JPH0836951A - Controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide possibility of relieving a force applied to a shaft and transmitting it to a key top of a switch without impairing the easiness in handling of a joy stick type controller, enlarging the stroke at the time of operating the shaft, and generating a clicking sensation when the shaft is operated. CONSTITUTION:Four switching mechanisms are arranged around a shaft 4 held by a case 1. Each switching mechanism includes a key switch 61 having a key top 61a energized in the direction of protruding, a slider 66 displaced toward the key switch 61 while pushed by the shaft 4, and a spring 69 interposed between the key top 61a and slider 66. The case 1 is equipped with the first stopper part S1 and second stopper part S2 to restrict the displacement amount of the slider 66. Thus a joy stick controller is formed which can tilt a single piece of shaft 4 in good performance.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a controller, and more particularly to a controller capable of switching the electrical connection state of one contact or simultaneously switching the electrical connection state of two contacts by tilting a shaft. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a controller used for switching modes or moving a character displayed on a screen in a home-use game machine, a controller disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-159132 is known. Are known. This is a cross-shaped key top that can be tilted in all directions with the center as a fulcrum, and a rubber movable film member that holds conductive rubber at four locations on the lower surface at equal angles.
And an electrode provided so as to face the four conductive rubbers. This controller is designed to push and tilt a desired portion of a cross-shaped key top to bring one or two of four conductive rubbers into contact with the corresponding electrodes to obtain an electrical conduction state. ing.

On the other hand, a so-called joystick type controller is described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-83742. This controller is equipped with switches at four equiangular positions around the shaft to be tilted. By tilting the shaft, the key top of any switch is pushed by the shaft to electrically connect the contacts. It is designed to switch the state.

[0004]

However, the above-mentioned two types of controllers have the following problems.

That is, in the former case of the type in which the conductive rubber is brought into contact with the electrodes to obtain an electric conduction state, the situation in which the key top is pressed too strongly during the game is frequently repeated. There is a problem in that the electrodes are contaminated with rubber powder or the like generated from the electrodes, and the contamination easily lowers the contact reliability between the electrodes and the conductive rubber.

Further, this type adopts a structure in which the key top is constantly biased in the protruding direction by utilizing the elasticity of the rubber movable film member holding the conductive rubber. For this reason, it is impossible to make the gap between the conductive rubber held by the movable film member and the corresponding electrode too large, which makes it difficult to increase the pushing stroke of the key top. Moreover, when the rubber movable film member is pushed by the key top to bring the conductive rubber into contact with the electrode, the touch (click feeling) cannot be obtained. For these reasons, there is a problem in that it is difficult to improve usability by increasing the pressing stroke of the key top and obtaining a click feeling when the electrical contact state of the switch is switched.

On the other hand, the latter, ie, the joystick type controller, in which the key top of the switch is pushed by the tilted shaft to switch the electrical connection state of the contacts, that is, the one shaft is tilted in any direction. Since it is operated, it can be said to be excellent in usability. However, since the force applied to the shaft is not relieved at all and is shocked to the key top of the switch, a large load is likely to be applied to the fixed contact piece and the movable contact piece of the switch. In particular, when this type of controller is used in a game machine, such a situation is likely to occur when the game is absorbed. Usually, a switch used in a controller is small, and components such as a movable contact piece are made of an extremely thin metal plate. Therefore, it is preferable that a large load is applied to such a movable contact piece in a shock. Absent.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems and circumstances, and relaxes the force applied to the shaft without impairing the advantage of the joystick type controller described above, that is, the advantage of being easy to use. Measures to be transmitted to the key tops of the shaft, measures to easily increase the stroke when operating the shaft, or measures to obtain a click feeling when opening and closing the switch contacts by operating the shaft. It is an object of the present invention to provide a controller useful as a controller of a game machine in which the shaft is often operated by shock.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a controller that reliably exerts the action of relaxing the force applied to the shaft and transmitting it to the key top of the switch.

[0010]

A controller according to the present invention has a hollow case, and a tip end portion which projects outward from an opening provided in the case and is tiltable in all directions with a base end portion as a fulcrum. A shaft held by the case and a switching mechanism held by the case at four equiangular intervals around the shaft are provided, and the switching mechanism is capable of moving in and out and constantly biased in the protruding direction. Key switch and a key switch having a contact portion whose electrical connection state is switched through the withdrawal operation of this key top, and a key switch that is installed opposite to this key switch and pushed by the shaft that is tilted to the key switch side. The slider that is displaced is interposed between the key top of the key switch and the slider, and pressure is applied as the slider is displaced toward the key switch. And a spring body that pushes the key top backward by increasing the spring force due to the compression, and a first stopper portion that restricts the most separated position of the slider with respect to the key switch in the case. A second stopper portion that restricts the closest position of the slider to the key switch and a guide surface that guides the displacement of the slider are provided.

