JP2849366B2 - Operation device for game machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine operating device called a controller or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an operation device for a game machine of this type, an outer shell is formed by a housing. , An instruction such as a moving direction and a motion state of the character on the game screen is given.

In such an operating device for a game machine, the number of keytops tends to increase in accordance with the recent sophistication and complexity of the game contents, and one example thereof is described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 4-42029. Are known. In the operation device for a game machine disclosed in the publication, a cross-shaped key top and a plurality of key top groups are arranged at left and right positions on a main surface of a housing, and another key top is arranged on a side surface of the housing. The operator can press the key top on the main surface with the left and right thumbs and simultaneously press the key top on the side surface with the index finger or the middle finger.

[0004]

In the conventional operating device for a game machine described above, key tops are arranged not only on one main surface of the housing but also on the side surfaces thereof, and these key tops are placed on the left and right sides of the operator. Since the pressing operation is selectively performed using each finger, it is possible to cope with an increase in the number of key tops to some extent. However, since there is a limit to the number of fingers that can be used simultaneously by the operator, there is a problem that operability is significantly reduced when the number of key tops is further increased. When the number increases, the space for disposing the keytops also increases, which causes a problem that miniaturization is hindered.

Further, since the signals output from the respective key tops are all on / off switching signals, for example, in the case of a game in which the operation amount and operation speed are simultaneously controlled, such as a steering wheel operation or an accelerator operation in a racing game, for example. ,
A simple on / off signal tends to cause a feeling of incompatibility with these steering wheel operations and accelerator operation, and there is also a problem that the operational feeling is inferior.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a novel game machine operating device having excellent operability and operational feeling.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a first case and a second case which are divided into right and left, and the first case and the second case are connected to each other.
A housing formed by, among which is fixed to the first case
Connecting ring and connecting ring fixed to the second case
And first operation means for allowing an operator to give a first instruction, the operation keys being provided on the surface of the first case, and being provided on the surface of the second case. A second operating means having an operation key for the operator to give a second instruction; and a second type of rotating electric part built in the housing for the operator to give a third instruction. And an operation key provided on a rear side surface of the housing, the fourth case being provided with an operator for giving a fourth instruction, wherein the second case is provided with the relay. Slide ring
And is rotatably connected to the first case as an id.
Ri, relatively rotating operation and the first case and the second case
And when the electric signal is generated from the rotary electric component driven by the connection ring , the fourth operation means includes a rotary volume driven by a linear motion by a pressing operation of the operation key. It is characterized by.

In the above arrangement, at least one of the first operation means and the second operation means is provided with a rotary electric component for generating an electric signal by the operation key.

[0009]

The operator operates the first case of the housing with the palms of both hands.
When the second case is sandwiched and the respective operation keys arranged on the main surfaces of the first and second cases are appropriately operated with the left and right fingers,
A first instruction signal and a second instruction signal are output from the first operation means and the second operation means, respectively. Also, the operator
When the first case and the second case are relatively rotated,
Rotary electric components such as a rotary volume and a rotary encoder built in the housing are fixed to the second case.
Operated by a connection ring, an analog signal or a pulse signal is output from the third operating means. At this time, the first and second cases can be relatively rotated by holding the first and second cases with the palms of both hands.
At the same time as operating the operation keys of the operation unit can manipulate rotary electric part of the third operating means, moreover, this Kaidomisao
Sliding guide of the relay ring where the working force is fixed to the first case
To the connecting ring that is received by the
Because it hardly works, the rotating ring
Maintains high-precision power transmission system to components
can do. Further, when the operator presses the operation keys arranged on the rear side of the housing with the left and right fingers,
The rotary volume built in the housing is operated by the linear movement of the operation key, and the fourth instruction signal is output from the fourth operation means.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an operating device for a game machine according to one embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the operating device as viewed from the back side, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting mechanism of a left case and a right case provided in the operating device as viewed from the back side, FIG. 5 is a right side view of a relay ring provided in the connecting mechanism, and FIG. FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a self-return operation of the connecting mechanism provided in the connecting mechanism; FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing a switch mechanism of a left operating key provided in the operating device of FIG. 1; FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a switch mechanism of a key switch provided in the operation device of FIG.

