Multiple circuit switch with improved multiposition for joypad actuator

• US 5,496,977 A
• Filed: 06/28/1993
• Issued: 03/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Inventors: Date, Toshinori, Takasu, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): SCOTT, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US08/083,670
• Time in Patent Office: 981 Days
• Field of Search: 200/5 R, 200/5 A, 200/6 R, 200/6 A, 200/17 R, 200/18, 200/512-517, 200/339, 200/553, 200/557
• US Class Current: 200/6.00A
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04711 with substantially hemispherical bearing part forced into engagement, e.g. by a spring
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04744 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/046 having a spherical bearing between operating member and housing or bezel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

A control key device having a contact member which comprises at least a first and second contact portion such that when an operating force is applied to the first contact portion the second contact portion is caused to touch the first contact portion so that predetermined electrical contact is established. The causing of the second contact portion touching the first contact portion results from an operating force elastically transforming the shape of the contact member. A tilting mechanism is provided by a guiding member of predetermined shape having a through hole. The tilting mechanism functions to tilt the contact member in response to an operating force applied to the contact member. The contact member has a key portion and a pad portion defining a home position and a tilted position.

Claims

1. A multi-directional switch assembly comprising:

a contact plate, and at least a first contact portion provided on said contact plate and a contact member having at least one second contact portion wherein an operating force applied thereto causes said second contact portion to touch said first contact portion so that predetermined electrical contact is established, the causing of said second contact portion touching said first contact portion resulting from an operating force elastically transforming the shape of said contact member;

tilting means for tilting said contact member with respect to said contact plate in response to an operating force being applied to said contact member, said tilting occurring as a result of said tilting means defining a manner of said elastic transformation of said contact member, said tilting means comprising;

a guiding member substantially fixed to said contact plate said guiding member having a half-sphere shape wherein a concavity surface thereof faces said contact plate and a through hole in substantially the center of said half-sphere shape, wherein said contact member further comprises;

a sliding member substantially fixed to said contact member;

wherein said sliding member may slide on said guiding member so that said contact member is tilted with respect to said contact plate in response to an operating force applied to said contact member;

a key portion and a pad portion with said key portion and said pad portion being fixed to each other via said through hole and with said key portion located at a first side of said half-sphere shape of said guiding member while said pad portion is located at a second side of said half-sphere shape of said guiding member, which second side of said half-sphere shape of said guiding member faces said contact plate;

whereby corresponding electrical contact is established as a result of each of said plurality of first contact portions being touched by a corresponding respective one of said plurality of second contact portions by said contact member tilting in a respective direction with respect to said center line of said control-key device, said tilting in respective directions being caused by appropriate respective operating forces as an effect of said tilting means.

2. The multi-directional switch assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

said contact plate has a plurality of said first contact portions and said contact member accordingly has a plurality of said second contact portions, each of said plurality of first contact portions and a respective one of said plurality of second contact portions being touched together so as to establish respective corresponding electrical contact; and

said plurality of first contact portions and said plurality of second contact portions are arranged so that each of said plurality of first contact portions and a respective one of said plurality of second contact portions be located in a respective direction with respect to a center line of said control-key device, and said respective directions be different from each other, said center line of said control-key device being aligned with said center of said half-sphere shape of said guiding member; and

respective corresponding electrical contact is established as a result of each of said plurality of first contact portions being touched by a corresponding respective one of said plurality of second contact portions as a result of said contact member tilting in a respective direction with respect to said center line of said control-key device, said tilting in respective directions being caused by appropriate respective operating forces with effect of said tilting means.