In such a controller, a pair of parallel wall surfaces facing each other are provided at four locations on the case at equal angular intervals, and the pair of wall surfaces provided at each location are spaced inward and outward. Engagement protrusions are provided at two separate locations, a space for accommodating the slider of the switching mechanism is formed between these engagement protrusions, and an inner engagement protrusion is provided on the slider. It is a first stopper portion that engages with the projection to regulate the most separated position of the slider with respect to the key switch, and the outer engagement projection engages with the engaged projection to set the closest position of the slider to the key switch. It is a second stopper portion for regulating, and the wall surface between the inner engagement projection and the outer engagement projection slidably contacts the engaged projection of the slider to guide the displacement of the slider. Have been made with the guide surface, it is possible to adopt a configuration that.

Further, in the controller according to the present invention, the shaft projecting outward from the opening provided in the case is inserted into the circular opening provided in the housing wall accommodating the case. , Adopting a configuration in which the shaft hits the rim of the opening at a position before the engaged protrusion of the slider pushed by the tilted shaft engages with the second stopper portion. It is also possible to do so.

In the controller according to the present invention, the key switch of the switching mechanism is normally urged by its own resilience to maintain the dome shape,
Adopting a configuration in which a movable contact piece made of a leaf spring that is pushed by the key top to be reversed when the key top is moved backward and a fixed contact piece that contacts when the movable contact piece is reversed Is preferred.

Further, in the controller according to the present invention, two positioning holes formed in the wiring board and having different diameters or shapes are respectively fitted in two places of the bottom plate portion to be superposed on the wiring board in the hollow case. A first positioning protrusion and a second positioning protrusion that correspond to each other are provided, and at least one of the first protrusion and the second protrusion is fitted only in a corresponding one of the two positioning holes. It is desirable to have a diameter or shape that is non-fittable with the other that is possible and non-compliant.

Further, in the controller according to the present invention, the external terminals derived from the key switch of the switching mechanism are soldered to the circuit pattern of the wiring board on which the bottom plate portion of the hollow case is superposed. At the same time, locking pieces each having an engaging claw portion at the tip of the projecting piece portion having elasticity are projectingly provided at a plurality of locations on the bottom plate portion, and these locking pieces are formed in insertion holes formed in the wiring board. And the bottom plate portion is superposed on the wiring board, the engaging claw portion of the engaging piece engages with the back surface of the wiring board, and the engaging claw portion and the bottom plate portion cooperate with each other. It is desirable that the wiring board be pinched.

[0016]

According to the controller of the present invention, when the shaft is tilted in the direction in which any of the four switching mechanisms is located, the slider of the switching mechanism is pushed by the shaft against the force of the spring body. . Further, when the shaft is tilted in the direction intermediate between the positions of any two adjacent switching mechanisms in the four switching mechanisms, the respective sliders of the two switching mechanisms simultaneously resist the force of the spring body by the shaft. Is pushed. When the slider of the switching mechanism is pushed against the force of the spring body and is displaced to the key switch side, the spring body is compressed as the slider is displaced, and the compression increases the spring force of the spring body. When the key top is pushed in, the electrical contact state at the contact portion of the key switch is switched. Then, since a part of the force applied to the shaft is consumed for the compression of the spring body, the force applied to the shaft is transmitted to the key top of the key switch while being relaxed by the spring body.

The displacement of the slider as described above is guided by the guide surface provided on the case, and the position where the slider is most distant from the key switch is the first stopper portion, and the position where the slider is closest to the key switch is the first position. The two stoppers prevent the slider from being too far away from the key switch and prevent the slider from coming too close to the key switch and applying an excessive load to the key switch.

In the controller according to the present invention, when the configuration described in claim 3 is adopted, the maximum tilt angle of the shaft is restricted by the edge portion of the opening formed in the housing, and the engaged projection of the slider is the second. Since the shaft engages with the rim of the opening at a position closer to the stopper than the stopper, even if a large impact force is applied to the shaft, the slider and spring body of the switching mechanism, and further the key switch are not affected by the impact force. Be protected.

