GB2271023A

GB2271023A - Direction controller for a video game.

Info

Publication number: GB2271023A
Application number: GB9220197A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jiunn-Guey Wang
Original assignee: TXC Corp
Current assignee: TXC Corp
Priority date: 1992-09-24
Filing date: 1992-09-24
Publication date: 1994-03-30
Also published as: GB9220197D0

Abstract

A direction controller (100) for a video game comprises a plurality of individually movable 100 direction control keys (10) associated with respective direction control buttons (30) which are resiliently depressable by the keys to bridge respective electrical contact pairs. Each direction control key (10) is pivotably mounted in an opening (21) in a casing (20) which is complementary in shape to the direction control key (10). Because the keys (10) are separate from each other, a fatigued button (30) does not adversely influence the operation of the other buttons (30). <IMAGE>

Description

DIRECTION CONTROLLER FOR A VIDEO GAME The present invention relates generally to controlling a video game and in particular to the structure of the direction controller.

Video game machines usually comprise a host machine with two control sets in electrical connection therewith. Signal lines are connected between the host machine and a television set to display the game program on the television screen. The control sets which provide communication between the host machine and the players generally comprise a START key, a SELECT key, direction control keys and other function control keys.

Conventional direction control keys of a video game control set comprise four buttons, respectively representing upward direction, downward direction, leftward direction and rightward direction, controlled by a universal key. A prior art direction control structure is shown in Fig. 3 of the attached drawings.

The four direction buttons, which are designated by the reference numeral 50, are resiliently disposed on a circuit board 51.

Electrical contact pairs 52 are formed on the circuit board with respect to the direction buttons 50 so that when the buttons 50, each of which has a conductive member 53 attached thereon, are depressed, electrical connections between the associated contact pairs 52 are established by contact between conductive member 53 and the contact pairs 52 to transmit a signal representing that direction to the host machine (not shown).

A universal key 54, which is a disk-like member as shown in Fig. 3, is disposed on and thus covering the four direction control buttons 50. A direction indication 55 is formed on the disk-like member 54. The direction indication 55 may be of any suitable form, such as a cruciform raised portion shown in Fig. 3 with the four ends thereof respectively associated with the four direction buttons 50 and representing the four directions. By depressing any of the four ends, the associated direction button 50 will be moved toward its associated contact pairs 52 to generate and send out the direction signal.

One of the disadvantages of this kind of conventional direction control structure is that once one of the resiliently-biased direction control buttons has a fatigue problem after long term operation, the operation of the other direction control buttons will be affected due to the fact that they are controlled by a common universal key 54.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a direction controller for a video game, comprising a casing, a plurality of resiliently depressable direction control buttons, and a plurality of separately movable direction control keys associated with respective ones of the direction control buttons, each direction control key being (i) mounted in an opening in the casing which is complementary in shape to the direction control key and (ii) depressable to depress the associated direction control button to generate a corresponding direction signal.

With this construction, the direction control buttons can be operated individually and independently so as to eliminate the mutual effects between the buttons. Also, the buttons are independently operable to provide a better response for controlling the video game.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a direction controller for a video game, comprising four individual or separately movable direction control keys in contact with respective direction control buttons each of which is resiliently biased away from a respective electrical contact pair but is depressable to electrically bridge the contact pair. Each of the direction control keys may be pivotably mounted in an opening formed in a cover of the controller.

By having the keys closely grouped together, a user may operate them with a single finger or thumb, as with the universal rigid key of the prior art shown in Fig. 1.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective fragmentary view of a portion of a video game controller having a direction controller in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is longitudinal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a perspective fragmentary view of a portion of a prior art video game controller.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to Figs. 1 and 2, wherein a portion of a video game controller 100 is shown, the controller 100 comprises a casing defined by cover member 20 and a bottom member (not shown). A circuit board 40 with a plurality of resiliently-biased direction control buttons 30, preferably four respectively representing upward direction, downward direction, leftward direction and rightward direction, mounted thereon is disposed within the casing. The direction control buttons 30 are so constructed that, once they are depressed, electrical connections between contact pairs (similar to those shown in Fig. 3) on the circuit board 40 are established to generate and send out signals representing those directions.

