller. controller. These operations require pulling electrical wires between each sensor and the electronic board of the controller, soldering each of these son to this electronic card, etc. These operations consume time and present a risk of damaging the processor of the controller. In addition, most of the time, access to the processor of the controller is done by removing the rear face of the handle, the face on which the pallets are fixed, which makes the welding operations more difficult to achieve.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. Another object of the invention is to provide a control input device, or joystick, on which the addition of a control pallet is facilitated. Another object of the invention is to provide a control input device, or joystick, on which the addition of a control pallet is faster. Finally, another object of the invention is to propose a control input device, or joystick, on which the addition of a control pallet presents less risk of damage to the joystick. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention proposes to achieve at least one of the aforementioned objects by a control input device for an electronic / computer device comprising: a body delimited by a frame; said body, at least one control pallet disposed on a rear or upper face of said frame; and for each pallet, at least one position sensor of said pallet; Characterized in that it further comprises at least one electronic chip, electrically connected to: - auditing at least one position sensor, and - to said processor 5 in a demountable or removable manner. The control input device is also called a joystick in the following description. Thus, the invention proposes a control input device, or joystick, comprising one or more control paddles whose associated sensors are electrically connected to the processor of the joystick via an electronic chip which is fixed to the handle processor, removably, and preferably removably, in any case without welding. Therefore, the controller according to the invention avoids performing welds on the electronic board of the controller to connect each sensor to the processor of the controller. Thus, in the controller according to the invention, the addition of a control pallet is made with less risk of damage to the electronic card or the processor of the controller.

Moreover, in the controller according to the invention, all the pallet sensors are connected centrally to the processor of the controller via the electrical chip, which is simpler and faster compared to an individual connection of each sensor independently. . Moreover, the electronic chip of the lever according to the invention can be easily changed, firstly the maintenance of the controller according to the invention is easier and faster, and secondly the controller according to the invention is more flexible in terms of functionality. Generally, a control input device, or a joystick, comprises a body delimited by a frame formed by: a front face directed towards the user during its use, a rear face, two lateral faces, and an upper face between said front and rear faces. 3024784 - 4 - The rear face is the opposite to the front face, facing the user. Each control pallet, disposed on the rear face or the upper face is therefore accessible to the user by any one of the fingers of one hand except the thumb.

According to a preferred version, the electronic chip may be attached to the processor, said chip comprising at least one tab coming into contact with at least one tab of said processor when it is fixed on said processor.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the electronic chip can be fixed to the processor by gluing on the upper face of said processor. Such adhesive bonding can be achieved by an adhesive layer deposited either on the upper face of the processor or on the underside of the electronic chip.

Bonding has the advantage that it can be applied to any processor and is not limited to a given type of processor. Alternatively, the additional chip can be clipped on the processor of the controller. In this case, the additional chip may comprise at least one attachment means, squeezing at least one side of the controller processor. Such a fixing means, may be at least one of the legs of the additional chip, coming to clamp against at least one leg of the processor of the controller and at the same time making electrical contact with the processor 25 of the controller. According to another version, the additional chip may be arranged on a support, preferably flexible, which may have a negligible thickness. The support, flexible or rigid, can be made of a flexible or rigid plastic material. In this case, the support may comprise at least one, preferably several, connection interface (s) coming into contact with: at least one lug of the processor of the controller, or with at least one electrical track, performed on an electronic card of the controller, for example an electronic card comprising the processor of the controller, and connected to at least one leg of the processor of the controller.

Such a support may be removably or removably attached to said electronic card, for example by gluing or screwing. In this case, the connection pads of the electronic chip have a length such that each connection tab comes into electrical contact with a processor leg when the chip is glued to the processor. Alternatively, the electronic chip may comprise at least one lug that is housed in an opening provided on the processor or on an electronic card on which said processor is located. Such a fixing of the chip on the processor makes it possible to perform both a mechanical attachment of the chip to the processor and an electrical / functional connection between the chip and the processor. However, such a fixation is not possible for all the existing processors. Preferably at least one, in particular each, position sensor may be attached to an inner surface of the rear or upper face.

In this version, the position sensors being arranged in the body of the joystick, they are protected by the frame of the joystick against external damage. Alternatively, at least one, preferably each, position sensor may be fixed on an outer surface of the rear or upper face, said face comprising an opening allowing the passage of at least one electrical wire connecting said sensor with the electronic chip . This version has the advantage of an easier position of the position sensors with respect to the control pallets. Each sensor can be fixed on the rear face by gluing, welding or by any known fastening means. Each sensor can be attached to the rear or upper face either directly or via a fastener. In the latter case, the sensor is fixed on the intermediate piece and it is this intermediate piece which is fixed to the rear or upper face, on its inner surface or on its outer surface. According to a first exemplary embodiment, at least one, in particular each, sensor may comprise a mechanical sensor element, intended to come into contact with a pallet when pressure is exerted on said pallet. In this first exemplary embodiment, when the sensors are fixed on an inner surface of the rear or upper face, then said face comprises for each sensor a through opening allowing the passage of the mechanical sensor element so that said sensor element enters in contact with a pallet when pressure is exerted on said pallet.