In the controller according to the present invention, when the configuration according to claim 4 is adopted, when the key top of the switching mechanism is retracted due to the tilting of the shaft, the movable contact piece made of the dome-shaped leaf spring of the key switch. When the key top of the switching mechanism is elastically protruded by the return of the movable contact piece due to the return of the shaft, the impact caused by the inversion of The shock that accompanies the return of is transmitted as a click feeling.

In the controller of the present invention, claim 5
If the configuration described in (1) is adopted, it is possible to prevent the situation where the controller is mistakenly mounted in the opposite direction on the wiring board.

In the controller of the present invention, claim 6
When the configuration described in (1) is adopted, the impact when the shaft is tilted can be received at the engaging portion between the engaging claw portion and the wiring board.

[0022]

1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention with a part thereof omitted, FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a controller housed in a housing 200 described later, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the controller, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of a part of FIG.
In FIG. 3, hatching to be attached to the cross-sectional portion of the cover body 3 described later is omitted.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, a hollow case 1 having an electrically insulating property is constructed by covering a bottom plate portion 2 with a cover body 3. Specifically, the engaging piece portions 21 ... Protrudingly provided at a plurality of positions of the bottom plate portion 2 are engaged with the engaging protrusions 31 ... Provided on the outer surface of the cover body 3 to connect them. The shape of the case 1 in plan view is a substantially regular octagon.

A cylindrical boss portion 22 is provided on the rear surface side of the central portion of the bottom plate portion 2. The boss portion 22 has a recess 23 at one location in the circumferential direction, and as shown in FIG. 2, the portion of the boss portion 22 near the upper end of the inner peripheral surface expands upward and tapers. A surface 24 is formed, the lower end of the upwardly expanding tapered surface 24 is formed as a small diameter portion 25 protruding toward the center side, and a portion following the small diameter portion 25 is formed as a spherical surface portion 26.

The cover body 3 is formed in the shape of a hollow box whose lower surface is open, and the upper plate portion 32 thereof has a large opening 3 formed therein.
3 has been opened. Then, the shaft 4 shown in FIG. 1 made of synthetic resin or metal is inserted through the boss portion 22 of the bottom plate portion 2 and the opening 33, and the tip portion 41 of the shaft 4 is projected outward from the opening 33. There is. The shaft 4 integrally includes a sphere portion 42 at the base end portion, and most of the sphere portion 42 is fitted into the boss portion 22. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, when the case 1 is mounted on the wiring board 100 by inserting the boss portion 22 into the hole portion 110 of the wiring board 100, the housing 2 for housing the controller is formed.
00 between the spherical concave surface 211 formed on the bottom plate 210 and the spherical surface portion 26 of the boss portion 22.
2 is sandwiched so as to be rotatable in a fixed position and held. Therefore, the shaft 4 can be tilted in all directions with the spherical portion 42 as a fulcrum while being held by the case 1.
Further, the spherical portion 42 is provided with a protrusion 43, and the protrusion 43 is fitted into the recessed portion 23 of the boss portion 22 to prevent the shaft 4 from rotating around the axis. In this embodiment, the portion of the shaft 4 accommodated in the case 1 has a substantially rectangular cross section, but that portion may have a circular cross section.

As clearly shown in FIG. 4, inside the cover body 3, a pair of parallel partition walls 51 facing each other are provided.
The holding frame portion 5 configured by 51 and the outer wall 12 of the case 1 is provided in four locations around the shaft 4 at equal angles (90 degrees). As shown in the enlarged view in the figure, in the holding frame portion 5, the engaging projections 53 are provided at two locations on the wall surfaces 52, 52 of the pair of partition walls 51, 51 facing each other, which are spaced inward and outward. ，
54 is provided, and a space S for accommodating a slider 66 of the switching mechanism 6, which will be described later, is formed between the engaging protrusions 53, 54.

In FIG. 1, 6 is a switching mechanism. The switching mechanism 6 includes a key switch 61, a slider 66, and a spring body 69 that is a coil spring, and is held by each of the four holding frame portions 5 described above.

