Controller unit for electronic devices

• US 5,716,274 A
• Filed: 07/17/1996
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Goto, Teiyu, Ogata, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US08/682,271
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148 B, 463/36, 463/37, 345/156, 345/161
• US Class Current: 463/37
• 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: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/008 Video game
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0214 Hand-held casings

Abstract

A controller unit for controlling an electronic device such as a video game. The controller unit comprises a housing with a pair of handles diverging toward a user and gripped by the palms of the user, first and second control sections arranged on the top of the housing and each including a plurality of key elements, and third and fourth control sections arranged on the front side of the housing and each including upper and lower key elements. The first control section comprises a key body having a first semispherical recess on its bottom and a second semispherical recess on its top, a spherical fulcrum member located below the key body and engageable with the first recess, a base plate mounted in the housing and including fixed contacts, a resilient body disposed between the key body and the base plate and including movable contacts, and a key support centrally located at the key body and having a semispherical projection engageable with the second recess.

Claims

1. A controller device for controlling an electronic device, comprising:

a housing having a plurality of openings;

a key body having an upper surface and mounted to said housing;

a plurality of key elements integrally formed in said upper surface of said key body, said key elements separately extending through corresponding ones of said openings; and

a resilient body adapted to urge said plurality of key elements upwardly, and said resilient body includes electric contacts.

2. The controller device according to claim 1, wherein said key body includes a first semi-spherical recess facing downwardly, and said resilient body includes at its center, a fulcrum member for partially interfitting into said semi-spherical recess to allow said key body to pivot on said fulcrum member.

3. The controller device according to claim 2, further comprising a central key support arranged inside a perimeter defined by the plurality of openings, said center key support having a rounded, downwardly directed portion, and said key body having a upwardly directed second semi-spherical recess for receiving the rounded portion, said rounded portion guiding the pivoting movement of said key body.

4. The controller device according to claim 3, wherein said first semi-spherical recess and said second semi-spherical recess are axially aligned across a thickness of said key body.

5. The controller device according to claim 2, wherein said fulcrum member comprises a ball captured in a socket of said resilient body with a portion of said ball protruding thereout to interfit into a portion of said first semi-spherical recess.

6. The controller device according to claim 5, wherein a distance between said rounded portion of said central support and a top of said ball is adapted to allow said first semi-spherical recess to separate from said portion of said ball under influence of said resilient element, and is sized small enough such that depressing one of said key elements to close one of said electrical contacts allows said first semi-spherical recess to pivot on said portion of said ball.

7. The controller device according to claim 2, wherein said fulcrum member has a spherical surface.

8. The controller device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of openings are arranged in a cross pattern.

9. The controller device according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of handles diverging from each other and extending from said housing toward the user, said handles to be contacted with and supported by palms of both hands of the user.

10. The controller device according to claim 1, wherein said housing has a substantially cross-shaped recess on a top side thereof which circumscribes said plurality of key elements.

11. The controller device according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of key elements are tapered toward the center of said substantially cross-shaped recess.

12. The controller device according to claim 11, wherein said substantially cross-shaped recess includes marks adapted to indicate the functions of the key elements.

13. A controller device for controlling an electronic device, said controller unit comprising:

a housing having a top surface and electrical conductors therein;

an integral plurality of key elements;

a first recess formed centrally in the bottom of said plurality of key elements;

a fulcrum member located below and spaced a short distance away from said plurality of key elements;

a resilient body adapted to urge said plurality of key elements upwardly and including electric contacts each arranged below one of said key elements and above one of said electrical conductors so as to be resiliently separated from said electrical conductors; and

said housing including a plurality of openings through said top surface, each opening receiving one of said key elements therethrough to be exposed for activation by a user, activation resiliently depressing one said electric contacts to a corresponding conductor.

14. The controller device according to claim 13, further comprising a second recess formed centrally in a top of said integral plurality of key elements;

and a projection mounted to said housing and located in registry with said second recess, wherein said second recess and said projection have semi-spherical surfaces.

15. The control device according to claim 13, wherein said first recess has a semi-spherical surface, and said fulcrum member has a spherical surface.

16. The controller device according to claim 13, wherein said housing has a substantially cross-shaped recess which corresponds in location to said integral plurality of key elements.

17. The controller device according to claim 13, further comprising a central key support arranged inside a perimeter defined by the plurality of openings, said center key support having a rounded, downwardly directed portion, and said key body having a upwardly directed semi-spherical recess for receiving the rounded portion, said rounded portion guiding the pivoting movement of said key body.

18. The controller device according to claim 13, wherein said first recess and said second recess are axially aligned across a thickness of said key body.

19. The controller device according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of openings are arranged in a cross pattern.

20. The controller device according to claim 13, wherein said fulcrum member comprises a ball captured in a socket of said resilient body with a portion protruding thereout to interfit into a portion of said first recess.