The sensor element passes through the opening so as to project beyond the outer surface of the rear or upper face. According to other alternative embodiments, at least one, in particular each, sensor may comprise a capacitive, tactile or magnetic sensor element. In addition, at least one, in particular each, sensor may be a binary position sensor, for example to detect a relaxed position and a depressed position of the pallet.

Alternatively, at least one, in particular each, sensor may be a position sensor provided to capture a plurality of pallet positions, continuously or discretely, between a relaxed position and a depressed position of the pallet.

Advantageously, the electronic chip can be programmed to: - communicate the position of at least one pallet to the processor, or - communicate at least one command previously associated with the position of the pallet to the processor: 5 In the latter case, the microchip may include an internal memory storing for each pallet, a command associated with a / each position of the pallet. Thus, the chip receives from each sensor an electrical signal depending on the position of the pallet associated with this sensor. Then, the chip reads from the internal memory the command associated with that position, and transmits one or more electrical signals to the joystick processor to perform said command. Such a command may be a command associated with another command button of the joystick.

Such a command may be any combination of at least two commands associated with at least as many control buttons of the joystick, that is, a combination of at least two other control buttons of the joystick.

Preferentially, the electronic chip can be reprogrammable at will by the user. For example, a reprogramming of the additional chip can be carried out as follows: - maintaining a control button of the predetermined joystick, for example a directional pad or, in English, "directional pad" for a predetermined duration, for example 10 seconds, - then, maintaining the palette that you want to program or reprogram, and - then or at the same time the control button of the joystick 30 to be assigned to this palette. Other advantages and features will become apparent upon consideration of the detailed description of non-limiting embodiments, and the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of an example of a device of FIG. control input according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of the device of FIGURE 1 in a sectional view; FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the connection circuit implemented in the device of FIGURES 1 and 2; FIGURE 4 is a schematic representation of a first example of mounting an additional chip in contact with a processor of a control device; and FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of a second exemplary mounting of an additional chip in contact with a processor of a controller. It is understood that the embodiments which will be described below are in no way limiting. It will be possible, in particular, to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention with respect to the prior art. This selection comprises at least one feature preferably functional without structural details, or with only a part of the structural details if it is this part which is only sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art.

In particular, all the variants and embodiments described are combinable with one another if there is nothing to prevent this combination from the technical point of view. In the figures and in the following description, the elements 30 common to several figures retain the same reference. FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a control input device, or joystick, according to the invention. The handle 100 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a body delimited by a frame 102 comprising a rear face 104. On the rear face 104, two control pallets 106 and 108 are disposed.

Generally, each control pallet is in the form of an elongated flexible member made of metal or rigid plastic. Each pallet 106, 108 is fixed on the outer surface of the rear face 104 by one or more screws which are housed in tapped holes provided for this purpose on the rear face. The rear face 104 further comprises for each pallet a recess forming a housing for guiding and holding each pallet. Of course, the controller has other control buttons on its front or upper face that are not described here.

FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of the handle of FIGURE 1 in a sectional view taken along line AA '. FIGURE 3 is a schematic representation of the electronic circuit of the controller of FIGURES 1 and 2 with respect to the pallets. The controller 100 comprises in its body an electronic card 202 comprising the electronic components necessary for its operation, including a processor 204. The processor 204 is soldered to the electronic card 202. The controller further comprises, for each pallet 106 and 108, a sensor 206 and 208 respectively, fixed on the inner surface of the rear face 104 of the handle 100. Each position sensor 206 and 208 is electrically connected to an electronic chip 210 via a connection bus. in the form of a flexible electrical ribbon 212. The electronic chip 210 is stuck on the upper face of the processor 204 by an adhesive layer 214. Each leg of the electronic chip 210 is in physical contact with a tab of the processor 204. 10 - so as to create an electrical connection between the electronic chip 210 and the processor 204. Each position sensor 206 and 208 is a sensor r mechanical position. In other words, each position sensor 206 and 208 comprises a body and a sensor element, respectively 216 and 218, movable relative to the sensor body 206 and 208. Each sensor element 216 and 218 passes through the rear face 104 of the controller 100 through a through opening formed in the rear face, and exceeds the outer surface of the rear face 104. Thus, when a pallet, 106 and 108, is pressed by a finger of the user, it comes into contact with the sensor element 216 and 218, and pushes it into the body of the position sensor 206 and 208. Thus, the position sensor 206 and 208 detects the position of the pallet 106 and 108. Each position sensor 206 and 208 is fixed on an intermediate fastener 220. It is this fastener 220 which is bonded to the inner surface of the rear face 104 of the handle. The electronic chip 210 is a modchip chip, programmed to communicate to the processor 204 one or more commands depending on the position of the pallet or pallets 106 and 108 communicated by each position sensor 206 and 208. The electronic chip 210 is reprogrammable from so that the orders can be changed by the user. At least one command communicated by the microchip may correspond to any combination of the other buttons of the joystick 100. Optionally, the joystick 100 may comprise a support piece (not shown) disposed between the intermediate fixation member 220 and the electronic chip 210, in contact therewith. Such a support piece enables the intermediate fixing element 220 to come into close contact with the electronic chip 210, when the rear face of the handle is placed on the handle, thus making it possible to improve the retention in place. of the electronic chip and / or the intermediate fixing element. FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a first example of mounting an additional chip according to the invention. In the example shown, the electronic chip 210 is mounted on the processor 204.