As shown in FIG. 5, the key switch 61
In the hollow body 62 made of synthetic resin, a fixed contact piece 63 and a dome-shaped movable contact piece 64 are provided, and the movable contact piece 64 is always connected to an external terminal 65b via a connection terminal 65a. The body 62 has a key top 61a.
Are held so that they can move in and out. Dome-shaped movable contact piece 6
In the normal state, 4 is biased by its own elasticity to maintain the dome shape, and when the key top 61a is pushed in and retracts, it is pushed by the key top 61 and is inverted and fixed as shown by a virtual line. It is a leaf spring that contacts the contact piece 63. The key top 60 is always urged in the protruding direction by the movable contact piece 64. As shown in FIG. 4, the key switch 61 is fitted and held between the outermost or outer engaging projections 54, 54 of the holding frame portion 5 and the outer wall 12 of the case 1.

As shown in FIG. 4, the slider 66 has a pair of engaged projections 67, 67 projecting to both sides and a spring receiving portion 68 on the back surface side. The slider 66 is fitted between the innermost or inner engaging projections 53, 53 and the outer engaging projections 54, 54 of the holding frame portion 5 so that the engaged projections 67, 67 are inside and outside. The engaging projections 53, 53 are opposed to the engaging projections 53, 53, 54, 54, and the engaged projections 67, 67 are the inner and outer engaging projections 53, 5 described above.
It is slidable on the wall surface between 3, 54, 54. The spring body 69 is interposed between the key top 60 of the key switch 61 and the spring receiving portion 68 of the slider 66 (see FIG. 5).

Here, the above-mentioned inner engaging projections 53, 5
Reference numeral 3 denotes a first stopper portion S1 that engages with the engaged projections 67, 67 of the slider 66 to regulate the most separated position of the slider 66 with respect to the key switch 61, and the engaging projections 54, 54 on the outside are the sliders 66. The engaged projections 67, 6 of
The second stopper portion S2 engages with No. 7 and regulates the closest position to the key switch 61. The wall surface between the stopper portions S1 and S2 is the slider 66.
Is formed as a guide surface G for guiding the displacement. Further, the spring body 69 has a spring characteristic that it is compressed as the slider 66 is displaced toward the key switch 61 side, and the key top 60 is pushed in and retracted due to an increase in spring force due to the compression.

In the controller configured as described above, the horizontal direction in FIGS. 3 and 6 can be assigned to the X-axis direction of the CRT, and the vertical direction can be assigned to the Y-axis direction of the CRT.

In the controller having the above structure, when no operating force is applied to the shaft 4, the sliders 66 of the respective switching mechanisms 6 provided at four positions at equal angular intervals around the shaft 4 have spring bodies 69.
It is pushed in the direction away from the key switch 61 by the spring force. Therefore, the engaged protrusions 67, 67 of the sliders 66 ... Engage with the first stopper portion S1, and thereby the slider 66 is restricted to the most distant position with respect to the key switch 61. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, when all of the four sliders 66 ... Are regulated to the positions farthest from the corresponding key switches 61 ..., The shaft 4 has the four sliders 66 ... As shown in FIG. Is held in a standing posture (neutral posture). In this way, when the shaft 4 is in the neutral posture, the spring force of the spring body 69 in each switching mechanism 6 is not large enough to push the key top 60 of the key switch 61, so all four key switches 61 ... It is turned off.

When the shaft 4 is tilted in the direction in which any one of the four switching mechanisms 6 is located with the sphere portion 42 as a fulcrum, for example, to the right in FIG. 3, the slider 66 of the right switching mechanism 6 is springed by the shaft 4. It is pushed against the force of the body 69. Similarly, when the shaft 4 is tilted to the left side, the upper side, and the lower side, the slider 66 of the switching mechanism 6 positioned in the tilting direction of the shaft 4 is pushed by the shaft 4 against the force of the spring body 69. Also,
The shaft 4 has an intermediate direction between the positions of two adjacent switching mechanisms 6, 6 in the four switching mechanisms 6 ..., For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the right side switching mechanism 6 and the lower side switching mechanism 6 When tilted in the intermediate direction, the sliders 66, 66 of the two switching mechanisms 6, 6 are simultaneously pushed by the shaft 4 against the force of the spring bodies 69, 69.