1 to 3, a housing denoted by reference numeral 1 forms an outer shell of an operating device for a game machine. The housing 1 is composed of a left case 2 and a right case 3 which are divided into two right and left parts. ing. The left case 2 is composed of an upper half 2a and a lower half 2b joined and integrated by screws. On the surface of the upper half 2a, a start key 4 and a cruciform key top 5 as first operating means are provided. Are arranged, and an elongated left operation key 6 is arranged on the back (rear side) of the left case 2. On the other hand, the right case 3 is also an upper half 3 joined and integrated by screws.
a and a lower half 3b. On the surface of the upper half 3a, four key switches 7 (7a
7d) are arranged close to each other, and an elongated right operation key 8 is arranged on the back (rear side) of the right case 3. The cross key top 5 functions as a direction indicating operation device, and each of the other key switches 7a to 7d and the left operation key 6
The right operation key 8 and the right operation key 8 each function as an operation instructing device, and what kind of operation these instruct is determined by the game software.

As shown in FIG. 4, a relay ring 9 is fitted and fixed to the right inner peripheral surface of the left case 2 and a guide groove 9a formed in the outer peripheral surface of the relay ring 9 The left inner peripheral end is slidably fitted, and the left case 2 and the right case 3 are relatively rotatably connected via the relay ring 9. As will be described later, the rotary operation of the left case 2 and the right case 3 relative to each other causes the rotary volume 21 as the third operation means to operate, thereby generating an analog signal.
A connection ring 10 is fitted and fixed to the left inner peripheral surface of the right case 3, and the connection ring 10 and the relay ring 9 are rotatably connected at the center of the both.

As shown in FIG. 5, a center hole 11 is provided in the relay ring 9, and an annular groove 12 is provided around the center hole 11, and a pair of stepped portions are formed in the groove 12. 12a and 12b are formed. Further, a regulating wall 13 is formed outside the concave groove 12, and the regulating wall 13 is located substantially in the middle between the step portions 12a and 12b. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, a hollow shaft 14 is integrally formed at the center of
An annular guide rod 15 is screwed around the guide rod 15, and a stopper 16 is erected around the guide rod 15. A coil spring 17 is wound around the guide rod 15, and both ends of the coil spring 17 are
a, 15b. The relay ring 9 and the connection ring 10 are rotatably connected to each other with the hollow shaft 14 inserted into the center hole 11, and are prevented from coming off by a washer 18. At this time, the coil spring 17 is disposed in the concave groove 12 of the relay ring 9 and both ends thereof are
Since the dimensions of the respective parts are set so as to abut against the a and 12b, the relay ring 9 and the connecting ring 10 are
7 maintains the center state shown in FIG.
When the relay ring 9 and the connection ring 10 rotate relatively from this center state, for example, when the relay ring 9 rotates clockwise with respect to the connection ring 10, as shown in FIG. It is pressed by one of the step portions 12a and separates from the left protrusion 15a in the figure, and is compressed between the right protrusion 15b and the step portion 12a. Then, clockwise rotation is restricted at a position where the restricting wall 13 contacts one end surface of the stopper 16, and when the rotational force is released, the relay ring 9 is shown in FIG. Automatically returns to the center state. Conversely, when the relay ring 9 rotates counterclockwise from the center state of FIG. 7A, as shown in FIG.
2b, it is separated from the right protrusion 15b and is compressed between the left protrusion 15a and the step portion 12b. Then, the rotation in the counterclockwise direction is restricted at a position where the regulating wall 13 contacts the other end surface of the stopper 16, and when the rotational force is released, the relay ring 9 is moved by the elasticity of the coil spring 17 as shown in FIG.
It automatically returns to the center state shown in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 4, a printed circuit board 19 is fixed inside the left case 2, and although not shown, circuit components of a signal processing circuit and the like are mounted on the printed circuit board 19. . A bracket 20 is fixed to the printed circuit board 19 in an upright state.
0 is a rotary volume 21 as a third operating means.
Are fixed using nuts 22. Terminals of the rotary volume 21 are soldered to a pattern (not shown) of the printed circuit board 19, and a driven gear 23 is fixed to a rotating shaft 21a protruding from a central portion thereof. The connection ring 10 meshes with a gear 24 fixed to the tip of a hollow shaft 14.

