JP2753684B2 - Game console controller - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a controller for a game machine, and more particularly to a controller for a game machine for controlling a specific image object and a game situation projected on a monitor screen.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Game machines, in which a user controls the movement of images projected on a home television screen or a large business screen screen to advance a game, have spread not only in Japan but also worldwide. ing.

In this type of game machine, a game cassette containing a recording medium (ROM) storing image information, sound information, and operation program information related to the game is loaded into the game machine body, and the game machine body is mounted on the game machine body. C that reads out information from the recording medium of the game cassette and generates image signals and audio signals related to the game displayed on the monitor screen.
PU is built in. In order to control the game progress of this kind of game machine, a user sends a control signal to the game machine body by operating various buttons and keys provided on the controller using a controller. I do.

As described above, a controller is used to control the movement and state of an image projected on a monitor screen. The user controls the controller by holding the controller with both hands and operating various buttons and keys provided on the controller body. The control of the image object on the screen by the controller mainly targets the movement, and controls the two-dimensional movement in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a conventional controller of this type includes an opening 14 in a controller body 130.
0, the key portion 120 is loosely fitted, and a cross section provided at the center of the back surface of the key portion 120 has a substantially semicircular recess 121.
A general structure is to insert the apex portion 112 of a hard protrusion 111 made of a plastic material or the like formed on the base 110. The key part 120 has a cross-shaped operation key part 120.
U, 120D, 120R, and 120L are provided, and by pressing the respective key portions, it is possible to instruct movement of the image object in the corresponding direction. For example, when the upward key 120U is pressed, an upward instruction is output from the controller. Similarly, by pressing down key 120D, right key 120R and left key 120L,
Downward, rightward, and leftward movement instructions are output from the controller.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. A key portion 120 having a concave portion 121 supported near an apex of the protruding portion 111 of the base 110 is installed in the opening 140 of the controller main body 130. By depressing the right direction key 120R on the right side of the key portion 120, the contact portions 101 and 102 which are supported by the elastic material provided on the printed circuit board 100 and which are located at a predetermined distance from each other in normal times come into contact. In this manner, the press of the right direction key 120R is detected, and a control signal is output to the outside via a circuit configuration formed on the printed circuit board 100. Similarly, when the left direction key 120L is pressed, the contact portions 103 and 104 having the same configuration come into contact, and a left direction instruction signal is output. Similarly, the up direction key 120U and the down direction key 120D detect the contact of the contact portion (not shown) provided on the printed circuit board 100 by pressing the key portion, and output each direction instruction signal.

Further, in order to enable not only the above-mentioned directions in the up, down, left and right directions, but also the direction indication in the intermediate angle (oblique) direction of each direction, the key 120 in FIG.
Middle direction between U and 120R, middle direction between keys 120R and 120D, middle direction between keys 120D and 120L, and key 1
Diagonal direction key portions 121, 122, 123 and 124 for indicating an intermediate direction between 20L and 120U are provided,
The detection of the press of these keys is performed by detecting the simultaneous contact of the contacts corresponding to two keys among the up, down, left, and right direction keys adjacent to each other. For example, when the key 121 is pressed, the upward key 120U and the right key 120R of the key 120 are also pressed, and the corresponding two contacts are closed (contact). An oblique direction instruction can be detected.

[0008]

As described above, in the conventional game machine controller, the key portion 120 is loosely fitted into the opening 140 of the controller main body 130, and is provided at the center of the rear surface of the key portion 120. A concave portion 121 having a substantially semicircular cross section
Since the apex of the protruding portion 111 formed on the rigid base 110 made of a plastic material or the like is inserted therein, various problems occur.

For example, a conventional controller is a base 11
The apex 112 of the protrusion 111 is abutted against a recess 121 having a substantially semicircular cross-section at the center of the back surface of the key 120 to hold the entire key 120 and the apex 112
Is used as a fulcrum to press a predetermined portion in the periphery of the key portion 120 to output a direction instruction signal. Therefore, the pressing force at the time of pressing the key is applied only to the apex portion 112 from various directions. Problems arise in terms of If the shape of the apex 112 of the protruding portion 111 is deformed due to the molding stage or long-time use, when the central portion of the key portion 120 is pressed, the oblique direction keys 120U, 120R, and 12D are pressed.
In addition, there is a possibility that all of the contacts provided below 120L and 120L may come into contact with each other and be closed, so that correct direction indication may not be possible.