In this way, when the slider 66 of the switching mechanism 6 is pushed against the force of the spring body 69, the engaged projection 67 of the slider 66 is guided by the guide surface G, and the slider 66 is pushed by the key switch 61. Since the spring body 69 is compressed in accordance with the displacement, the spring force of the spring body 69 increases and the key top 61a is pushed in. In this case, since a part of the force applied to the shaft 4 is consumed for the compression of the spring body 69,
The force applied to the shaft 4 is transmitted to the key top 61a of the key switch 61 after being relaxed by the spring body 69. Moreover, when the engaged projection 67 of the slider 66 pushed by the shaft 4 engages with the second stopper portion S2, the slider 66 is restricted in the closest position to the key switch 61, so that the slider 66 is pushed in the direction of pushing the shaft 4. Even if a force is applied to the slider 66, the slider 66 will not be displaced to the key switch 61 side. Therefore, a situation where a large load is applied to the key top 61a cannot occur. Further, when the key top 61a is pushed and retracts as described above, the dome-shaped movable contact piece 64 is inverted as shown by the phantom line and comes into contact with the fixed contact piece 63, as described with reference to FIG. The key switch 61 is turned on. Then, when the dome-shaped movable contact piece 64 is reversed, the shock accompanying the reversal is transmitted to the hand through the key top 61a, the spring body 69, the slider 66 and the shaft 4, so that when the key switch 61 is switched. You can get a click feeling.

When the force applied to the shaft 4 is released, the key top 61a projects as the movable contact piece 64 moves away from the fixed contact piece 63 and returns, and the key top 61a also slides.
6 is returned to the original position by the spring force of the spring body 69 together with the shaft 4, and the shaft 4 is in a neutral posture. Also at this time,
The impact when the movable contact piece 63 is reversed and returned is the key top 61a, the spring body 69, the slider 66, and the shaft 4.
Since it is transmitted to the hand through, it is possible to obtain a click feeling when the key switch 61 is switched.

By the way, the above controller is housed in a housing having a size that can be held by a palm. FIG. 2 shows a bottom plate 210 (described above) and a top plate 220 of the housing 200 that houses the controller.
Are shown. In this housing 200, the upper plate (housing wall) 220 is provided with a spherical portion 4 of the shaft 4.
Dome-shaped guide plate 2 whose center coincides with the center of 2
21 is provided, and the shaft 4 is inserted through a circular opening 222 formed in the guide plate portion 221. The diameter of the opening 222 is equal to that of the tilted shaft 4.
The engaged protrusions 67, 67 of the slider 66 pushed by the second
The shaft 4 is set so as to hit the rim portion 223 of the opening 222 at a position before the position where the stopper portion S2 is engaged.

If such a configuration is adopted, the maximum tilt angle θ of the shaft 4 shown in FIG. 2 is regulated by the rim portion 223 of the opening 222 so that the engaged projections 67, 67 of the slider 66 are prevented. Since the situation of hitting the second stopper S2 does not occur, even if a large impact force is applied to the shaft 4, the slider 66 of the switching mechanism 6, the spring body 69, and the key switch 61 are protected from the impact force.

Further, in FIG. 2, the boss portion 71 of the knob 7 is inserted into the tip portion 41 of the shaft 4 and the knob 7 is attached to the shaft 4. The top surface of the knob 7 is a recessed surface 72, and the recessed surface 72 is textured to prevent slippage. Knob 7 like this
Is attached to the shaft 4, and the recessed surface 7 of the knob 7
Since the fingertip placed on 2 is less likely to slip with respect to the knob 7, the shaft 4 can be surely tilted.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the controller.
As shown in the figure, the bottom plate portion 2 that constitutes the hollow case 1
On the back surface of the first boss for positioning on both sides of the boss 22
The protrusion 27 and the second protrusion 28 are provided so as to be distributed. These protrusions 27 and 28 are common in that both are cylindrical, but different in that the diameter A1 of the first protrusion 27 is smaller than the diameter A2 of the second protrusion 28. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, two positioning holes 121 and 122 having different diameters are separately provided on both sides of the hole portion 110 of the wiring board 100.
Then, of these two positioning holes 121 and 122, one of the positioning holes 121 has a corresponding diameter A.
One of the first protrusions 27 can be fitted, and the other positioning hole 122 can be fitted with the second protrusion 28 having a diameter A2 corresponding thereto. Further, the diameter of the second protrusion 28 having the diameter A2 is larger than the diameter of the one positioning hole 121, and therefore, the second protrusion 28 has one diameter of the one positioning hole 1.
21 cannot be fitted.

