Control-key mechanism having improved operation feeling

• US 5,525,770 A
• Filed: 11/14/1994
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1992
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD.
• Inventors: Matsumiya, Hiroshi, Sugiyama, Takeki
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, J. R.
• Application Number:
  US08/338,699
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 200/6 A, 200/5 A, 200/5 R, 200/17 R, 200/18, 200/339, 200/512, 200/517, 200/553, 200/557
• US Class Current: 200/6.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

A tilting member has a force bearing portion to which operating force is applied, and a supported surface. A supporting member has a supporting projection with which the supported surface of the tilting member may come in contact. When the operating force is applied to the tilting member, the tilting member tilts with respect to the supporting member. The supporting member supports the tilting member at a supporting point where the supporting projection of the supporting member is in contact with the supported surface of the tilting member, about which supporting point the tilting member tilts. The tilting of the tilting member, with respect to the supporting member, establishes a predetermined electrical contact.

Claims

1. A control-key device comprising:

a substrate with at least a pair of electrode portions formed thereon, each of said electrode portions having a pair of separate contacts;

a movable contact member which is formed with respect to each of the corresponding electrode portions, said movable contact member including a movable contact and an elastic member, said movable contact being positioned spacedly from the corresponding electrode portion movably supported on said substrate by said elastic member so that said movable contact comes in contact with the corresponding electrode portions to cause said pair of separate contacts short-circuited when a downward force is applied to said movable contact member;

a supporting member formed on said substrate at the middle portion between said pair of electrode portions;

a key-top member including a first portion at which an operator manipulates the movement of said key-top member, a second portion facing to said supporting member, a plurality of third portions contacting said movable contact members, and a plurality of fourth portions protruding outwardly at a side wall of said key-top member, said key-top member being supported by said elastic members through said third portions in a level position so that said second portion is closely spaced from said supporting member when said key-top member is free of a manipulating force at the first portion; and

,

a housing member having stopper portions corresponding to said fourth portions, said key-top member being arranged so that said key-top member tilts in response to a downward force applied to said first surface while movement of at least one of said third portions locating remotely from the portion at which the downward force is applied is restricted by the corresponding stopper portion.

2. The control-key device according to claim 1, wherein said supporting member is a metal ball and is supported on said substrate by an elastic member.

3. The control-key device according to claim 1, wherein said second portion has a flat plane at the portion facing said supporting member.

4. The control-key device according to claim 1, wherein said second portion has a concave shape at the portion facing said supporting member.

5. The control-key device according to claim 2, wherein said second portion has a concave shape corresponding to the shape of the top surface of said metal ball to which said key-top member contacts.

6. A control-key device comprising:

a substrate with at least a pair of electrode members formed on a surface thereof and a center position defined at said surface between said pair of electrode members, said pair of electrode members being located symmetrically with respect to said center position;

an elastic member place on said substrate, said elastic member comprising a depression disposed on said center position of said substrate and at least a pair of protuberant portions disposed on said electrode members, each of said protuberant portions having an electrical contact facing to but closely spaced from the corresponding one of said electrode members so as to operate as a movable contact member against the corresponding electrode member;

a metal member placed partially buried in said depression, supported by said substrate at said center position with the portion of said elastic member located between said metal member and said substrate, and protruding from the surface of said elastic member; and

a key-top member having a first portion at which an operator manipulates the movement of said key-top member, a second portion facing to the protruding portion of said metal member, at least a pair of third portions contacting the corresponding protuberant portions of said elastic member, and at least a pair of fringe portions positioned substantially symmetrically with respect to the second portion of said key-top member, said key-top member being supported by said elastic member at said protuberant portions through said third portions in a level position so that said second portion is closely spaced from said supporting member when said key-top member is free of a manipulating force at the first portion; and

a housing member having at least a pair of stopper portions corresponding to said pair of fringe portions of said key-top member, said key-top member being arranged so that said key-top member tilts in response to a downward force applied to said first portion while one of said fringe portions locating remotely from a side at which the downward force is applied is restricted with its movement by the corresponding stopper portion.

7. A control-key comprising:

a housing member having an opening and two pairs of stopper portions arranged symmetrically with respect to an imaginal center line;

a substrate with two pairs of electrode members formed and located at symmetrical positions on an imaginary circle thereon which is registered to said imaginary center line, each of said electrode members having a pair of separate contacts;

an elastic member placed on said substrate and having two pairs of movable contact portions corresponding to said two pairs of electrode members, each of said movable contact portions including a movable contact positioned spacedly from the corresponding electrode member and arranged so that one of said movable contacts to which a downward movement is applied comes in contact with the corresponding one of said electrode members to cause a pair of separate contacts thereof short-circuited;

a supporting member formed on said substrate at the center portion of said imaginary circle; and

a key-top member having a first portion at which an operator manipulates the movement of said key-top member, a second portion facing to said supporting member, two pairs of third portions formed correspondingly to, and contacting with, said movable contact portions, and two pairs of fourth portions corresponding to, and facing, said two pairs of stopper portions, said key-top member being supported by said elastic member at said movable contact portions through said third portions in a level position so that said second portion is closely spaced from said supporting member when said key-top member is free of a manipulating force at the first portion,

wherein said key top member is arranged so that said key-top member tilts in response to a downward force while one of said third portions locating remotely from a side at which the downward force is applied is restricted with its movement by the corresponding stopper portion.

8. The control-key device according to claim 7, wherein said key-top member has a bottom peripheral disk and said two pairs of said fourth portions are formed at symmetrical positions of said bottom peripheral disk.

