Analog input device to input multi directional signals

• US 6,589,118 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2000
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Maeda, Ryoichi, Soma, Masahiro, Furudate, Toshio
• Primary Examiner(s): Hughes, S. Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): COBURN, CORBETT B
• Application Number:
  US09/588,143
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37, 463/38, 345/161, 345/156, 178/19.02, 178/19.04
• 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 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04777 with additional push or pull action on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/04737 with six degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/078 Variable resistance by variable contact area or point

Abstract

An input device for a game machine for inputting signals to a game machine using a computer, including: at least one control member projecting to the outside of a casing; a movement-transmitting member formed around the control member and operatively associated with the movement of an operating point of the control member, the movement-transmitting member being provided with a plurality of conductive elastic members; and a board provided in the casing and having formed thereon resistors corresponding to the conductive elastic members, the conductive elastic members changing the area of contact between the conductive elastic members and the resistors according to a direction of movement and a tilt angle of the operating point of the control member so as to vary the amount of resistance; wherein, by moving the operating point of the control member, analog signals corresponding to the movement are input to the game machine.

Claims

1. An input device to input multi directional signals, comprising:

a casing having a bottom surface and an opening formed in said casing;

at least one control member projecting to the outside of the casing through said opening;

a movement-transmitting member separately formed around said control member so that said control member moves up and down independently of the movement-transmitting member, said movement-transmitting member operatively associated with tilting movement of said control member, said movement-transmitting member being provided with a plurality of conductive elastic members;

and a board provided in the casing and having formed thereon resistors corresponding to said conductive elastic members, said conductive elastic members changing an area of contact between said conductive elastic members and said resistors according to a direction of movement and a tilt angle of said control member to vary an amount of resistance;

said movement-transmitting member including a peripheral section that abuts against said bottom surface of said casing to serve as a tilt fulcrum when said control member is tilted;

wherein, by tilting movement of said control member, at least one analog signal corresponding to the movement is outputted.

2. An analog input device according to claim 1, wherein said movement-transmitting member is skirt-shaped.

3. An analog input device according to claim 1, wherein each of said conductive elastic members is shaped like one of a frustum of a pyramid and a truncated cone, and is gradually deformed from an end thereof according to an operating force exerted on said control member.

4. An analog input device according to claim 1, wherein elastically deformable support members are attached to said movement-transmitting member, and said conductive elastic members are provided on bottoms of the support members.

5. An analog input device according to claim 1, wherein, by tilting movement of said control member, less than or equal to half of number of said conductive elastic members contact with said resistors.

6. An analog input device to input multi directional signals, comprising:

at least one control member projecting to an outside of a casing;

a movement-transmitting member separately provided around said control member so that said control member moves up and down independently of the movement-transmitting member, said movement-transmitting member engaging the inner surface of the casing and this engagement is operatively associated with tilting movement of said control member from a neutral axis, said movement-transmitting members being provided with a plurality of first contacts;

a board provided in said casing and having formed thereon a plurality of second contacts constituting planar analog switches with the first contacts; and

a push switch provided in said casing at a position corresponding to said control member to effect an ON/OFF operation in response to upward and downward movements of the operating point of said control member.

7. An analog input device according to claim 6, wherein each of said first contacts is composed of a conductive elastic member shaped like one of a frustum of a pyramid and a truncated cone, and ends of the conductive elastic members gradually come into contact with the second contacts, whereby an area of contact is changed.

8. An analog input device according to claim 6, wherein said movement-transmitting member has a through hole in a center thereof, and said control member is inserted into said through hole to be supported to move up and down.

9. An analog input device according to claim 6, wherein, by tilting movement of said control member, less than or equal to half of the number of said first contacts contact with said second contacts.

10. An analog input device to input multi directional signals, comprising:

at least one analog control member and at least one digital control member projecting to an outside of a casing;

an analog input section operating in association with movement of an operating point of said analog control member, said analog input section comprises;

at least one control member projecting to an outside of the casing;

a movement-transmitting member separately provided around said control member so that said control member moves up and down independently of the movement-transmitting member, said movement-transmitting member engaging the inner surface of the casing and this engagement is operatively associated with tilting movement of said control member from a neutral axis, said movement-transmitting member being provided with a plurality of first contacts;

a digital input section to effect an ON/OFF operation in response to operation of said digital control member; and

a board having formed thereon one of contacts constituting said analog input section and one of contacts constituting said digital input section;

wherein, by tilting movement of said control member, at least one analog signal corresponding to the movement is outputted.

11. An analog input device according to claim 10, wherein said analog input section is composed of a conductive elastic member provided on said analog control member and a resistor opposing said conductive elastic member, said digital input section is composed of a first contact provided on said digital control member and a second contact opposing the first contact, and a resistor and said second contact are formed on the board.

12. An analog input device according to claim 11, wherein the board is composed of a flexible board.

13. An analog input device according to claim 10, wherein, by tilting movement of said control member, less than or equal to half of the number of said first contacts contact with said one of contacts constituting said analog input section.