An even more serious problem is that any one of the keys 121 to 124 is depressed when it is desired to output an instruction in the oblique direction. However, the presence of the instruction in the oblique direction means that simultaneous closing of adjacent contacts is detected. Therefore, in many cases, only one of the contacts can be closed unless an appropriate portion of the oblique direction key is pressed strongly. Therefore, in this case, the user needs to change the pressed part or press the pressed part more strongly, which causes a problem as a game machine controller that requires a quick response.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a game machine controller which can perform various direction instructions accurately and quickly and has high durability.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a game machine controller according to the present invention comprises first to fourth controllers extending in directions perpendicular to each other and having upper contacts on the lower surface side. A cross-shaped key portion formed of an extension portion is provided on a top surface, and a lower portion provided below the key portion and provided at a position corresponding to an upper contact of the first to fourth extension portions. And a base having side contacts.
By pressing the fourth extension, the upper contact of the extension and the lower contact of the corresponding position are brought into electrical contact, and the monitor screen of the image object projected on the monitor screen is displayed. In the above game machine controller for giving an instruction regarding the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, the first, second, and second adjacent ones of the cross-shaped key are provided on the key portion.
And a third, a third and a fourth, and a first and a fourth oblique key portion are respectively provided at intermediate positions between the fourth and the first extension portions, and a pair of radially outer portions of the key portion are provided. Are mounted rotatably via a pair of radially inner peripheral portions of an annular outer ring, and a first shaft portion, respectively, and radially outer peripheral portions of the outer ring, the first shaft portion A pair of parts displaced by a right angle from the mounting position are rotatably mounted via second shaft parts held by shaft holding parts fixed on the base, respectively, and the first to fourth parts. By pressing one oblique key of the oblique key portion, the corresponding two sets of upper contacts and lower contacts of the two extending portions on both sides of the one oblique key are simultaneously closed. It is configured to output an oblique direction instruction by detecting closing.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are designated by depressing each end of the cross key provided on the upper surface.
A key portion made of a flat plate member whose oblique direction is designated by pressing a predetermined portion between the keys in the axial direction and the Y-axis direction is provided, and a pair of outer peripheral portions in a radial direction of the key portion are provided.
A pair of radially inner peripheral portions of the annular outer ring are rotatably mounted via respective first shaft portions, and a predetermined radially outer peripheral portion of the outer ring is defined by the first shaft portion from the first shaft portion. The pair of parts shifted by an angle are rotatably mounted via second shaft parts held by shaft holding parts fixed on the base, respectively. More specifically, the first to fourth cross-shaped keys provided at right angles to each other on the key portion.
By pressing the fourth extension, the upper contact point of the extension,
A game machine controller that gives instructions in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction by making electrical contact with a lower contact provided at a corresponding position on the base, further comprising: First to fourth oblique keys at intermediate positions between the first and second, second and third, third and fourth, and fourth and first extension portions adjacent to each other of the cross-shaped key. Part, and pressing one oblique key of the first to fourth oblique key parts, the corresponding two sets of upper contacts of two extending parts on both sides of the one oblique key. The lower contacts are simultaneously closed, and an oblique direction instruction is output by detecting the simultaneous closing. By employing such a configuration, a large number of direction indications such as the X and Y directions and the oblique directions can be obtained with high reliability with a small number of contacts.

[0014]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a game machine controller according to the present invention.

On the base 1, shaft holders 4A and 4B are installed at a predetermined interval, and shafts 41 and 42 are arranged via bearings (not shown) of the shaft holders 4A and 4B. I have. Axis 4
Opposite sides of the bearings 1 and 42 are fixed to, for example, radially outer peripheral portions of a circular outer ring 2, and the outer ring 2 rotates through bearings of the shaft holding portions 4 </ b> A and 4 </ b> B. It is free. The outer ring 2 and the shafts 41 and 42 may be integrated. At the inner opening of the outer ring 2, for example, a disk-shaped key portion 3 having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the outer ring 2 is provided. A bearing (not shown) is provided on the inner peripheral side surface of the outer ring 2 at a position substantially perpendicular to the shafts 41 and 42, and the shafts 51 and 52 are rotatably supported. The shafts 51 and 52 are provided with the disc-shaped key portion 3.
, And the key portion 3 is rotatable about shafts 51 and 52 in a direction perpendicular to the shafts 41 and 42.

As shown in FIG. 1, a shaft 4
An upward key 31U and a downward key 31D are provided along directions 1 and 42 (X-axis direction), and when these keys are pressed, the key unit 3 rotates around axes 51 and 52 (Y-axis). A left key 31L and a right key 31R are provided along the axes 51 and 52 (Y axis direction), and when these keys are pressed, the key unit 3 rotates about the X axis.

Further, up / down / left / right direction keys 31 on the key section 3
Of the U, 31D, 31L, and 31R, oblique direction keys 311 to 314 are provided between adjacent keys, and the axes 41, 42 and 51,
Both shafts 52 are rotated to give an instruction in the direction of the central angle diagonal (45 degrees) between the adjacent up / down / left / right direction keys. At this time, the rotation of the key portion 3 is performed by the shafts 41 and 42 and the shafts 51 and 5.
No matter where the diagonal key is pressed, the rotational inclination of the key portion 3 is constant, and the adjacent contacts corresponding to the up, down, left, and right keys are securely closed.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show an AA sectional view and a BB sectional view in FIG. As can be seen from FIG. 1, up / down / left / right direction keys 31U,
The upper surface of 31D, 31L, 31R is the oblique direction key 311
314, which facilitates the identification of both keys by hand and improves operability.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the outer ring 2 is rotated by shafts 41 and 42 rotatably supported by bearings of shaft holding portions 4A and 4B fixed on the base 1. And 42 can be freely rotated.

