JP2003150310A - Input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an input device which can be used by switching analog input and digital input. SOLUTION: An operation body 11 formed in the approximate spherical shape in a mounting hole 5 of a case 2 is rotatably supported via an axis projection 11a. An input means 12 to enable the digital input and an input means 13 to enable analog input are provided in the operation body 11 and the means are provided so that one input means is directed to the opposite direction when the other input means reaches an operable position. In addition, a locking means for locking the operation body 11 when the input means 12 (or 13) reaches the operable position is provided.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an input device that can be used as, for example, a controller for a game, and more particularly to an input device that enables various inputs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In game machines and other electronic devices, a display section and input means are incorporated on the operation surface of a case.
A controller (input device) used in this type of electronic device is provided with various input means, for example,
In game machines, various input means are used according to the type of game. As the input means, a digital switch such as a cross-shaped pressing key, a circular pressing key, etc., which can only switch between ON output and OFF output, and a tilt amount For example, a stick-type analog input device whose output changes according to the situation is used.

[0003]

However, even if various input means are arranged on the operation surface of the game machine or other electronic equipment, all of the input means are used depending on the contents of the game and the operation status of the device. It is not something that will be done. Therefore, when a large number of input means are arranged, inconveniences such as erroneously operating unnecessary input means occur during operation.

Controllers for game machines, etc.
Since it is used by holding it by hand, the range of operation with the fingers of the hand holding the controller is limited. Since the number of input means that can be arranged in such a limited range is limited, it is difficult to make one controller correspond to each of various games.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides an input device in which various input means capable of various inputs are provided in a limited space and the operation of each input means is facilitated. The purpose is to provide.

[0006]

An input device according to the present invention is an operating body provided on a case so as to be switchable, a plurality of input means provided on the operating body, and at least one of the plurality of input means. Lock means that locks the operating body when the operating body operates so that the other input means cannot be operated at the position where one is operable. .

In the input device of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of input means provided on the case can be moved to an operable position, and at this time, the other input means are arranged in an inoperable position. , Only the selected input means can be operated. For example, it is possible to slide the operating body to expose only one of the input means provided on the operating body to a position where it can be operated.

However, the operation body is rotatably supported by the case, and when the input means reaches a position where it can be operated, another input means is directed inside the case. preferable.

According to this structure, a plurality of input means can be arranged in a limited space of the case in a selectable manner.

For example, the operating body includes an analog type input means whose output continuously changes according to an operation amount, and a digital type input means for switching between an on output and an off output according to an operation. Is provided.

In the present invention, the operating body may be provided with one analog-type input means and one digital-type input means, or with three or more input means. May be.

[0012]

1 to 3 are plan views showing a game machine as an example of an electronic apparatus equipped with an input device of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which digital input is possible, and FIG. FIG. 3 shows a state in which analog input is possible, and FIG. 4 and 5 are perspective views showing the appearance of the operating body in front and back directions, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the internal structure of the analog input means, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. Is.

The input device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is provided on the surface of a portable game machine 10. The game device 10 has a case 2 made of synthetic resin. A display unit 3 formed of a liquid crystal panel is provided in the center of the surface of the case 2, the input device 1 of the present invention is provided on one side aligned with the display unit 3, and the other input device 4 is provided on the other side. Is provided. The other input device 4 is composed of two push-button type switches, and the operation portions 4a, 4a of the respective switches are provided on the surface of the case 2.
The switch output is switched on by pressing the operation portions 4a and 4a, and the switch output is switched off by releasing the pressing force.

The game machine 10 may be one in which a game application program is incorporated in advance, or one in which a recording medium capable of storing the application program is mounted and used.

