JPH09262366A - Cross key adapter device and controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device effective in cost and operability for a game software suitable to use two cross keys for operating. SOLUTION: This cross key adapter device 10 has a pedestal 23 in which an opening part 31 is formed for passing a trigger button 7, keys 27 arranged cross wisely and being in contact with the trigger button 7, and cross key cover 25 thereon. The pedestal 23 is fitted to a controller by a fixing band 15 and pressure to the cross key cover 25 is applied through the key 27 to the trigger button 7. Each key 27 is hinged and supported through a pin 29 by the central stand of the pedestal 23, and that key is arranged through a gap 45 to the other adjacent key.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cross key adapter device for adding a cross key function to a controller for sending various instructions to an electronic device such as a game device.

[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 to play the game.

Thus, the controller intervenes between the player and the game device and functions as a man-machine interface, which is very important for the game device. The operability and functionality of the controller are closely related to the ease of playing the game and the fun of the game. Although various types of game device controllers have been devised in the past, as a controller for a home video game device, a cross key for indicating a direction and a plurality of instruction buttons are provided. Things are common.

By the way, depending on the content of the game, it may be possible for one player to make full use of the two cross keys at the same time to move the items on the monitor at will and to feel the game operation. . In such a case,
As for the game software supplier,
Provide a controller dedicated to the game, use two normal controllers to play, change the game design so that even one normal controller can be operated, or use the trigger button of the normal controller instead Will be selected.

[0005]

However, the method of providing the controller dedicated to the game has a big problem in terms of cost. Further, the method of using two normal controllers requires a controller twice as large as that of the player, and thus the cost burden is large and there is a problem in operability. In addition, the method of changing the game design increases the development cost and has a great influence on the game content. Also,
With the method of substituting the trigger button, a satisfactory operation feeling cannot be obtained. As described above, each of the conventional methods has merits and demerits, and is not sufficiently satisfactory.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cross key adapter device which can be realized at a low cost for a game in which it is preferable to use two cross keys, and which provides a satisfactory operation feeling. It is in.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned object is a cross key adapter device which can be mounted on a controller for sending various instructions to an electronic device, and which has a plurality of openings through which a plurality of buttons provided on the controller are inserted. A pedestal that can be placed on the controller, a plurality of keys that are pivotally mounted about a substantially central portion of the pedestal as a fulcrum, and that extend respectively above the opening, and a central portion of the pedestal. The cross key adapter device is characterized in that it has a cross key cover that is supported by the above and covers the plurality of keys, and a fixture for mounting the pedestal to the controller.

In the cross key adapter device described above,
The key is preferably hinged with respect to the pedestal. In the cross key adapter device described above, it is desirable that the plurality of keys are arranged with a gap therebetween. In the cross key adapter device described above,
It is preferable that a cut extending from the outer periphery of the pedestal toward the center is formed between the plurality of openings of the pedestal.

In the cross key adapter device described above,
It is desirable to further include cover adjusting means for adjusting the height or inclination of the cross key cover with respect to the controller. For the above purpose, multiple buttons are provided,
In a controller for sending various instructions to an electronic device, the controller is characterized in that a support portion for tiltably supporting the cross key adapter device is provided between the plurality of buttons.

The above-mentioned object is a cross key adapter device to be mounted on the above-mentioned controller, which has a cross key cover attached to a supporting portion of the controller and covering a plurality of keys. Achieved by

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A cross key adapter device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11. First, a controller of a home video game to which the cross key adapter device according to the present embodiment is attached will be schematically described with reference to FIG.

The controller 1 is connected to the game apparatus body (not shown) and is operated by the player. The controller 1 has a controller body 3 having a contour shape of a gentle curve so that the controller 1 is easily adapted to a human hand.
On one side of the controller body 3, a cross key 5 operated by the left hand (especially, thumb) of the player is provided, and on the other side, a plurality of trigger buttons 7 (7A, 7A, 7B, 7C, 7X, 7Y,
7Z) is provided. A start button 4 is provided in the center of the controller body 3, and left and right buttons 6l and 6r are provided on both left and right sides.

