Operating device and game controller

• US 20070281787A1
• Filed: 04/27/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Morito, Koichi, Numata, Tetsu
• Granted Patent: US 8,115,588 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

A novel game controller is provided. The game controller includes: a lower operation button supported by a rotation shaft so as to be capable of a rotating operation; a resistor arranged on an internal substrate; and a conductive member to be pressed against the resistor by a rotating operation on the lower operation button, the conductive member having elasticity. The resistor outputs an analog signal in accordance with a contact area of the conductive member, thereby realizing an analog input.

Claims

1. An operating device comprising:

an operation button supported by a rotation shaft so as to be capable of a rotating operation;

a resistor arranged on a substrate; and

a conductive member to be pressed against the resistor by the rotating operation on the operation button, the conductive member having elasticity, wherein

the resistor outputs an analog signal in accordance with the size of a contact area with the conductive member.

2. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein:

the conductive member is shaped like a mound with its top at the center; and

the conductive member is attached to an elastic body so that the top is opposed to the resistor, the elastic body urging the operation button in a direction away from the resistor.

3. The operating device according to claim 2, wherein:

a contact piece for making contact with the elastic body is arranged inside the operation button; and

the contact piece makes contact with the elastic body at a position near the rotation shaft.

4. The operating device according to claim 3, wherein the contact piece rotates about the rotation shaft along with the operation button.

5. The operating device according to claim 4, wherein a contact surface where the contact piece makes contact with the elastic body is positioned closer to the rotation shaft than the midpoint between the rotation shaft and the peripheral area of the operation button.

6. The operating device according to claim 5, wherein a spring member is attached to the rotation shaft with one end in contact with the contact piece and the other end in contact with the substrate which supports the elastic body, so that the operation button is urged in a direction away from the substrate.

7. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein a spring member which urges the operation button in the direction away from the substrate is attached to the rotation shaft.

8. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein two operation buttons are provided on a case rear at horizontally symmetrical positions in the longitudinal direction of the case rear and positioned so that they are operated with tips of middle fingers of the right hand and the left hand, respectively.

9. The operating device according to claim 1, wherein a projecting part is formed on a bottom end of the surface of the operation button.

10. The operating device according to claim 9, wherein the surface of the operation button is configured to smoothly curve towards the direction of rotation.

11. The operating device according to claim 9, wherein when the operation button is rotated, the projecting part comes into contact with an outer surface of a case to limit the rotating operation.

12. The operating device according to claim 9, wherein the operation button is configured as a hollow box, having the following four sides:

a surface which is pressed by a user;

sidewalls which have shaft holes and extend substantially perpendicularly from both sides of the surface; and

a rear which is formed to make a peripheral area from the lower end of the projecting part.

13. A game controller implementing an operating device, the operating device comprising:

an operation button supported by a rotation shaft so as to be capable of a rotating operation;

a resistor arranged on a substrate; and

a conductive member to be pressed against the resistor by the rotating operation on the operation button, the conductive member having elasticity, wherein

the resistor outputs an analog signal in accordance with the size of a contact area with the conductive member.