The input device 1 has an operating body 11 made of synthetic resin, and the operating body 11 is provided in a mounting hole 5 opened on the surface side of the case 2. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the case of the operating body 11 is made of synthetic resin, and a pair of shaft projections 11a, 11a extending in the y direction are integrally formed in the middle of the thickness direction. Has been formed. The shaft projections 11a, 11a are inserted into the shaft recesses formed in the inner peripheral portion of the mounting hole 5 so that the operating body 11
Is rotatably supported. A digital type input means 12 is provided on one surface of the operation body 11, and an analog type input means 13 is provided on the other surface of the input means 12. The input means 12 and 13 are provided in opposite directions so that when one input means faces upward, the other input means faces downward toward the inside of the case. Has been.

The surface shape of the operating body 11 has a spherical side surface 11A and two parallel surfaces 11B and 11C formed by removing a part of both sides of the sphere. The input means 12 is provided on one surface 11B, and the input means 13 is provided on the other surface 11C.

As shown in FIG. 4, the input means 12 provided on the surface 11B is provided with an operating member 15 formed of synthetic resin in a cross shape. The operation member 15 is formed so as to extend to the inside of the operation body 11, and a push-type switch element 16 is provided on the lower side of each operation surface 15a protruding in four directions of the operation member 15. Although FIG. 4 shows a state in which the switch element 16 is provided at two locations, similar switch elements are provided at the other two locations.

In the input means 12, 4 of the operation member 15 is used.
When any one of the operation surfaces 15a is pressed, the switch element 16 located below the pressed operation surface 15a is pressed and the switch output is switched on. When the pressing force on the operation surface 15a is released, the operation surface 15a is pushed up by an elastic member (not shown) provided on the switch element 16, and the switch output is turned off. By operating the operation member 15 in this manner, a digital signal is generated by the ON output and the OFF output.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the input means 13 provided on the other surface 11C of the input device 1 is
It has a circular operation member 21. A slider 22 is fixed below the operating member 21. This slider 22
Are provided on a circuit board 30 provided inside the operating body 11. Hook-shaped hooking portions 23, 23, 23, 23 that are elastically deformable in the radial direction project downward at 90 degree intervals at the lower end edge of the slider 22. Each of the hooking portions 23 has a convex mounting hole 31, 3 formed in the circuit board 30.
It is attached to 1, 31, 31. There is a slight margin between each of the hooking portions 23 and each of the mounting holes 31, so that the slider 22 together with the operating member 21 can be slightly moved in each horizontal direction on the circuit board 30. ing.

A cross-shaped support portion 24 is integrally formed inside the slider 22. The support portion 24 has torsional deformation portions 26X, 26Y, 26 at positions outside the center portion.
X and 26Y are integrally formed. The twist deformation part 2
Below the 6X, 26Y, 26X, and 26Y, fan-shaped movable electrode plates 25X, 25Y, 25X, and 25Y are supported, respectively. The supporting portion 24 is provided with rocking bodies 27X, 27Y, 27X, 27Y which are cut out. Projecting portions (not shown) extending downward from the oscillating bodies 27X, 27Y, 27X, 27Y are movable electrode plates 25X, 2
5Y, 25X, and 25Y are inserted and fixed in fixing holes 25b, and the tips of the protrusions are inserted into contact grooves 32 formed in the circuit board 30. At this time, the protruding portion is slightly movable in the radial direction in the state of being inserted into the contact groove 32, but is fitted with substantially no gap in the circumferential direction.

Focusing on the movable electrode plate 25Y indicated by P in FIG. 6, for example, when the slider 22 moves in the Y direction, the protrusion moves in the Y direction without being deformed in the contact groove 32. When the slider 22 moves in the X direction, the protrusion and the swinging body 27Y move toward the contact groove 3.
2 is used as a fulcrum and tilts in the X direction.
The movable electrode plate 25X fixed to the X direction is inclined in the X direction.