Rubber contacts (not shown) are arranged between the start key 4 and the cross key top 5 and the printed circuit board 19 among the operation keys arranged on the surface of the left case 2. When the start key 4 or the cross key 5 is pressed, an on / off signal is generated with a click feeling. Also, the remaining left operation keys 6 correspond to the left case 2
The other rotary volume 26 disposed in the inside is operated to generate an analog signal. As shown in FIG. 8, this rotary volume 26 is fixed to the bracket 20 similarly to the rotary volume 21, and the pressing force of the left operation key 6 is transmitted to the rotary volume 26 via the rotating lever 25. You. The rotation lever 25 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 27 provided on the left case 2 and is urged in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 8 by a torsion coil spring 28, one end of which is on the left side. Tooth portion 25a abutting on operation key 6 and formed at the other end
Is meshed with a gear 29 fixed to a rotary shaft 26a of the rotary volume 26. Therefore, the left operation key 6
8 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 8, the left operation key 6 linearly moves in the direction of the arrow.
7 and rotates in the clockwise direction to rotate the rotary shaft 26a of the rotary volume 26. When the pressing force on the left operation key 6 is released, the rotating lever 25 is rotated counterclockwise by the torsion coil spring 28, and the left operation key 6 returns to the initial state shown in FIG.

On the other hand, among the operation keys arranged on the surface of the right case 3, the key switches 7 a and 7 b and the right operation key 8 described above are similar to the start key 4 and the cross key top 5. A switch mechanism that generates an on / off signal with a click feeling is adopted. The remaining key switches 7c and 7d operate a rotary volume control (not shown) arranged in the right case 3 to generate an analog signal. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the key switch 7c is elastically held on the lower half 3b of the right case 3 by the coil spring 30, and the tooth portion 3 provided on the side surface of the key switch 7c.
Numeral 1 meshes with a tooth 32a of a rotary plate 32 fixed to a rotary shaft of a rotary volume not shown. In addition,
The upper end of the tooth part 31 and a part of the corresponding tooth part 32a are
The tooth tip pitch is formed larger than other parts,
It is devised so that the two teeth 31, 32a can be easily aligned when assembled. Therefore, the key switch 7c
Is pressed against the elastic force of the coil spring 30, the rotary plate 32 rotates counterclockwise to rotate the rotary shaft of the rotary volume, and when the pressing force is released, the key switch 7c and the rotary plate 32 The coil spring 30 returns to the initial state shown in FIG. Although not shown, the key switch 7
The same applies to d.

As described above, inside the right case 3, a plurality of unillustrated printed boards corresponding to the operation keys 7a to 7d and 8, including a printed board on which a rotary volume is mounted, are arranged. The wiring patterns of each printed circuit board are collected in the right connector 33 inside the right case 3. The lead wire 34 connected to the right connector 33 passes through the inside of the hollow shaft 14 of the connecting ring 10 and reaches the inside of the left case 2 as shown in FIG. Left connector 3
5 is connected. Further, a cord 36 is connected to the printed circuit board 19, and as shown in FIGS.
The cord 36 is led out of the left case 2 and is connected to a game machine body (not shown).

Next, a case where the operating device according to the above embodiment is used for a game will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the operator places the left case 2 and the right case 3 of the housing 1 on the left and right palms. Gently squeeze and use. And
The operator moves or changes the position of the left thumb,
By pressing any one of the four positions, up, down, left, and right of the cross key top 5, the movement direction of the character or the cursor on the game screen is indicated. In this connection, the operator moves the position of the right thumb while moving the four thumb switches 7a to 7a.
By pressing any one of d and pressing the left operation key 6 and the right operation key 8 with the left and right index fingers (or the middle finger), various operation states are selectively indicated. further,
In connection with these direction instructions and operation instructions, the operator twists the left case 2 and the right case 3 with the left and right palms, and connects the relay ring 9 fixed to the left case 2 and the connection ring fixed to the right case 3. By rotating the ring 10 relatively, the rotating shaft 21a of the rotary volume 21 is rotated to indicate another operation state. Such operations include, for example, a steering wheel operation and an accelerator operation in a racing game,
The operation of simultaneously controlling the operation amount and the operation speed is preferable,
Since an operation corresponding to the speed at which the left case 2 and the right case 3 are relatively rotated is realized, the operational feeling is improved, and a more tense game can be played.

