JPH09244803A - Controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the controller which can make various indications with a natural operation feeling. SOLUTION: In addition to a direction key 18 and plural indication buttons 20 provided on the top-side operation surface of a controller main body 10, indication levers 221 and 22r which output indication quantities continuously varying by single operation are provided on the reverse-side operation surface of the controller main body 10. The indication buttons 20 are provided at positions where they can easily be operated with the thumbs of the right and left hands when the operator holds the controller in the right and left hands, and the indication levers 221 and 22r are provided at positions where they are easily operated with fingers other than the thumbs of the right and left hands of the operator. Consequently, the operator can make various indications with a natural operation feeling.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a controller for transmitting various instructions to an electronic device such as a game device when operated by an operator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Several years have passed since the introduction of home video game machines. In recent years, a variety of interesting games have been developed, and some of them are very popular as entertainment. An input device called a controller is connected to such a home-use game machine, and a player operates the controller to send various instructions to the game machine.

The controller intervenes between the player and the game device and functions as a man-machine interface.
Very important for game consoles. The operability and functionality of the controller not only directly affect the playability and fun of the game, but are important factors to consider when creating a new game. A general controller of a home video game device is provided with a direction key for indicating a direction and a plurality of instruction buttons. Usually, the player operates the direction keys with one hand,
The other hand is used to operate the instruction buttons to send various instructions to play the game.

[0004]

However, the instruction button of the conventional controller is not suitable for continuous instruction because it can give only a single instruction by one operation. In particular, it has been very difficult to send a continuously changing instruction. If it is absolutely necessary for the progress of the game, there is no choice but to realize it by using the length of time that the instruction button is pressed or by an unnatural operation specification such as repeatedly pressing the instruction button.

Further, the controller is often handled roughly, and even if the controller is made to have a fairly sturdy structure, a mechanically weak portion such as an instruction button may be destroyed and it may not be used. An object of the present invention is to provide a controller that can give a wide variety of instructions with a natural sense of operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a controller capable of issuing a continuously changing instruction with good operability. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a controller that is not easily broken even if it is roughly handled and dropped or hit by other objects.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems The above object is to provide a push-down type instruction button at a position where the thumbs of the left and right hands can easily operate when the operator holds the thumbs of the left and right hands. It is achieved by a controller characterized in that a pulling type instruction lever is provided at a position where it can be easily operated by a finger other than.

In the controller described above, two handle portions for the operator to hold with the left and right hands may be provided. In the controller described above, the protrusion may be provided between the two handle portions. In the controller described above, the instruction lever may output an instruction amount that continuously changes according to the pulling amount.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A controller according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a plan view of the controller of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the controller of the present embodiment as seen obliquely from behind, FIG. 3 is a right side view of the controller of the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a controller of the present embodiment. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, from the controller main body 10 of the controller according to the present embodiment, two holding hands 12l and 12r are projected on the front side for the player to hold by hand. Handle 12l of the controller body 10,
A connection cable 14 for connecting to a game apparatus body (not shown) is provided at the center of the side surface opposite to 12r.

The operation surface 10 on the front side of the controller body 10
A start button 16 is provided in the lower center of a, and a direction key 18 for indicating a direction is provided on the left side of the operation surface 10a.
Is provided, and six instruction buttons 20x, 20y, 20z, 20a, 20b, 20c are provided on the right side of the operation surface 10a. As shown in FIG. 2, a protruding portion 10b is provided at the center of the back side of the controller body 10. This protruding portion 10b and two handles 12l, 12r
Thus, the controller can be stably placed on a flat surface such as a table. Both left and right sides of the protruding portion 10b on the back side of the controller body 10 are hollowed out, and instruction levers 22l and 22r are provided on the left and right side operating surfaces 10c and 10d, respectively.

Further, on the operation surface 10c on the back side of the controller body 10, a changeover switch 24 for changing over the function of the cross key 18 is provided. As described above, in the controller of the present embodiment, the start button 16, the direction key 18, the instruction button 20x,
20y, 20z, 20a, 20b, 20c are provided,
On the operation surfaces 10c, 10d on the back side, the instruction levers 22l, 2
2r and a changeover switch 24 are provided.

The start button 16 is an instruction button of a type in which a single instruction can be input by pressing it once.
Since it is provided in the lower center of the operation surface 10a on the front side,
It is difficult to press frequently, and is mainly used for instructions that do not need to be pressed during the game, such as a game start instruction. The directional key 18 of the present embodiment is capable of both a discrete directional instruction in only eight predetermined directions, a so-called digital directional instruction, and a continuous directional instruction capable of instructing all directions of 360 degrees, a so-called analog directional instruction. Is. The direction key 18 is provided on the left side of the front operation surface 10a,
Usually, the player operates with the thumb of the left hand.

