JP2540505Y2 - Input device for electronic equipment - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device used for electronic equipment such as a video game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 shows a conventional input device of this kind.
The input device 1 includes a trigger key 3 composed of two keys 3a and 3b on the upper right side of an input device main body 2 and a cross key 4 on the left side as input keys for inputting to a not-shown video game machine.
And These input keys are used, for example, to move a character on the video game screen up, down, left and right with the cross key 4 and fire a bullet with the trigger key 3. Reference numeral 5 is a start button, and reference numeral 6 is a stop button.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The above conventional input device 1
Are designed mainly for use by right-handed people, and are difficult to operate for left-handed people. In addition, depending on the individual difference or the operation content of the video game, it may be easier to operate the trigger key 3 and the cross key 4 if they are arranged left and right reversed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an input device having excellent key operability with respect to the left and right arrangement of input keys.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a key group comprising four keys arranged in a cross-shape provided on the left and right sides of an input device body, and four keys arranged in a cross-shape. An adapter which has a cross key of a shape corresponding to the left and right keys of the input device body facing the left or right key group so that the four keys are operated by the operation of the cross key. And an input device for an electronic device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the adapter according to the second aspect includes a hollow case that can be fitted to both a right side portion and a left side portion of the input device main body, and the cross key is provided on an upper surface of the case. It is characterized by having been provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a collar is formed on both sides of the input device main body as viewed from the left and right, and a concave groove for fitting the collar of the input device main body into a hollow portion of the adapter case. Is provided.

[0008]

In the above configuration, if the adapter is mounted on the right side of the input device main body, when the cross key of this adapter is operated, the four keys of the right key group below it correspond to the operation of the cross key. Operated. That is, the right key group functions as a cross key. At this time, it is possible to expose the left key group as it is and use only two of the keys as trigger keys. If the adapter is mounted on the left side, the arrangement of the cross key and the trigger key can be reversed. In the exposed key group, all four keys can be directly used as input keys.

The number of adapters is not limited to one, but two adapters can be prepared and attached to both the left and right sides of the input device main body. In this case, four types of input key arrangements are realized by the combination of the adapters, so that they have the same function as using four types of key input devices.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes an input device of a video game machine. The input device 11 has a key group 13 in which four keys 13a, 13b, 13c, and 13d, which are input keys, are arranged in a cross shape on the right side of the upper surface of the input device main body 12, which is rectangular when viewed from above. , Four keys 14a, 14b, 14c, 14 which are also input keys on the left side.
It has a key group 14 in which "d" is arranged in a cross shape, and a changeover switch 15 for switching the functions of the left and right key groups 13 and 14 is provided at the center. The changeover switch 15 includes a case where four keys of one key group function as, for example, a cross key for character movement, and only two keys of the other key group function as, for example, a trigger key. The function is switched between the case where the function is reversed and the case where the function is reversed. The detailed description is omitted, but the connection is switched between the two key groups 13 and 14 by sliding left and right, and the function is switched. . Reference numeral 16 denotes a start button, and reference numeral 17 denotes a stop button. Further, a collar 12a is formed on a side surface of the input device main body 12. In this embodiment, the collar 12a is formed not only on both sides (the front and rear sides in FIG. 1) as viewed from the left and right directions of the input device main body 12, but also on the entire circumference.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an adapter for using the four keys of the key groups 13 and 14 as cross keys. The adapter 18 is a hollow case 18a that can be fitted to the left and right portions of the input device main body 12 from the side. This case 18
A concave groove 18d is formed on both sides of the hollow portion 18c of FIG. Then, on the upper surface of the case 18a, the four keys 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d or 14a, 14
A cross key 18b having a shape corresponding to b, 14c, and 14d is provided. When the adapter 18 is mounted on the input device main body 12, when the adapter 18 is pushed in from the right side or the left side of the input device main body 12, the concave groove 1 on the adapter 18 side is formed.
The adapter 18 is fitted into the input device main body 12 while 8d slides along the collar 12a on the input device main body 12 side,
The adapter 18 is correctly positioned with respect to the input device main body 12, and four pieces of the cross key 18a are properly positioned on the four keys of the key group 13 or 14. Thus, the four keys can be operated by operating the cross key 18b of the adapter 18.

FIG. 2 shows the adapter 18 connected to the input device main body 1.
2 shows a case where it is mounted on the left side. In this case, the key arrangement is substantially the same as that of the conventional device shown in FIG. That is, the left side is, for example, a cross key for moving a character, and the right side is, for example, a trigger key for firing a bullet on the character.

FIG. 3 shows a case where the adapter 18 is mounted on the right side of the input device main body 12. The functions of the left and right key groups 13 and 14 are reversed left and right as described above.

FIG. 4 shows a case where two adapters 18 and 18 are prepared and mounted on both the left and right sides of the input device main body 12. In this case, both the left and right function as cross keys. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, both the left and right sides of the input device main body 12 can be used without mounting the adapter 18. As described above, since four types of input key arrangements are realized by the combination of the adapters, the functions are the same as those of using four types of key input devices, and the use of the input devices is expanded. Is done.

As shown in the illustrated example, the changeover switch is not provided at the center of the input device main body 12, but is provided at the left and right sides. When the adapter 18 is mounted, the changeover switch is automatically operated, and the left and right keys are operated. The function of the groups 13 and 14 may be switched.

The structure of the case 18a of the adapter 18 does not need to be hollow as in the illustrated example. In short, it is only necessary that the four keys 18b can be detachably attached to the input device main body 12 so that the four keys can be operated.

[0017]

[Effect of the Invention] The function of the right key group and the function of the left key group of the input device main body can be switched by attaching and detaching the adapter.
Or by individual differences,
The user can operate in a left-right arrangement that is easy to operate, and the operability of key input is improved.

Further, since four types of input key arrangements are realized by the combination of the adapters, the same functions as those of using four types of key input devices can be obtained. It is enlarged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with an adapter removed.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing one use mode of the input device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another use mode of the input device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing still another use mode of the input device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Input device 12 Input device main body 12a Collar 13, 14 Key group 13a-13d, 14a-14d Key 15 Changeover switch 18 Adapter 18a Case 18b Cross key 18c Hollow part 18d Groove

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shuichi Shimizu 1-4-4, Shiromi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Within NEC Home Electronics Co., Ltd. Japanese Utility Model Showa 63-146692 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 62-51626 (JP, U)

Claims (3)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A key group comprising four keys arranged in a cross pattern provided on the left and right sides of an input device main body, and a cross key having a shape corresponding to the four keys arranged in a cross pattern. An input device facing the left or right key group so that the four keys can be operated by an operation of the input device main body. apparatus. 2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter includes a hollow case that can be fitted to both a right side portion and a left side portion of the input device main body, and the cross key is provided on an upper surface of the case. An input device for an electronic device according to claim 1. 3. A collar is formed on both sides of the input device main body as viewed from the left and right, and a concave groove for fitting the collar of the input device main body is provided in a hollow portion of the case of the adapter. The input device for an electronic device according to claim 2, wherein