This is similar to the prior art shown in Fig. 3 and has been discussed above, so no further detail is necessary.

The cover member 20 is provided with a plurality of openings 21 respectively associated with the direction control buttons 30. Preferably, each of the openings 21 is in the form of a quarter circle and, with four such openings 21, a substantially circular configuration of the openings 21 can be formed. Namely, the four openings 21 may be regarded as the four portions of a circular opening separated by a cruciform partition 23, as shown in Fig. 1. Thus, each of the openings 21 has two radial edges and a circular circumferential edge. Each of quarter circular openings 21 has at its center apex a pivot rod 22 mounted between the two radial edges thereof.

Within each of the quarter circular openings 21, a direction control key 10 which is complementary in shape to the openings 21 is disposed. Each of the direction control keys 10 has a projection 12 depending therefrom to contact one of the direction control buttons 30. Each of the direction control keys 10 also has a groove 13 formed thereon to fit over the pivot rod 22 so as to make the direction control key 10 rotatable with respect to the pivot rod 22 and, by rotating with respect to the pivot rod 22 in a specific direction, the portion of the direction control key 10 close to the circular circumferential edge of the opening 21 is moved toward the circuit board 40 to have the projection 12 thereof depress the associated direction control button 30 and thus generate a signal representing that direction.

Since the direction control buttons 30 are resiliently biased toward the open position, i.e. not contacting the circuit board 40, once the external force rotating the direction control keys 10 is removed, the direction control keys 10 resume their original positions due to the resilience of the direction control buttons 30.

To maintain the direction control keys 10 within the openings 21, retaining means, such as hook-like members 11, is provided on each of the direction control keys 10. Preferably, the hook-like members 11 are so formed on each of the direction control keys 10 that, when the direction control key 10 is not depressed, the hooks 11 abut against an inner surface of the cover member 20 and thus, when the direction control key 10 is depressed and released again, the restoring movement thereof due to the resilience of the associated direction control button 30 will be stopped by the contact of the hooks 11 with the inner surface of the cover member 20. It should be noted that such a retaining means can be replaced by any other known, suitable retaining means.

It is apparent that although the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, those skilled in the art may make changes to certain features of the preferred embodiment without departing from the invention.

Claims

1. A direction controller for a video game, comprising a casing, a plurality of resiliently depressable direction control buttons, and a plurality of separately movable direction control keys associated with respective ones of the direction control buttons, each direction control key being (i) mounted in an opening in the casing which is complementary in shape to the direction control key and (ii) depressable to depress the associated direction control button to generate a corresponding direction signal.

2. A direction controller according to claim 1, wherein each direction control key is pivotably mounted in its associated opening, whereby depression of the key causes it to pivot in its opening to depress its assocated direction control button.

3. A direction controller according to claim 2, wherein each direction control key has a groove which is fitted over a pivot rod mounted within the associated opening of the casing so as to effect the pivotable mounting of the key in the opening.

4. A direction controller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each direction control key is in contact with the associated direction control button even when the direction control key is not being depressed.

5. A direction controller according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the casing contains a circuit board on which the direction control buttons are mounted.

6. A direction controller according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each direction control key has retaining means arranged to retain the key within its associated opening in the casing.

7. A direction controller according to claim 6, wherein each retaining means comprises hook-like members extending under the inner surface of the casing to prevent complete withdrawal of the associated direction control key from its opening.

8. A direction controller according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the plurality of direction control keys comprises four direction control keys.

9. A direction controller according to claim 8, wherein each direction control key has a substantially quadrant shape when viewed from above and each opening has a substantially quadrant shape when viewed from above.

10. A direction controller according to claims 3 and 9, wherein each opening comprises a circular circumferential edge and two radial edges and the pivot rod in the opening extends between the radial edges.

11. A direction controller according to claim 10, wherein the four circular circumferential edges have a substantially common centre of curvature.

12. A direction controller for a video game, substantially as herein described with reference to, or with reference to and as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.