Details of the mechanism of the direction key 18 will be described with reference to FIG. As the direction key 18, a circular operation plate 30 appears on the operation surface 10a. Operation plate 30
A cross-shaped convex portion is formed on the upper surface of the as a mark for the player to easily grasp the operation direction. The operation plate 30 is connected to a circular plate 34 inside the operation surface 10a by a rod 32. The circular plate 34 is integrated with the operation plate 30 and moves following it.

On the bottom surface of the circular plate 34, there are 4
The convex portion 35 is provided at a position corresponding to one direction.
A substrate 36 is provided below the circular plate 34, and a rubber switch 38 is provided on the substrate 36 at a position facing the convex portion 35 of the circular plate 34. When the operation plate 30 is tilted in one direction by the player's operation, the convex portion 35 of the circular plate 34 pushes down the rubber switch 38, and the substrate 3
The electrode pattern (not shown) on 6 is short-circuited to detect the operation direction. When the operation plate 30 is tilted in any of the up, down, left, and right directions, one of the rubber switches 38 is pressed, so that these four directions can be detected. When the operation plate 30 is tilted in the up, down, left and right directions,
Since both of the two rubber switches 38 are pressed down, eight directions can be detected by combining the upper, lower, left and right directions.

Further, fan-shaped encoders 40 are provided at the ends of the circular plate 34 in two orthogonal directions. The fan-shaped encoder 40 has holes 40a formed at equal intervals along the periphery. As shown in FIG. 5, the fan-shaped encoder 40 is provided with the rod 32 according to the inclination of the circular plate 34.
Moves up and down around the neighborhood. A photo interrupter 42 is provided across the periphery of the encoder 40.

The photo interrupter 42 has a light emitting element (not shown) and a light receiving element (not shown), and detects the presence or absence of an object in the optical path between the light emitting element and the light receiving element. When the encoder 40 moves up and down, the photo interrupter 42 can detect the passage of the hole 40a to detect the vertical position of the encoder 40. Since the encoders 40 are provided along the two orthogonal directions of the circular plate 34, from the upper and lower positions of these two encoders 40,
The tilt direction of the circular plate 34 can be known. Therefore, it is possible to detect an arbitrary direction of the operation plate 30 operated by the player, and it is possible to give an instruction in any direction of 360 degrees.

Thus, the direction key 18 of this embodiment is used.
Is capable of both 8 digital directions and all 360 degree analog directions. The changeover switch 24 provided on the operation surface 10c on the back side of the controller body 10 switches between the digital direction instruction and the analog direction instruction. Instruction buttons 20x, 20y, 20
Similarly to the start button 16, z, 20a, 20b, and 20c are instruction buttons of a type in which a single instruction can be input by pressing the button once. These instruction buttons 20x, 2
0y, 20z, 20a, 20b, and 20c are provided on the right side of the operation surface 10a on the front side, and the player usually operates with the thumb of the right hand.

The instruction levers 22l and 22r can input an instruction amount that continuously changes by pulling the instruction levers 22l and 22r to the front side. The instruction levers 22l and 22r are provided on the left and right operation surfaces 10c and 10d on the back side, and as shown in FIG. 7, when the player holds the holding hands 12l and 12r with the left and right hands and holds the controller, other than the thumbs. The user's finger, for example, the index finger or the middle finger, pulls it toward you.

The mechanism of the indicating levers 22l and 22r will be described with reference to FIGS. These instruction levers 22l, 2
The mechanism of 2r is the same except that it is bilaterally symmetric, and therefore the instruction lever 22l shown on the right side of FIG. 4 will be described. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of the relationship between the respective constituent members of the instruction lever 22l, and is a view of the mechanism of the instruction lever 22l of FIG. 4 viewed from the right side.

As shown in FIG. 4, each of the instruction levers 22l and 22r is provided with an operation lever 50 projecting from the operation surface 10c. As shown in FIG. 6B, in the operation lever 50, a shaft 50b is provided at the base of a fan-shaped operation portion 50a, and the shaft 50b is bent at a right angle. When the operating portion 50a of the operating lever 50 is pulled to the front side, it rotates about the shaft 50b.

A mechanism for detecting the operation angle of the instruction lever 22l is provided in the protruding portion 10b of the controller body 10. A fan gear 52, a circular encoder 54, and a photo interrupter 56l are provided as a detection mechanism. The fan-shaped gear 52 has teeth cut along the arcuate periphery, and a shaft 52a is provided at the center thereof. The shaft 52a is bent at a right angle on the operation lever 50 side, and is further bent at a right angle. The fan gear 52 is the shaft 52
It rotates around a.