The cross key adapter device according to the present embodiment is provided with four trigger buttons which are close to each other, and in this embodiment, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, above the buttons 7A, 7B, 7X, 7Y. It is fixed to and used.
FIG. 2 shows a state in which the cross key adapter device of the present embodiment is fixed on the controller body 3. As shown in the figure, the cross key adapter device 10 of the present embodiment includes a rectangular device body 13 and a fixing band 15 that is locked to the device body 13 and wound around the controller body 3. The fixing band 15 may be formed of a relatively hard material such as metal or plastic, or may be formed of an elastic material typified by a rubber band or a flexible strip such as a vinyl cloth. May be.

Device body 13 for controller body 3
When mounting, the controller body 3 is wrapped in at least three directions, and in FIG. 2, four directions. As a band locking method, for example, as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the protrusion 19 at the end of the band may be engaged in the controller screw hole 17 on the back surface side of the controller body 3, or the bands may be connected to each other via the stopper 21.

Device body 13 of the cross key adapter device 10
FIG. 4 is an assembled cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, and its exploded perspective view is shown in FIG.
The device main body 13 is sandwiched between the rectangular pedestal 23 directly placed on the controller main body 3, the cross key cover 25 housed in the pedestal 23, the pedestal 23 and the cross key cover 25, and the trigger. Four keys 27 (27A, 27B, 27) that touch the buttons 7A, 7B, 7X, 7Y, respectively.
X, 27Y) and each key 27 (27A, 27B, 27)
X, 27Y) pin (shaft) 2 for pivotally mounting the pedestal 23
9.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pedestal 23 is formed as a flat box body having an open top, and the bottom surface thereof has four openings through which the trigger buttons 7A, 7B, 7X, 7Y can be inserted. The part 31 is formed. In addition, each key 27 (27A, 27B, 27X, 27
Y) is pivotally supported to project a central base 33,
At the center of the upper surface, a hemispherical recess 37 that engages with a protrusion 35 formed on the lower surface of the cross key cover 25 to support it downwardly.
Are formed.

Between the openings 31 formed in the pedestal 23, four cuts 3 are formed from the peripheral edge of the pedestal toward the center pedestal 33.
9 is formed. The notches 39 allow the pedestal portion sandwiched by the notches 39 to easily curve downward. When the cross key cover 25 is fitted into the pedestal, the pedestal 23 is bent downward to facilitate the fitting work.

Each key 2 in contact with each trigger button 7A, 7B, 7X, 7Y protruding into the pedestal through the opening 31.
7 (27A, 27B, 27X, 27Y) has a larger area than the trigger buttons 7A, 7B, 7X, 7Y and is formed in a rectangular shape, and its base 41 that cooperates with the center stand 33 is formed in a hinge shape. To be done. As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 6, the base portion 41 supports the support portion 4 of the center stand 33 via the pin 29.
Each of them is separately pivoted. Also, keys 27A, 27
B, 27X, 27Y are arranged in a cross shape corresponding to the trigger buttons 7A, 7B, 7X, 7Y arranged in a cross shape, and a gap 45 of a predetermined width is formed without being in close contact with other adjacent keys. Placed through. This is a specific key 2 by the player through the cross key cover 25.
This is to prevent the other adjacent keys 27A, 27B, 27X, 27Y from being pushed by the cross key cover 25 and being erroneously key-inputted when 7A, 27B, 27X, 27Y are pushed.

In this way, the trigger buttons 7A, 7B,
Keys 27A, 27B with a larger cross-sectional area than 7X, 7Y,
By supporting the hinges 27X and 27Y respectively, even when the positions of the trigger buttons 7A, 7B, 7X and 7Y are not accurately arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions, each key 27
If a force is applied somewhere on the upper surface of A, 27B, 27X, 27Y, the trigger buttons 7A, 7B, 7X, 7Y can be surely pressed downward, and reliable up / down / left / right key input can be performed. become.

