Input device for game machine

• US 6,342,009 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Soma, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/431,814
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 463/38, 463/36, 463/37, 463/46, 463/47, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 273/459, 273/460, 273/461, 345/154, 345/156, 345/157, 345/184, 345/161
• US Class Current: 463/38
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details

Abstract

In the input device, which inputs signals to a game machine using a computer, one or more operating members are provided on each of plural outer surfaces of housing members, a filmy substrate having flexibility is bent in conformity with the insides of the plural surfaces of the housing member, contact portions adapted to perform ON-OFF operation in response to operations of the operating members are formed respectively on the bent surfaces of the substrate, and when the operating members are operated, signals corresponding respectively to operations of the operating members are inputted to the game machine.

Claims

1. An input device for inputting signals to a game machine which uses a computer, said input device comprising:

one or more operating members provided on an outside of a plurality of surfaces of a housing;

a flexible filmy substrate disposed within said housing, said substrate being bent in conformity with an inside of said plurality of surfaces of said housing;

contact portions adapted to perform ON-OFF operations in response to operations of said operating members formed respectively on one or more surfaces of said substrate at positions corresponding to the operating members; and

a printed circuit board disposed within said housing, said printed circuit board being connected to said game machine by a cable;

wherein said substrate comprises a flexible tape wiring portion, said tape wiring connecting said substrate to said printed circuit board,

wherein said housing is configured be held between a left and right palm of a user'"'"'s hands, and said operating members are configured to be simultaneously manipulated by a plurality of digits on said user'"'"'s hands, and

wherein when said operating members are operated, signals corresponding respectively to operations of the operating members are generated by the printed circuit board in response to the ON-OFF operations of the contact portions of said substrate and are inputted to the game machine through the cable.

2. An input device for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein a positioning means for positioning said substrate is provided on an inner surface of said housing.

3. An input device for a game machine according to claim 2, wherein said positioning means comprises one or more projections formed on the inner surface of said housing, and holes for insertion therein of said projections are formed in said substrate at positions corresponding to said projections.

4. An input device for a game machine according to claim 1, including a fixing member for urging and fixing said substrate to the inner surface of said housing.

5. An input device for a game machine according to claim 4, wherein any one of said housing, said filmy substrate having flexibility and said fixing member is removably provided with support members which support one or more bent surfaces of said substrate substantially perpendicular to other surfaces adjacent thereto.

6. An input device for a game machine according to claim 5, wherein said other surfaces of the substrate are formed with anti-rebound lugs extending toward a lower portion of one or more bent surfaces of the substrate and toward a lower portion of said support members for supporting the bent surfaces.

7. An input device for a game machine according to claim 1, a, wherein said housing comprises a first case member and a second case member which are divided from each other, and a wall portion for preventing the influence of static electricity on the tape wiring portion of said substrate is provided inside the housing at a connection between said first and second case members.

8. An input device for a game machine according to claim 2, including a fixing member for urging and fixing said substrate to the inner surface of said housing.

9. An input device for a game machine according to claim 3, including a fixing member for urging and fixing said substrate to the inner surface of said housing.

10. An input device for a game machine according to claim 8, wherein any one of said housing, said filmy substrate having flexibility and said fixing member is removably provided with support members which support one or more bent surfaces of said substrate substantially perpendicular to other surfaces adjacent thereto.

11. An input device for a game machine according to claim 9, wherein any one of said housing, said filmy substrate having flexibility and said fixing member is removably provided with support members which support one or more bent surfaces of said substrate substantially perpendicular to other surfaces adjacent thereto.

12. An input device for a game machine according to claim 10, wherein said other surfaces of the substrate are formed with anti-rebound lugs extending toward a lower portion of one or more bent surfaces of the substrate and toward a lower portion of said support members for supporting the bent surfaces.

13. An input device for a game machine according to claim 11, wherein said other surfaces of the substrate are formed with anti-rebound lugs extending toward a lower portion of one or more bent surfaces of the substrate and toward a lower portion of said support members for supporting the bent surfaces.

14. An input device for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein a pair of control members are mounted on said printed circuit board, each of said control members being configured to be manipulated by a thumb on the user'"'"'s hands.

15. An input device for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an upper surface and a forward surface, said forward surface being substantially perpendicular to said upper surface, said plurality of operating members being provide on both the upper surface and the forward surface of the housing, further wherein the operating members provided on the forward surface each comprise a button key and a key holder positioned on opposite sides of the substrate.

16. An input device for a game machine according to claim 15, wherein the operating members provided on the forward surface of the housing each further comprise a rubber contact positioned between the button key and the substrate.

17. An input device for a game machine according to claim 15, wherein the substrate is provided with an anti-rebound lug formed adjacent to each of the operating members provided on the forward surface of the housing, said anti-rebound lug configured to engage said key holder so as to maintain a substantially right-angle bend in the substrate.

18. An input device for a game machine according to claim 17, wherein, said anti-rebound lug comprises an outwardly extending portion of said substrate that engages a rear surface of said key holder, said outwardly extending portion being formed by an H-shaped groove provided in said substrate.

19. An input device for inputting signals to a game machine which uses a computer, said input device comprising:

a housing having an upper surface and a forward surface, said housing being configured to be held between a left palm and a right palm of a user'"'"'s pair of hands with the forward surface facing away from said user;

a pair of control members disposed on the upper surface of the housing, said upper operating members being configured to be manipulated by thumbs on the user'"'"'s hands;

a plurality of upper operating buttons disposed on the upper surface of the housing, said upper operating buttons being configured to be manipulated by the thumbs on the user'"'"'s hands;

a plurality of forward operating buttons disposed on the forward surface of the housing, said forward operating buttons being configured to be manipulated by fingers on the user'"'"'s hands;

a printed circuit board disposed within said housing, said pair of control members being disposed on said printed circuit board;

a cable connecting said printed circuit board to said game machine by a cable;

a flexible filmy substrate disposed within said housing, said substrate having a horizontal surface that is disposed against an interior plane of the upper surface of the housing and a vertical surface that is disposed against an interior plane of the forward surface of the housing, said substrate comprising a bend along the juncture of the horizontal surface and the vertical surface, said bend being maintained by an antirebound lug formed by a portion of said substrate;

a plurality of contact portions formed on said substrate, said contact portions being formed on the vertical surface of the substrate at positions corresponding to the upper operating buttons, and on the horizontal surface of the substrate at positions corresponding to the forward operating buttons, said contact portions being configured to perform ON-OFF operations in response to operation of the upper and forward operating buttons; and

a flexible tape wiring portion extending from said substrate, said tape wiring connecting said substrate to said printed circuit board;

wherein when said upper and forward operating buttons are manipulated by the user'"'"'s fingers, signals corresponding to the operation of the upper and forward operating buttons are generated by the ON-OFF operations of the contact portions of said substrate, are transferred from the substrate to the printed circuit board through the tape wiring portion, and are inputted to the game machine through the cable, and

wherein when said control members are manipulated by the user'"'"'s thumbs, signals corresponding to the operation of the operating members are generated by the printed circuit board, and are inputted to the game machine through the cable.

20. An input device for a game machine according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of forward operating buttons each comprise a button key and a key holder positioned on opposite sides of the vertical surface of the substrate, and said anti-rebound lug comprises outwardly extending portion of said substrate that engages a rear surface of said key holder, said outwardly extending portion being formed by an Hshaped groove provided in said substrate at the bend along the juncture of the horizontal surface and the vertical surface.