The end 5 of the shaft 50b of the operating lever 50
0c is in contact with the end portion 52b of the shaft 52a of the sector gear 52, and when the operation lever 50 rotates around the shaft 50b, the end portion 50c pushes the end portion 52b of the sector gear 52, and the sector gear 50c. Rotate. As shown in FIG. 6A, the circular encoder 54 has holes 54a formed at equal intervals along its peripheral edge. A circular gear 54b is formed at the center of the circular encoder 54. As shown in FIG. 6A, the circular gear 54b meshes with the sector gear 52, and when the sector gear 52 rotates, the circular encoder 54 rotates via the circular gear 54b.

The photo interrupter 56l is provided so as to sandwich the peripheral edge of the circular encoder 54, detects the passage of the hole 54a of the circular encoder 54, and detects the circular encoder 5l.
The rotation angle of the operation lever 50 can be detected by detecting the rotation angle of No. 4. In this way, the instruction lever 22l,
By operating 22r, the instruction buttons 20x, 20
It is possible to send a continuously changing instruction amount according to the turning angle of the operating lever 50, which is impossible with y, 20z, 20a, 20b, and 20c.

When a player holds and operates the controller of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the left and right hands 12 of the controller body 10 are held by the left and right hands. The left hand operates the direction keys 18 on the front surface with the thumb, and operates the back instruction lever 22l with the index finger or the middle finger, and the right hand uses the thumb to operate the front instruction buttons 20x, 20y,
20z, 20a, 20b, 20c are operated, and the instruction lever 22r on the back side is operated with the index finger or the middle finger.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to give a continuously changing instruction, which is not possible with the conventional controller, and also with respect to the direction instruction, an arbitrary direction instruction or a continuously changing direction instruction is given. You can give instructions. Further, since the instruction lever is provided on the back side of the controller, more complicated instructions can be given. In addition, even if a complicated operation is performed in a stable state where the handle is firmly held, it can be performed relatively easily.

When the controller of this embodiment is operated on a desk or the like, as shown in FIG. 3, it is mounted on a flat surface of a desk or the like with three points of the protruding portion 10b and the two handles 12l and 12r as a support. It can be placed and can be operated in a stable state. Also, when the controller is placed on a desk or the like, the direction keys 18 and the instruction buttons 20x ...
The front operation surface 10a provided with 20c becomes parallel to a plane such as a desk as shown in FIG. 3, and the player can easily operate the direction keys 18 and the instruction buttons 20x to 20c.

Further, when the controller is placed on a desk or the like, as shown in FIG. 3, there is a space for the fingers to operate the instruction levers 22l and 22r without hitting the desk, so that the handles 12l and 12r can be operated. The instruction lever can be easily operated with both hands open. In addition, the controller is often handled roughly roughly, and even when the controller is dropped or bumped against another object, the instruction levers 22l, 22r are provided on the recessed operation surfaces 10c, 10d on the back side of the controller body 10 beside the protruding portion 10b. Is provided, it is possible to prevent the levers 22l and 22r from being directly impacted.

Next, the circuit configuration of the controller of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram of FIG. Arrow key 14
In order to indicate the digital direction of the upper contact 38a and the lower contact 38 by the rubber switch 38 in the vertical and horizontal directions.
b, a left contact 38c, and a right contact 38d. The outputs of these contacts 38a to 38d are input to the direction key direction determining means 60. The direction key direction determining means 60 determines the direction in which the operation plate 30 of the direction key 14 is tilted from these outputs.

On the other hand, the photo interrupters 42a and 42b provided in the direction orthogonal to the circular plate 34 are provided for indicating the analog direction of the direction key 14.
The photo interrupters 42a and 42b are provided with counting means 62a and 62b, respectively, and count the holes 40a of the encoder 40 that have passed through. The directional key tilt direction calculation means 64 uses the count values of the counting means 62a and 62b to
The tilt direction in which the circular plate 34 of the direction key 14 is tilted is calculated. The most pushed direction is the designated direction.

The outputs from the direction key determining means 60 and the direction key tilt direction calculating means 64 are switched by the changeover switch 24 and input to the data input / output control section 70. The output of the starter button 16 is directly output from the data input / output control unit 7
Input to 0. The photo interrupter 56l of the indication lever 22l and the photo interrupter 5 of the indication lever 22r
The 6r is provided with counting means 66l and 66r, respectively. The holes 54a of the circular encoder 54 that have passed are counted. The instruction lever angle calculation means 68l is a counting means 66.
The rotation angle of the operating lever 50 of the instruction lever 22l is calculated from the count value of l. Similarly, the instruction lever angle calculation means 68r calculates the instruction lever 2 from the count value of the counting means 66r.
The rotation angle of the 2r operation lever 50 is calculated.

Calculation outputs from the instruction lever angle calculation means 68l and 68r are input to the data input / output control unit 70.
Instruction buttons 20x, 20y, 20z, 20a, 20b,
The output of 20c is directly input to the data input / output control unit 70. The data input / output control unit 70 receives signals from the above-mentioned components and selects necessary data in response to a data request output from the game apparatus body 100 and sends the data to the game apparatus body 100 via the cable 14. Send out.

