JPH11162283A - Push key device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the rocking directional and rotating directional plays of the operation signal input push key of an electronic equipment to improve the operation touch. SOLUTION: Two parallel slide guide ribs 17, 18 are provided in key holes 12, 13 for installing a snap-in type push key 9 so as to cross the inner parts of the key holes 12, 13. A pair of guide arms 9d are provided downward from both lateral side surfaces of the push key 9, and inserted to the two slide guide ribs 17, 18. According to this structure, the rotating directional and rocking directional plays of the push key 9 are reduced to improve the operation touch. The slide guide ribs 17, 18 limit the descending stroke of the push key 9 to prevent the breakage of the push key.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a push key device for inputting an operation signal of an electronic device, and more particularly to a push key device for improving an operation feeling and preventing a push switch from being damaged.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a push key device in a computer game controller, a remote controller of an AV device or the like, a configuration in which a snap-in type push key is mounted in a key hole formed in an outer casing of the controller has been widely adopted. . Normally, a snap-in type push key is provided with two arms downward from both sides of the push key, and formed with a hook protruding outward at the lower end of the arm. When the key is pressed into the key hole of the controller, the hook and the arm are elastically deformed and inserted into the key hole. The hook engages with the peripheral edge of the rear surface of the key hole, and the push key is mounted so as to be able to move up and down.

[0003]

In a conventional snap-in type push key device in a computer game controller or the like, a key hole of an outer casing of the controller is used as a slide guide of the push key. Since there is play in the swing direction of the key and play in the rotation direction, it is less smooth at the time of operation than the lever-type push key device, giving an impression of lack of luxury.

If the push key is operated with an excessive force, an excessive load is applied to the push switch button pressed by the push key, and the push switch may be damaged.

[0005] Therefore, a technique to be solved in order to reduce the swing of the push key and the play in the rotating direction to improve the operation feeling and to prevent the push switch from being damaged, thereby improving the operability and reliability. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention proposes a push key device for inputting an operation signal of an electronic device, comprising: an arm extending downward from both side surfaces of the push key. A hook portion protruding outward at a lower end portion of the arm portion, a key hole substantially equal to a planar shape of the push key is formed in a key mounting portion of the electronic device, and a push key is formed in the key hole. By inserting the hook portion of the arm portion with the back surface of the key mounting portion, the push key is mounted in a vertically movable manner in the push key device. Two ribs are provided, and a guide member such as an arm portion or a plate is vertically provided between the pair of arm portions of the push key, and the guide member is inserted between the two ribs and pushed. By mounting the over to the key hole,
An object of the present invention is to provide a push key device configured so that a downward stroke and rotation and swing of the push key are restricted.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a computer game controller 1, in which a joystick 3 is attached to substantially the center of a base 2 so as to be tiltable in all circumferential directions. A control circuit board (not shown) on which a CPU is mounted is housed inside the base 2, various operation keys 4 are arranged on the base 2, and a computer connection cable 5 is drawn out from the back.

A trigger key 6 is arranged on the upper rear surface (right side in FIG. 1) of the joystick 3, and a multi-directional operation key 7 is arranged in the center of the upper front surface. As shown in FIG. A circular push key 8 is arranged, and two elliptical push keys 9 as the push key device of the present invention are arranged on the right.

The resin outer casing of the joystick 3 is formed by dividing it into a left outer casing 3L and a right outer casing 3R. FIG. 3 shows a right outer housing 3R, in which a trigger key mounting recess 10 is formed in the upper portion on the back side as viewed from the operator, and the key hole 11 of the multidirectional operation key 7 and the two push keys 9 are formed in the upper portion on the front surface. Key holes 12 and 13 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3B, a plurality of screw insertion holes 14 are provided on the side surface of the right outer housing 3R, and the left outer housing 3L and the right outer housing 3R are aligned with each other. The left and right outer casings are joined by screwing the screws into screw bosses (not shown) formed on the inner surface of the left outer casing 3L.

FIG. 4 shows the upper half of the right outer casing 3R, and the key holes 12 and 13 of the push key 9 are provided on the back surface at both ends in the vertical direction in the left and right direction (in FIG. ) Are formed, and the key holes 1 and 16 are formed.
Key locking ribs 15,
Two slide guide ribs 17 and 18 are formed parallel to 16 and traverse the inside of the key holes 12 and 13.

