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Operation device having features to assist a user in properly manipulating buttons thereof

  • US 8,730,155 B2
  • Filed: 05/21/2010
  • Issued: 05/20/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An operation device to be held by a user with one hand when used, comprising:

  • a light emitting portion which is attached at one end of the operation device and is used to identify a position of the operation device;

    an elongate recessed portion formed at a position at which at least one of a thumb and fingers is placed when the user holds the operation device;

    a first button which is disposed at a bottom of the recessed portion and has a top surface adjacent to a rim portion forming a side surface of the recessed portion, such that the user manipulates the first button with his thumb;

    a second button disposed at a position opposite to the first button such that the user manipulates the second button with his index finger and a main body of the operation device is sandwiched between the user'"'"'s thumb and index finger; and

    further buttons disposed adjacent to at least one end of the elongate recessed portion,wherein the elongate recessed portion is positioned such that;

    (i) a longer dimension of the elongate recessed portion defines a longitudinal direction extending generally through the light emitting portion and the first button, (ii) a shorter dimension of the elongate recessed portion defines a lateral direction, substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and (iii) an area circumscribed by the elongate recessed portion defines a normal direction extending substantially perpendicularly from the elongate recessed portion, and substantially perpendicularly from both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction,wherein the second button is disposed at the position opposite to, and substantially in the normal direction from, the first button, andwherein the further buttons include a first pair of buttons, the first pair of buttons being disposed on respective sizes of the elongate recessed portion.

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