This also applies to other movable electrodes. In the movable electrode plate 25X, when the slider 22 moves in the X direction, the protrusion moves in the X direction without being deformed in the contact groove 32. When the slider 22 moves in the Y direction, the protrusion and the swinging body 27X move to the contact groove 32.
Inclining in the Y direction using

The circuit board 30 is provided with the electrode pattern shown in FIG. The electrode pattern has X-direction detection electrodes EX1, EX2, EX3, EX4 and Y-direction detection electrodes EY1, EY2, EY3, EY4. However, the X-direction detection electrodes EX1 and EX2, EX3 and EX
4, Y direction detection electrodes EY1 and EY2, EY3 and EY4
Are independently formed by being divided in the contact grooves 32, 32, 32, 32, respectively. The movable electrode plates 25Y, 25Y, 25X, 25X are arranged at minute intervals so as to face the X-direction detection electrodes EX1, EX2, EX3, EX4 and the Y-direction detection electrodes EY1, EY2, EY3, EY4. .

Slide the slider 22 together with the operating member 21.
When it is moved a little in the axial direction, the torsional deformation portion 26 on the Y-axis
Y and 26Y are not deformed, and the torsional deformation portions 26X and 2 on the X-axis are
6X is tilted and deformed with the contact groove 32 of the circuit board 30 as a fulcrum. That is, in the torsional deformation portion 26X, the oscillating body 27X
Is tilted, and the movable electrode plate 25X is tilted by the tilting motion of the rocking body 27X. Thereby, the movable electrode plate 25X
With respect to the projecting portion, one has a narrower interval with the circuit board 30 than when not operated, and the other has a wider interval than when not operated.

Specifically, when the operating member 21 is moved to the Y-axis plus (+) side, the distance between the movable electrode plates 25X and 25X and the Y-direction detecting electrodes EY1 and EY4 becomes narrower than when not operating, The distance between the Y-direction detection electrodes EY2 and EY3 becomes wider than that when not operated. Therefore, the electrostatic capacitance (charge) on the Y axis (+) side of the movable electrode plate 25X increases, and the electrostatic capacitance (charge) on the Y axis minus (−) side decreases. Similarly, when the operating member 21 is moved to the Y-axis (−) side, the electrostatic capacitance between the movable electrode plates 25X and 25X and the Y-direction detection electrodes EY2 and EY3 increases, and the Y-direction detection electrodes EY1 and EY4.
The capacitance between and decreases. When tilted in the α direction (see FIG. 6) intermediate between the X axis and the Y axis, the electrostatic capacitance between the movable electrode plates 25X and 25Y and the X direction detection electrode EX1 and the Y direction detection electrode EY4 becomes large. The capacitance between the X-direction detection electrode EX3 and the Y-direction detection electrode EY2 decreases, and decreases.

In the input means 13, the operating member 2
When the peripheral edge of 1 is rotated while being pressed, the movable electrode plate 2
It is also possible to detect the rotation operation by detecting that the electrostatic capacitances between 5X, 25Y, 25X, 25Y and the electrodes facing them are sequentially changed.

The direction in which the operating member 21 is operated is detected by detecting the change in electrostatic capacitance as described above. In addition, the movable electrode plate 25X,
Since the interval between the 25Y and the X-direction detection electrode and the Y-direction detection electrode can be changed linearly, more versatile output is possible.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing the locking means, and is a sectional view of the input device 1 shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 7-7. However, illustration of the inside of the operating body 11 and the case 2 is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the side surface 11A of the operating body 11 has a groove (fitting portion) around the operating body 11.
11b is formed. The inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 5 formed in the case 2 has a spherical shape, and when the operating body 11 rotates about the shaft protrusions 11a and 11a,
The side surface 11A slides on the inner surface of the mounting hole 5.

When either one of the input means 12 and the input means 13 reaches an operable position, the case 2 is provided with a lock member 14 as a lock means at a position facing the groove 11b. There is. Lock member 14
Has a curved surface 14a along the outer surface of the operating body 11, and a fitting protrusion 14b is formed on the curved surface 14a at a position facing the groove portion 11b along the groove portion 11b. The fitting protrusion 14b is formed as a ridge along the groove 11b.