As shown in FIG. 2 (B), in a direction BB perpendicular to the direction AA, shafts 51 and 52 rotatably supported by bearings of the outer ring 2 are provided. The key portion 3 is rotatable. Up / Down / Left / Right direction keys 31
Contact portions 101 shown in FIG. 4 for detecting presses of the keys U, 31D, 31L, and 31R are provided below the portions pressed by the user (usually around the outer edge of the key portion 3).
A detection unit 111 having a pair of separated contact portions (not shown) similar to that of to 104 is provided, and the pair of contact portions are brought into contact and closed by pressing a key. This key press detection is not limited to a pair of separated contacts, and it is a matter of course that any other circuit, element, or the like that can detect the press can be used.

Therefore, when instructing up, down, left and right directions,
By pressing the corresponding key, a control signal in the designated direction is output. Also, the oblique direction keys 311 to 31
When 314 is pressed, the shafts 41 and 4 which are in a right angle
By the movement in which the maximum descending movement amount is set in the direction (45-degree diagonal direction) defined under the rotation restriction by the 2 and the shafts 51 and 52, the instruction of the center (diagonal) direction of the adjacent up, down, left and right direction keys is made by the controller Output from For example, when the oblique direction key 311 is pressed, the right direction key 31R
The key unit 3 descends by a maximum amount at an intermediate angle (45 degrees with respect to each key) between the right direction key 31
The pair of contact portions disposed below the R and the down key 31D are securely closed.

In the above embodiment, the rotation of the outer ring 2 and the key portion 3 is performed about the shafts 41 and 42 and the shafts 51 and 52 disposed at right angles, respectively. The angle relationship of the axis is not only a right angle relationship,
Any angle can be set, and in that case, an instruction in a direction corresponding to the set angle can be output.

The shafts 41 and 42 are connected to the shaft holding portions 4A and 4A.
B, and a bearing portion may be formed on the outer ring 2, or the shafts 51 and 52 may be integrally formed with the outer ring 2,
A bearing portion may be formed on the key portion 3. In short, the axis is
It can be integrally molded with any of the two supporting members,
Manufacturing costs can be reduced.

[0024]

As described above, according to the game machine controller of the present invention, various direction indications can be performed accurately and quickly, and a remarkable effect can be obtained in terms of durability as compared with the conventional one. In addition, it is possible to obtain a direction instruction that is twice as many as the number of contact sets provided in the corresponding portion of the key.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a game machine controller according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA and a sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conventional game machine controller.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1,110 Base 2 Outer ring 3,120 Key part 4A, 4B Shaft holding parts 41, 42, 51, 52 Shafts 31U, 31D, 31L, 31R, 120U, 120D, 120L, 120R Vertical keys 121 to 124, 311 To 314 oblique direction key 100 printed circuit board 101 to 104 contact part 111 detecting part 112 protruding part 140 opening

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A key portion having a cross-shaped key portion provided on an upper surface thereof, the key portion including first to fourth extending portions extending in directions perpendicular to each other and each having an upper contact on a lower surface side; And a base having a lower contact provided at a position corresponding to an upper contact of the first to fourth extending portions, wherein the first to fourth extending portions are provided. By pressing, the upper contact of the extension portion and the lower contact of the corresponding position are brought into electrical contact, and the X-axis direction and the Y direction of the image object projected on the monitor screen are displayed on the monitor screen. In the game machine controller for giving an instruction about the axial direction, the first and second, second and third, third and fourth, and fourth and fourth adjacent to each other of the cross key are provided on the key portion. First to fourth oblique key portions are provided at intermediate positions between the 1 extension portions, respectively. A pair of radially outer peripheral portions of the key portion are rotatably mounted via a first shaft portion with a pair of radially inner peripheral portions of an annular outer ring, respectively. A pair of portions of the outer peripheral portion which are shifted by a right angle from the mounting position of the first shaft portion are rotatable via second shaft portions held by shaft holding portions fixed on the base, respectively. By pressing one oblique key of the first to fourth oblique key portions, two corresponding sets of upper contacts of two extending portions on both sides of the one oblique key are provided. A controller for a game machine, wherein a lower contact is simultaneously closed, and an oblique direction instruction is output by detecting the simultaneous closing. 2. The game machine controller according to claim 1, wherein said first shaft portion is integrated with said key portion or said outer ring. 3. The game machine controller according to claim 1, wherein said second shaft portion is integrated with said outer ring or said shaft holding portion.