The fixation of the electronic chip 210 on the processor 204 is carried out by the tabs 402 of the electronic chip which tighten the tabs of the processor 204, and possibly the sides of the processor 204. These tabs 402 of the electronic chip 210 are flexible. and exert an elastic compression on the processor 204 and hold the electronic chip 210 fixed on the processor 204. In addition to fixing the electronic chip 210 on the processor 204, the tabs 402 of the electronic chip 210 also make contact between the electronic chip 210 and the processor 204.

A housing 404, of dimensions slightly greater than the dimensions of the processor 204, and delimited by natural shoulders 406, edges 406, makes it possible to guide and facilitate the positioning of the electronic chip 210 on the processor 204. An optional adhesive layer 214 may be added between the electronic chip 210 and the processor 204 to improve the attachment of the electronic chip 210 with the processor 204. FIGURE 5 is a schematic representation of a second example of the mounting of an additional chip according to the invention .

In the example shown, the electronic chip 210 is mounted on a flexible support 502 made of plastic. The flexible support 502 comprises, in addition to the electronic chip 210, a first electrical connection interface 504 of the flexible electrical tape 212. The first connection interface 504 is electrically connected to the electronic chip 210 by one or more electrical tracks 506. Mistake ! Invalid link The flexible support 502 is stuck on the electronic board 202 of the handle so that the second or second connection interfaces 508 in electrical contact with the electrical track or tracks 510 connected to the processor 204 of the joystick. Naturally, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described. For example, the position sensors may be disposed on the outer surface of the rear face. In addition, the position sensors used may be tactile, capacitive or magnetic sensors.

Claims (15)

REVENDICATIONS1. Control input device (100) for an electronic / computer apparatus comprising: - a body delimited by a frame (102), - a processor (204) disposed in said body, - at least one control pallet (106, 108) arranged on a rear face (104) or upper of said frame (102); and - for each pallet (106, 108), at least one position sensor (206, 208) of said pallet (106, 108); characterized in that it further comprises at least one electronic chip (210), electrically connected to: - at least one position sensor (206,208), and - said processor (204) 15 removably or removably. 2. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic chip (210) is fixed on the processor (204), said chip (210) comprising at least one tab coming into contact with at least one tab 20 of said processor (204) when attached to said processor (204). 3. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic chip (210) is fixed on the processor (204) by gluing on the upper face of said processor (204). 4. Device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic chip (210) is fixed on a support (502) comprising at least one interface (508) coming into electrical contact with at least one electrical track connected to the processor (204). 5. Device (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the support (502) is fixed on an electronic card (202) of said device (100) comprising the processor (204). 25 3024784 - 14 - 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the electronic chip comprises at least one tab which is housed in an opening provided on the processor or on an electronic card on which is disposed said processor. 5 7. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one, preferably each, position sensor (206,208) is fixed on an inner surface of the rear face (104) or greater. 10 8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one, preferably each, position sensor is fixed on an outer surface of the rear or upper face, said face comprising an opening allowing the passage at least one electrical wire connecting said sensor with the electronic chip. 9. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one, in particular each, sensor (206,208) comprises a mechanical sensor element (216,218) intended to come into contact with a pallet (106,108 ) when pressure is exerted on said pallet (106, 108). 10. Device (100) according to claims 7 and 9, characterized in that the rear face (104) or upper comprises, for each sensor (206,208), a through opening allowing the passage of the mechanical sensor element (216,218) of whereby said sensor element (216,218) contacts a pallet (106,108) when pressure is exerted on said pallet (106,108). 11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one, in particular each, sensor comprises a capacitive, tactile or magnetic sensor element. 3024784 -15- 12. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one, in particular each, sensor (206,208) is a binary position sensor. 5 13. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chip (210) is programmed to: - communicate the position of at least one pallet (106,108) to the processor (204), or - communicate at least one command previously associated with a position of the pallet (106, 108) to the processor (204). 14. Device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chip (210) is reprogrammable at will. 15