Controller unit for electronic devices

• US 5,853,326 A
• Filed: 05/28/1997
• Issued: 12/29/1998
• 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:
  US08/864,556
• Time in Patent Office: 580 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 game machine including controller unit for controlling electronic devices, said controller unit comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of control sections mounted to said housing to be manipulated by finger of a user; and

a pair of handles diverging from each other in a direction from said housing toward the user, said diverging handles being molded as one unit body with said housing, said diverging handles to be contacted with and supported by palms of both hands of the user, said housing, said handles and control sections sized and arranged to allow manipulation of the control section by the user'"'"'s fingers while the housing is supported by the user'"'"'s palms.

2. A controller unit according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of control sections includes first and second control sections, said first control second being arranged on the upper surface of said housing and connected to one of said pair of handles, and said second control section being arranged on the upper surface of said housing and connected to the other handle.

3. A controller unit according to claim 2, wherein when said housing is placed on a surface, said plurality of control sections are oriented substantially parallel to said surface on which said housing is placed.

4. A controller unit according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of control sections includes third and fourth control sections, said third and fourth control sections being arranged in a front side of said housing and located forwardly of said first and second control sections, respectively.

5. A controller unit according to claim 4, wherein said second control section includes a plurality of key elements, and said housing has a substantially cross-shaped recess which corresponds in location to said plurality of key elements.

6. A controller unit according to claim 4, wherein said third and fourth control sections extend from the front side of said housing.

7. A controller unit according to claim 6, wherein each of said third and fourth control sections includes an upper control key and a lower control key.

8. A controller unit according to claim 2, wherein said first control section includes a plurality of key elements each extending upwardly from said housing.

9. A controller unit according to claim 8, wherein said second control section includes a plurality of key elements, and said housing has a substantially cross-shaped recess which corresponds in location to said plurality of key elements.

10. A controller unit according to claim 9, wherein said second control section includes different marks or colors to indicate its functions.

11. A controller unit according to claim 2, wherein said second control section includes a plurality of key elements, and said housing has a substantially cross-shaped recess which corresponds in location to said plurality of key elements.

12. A controller unit according to claim 2, wherein said first control section includes a plurality of key elements, and said housing has a substantially cross-shaped recess which corresponds in location to said plurality of key elements.

13. A controller unit according to claim 1, wherein said housing provides a top surface and said control sections comprises two thumb activated switches arranged spaced apart on said top surface, each adjacent one handle, and said handles extend in a direction obliquely downwardly from said top surface.

14. A controller unit for controlling electronic devices, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of control sections mounted to said housing to be manipulated by fingers of a user; and

a pair of handles diverging from each other in a direction from said housing toward the user, said diverging handles being molded as one unit body with said housing, said diverging handles to be contacted with and supported by palms of both hands of the user, said housing, said handles and said control sections sized and arranged to allow manipulation of the control section by the fingers of the user while the housing is supported by said handles in the palms of the user.

15. A controller unit according to claim 14, wherein said plurality of control sections includes first and second control sections, said first control second being arranged on the upper surface of said housing and connected to one of said pair of handles, and said second control section being arranged on the upper surface of said housing and connected to the other handle.

16. A controller unit according to claim 15, wherein when said housing is placed on a surface, said plurality of control sections are oriented substantially parallel to said surface on which said housing is placed.

17. A controller unit according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of control sections includes third and fourth control sections, said third and fourth control sections being arranged in a front side of said housing and located forwardly of said first and second control sections, respectively.

18. A controller unit according to claim 17, wherein said second control section includes a plurality of key elements, and said housing has a substantially cross-shaped recess which corresponds in location to said plurality of key elements.

19. A controller unit according to claim 17, wherein said third and fourth control sections extend from the front side of said housing.

20. A controller unit according to claim 19, wherein each of said third and fourth control sections includes an upper control key and a lower control key.

21. A controller unit according to claim 15, wherein said first control section includes a plurality of key elements each extending upwardly from said housing.

22. A controller unit according to claim 21, wherein said second control section includes a plurality of key elements, and said housing has a substantially cross-shaped recess which corresponds in location to said plurality of key elements.

23. A controller unit according to claim 22, wherein said second control section includes different marks or colors to indicate its functions.

24. A controller unit according to claim 15, wherein said second control section includes a plurality of key elements, and said housing has a substantially cross-shaped recess which corresponds in location to said plurality of key elements.

25. A controller unit according to claim 15, wherein said first control section includes a plurality of key elements, and said housing has a substantially cross-shaped recess which corresponds in location to said plurality of key elements.

26. A controller unit according to claim 14, wherein said housing provides a top surface and said control sections comprises two thumb activated switches arranged spaced apart on said top surface, each adjacent one handle, and said handles extend in a direction obliquely downwardly from said top surface.