The lock member 14 is slidably supported in the x direction with respect to the case 2, and the surface 14c of the lock member 14 slightly projects from the surface of the case 2.
The lock member 14 can be slid in the x direction by putting a finger on the surface 14c.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the input means 12 can be operated, the operating body 11 is moved to the shaft projections 11a, 11a.
The input means 12 is turned toward the surface of the case 2 and the input means 13 is turned toward the inside of the case 2 by rotating the input means 12 with respect to. Then, the locking member 14 is moved inward to move the fitting protrusion 1
The direction of the operating body 11 can be fixed by fitting 4b into the groove 11b. Further, when the lock member 14 is moved outward in the x direction to release the lock, the operating body 11 is inverted by 180 degrees, and the operating body 11 is locked in this state, the input means 13 is directed to the surface as shown in FIG. The input means 12 is turned inward so that the input means 12 faces the inside of the case 2.

In the input device 1, the operation signals detected by the input means 12 and 13 are connected to the control unit provided in the case 2 through the cable inserted in the shaft protrusion. There is. In the control unit, the input unit 1
When the position 2 becomes operable, the input means 1
Switching means is provided so as to accept only the operation signal from the input means 2 and accept only the operation signal from the input means 13 when the input means 13 reaches the operable position. As a result, even if the input unit that has not reached the operable position is erroneously operated, the operation signal at that time is not processed by the control unit. When the input unit is operated, the control unit performs a process of reflecting the input operation signal on the image of the display unit 3.

The input device of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and for example, the input means 1 is used.
In 3, the operation member 21 detects the movement in the horizontal direction, but the operation member may be supported so as to be movable in the z direction so that the operation when it is pushed down can be detected.

Further, the input means 12 and 13 provided on the operating body 11 can be mounted by being appropriately combined with other input means. For example, as another input means, a spherical ball is incorporated in the operating body 11 and It may be one that detects the rotational movement of the above, or a stick-shaped one that can detect the amount of tilt. Further, both of the operating bodies 11 may be provided with an input means for outputting a digital signal or an input means for outputting an analog signal.

Further, the operation signal from the input means may be transmitted to the case 2 by a wireless method without providing the shaft protrusion 11a. When the operating body is formed into a spherical shape by using such a receiving method, it is not necessary to provide a shaft on the operating body, so that the entire operating body can be rotated three-dimensionally, and the rotational movement of the operating body at this time is detected. Then, this can also be processed as an operation signal.

Further, although the above-mentioned input means 12 has been described as being capable of digital input, it may be an input means capable of analog input whose output changes according to the pressing amount of the cross key.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the portable game machine is described as an example, but it is applied to a controller which is a stationary game machine and is connected to the game machine body by a cable and used. You may. Or P
It can be mounted on a DA (Personal Digital Assistant), a mobile phone, or the like, but is not limited to those listed here.

[0039]

According to the present invention described above, since a plurality of input means can be installed in the same installation space, it can be suitably used as an input device for, for example, a portable game machine, and various input can be performed. Is possible. Further, since the digital input and the analog input can be switched to an appropriate side as needed, various operations can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a game machine equipped with an input device of the present invention, showing a state in which digital input is possible,

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a game machine equipped with the input device of the present invention, showing a state in which analog input is possible,

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a game machine equipped with the input device of the present invention, showing a state where an analog input and a digital input are being switched,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state when the operating body is removed from the case,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another state when the operating body is removed from the case,

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing an input means capable of analog input;

7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 input device 2 cases 3 Display 10 game machines 11 Control body 11a shaft protrusion 11b Groove (fitting part) 12,13 Input means 14 Lock member (locking means) 14b Fitting protrusion 15 Operation member 15a Operation surface 16 switch elements 21 Operation member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An operating body provided on a case so as to be switchable, a plurality of input means provided on the operating body, and another input means at a position where at least one of the plurality of input means can be operated. An input device, comprising: a lock unit that locks the operating body when the operating body is moved to an inoperable position. 2. The operating body is rotatably supported by the case, and when the input means reaches an operable position, another input means is directed inward of the case. 1. The input device according to 1. 3. The operation body includes analog input means whose output continuously changes according to an operation amount, and digital input means for switching between on-output and off-output according to an operation. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the input device is provided.