As described above, in the above-described embodiment, the operator rotates the left case 2 and the right case 3 relatively with the left and right palms, so that the third operating means built in the housing 1 is provided. Since an analog signal is generated from the rotary volume 21 as the first operation, each operation key arranged on the surface of the left case 2 and the right case 3 and on the rear surface is pressed by each of the left and right fingers, and simultaneously the third operation is performed. The means can be operated and operability can be improved. Further, since the signal output from the third operation means is an analog signal, an operation corresponding to the speed when the left case 2 and the right case 3 are relatively rotated can be realized, and the operation feeling is good. You can play a tense game.

Further, since the right case 3 is rotatably connected to the relay ring 9 fixed to the left case 2 and the connection ring 10 is fixed inside the right case 3,
And the right case 3 is relatively rotated by the relay ring 9 and hardly acts on the connecting ring 10.
1 can be maintained with high accuracy over a long period of time.

Further, the printed circuit board 19 arranged in the left case 2 and the printed circuit board arranged in the right case 3 are connected by a lead wire 34, and the lead wire 34 is provided at the center of the connecting ring 10. Since the left case 2 and the right case 3 are rotated relative to each other because the hollow shaft 14 is inserted into the hollow shaft 14, no excessive force is applied to the lead wire 34. It can be connected to the game console itself.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various modifications are possible. For example, it is also possible to use a rotary encoder instead of the rotary volume 21 as the third operation means and give a third instruction using a pulse signal output from the rotary encoder. is there. Further, the number of operation keys and the switch mechanism arranged on the left case 2 and the right case 3 can be changed as appropriate. For example, one of the left operation key 6 and the right operation key 8 can be omitted, or all the operation keys can be omitted. A switch mechanism that generates an on / off signal for the operation key may be employed.

[0023]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the operator turns the first case and the second case relatively with the left and right palms, the rotary electric component as the third operation means built in the housing is operated, and the third operation means is operated by the analog operation. Since a signal or pulse signal is output,
The left and right fingers operate the operation keys of the first operation means and the second operation means to indicate a character or a cursor on the game screen, and operate the operation keys of the fourth operation means to change various operation states. At the same time as selectively instructing the operation, the rotary electric component of the third operating means can be operated.
Sliding guide part of relay ring with force fixed to first case
With the connecting ring fixed to the second case.
The rotation of the rotating electrical parts from the connecting ring
To maintain the power transmission system leading to
Thus, it is possible to provide a novel game machine operation device excellent in operability and operability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an operating device for a game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the operating device as viewed from the back side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a use state of the operation device.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a connecting mechanism of a left case and a right case provided in the operating device, as viewed from a back surface side.

FIG. 5 is a right side view of a relay ring provided in the connection mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a left side view of a connection ring provided in the connection mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a self-return operation of the connection mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing a switch mechanism of a left operation key provided in the operation device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a switch mechanism of a key switch provided in the operation device of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 2 Left case 3 Right case 5 Cross key top 6 Left operation key 7a-7d Key switch 8 Right operation key 9 Relay ring 10 Connection ring 21 Rotary volume (rotary electric component) 26 Rotary volume

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first case and a second case which are divided into right and left, and the first case and the second case are connected to each other.
A housing, a relay ring fixed to the first case, a connection ring fixed to the second case, and operation keys arranged on a surface of the first case. Has first operation means for giving a first instruction, and second operation means for an operator to give a second instruction, the operation key being provided on a surface of the second case. Having a rotary electric component built in the housing, having third operating means for an operator to give a third instruction, and operating keys disposed on a rear side surface of the housing;
A fourth operating means for the operator to give a fourth instruction, wherein the second case is provided with the relay ring as a sliding guide.
The first case and the second case are relatively rotatably connected to the first case .
When the electric signal is generated from the rotary electric component driven by the connecting ring , the fourth operation means includes a rotary volume driven by a linear motion by a pressing operation of the operation key. An operating device for a game machine. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first operation means and said second operation means includes a rotary electric component for generating an electric signal by said operation key. The operating device for a game machine according to the above.