3. A multi-directional switch assembly comprising:

a casing having a generally dome-shaped portion, said dome-shaped portion having a top surface with spherical curvature and a through hole provided at a central part of said dome-shaped portion;

a substrate provided within said casing and having a plurality of electrical contact portions, each of said electrical contact portions having a pair of electrical contacts;

a resilient member provided on said substrate and having a plurality of protuberant portions at positions corresponding to said electrical contact portions, each of said protuberant portions having an electrically conductive portion which makes electrical contact with the corresponding one pair of the electrical contacts when the protuberant portion is resiliently deformed;

a contact pressing member provided on said resilient member and having a plurality of force-conducting portions at positions corresponding to said protuberant portions; and

a key member secured on said contact pressing member via said through hole, said key member having a home position and a tilted position, said contact pressing member being approximately level and said force-conducting portions resting on the corresponding protuberant portions in the home position of said key member when said key member is free of a pressing force, one of said force-conducting portions resiliently deforming the corresponding one of said protuberant portions to achieve an electrical contact between the corresponding pair of electrical contacts in the tilting position when said key member receives a pressing force, said key member including a sliding surface facing, and having a spherical curvature corresponding to said top surface, the tilting of said key member being guided by the movable contact of said sliding surface with said top surface.

4. A multi-directional switch assembly comprising:

a substrate having a pair of electrical contact portions formed on a surface of said substrate, each of said electrical contact portions having a pair of separate electrical contacts;

a pair of movable contact means formed on said surface of said substrate in correspondence with said pair of electrical contact portions, each of said movable contact means having a conductive layer and a resilient means supporting said conductive layer, said movable contact means being placed so that said conducting layers are closely spaced from the corresponding separate electrical contacts;

a guiding member mechanically fixed to said substrate, said guiding member having an outer surface, an inner space and a through hole, said through hole being in alignment with a center portion located between said pair of electrical contact portions at said surface of the substrate, said outer surface having at least a pair of first sliding surface portions-located so that said through hole is located therebetween and constituting part of a spherical surface; and

a control means having key-top portion and a pair of force-conducting Portions, said key-top portion having a pair of second sliding surface portions facing, and having a surface curvature corresponding to, to said pair of first sliding surface portions;

said pair of force-conducting portions being positioned within said inner space and respectively contacting the corresponding movable contact means, said pair of force-conducting portions being mechanically connected with said key-top portion through said through hole.

5. A multi-directional switch assembly comprising:

a substrate having two pairs of electrical contact portions formed on a surface of said substrate and located symmetrically with respect to a center position, each of said electrical contact portions having a pair of separate electrical contacts;

a first member having two parts of protuberant portions corresponding to said two pairs of electrical contact portions and placed on said substrate, each of said protuberant portions having a conductive layer and a resilient means supporting said conductive layer, said two pairs of protuberant portions being placed so that said conducting layers are closely spaced from the corresponding pair of separate electrical contacts;

a second member mechanically fixed to said substrate, said second member having an outer surface, an inner space and a circular through hole, the imaginary center of said circular through hole being in alignment with said center position on said substrate, said outer surface having a first sliding surface portion located around said circular through hole and has a shape constituting part of a spherical surface; and

a third member having a first portion, a second portion, and two pairs of third portions, said first portion having a second sliding surface portion facing, and having a curved surface corresponding to said first sliding surface portion, said two pairs of third portions being positioned within said inner space and placed respectively on the corresponding protuberant portions, said second portion including a cylindrical portion the sectional diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of said circular through hole to allow said third member to tilt, said cylindrical portion of said second portion mechanically connecting said two pairs of said third portions with said first portion through said through hole.

6. The multi-directional switch assembly according to claim 5, wherein said second member further comprises a third sliding surface portion facing said inner space, said third sliding surface portion being located around said circular through hole, having a shape constituting part of a spherical surface and extending substantially in parallel with said first sliding surface portion, wherein said third member further comprises a fourth portion mechanically connected to said second portion and having a fourth sliding surface portion facing, and having a curved surface corresponding to said third sliding surface portion.

7. A multi-directional switch assembly comprising:

a substrate having two pairs of electrical contact portions formed on a surface of said substrate and arranged symmetrically with respect to a center position, each of said electrical contact portions having a pair of separate electrical contacts;

a first member having two parts of protuberant portions corresponding to said two pairs of electrical contact portions and placed on said substrate, each of said two pairs of protuberant portions having a conductive layer and a resilient means supporting said conductive layer, said two pairs of protuberant portions being formed so that said conducting layers are closely spaced from the corresponding pair of separate electrical contacts;