In the present embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned structure, a circular recess 47 is formed on the lower surface of each key 27A, 27B, 27X, 27Y to allow the trigger buttons 7A, 7B, 7X, 7Y to be inserted with a margin. In addition to securely fixing the device body 13, the height of the entire device is reduced. The cross key cover 25 that covers the keys 27A, 27B, 27X, and 27Y is formed of a flexible material such as rubber or polypropylene, and has a flange that is fitted around the periphery of the pedestal 23 to prevent the cover from falling off. 49 is provided. Further, a hemispherical recess 3 for facilitating the vertical and horizontal deformation of the cross key cover 25 is formed in the central portion of the upper surface thereof.
7 is formed on the back surface of the center stand 3 as described above.
A protrusion 35 that engages with the recess 37 of the third base 3 is formed to enable downward support from the center of the pedestal.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the cross key can be easily added to the conventional controller having the trigger buttons in at least substantially the vertical and horizontal directions, and the operability is also improved by the cross key provided on the controller. We can offer something close. Note that, in the present embodiment, the case where the controller provided with the cross key and the trigger button is provided with the cross key adapter device has been described as an example, but according to the present embodiment, the cross key can be easily realized by the cross key adapter device. Therefore, as the controller, only a plurality of trigger buttons may be provided on the left and right without providing the conventional cross key. This makes it possible to easily deal with game software in which a large number of trigger buttons are operated by the left and right hands. Further, in this case, since the cross key can be set on either the left or right side of the controller, it is possible to realize an operation environment according to the player's preference.

Next, various modifications of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, regarding each of the following modified embodiments, the same components as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the above-described embodiment, the controller 1 has a sufficient protrusion amount of the trigger button 7, but the protrusion amount of the trigger button 7 may be extremely smaller than that in FIG. 4 depending on the controller used. is there. The cross key adapter device shown in FIG. 7 enables a reliable cross key operation with at least the protrusion amount of the trigger button.

For the trigger button 7 with a small protrusion amount,
According to the present embodiment, the convex portion 53 having a cross-sectional area smaller than at least the cross-sectional area of the opening 31 is formed on the lower surface of each key 27 so as to project. As a result, the urging force of the cross key cover 25 can be reliably transmitted to the trigger button 7 with a small protrusion amount, and the cross key operation can be ensured.

Depending on the controller 1, the surface thereof may be an inclined surface or a curved surface, the trigger button 7 may be inclined, and the controllers may be mounted at different heights. On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the bottom surface of the pedestal 23 is shaped so as to be in close contact with the curved surface of the controller 1. For example, with respect to the difference in height between the trigger buttons 7, the thickness or height is adjusted by providing or not providing the convex portion 53. Also,
When the surface of the trigger button 7 itself is unevenly curved, the trigger button contact surface of the key 27 is changed to change the shape of the trigger button as shown in FIGS. Securing adhesion with 7.

In this way, finally, the upper surface of the cross key cover 25 and the upper surface of the cross key 5 on the controller 1 side are made parallel to each other so that the cross key cover 25 is not loaded. As a result, it is possible to perform key input with the same depth in any direction, and it is possible to operate without feeling discomfort with the existing cross key. A controller and a cross key adapter device according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The cross key adapter device according to the above-described embodiment can be attached to an existing controller of any shape and adds the function of the cross key to the existing controller. It is assumed that the adapter device will be installed. As shown in FIG. 10, the controller 61 of the present embodiment is not provided with a cross key, is provided with four trigger buttons 67A to 67D in the right area, and is provided with four trigger buttons 67E to 67H in the left area. Is provided. A start button 62 is provided in front of the center, and a left button 64l and a right button 64r are provided on both left and right sides.

Four trigger buttons 67A to 67 on the right side
D is arranged vertically and horizontally, and in the center of these four trigger buttons 67A to 67D, the cross key cover 6 is provided.
A mounting hole 68r for mounting 5 is provided.
The four trigger buttons 67E to 67H on the left side are arranged in an orderly manner up, down, left, and right.
A mounting hole 68l for mounting the cross key cover 65 is provided at the center of the to 67H.

In the case of playing a game that requires the cross key, the cross key cover 65 shown in FIG. 11A is used, and the screw 63 is used as shown in FIG. 11B.
It is fixed to the ball adjust 69 inside the controller through the mounting hole 68. Ball adjust 69 is cradle 77
Since it is instructed to tilt freely, the ball adjust 6
The cross key cover 65 attached to the member 9 can be easily tilted in any direction, and the same operation feeling as the original cross key can be obtained.