The power of the entire controller is supplied from the game apparatus main body 100 via the cable 14.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, by operating the instruction lever, it is possible to issue a continuously changing instruction, which is impossible with the conventional controller. Further, regarding the direction indication, the inclination direction of the operation plate can be detected to give an instruction in an arbitrary direction. Moreover, since the instruction lever is provided on the operation surface on the back side, when the controller is held, it can be operated with the index finger or the middle finger that is just open, and the operation can be performed easily and delicately.

By using the controller according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize a natural and comfortable operation feeling even in a game that is difficult with a conventional controller. For example,
In racing games, use the directional keys to operate the steering wheel, use the instruction buttons to operate gear changes and shift levers, use the left instruction lever to operate the brakes, and the right instruction lever to operate the accelerator. It can be realized with a natural sense of operation.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, as the mechanism of the directional key, the tilt direction of the directional key may be detected by a mechanism other than the above-described embodiment. Also, an arbitrary angle may be detected from the direction in which the operation unit such as a joystick is tilted.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the digital direction instruction and the analog direction instruction in the direction keys are switched by the changeover switch, but it is also possible to operate the direction keys themselves without providing the changeover switch. In addition, both the digital direction instruction data and the analog direction instruction data may be supplied and selectively used by the game device body side.

Further, as the mechanism of the instruction lever, a mechanism other than the above embodiment may be used to detect the continuously changing instruction amount. Further, instead of the instruction lever provided on the operation surface on the back side of the controller body, an instruction button for outputting a single instruction by one operation may be provided. When the controller is held, it can be easily operated by an open finger other than the thumb, and a larger number of instruction buttons can be provided on the controller than in the past.

Further, in the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the controller used in the game device, but the present invention may be applied to a controller as an input device for controlling an electronic device other than the game device. In the present specification, “continuous” in “continuously changing”, “continuous indicating direction”, and the like means not only a case of being continuous as a so-called analog quantity but also a case of converting an analog signal into a digital signal. Although it is not continuous in a strict sense and is discrete, as in the case of the digital amount, it includes cases where it can be regarded as continuous from the viewpoint of signal processing.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the operator holds the left and right hands, a push-down type instruction button is provided at a position where the thumbs of the left and right hands can easily operate. Since the pulling type instruction lever is provided at a position where it can be easily operated by fingers other than the thumb, it is possible to give a wide variety of instructions with a natural operation feeling.

In the controller described above, if two handle parts for the operator to hold with the left and right hands are provided,
You can operate the controller with a more natural feeling. In the controller described above, if the protrusion is provided between the two handle portions, the indicator lever and the like can be protected by the protrusion and / or the two handle portions even if the handle is roughly handled.

In the controller described above, if the instruction lever outputs an instruction amount that continuously changes according to the pulling amount, it is possible to issue a continuously changing instruction with good operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a controller according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as viewed obliquely from behind.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a mechanism of a direction key in the controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a mechanism of an instruction lever in the controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an operating state of the controller according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a controller according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 10 ... Contcola main body 10a ... Front side operation surface 10b ... Projection portion 10c, 10d ... Back side operation surface 12l, 12r ... Handle 16 ... Start button 18 ... Direction keys 20x, 20y, 20z, 20a, 20b, 20c ... Instruction Buttons 22l, 22r ... Instructing lever 24 ... Changeover switch 30 ... Operation plate 32 ... Rod 34 ... Circular plate 35 ... Convex part 36 ... Substrate 38 ... Rubber switch 38a ... Top contact 38b ... Bottom contact 38c ... Left contact 38d ... Right contact 40 ... fan-shaped encoder 40a ... holes 42, 42a, 42b ... photointerrupter 50 ... operating lever 50a ... fan-shaped operating part 50b ... shaft 50c ... end 52 ... fan-shaped gear 54 ... circular encoders 56l, 56r ... photointerrupter 52a ... shaft 52b ... end Portion 54a ... Hole 54b ... Circular gear 56 l, 56r ... Photointerrupter 60 ... Direction key direction determining means 62a, 62b ... Counting means 64 ... Direction key tilt direction calculating means 66l, 66r ... Counting means 68l, 66r ... Instructing lever angle calculating means 70 ... Data input / output control section 100 … Game device body

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A push-down type instruction button is provided at a position where it can be easily operated by the thumbs of the left and right hands when the operator holds it by the left and right hands, and is operated by a finger other than the thumbs of the left and right hands. A controller characterized in that a pull-type instruction lever is provided at an easy position. 2. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the operator is provided with two handle parts for holding with left and right hands. 3. The controller according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion is provided between the two handle portions. 4. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the instruction lever outputs an instruction amount that continuously changes according to a pulling amount.