a second member mechanically fixed to said substrate, said second member having an outer surface, an inner space and a circular through hole, the imaginary center line of said circular through hole being in alignment with said center position on said substrate, said outer surface having a first sliding surface portion which surrounds said circular through hole and has a shape constituting part of a spherical surface; and

a third member located within said inner space and having two pairs of force-conducting portions being arranged symmetrically with respect to an imaginary center line and placed respectively on the corresponding protuberant portions so that said imaginary center line of said third member is registered to said center position on said substrate and to said imaginary center line of said circular through hole, said third member further having a cylindrical hole the imaginary center line of which is in alignment with said imaginary center line of said third member; and

a fourth member located on said second member, said fourth member having a second sliding surface portion facing, and having a surface curvature corresponding to said first sliding surface portion, said fourth member further having a cylindrical projection extending through said through hole and being fitted in said cylindrical hole whereby said fourth member is mechanically connected to said two pairs of force-conducting portions, said cylindrical projection having a sectional diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of said circular through hole to allow said fourth member to tilt.

8. The control key device according to claim 7, wherein said second member further comprises a third sliding surface portion facing said inner space, said third sliding surface portion surrounding said circular through hole, having a shape constituting part of a spherical surface and extending substantially in parallel with said first sliding surface portion, wherein said third member further comprises a fourth sliding surface portion facing, and having a surface curvature corresponding to said third sliding surface portion.

9. A multi-directional switch assembly comprising:

a casing having a generally dome-shaped portion, said dome-shaped portion having a top surface with spherical curvature and a through hole provided at a central part of said dome-shaped portion;

a substrate provided within said casing and having a plurality of electrical contact portions, each of said electrical contact portions having a pair of electrical contacts;

a resilient member provided on said substrate and having a plurality of bulges at positions corresponding to said electrical contact portions, each of said bulges having an electrically conductive portion which makes electrical contact with the corresponding one pair of the electrical contacts when the bulge is resiliently deformed;

a contact pressing member provided on said resilient member and having a plurality of legs at positions corresponding to said bulges; and

a key member secured on said contact pressing member via said through hole in a dome-shaped portion of said casing, said key member having a home position and a tilted position,

said contact pressing member being approximately level and said legs resting on the corresponding bulges in the home position of said key member when said key member is free of a pressing force,

one of said legs resiliently deforming the corresponding bulge to achieve electrical contact between the corresponding one pair of the electrical contacts in the tilted position of said key member when said key member receives a pressing force,

said key member having a partial spherical curved surface facing and corresponding to said top surface,

the tilting of said key member being guided by the engagement of said partial spherical curved surface with said top surface.

10. A multi-directional switch assembly comprising:

a casing having a generally dome-shaped portion provided at an arbitrary part of the casing, said dome-shaped portion having a spherical curved top surface and a through hole provided at a central part of said dome-shaped portion;

a substrate provided within said casing and having a plurality of electrical contact portions;

a resilient member provided on said substrate and having a plurality of bulges at positions corresponding to said electrical contact portions, each of said bulges having an electrically conductive portion which makes electrical contact with the corresponding one of the electrical contact portions when the bulge is resiliently deformed;

a contact pressing member provided on said resilient member and having a plurality of legs at positions corresponding to said bulges of said resilient member; and

a key member secured on said contact pressing member via said through hole in a dome-shaped portion of said casing, said key member having a home position and a tilted position,

said contact pressing member being approximately level and the legs resting on the corresponding bulges of said resilient member in the home position of said key member,

one of said legs of said contact pressing member resiliently deforming a corresponding one of the bulges of said resilient member to achieve electrical contact between the electrically conductive portion of said corresponding one bulge and a corresponding one of the electrical contact portions of said substrate in the tilted position said key member,

said key member having a sliding surface portion which makes sliding contact with the top surface of the dome-shaped portion of said casing when tilting to the tilted position and being automatically returned from the tilted position to the home position by a resilient restoration force exerted by said resilient member,

at least the tilting of said key member from the home position to the tilted position being substantially guided by the top surface of the dome-shaped portion as the sliding portion makes sliding contact with said top surface, so that an external force applied on said key member is distributed on said dome-shaped portion and is prevented from being applied directly on said substrate.