Signal input device applicable to controllers for game machines

• US 6,352,477 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Soma, Masahiro, Furudate, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim T.
• Application Number:
  US09/624,717
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 345/161, 345/157, 345/156, 345/163
• US Class Current: 463/36
• 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: G05G 2009/04762 Force transducer, e.g. strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04

Abstract

A signal input device having control levers projected out of an upper case, and a movement transmitting member movable with movement of each control transmitting member so as to change the resistance value of corresponding resistance elements by changing the contact area between the resistance element and the electrically conductive rubber in accordance with the movement of the movement transmitting member.

Claims

1. A signal input device for inputting a signal to an electronic device, comprising a control projecting out of a housing, a plurality of electrically conductive elastic members disposed in said housing and displaced depending on movement of said control, and a board disposed in said housing and having a plurality of resistance elements formed corresponding to said electrically conductive elastic members and arranged in pairs radially around said control, said electrically conductive elastic members being able to change resistance values of said resistance elements by changing contact areas between said resistance elements and said electrically conductive elastic members, a part of each of said electrically conductive elastic members being rotatably supported on said board,

wherein said electrically conductive elastic members are each held by a holding member having an outer end rotatably supported in a cantilevered manner by a support provided on said board at an outer position spaced away from said control,

wherein said electrically conductive elastic members each have a surface that faces said resistance element, said surface being inclined and sloped away from said board when said control is in a neutral position, said slope being oriented such that an inner end of said surface is spaced further away from said board than an outer end of said surface, said inner end of said surface being closer to said control than said outer end of said surface,

wherein a rotation of said holding member causes the surface of said electrically conductive elastic member to press against and contact said resistance element over a gradually-increasing contact area from an outer edge of said resistance element to an inner edge of said resistance element to thereby changing the resistance value of said resistance element,

wherein said control is provided with a movement transmitting member that is movable in response to a movement of said control, a portion of said movement transmitting member being held in abutment with said holding member, said holding member being rotated by the movement of said movement transmitting member so as to cause said electrically conductive elastic member to press against and contact said resistance element, and

whereby an analog signal corresponding to the resistance value of each of said resistance elements is inputted to said electronic device.

2. A signal input device according to claim 1, wherein said resistance elements are each constituted as a rectangular pattern, and the rectangular pattern is modified in shape for correction such that the resistance value of said resistance element is changed substantially linearly.

3. A controller for a game machine comprising a plurality of signal input devices according to claim 1, wherein the analog signal from each of said plurality of signal input devices is inputted to said game machine, and whereby said plurality of signal input devices serve as the controller for the game machine.