In FIG. 11, the trigger button 6
In order to hold 7 in a stable state, the cross key cover 6
A depression 71 is formed in the depression 5, and the trigger button 67 is positioned in the depression 71. When the trigger button 67 is pressed, the rubber switch 73 detects ON / OFF. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to easily add the cross key having a good operation feeling.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, although the trigger buttons 7X, 7Y, 7A, 7B are used in the above embodiment, other buttons, for example, the buttons 7Y, 7Z, 7B, 7C among the trigger buttons 7 shown in FIG. 1 are used. You may do it. Further, although the present invention is applied to the controller used in the game device in the above-described embodiments, the present invention may be applied to a controller as an input device for controlling an electronic device other than the game device.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of openings through which a plurality of buttons provided on the controller for sending various instructions to the electronic device are inserted are formed and can be placed on the controller. The pedestal, a plurality of keys pivotally attached about the center of the pedestal as a fulcrum, and extending respectively above the opening, and a cross key cover supported by the center of the pedestal and covering the plurality of keys, and the pedestal. Since it has a fixture for mounting on the controller, it is possible to add a cross key to the conventional controller at low cost and easily,
It is possible to provide a controller with high operability even for a video game that requires two cross keys.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a controller to which a cross key adapter device according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cross key adapter device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method of fixing the cross key adapter device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cross key adapter device taken along line IV-IV of FIG.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a cross key adapter device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view showing a connection form of a key and a pedestal constituting the cross key adapter device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a cross key adapter device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a cross key adapter device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a key in a cross key adapter device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an external view of a controller according to another embodiment of the present invention.

11 is an external view of a cross key adapter that can be mounted on the controller of FIG. 10 and an explanatory diagram of a mounting method thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Controller 3 ... Start button 5 ... Cross key cover 6l ... Left button 6r ... Right button 7 (7A, 7B, 7C, 7X, 7Y, 7Z) ... Trigger button 10 ... Cross key adapter device 13 ... Device body 15 ... Fixed Band 23 ... Pedestal 25 ... Cross key cover 27 (27A, 27B, 27X, 27Y) ... Key 29 ... Pin 31 ... Opening 33 ... Center stand 39 ... Notch 41 ... Base 43 ... Support 45 ... Gap 61 ... Controller 62 ... Start button 63 ... Screw 64l ... Left button 64r ... Right button 65 ... Cross key cover 67A to 67H ... Trigger button 68 ... Mounting hole 69 ... Ball adjust 71 ... Recess

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A cross key adapter device attachable to a controller for sending various instructions to an electronic device, wherein a plurality of openings for allowing a plurality of buttons provided on the controller to pass through are formed, and the controller has a plurality of openings. A pedestal that can be mounted on the pedestal, a plurality of keys that are pivotally mounted about the center of the pedestal as a fulcrum, and that extend above the opening, respectively, and a plurality of keys that are supported by the center of the pedestal. And a fixing tool for mounting the pedestal on the controller. 2. The cross key adapter device according to claim 1, wherein the key is hingedly supported with respect to the pedestal. 3. The cross key adapter device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of keys are arranged with a gap therebetween. 4. The cross key adapter device according to claim 3, wherein a cut extending from the outer periphery of the pedestal toward the center is formed between the plurality of openings of the pedestal. Key adapter device. 5. The cross key adapter device according to claim 1, further comprising cover adjusting means for adjusting the height or inclination of the cross key cover with respect to the controller. Cross key adapter device. 6. A controller provided with a plurality of buttons for sending various instructions to an electronic device, wherein the cross key adapter device according to claim 1 is mounted on the plurality of buttons. A controller characterized by being present. 7. A controller provided with a plurality of buttons and sending various instructions to an electronic device, wherein a support portion for tiltably supporting a cross key adapter device is provided between the plurality of buttons. Characteristic controller. 8. The cross key adapter device mounted on the controller according to claim 7, further comprising a cross key cover attached to a supporting portion of the controller and covering a plurality of keys. apparatus.