With this structure, the bottom plate 2 is attached to the wiring board 100 only when the first protrusion 27 is fitted in the one positioning hole 121 and the second protrusion 28 is fitted in the other positioning hole 122. The controllers are properly mounted on the wiring board 100 in an overlapping manner, and in the opposite case, the second protrusion 28 cannot be fitted in the one positioning hole 121.
Since the bottom plate portion 2 does not overlap the wiring board 100, mounting becomes impossible. Therefore, since the directionality of the controller with respect to the wiring board 100 is fixed, the wiring board 1
It is possible to prevent the situation where the controller is mistakenly mounted in the reverse direction at 00. The same action as this is done on the bottom plate 2
A first positioning protrusion and a second positioning protrusion are provided at the location so that they can be individually fitted into the two positioning holes having different shapes formed in the wiring board. This is also achieved when at least one of the protrusions has a shape that can be fitted to only one corresponding one of the two positioning holes and cannot be fitted to the other not corresponding one. As such a specific example, for example, the two positioning holes on the side of the wiring board may be circular and quadrangular, while the first protrusion is cylindrical and the second protrusion is quadrangular.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, on the back surface of the bottom plate portion 2 which constitutes the hollow case 1, in addition to the above-mentioned first protrusions 27 and 28, four locking pieces 71 are provided. , 72,
73 and 74 are provided. The structure of one of the locking pieces 74 will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 8, the locking piece 74 is attached to the tip of the elastic protruding piece 74 a protruding from the bottom plate 2. It has a structure in which an outward engaging claw portion 74b is provided in a protruding manner. The locking piece 74 and the locking piece 71 have a symmetrical shape (that is, both engaging claws are outward), and the locking piece 73 and the locking piece 72 have a symmetrical shape (that is, the engagement Both mating parts are facing outward). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the wiring board 100 has insertion holes 131, 132, 133, and 134 (13) corresponding to the respective locking pieces 71 to 74.
2,133 insertion holes are not shown. The same applies hereafter). These insertion holes 131, 132, 1
33 and 134 have a hole width into which the engaging claw portion can be inserted. Then, the respective locking pieces 71 to 74 are inserted into the insertion holes 131 to 134 of the wiring board 100 and the projecting piece portions 71a to 71a.
When the bottom plate 2 is inserted into the wiring board 100 by using the elasticity of 4a and the wiring board 100 is overlapped, the engaging claws 71b to 74b of the locking pieces 71 to 74 are rear surfaces of the wiring board 100 as shown in FIG. To the engaging claws 71b to 74
b and the bottom plate portion 2 work together to clamp the wiring board 100. In the controller mounted on the wiring board 100 in this way, the external terminals 65b led out from the key switch 61 of the switching mechanism 6 are soldered to the circuit pattern on the surface of the wiring board 100 as shown in FIG. Attached.

As described above, when the engaging claws 71b to 74b of the locking pieces 71 to 74 are locked to the back surface of the wiring board 100, the impact when the shaft 4 is tilted is applied. The external terminals 6 of the key switches 61 are received by the engaging portions of the wiring boards 100 and 71b to 74b and the impact is received.
.. and the circuit pattern of the wiring board 100 are less likely to be transmitted to the soldering points, so that the soldering points are prevented from peeling off.

Incidentally, the locking pieces 71 to 74 are omitted in FIG. 9, and in FIG. 10, the first projection 121 and the second projection 121 are omitted.
The protrusion 122 is omitted. Further, in FIGS. 1 to 10, the same or corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0044]

Since the controller according to the present invention tilts and operates a single shaft, it has the advantage of being a joystick type controller that is easy to use.

Further, the controller according to the present invention can easily increase the stroke at the time of operating the shaft due to the structure adopted in the switching mechanism, and the force applied to the shaft is relaxed, so that the key top of the key switch can be relaxed. Therefore, it can be very suitably adopted as a controller of a game machine which requires usability and whose shaft is often operated by shock.

Further, in the controller according to the present invention, by providing the key switch of the switching mechanism with the structure described in claim 4, the feel when the shaft is operated to open and close the contact of the key switch is clicked. As a result, the usability will be further improved. Further, in the controller according to the present invention, by configuring as described in claim 5, there is an advantage that there is no room for so-called erroneous mounting because the directionality when mounting on the wiring board is fixed. Further, by constructing as described in claim 6, there is no possibility that a large load (stress) will be applied to the soldering portion of the external terminal due to the impact when the shaft is tilted and the soldering portion will be peeled off. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a controller according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a controller housed in a housing.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of a controller.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of a part of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a key switch in a partial cross section.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view showing the operation when the shaft is tilted.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the controller.