FIG. 5 shows a push key 9, in which a pair of arms 9b extending downward from both ends in the longitudinal direction of a top portion 9a having a planar elliptical shape are provided. Is the same as the conventional snap-in type push key. A pair of guide arms 9d is provided vertically downward from the left and right side surfaces of the key top 9 in the longitudinal middle portion, and the pair of guide arms 9d are connected by a reinforcing rib 9e. The circumferential width of the guide arm 9d is substantially equal to the interval between the two slide guide ribs 17 and 18 shown in FIG. 4, and is inserted between the two slide guide ribs 17 and 18.

FIG. 6 shows a procedure for assembling the joystick 3. A cable (not shown) pulled upward from the control circuit board in the base 2 through the hollow ball joint shaft 3 a of the joystick 3 is soldered to the switch board 19. Then, the left outer casing 3L is temporarily fixed to the hollow ball joint shaft 3a, and the switch board 19 with the multi-directional operation key 7 engaged is incorporated in the left outer casing 3L. Then, the right outer housing 3R is fitted to the left outer housing 3L, and the right outer housing 3R and the left outer housing 3L are joined by screws.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, the snap-in type trigger key 6 and the oblong push key 8 are mounted at the respective mounting positions, and the left and right guide arm portions 9d of the push key 9 are inserted into the key holes 12,. 13, the push key 9 is pushed into the key holes 12, 13.
d is inserted between the two slide guide ribs 17, 18, and the arm 9b is elastically deformed so that the hook 9
c is the key locking ribs 15, 16 above and below the key holes 12, 13.
, And the push key 9 is attached to the key holes 12 and 13 as shown in FIG. 8, and the assembly of the joystick is completed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the guide arms 9d provided on the right and left sides of the push key 9 are inserted between the slide guide ribs 17 and 18, so that the push key 9 can rotate in the rotation direction and the swing direction. Play is reduced as much as possible, and the push key 9 moves up and down smoothly.

When the push key 9 is operated,
Since the lower stroke of the push key 9 is limited by the lower surface of the top portion 9a abutting against the slide guide ribs 17 and 18, an excessive load is not applied to the button of the push switch 20 immediately below the push key 9, and the push switch 20 can also be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the technical scope of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the present invention extends to those modifications. is there.

[0018]

As described above, in the push key device of the present invention, the guide member such as the arm provided on the back surface of the push key is engaged with the two ribs provided in the key hole. The swing and rotation of the push key are suppressed, and the operation feeling is improved. In addition, the two ribs crossing the inside of the key hole act as stoppers for the push key and limit the downward stroke of the push key, preventing damage to the push switch due to excessive load and improving operability and reliability. It is effective.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a computer game controller.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a computer game controller.

3A and 3B show a right outer casing of the joystick, where FIG. 3A is a front view and FIG. 3B is a right side view.

FIG. 4 shows the upper part of the right outer casing of the joystick,
(A) is a left side view, (b) is an AA line view of (a).

5A and 5B show a push key, wherein FIG. 5A is a plan view and FIG.
Is a front view, (c) is a bottom view, and (d) is a side view taken along line AA of (a).

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing an outer casing assembly process of the joystick.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing a joystick key assembly process.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of an essential part of a joystick to which a push key is attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Computer game controller 2 Base 3 Joystick 9 Push key 9a Top part 9b Arm part 9c Hook part 9d Guide arm part 9e Rib 12, 13 Key hole 15, 16 Key locking rib 17, 18 Slide guide rib 19 Switch board 20 Push switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A push key device for inputting an operation signal of an electronic device, wherein an arm portion is provided downward from both side surfaces of the push key, and a hook portion is provided at a lower end portion of the arm portion to protrude outward. Forming a key hole substantially equal to the planar shape of the push key in the key mounting portion of the electronic device, inserting the push key into the key hole, and engaging the hook portion of the arm portion with the back surface of the key mounting portion. According to the push key device in which the push key is mounted so as to be able to move up and down, two parallel ribs which cross the key hole are provided below the key hole, and an arm or a plate is provided between the pair of arm portions of the push key. And the like, the guide member is inserted between the two ribs, and the push key is attached to the key hole. Push key device being characterized in that configured to swing is limited.