8 is an enlarged end view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the first protrusion and the second protrusion are fitted into the positioning holes of the wiring board.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a state where the locking piece is engaged with the wiring board.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 case 4 shaft 6 switching mechanism 27 first protrusion 28 second protrusion 33 case opening 41 shaft tip portion 42 ball portion provided at the base end portion of the shaft 53, 54 engaging protrusion 61 key switch 61a key top 63 fixed contact piece 64 movable contact piece 65b external terminal 66 slider 67 engaged projection 69 spring body 71, 72, 73, 74 locking piece 71a, 72a, 73a, 74a protruding piece 71b, 72b, 73b, 74b Locking claw portion 100 Wiring board 121, 122 Positioning hole 131, 132 Insert hole 200 Housing 220 Upper plate of housing (housing wall) 222 Opening of housing wall 223 Edge of opening G Guide surface S Space for accommodating slider S1 1st stopper part S2 2nd stopper part A1 1st projection diameter A2 Projections diameter

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Nagano 1-34 Kitakuhoji Temple, Yao City, Osaka Prefecture Hosiden Co., Ltd. Hosiden Co., Ltd.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A hollow case, a shaft having a tip portion protruding outward from an opening provided in the case and being held in the case in a tiltable manner in all directions with a base end portion as a fulcrum, and a shaft of the shaft. A switching mechanism is provided which is held in the case at four locations at equal angular intervals in the periphery, and the switching mechanism is capable of moving in and out and is constantly urged in the protruding direction and the moving out of the key top. Key switch having a contact portion whose electrical connection state is switched through, a slider which is installed opposite to the key switch and is displaced by the shaft that is tilted to be displaced to the key switch side, and a key top of the key switch. Is interposed between the slider and the slider, and is compressed as the slider is displaced to the key switch side. -The spring has a spring body that pushes in and retracts the top, and in the case, a first stopper portion that restricts the most separated position of the slider with respect to the key switch, and the closest position of the slider with respect to the key switch are provided. A controller provided with a second stopper portion for regulating and a guide surface for guiding the displacement of the slider. 2. A pair of parallel wall surfaces facing each other are provided at four equiangular intervals of the case, and two wall surfaces provided at each location are spaced apart in the inner and outer directions. Engagement protrusions are provided, a space for accommodating the slider of the switching mechanism is formed between the engagement protrusions, and the inner engagement protrusion engages with the engaged protrusion provided on the slider. Second stopper which restricts the most separated position of the slider with respect to the key switch, and the outside engaging projection engages with the engaged projection to restrict the closest position of the slider to the key switch. And a wall surface between the inner engagement projection and the outer engagement projection is a guide surface that slidably contacts the engaged projection of the slider and guides the displacement of the slider. Note 1 On-board controller. 3. A shaft projecting outward from an opening provided in the case is inserted into a circular opening formed in a housing wall accommodating the case, and is pushed by the tilted shaft. 3. The controller according to claim 2, wherein the shaft of the slider hits the rim of the opening at a position before the engaged protrusion of the slider engages with the second stopper portion. 4. A plate in which a key switch of a switching mechanism is normally urged by its own resilience to maintain a dome shape, and when the key top is retracted, it is pushed by the key top and turned over. The controller according to claim 1, comprising a movable contact piece made of a spring, and a fixed contact piece that contacts when the movable contact piece is reversed. 5. A positioning first member that can be fitted into two positioning holes formed in the wiring board and having different diameters or shapes, respectively, at two locations on the bottom plate portion that are superposed on the wiring board in the hollow case. 1 protrusion and 2nd for positioning
A projection or the like, and at least one of the first projection and the second projection can be fitted only in a corresponding one of the two positioning holes and cannot be fitted in the other not The controller according to claim 1, wherein: 6. An external terminal derived from a key switch of a switching mechanism is adapted to be soldered to a circuit pattern of a wiring board on which a bottom plate portion of a hollow case is superposed, and a plurality of portions of the bottom plate portion. Locking protrusions each having an engaging claw portion projecting from the tip of the elastic protrusion portion, and these locking pieces are inserted into the insertion holes formed in the wiring board to wire the bottom plate portion. When it is superposed on the board, the engaging claw portion of the engaging piece engages with the back surface of the wiring board so that the engaging claw portion and the bottom plate portion cooperate to pinch the wiring board. The controller according to claim 1, which is made.