9. The control-key device according to claim 8, wherein said elastic member has a depression at a position corresponding to said center portion of the imaginary circle of said substrate and said supporting member is formed on said substrate so that said supporting member is placed partially in said depression, its top portion protrudes out of said elastic member toward said key-top member, and its bottom portion is supported by said elastic member on said substrate.

10. A control-key device comprising:

a substrate with at least a pair of electrode portions formed thereon, each of said electrode portions having a pair of separate contacts;

a movable contact member which is formed with respect to each of the corresponding electrode portions and includes a movable contact and an elastic member, said movable contact being positioned spacedly from the corresponding electrode portion and movably supported on said substrate by said elastic member so that said movable contact comes in contact with the corresponding electrode portion to cause said pair of separate contacts short-circuited when a downward force is applied to said movable contact;

a supporting member formed on said substrate at the middle portion between said pair of electrode portions;

a key-top member including a first portion at which an operator manipulates the movement of said key-top member, a second portion facing to said supporting member, a plurality of third portions contacting said movable contact members, and a plurality of fourth portions protruding outwardly from at side wall of said key-top member; and

a housing member having stopper portions corresponding to said plurality of said fourth portions,

said key-top member, said supporting member and said stopper portions being so arranged that, when said key-top member is free of manipulating force at its first portion, said key-top member is maintained in a level position by means of said movable contact members while said fourth portions contact said stopper portions to render a given gap between said second portion and said supporting member.

11. A control-key device comprising:

a substrate having at least a pair of electrode portions formed on a surface thereof, each of said electrode portions having a pair of separate contacts;

a resilient member placed on said substrate and comprising

at least a pair of resiliently deformable, protuberant portions formed correspondingly to said pair of electrode portions, each of said protuberant portions having an electrode contact movably supported and facing toward but closely spaced from the corresponding one of said electrode portions, and

a fulcrum-supporting portion having a depression located in the central position between said pair of protuberant portions;

a fulcrum member placed partially buried in said depression;

a manually manipulatable member comprising a first portion at which an operator manipulates said manually manipulatable member, at least a pair of second portions formed correspondingly to, and placed on, said protuberant portions, and a central portion formed correspondingly to said fulcrum member, said manually manipulatable member, said resilient member and said fulcrum member being arranged so that, when said manually manipulatable member is free of a manipulating force at its first portion, said manually manipulatable member is maintained in a level position by means of said protuberant portions to render a given gap between said central portion and said fulcrum member; and

a housing member enclosing said substrate, said resilient member, said fulcrum member and said manually manipulatable member, said first portion being exposed to the outside of said housing member, said housing member comprising means for maintaining said manually manipulatable member within a predetermined space in the housing member.

12. The control-key device according to claim 11, wherein said manually manipulatable member further comprises fringe means extending from the side wall of said manually manipulatable member, and said maintaining means of said housing member comprises stopper means positioned at an inner surface of said housing member so as to surround said first portion and located so as to detachably contact said fringe means.

13. The control-key device according to claim 11, wherein said fulcrum member has a spherical surface at the position expose from said depression.

14. The control-key device according to claim 11, wherein said central portion of said manually manipulatable member has a flat plane facing said fulcrum member.

15. The control-key device according to claim 13, wherein said central portion of said manually manipulatable member has a concave at the position facing said fulcrum member, said concave having a spherical surface corresponding to the spherical surface of said fulcrum member.

16. A multi-directional switch assembly comprising:

a substrate having a plurality of electrical switch terminals formed thereon;

a fulcrum member disposed on said substrate;

a manually manipulatable member disposed so as to detachably contact said fulcrum member and tilt in response to forces applied thereto;

a plurality of movable electrical contact members mounted on said substrate, each of said movable electrical contact members having a movable electrical contact and resilient means for resiliently supporting the movable electrical contact and being arranged so that said movable electrical contact moves into and out of engagement with the corresponding electrical switch terminals in response to movement of said manually manipulatable member, said manually manipulatable member, said movable electrical contact members and said fulcrum member being arranged so that, when said manually manipulatable member is free of a manipulating force, said manually manipulatable member is maintained at a level position and closely spaced from said fulcrum member by means of said resilient means; and

a housing enclosing said substrate, said manually manipulatable member, said fulcrum member and said movable electrical contact members, said housing comprising means for maintaining said manually manipulatable member within a predetermined space in the housing.

17. Control-key device comprising:

a substrate having at least a pair of electrode portions formed on a surface thereof, each of said electrode portions having a pair of separate contacts;

a resilient member placed on said substrate and comprising

at least a pair of resiliently deformable, protuberant portions formed correspondingly to said pair of electrode portions, each of said protuberant portions having an electrode contact movably supported and facing toward but closely spaced from the corresponding one of said electrode portions, and

a hole portion disposed in a middle position between said pair of protuberant portions;

a fulcrum member disposed partially in said hole portion so that a portion of said fulcrum member protrudes out of said hole portion; and

a manually manipulatable member comprising a first portion at which an operator manipulates said manually manipulatable member, at least a pair of second portions formed corresponding to, and disposed on, said protuberant portions, and a central portion formed correspondingly to said protruding portion of the fulcrum member, said manually manipulatable member being maintained in a level position by means of said protuberant portions when said manually manipulatable member is free of a manipulating force.

18. A control key switch assembly for use in a game apparatus to which said control key switch assembly is connected for controlling movement of characters displayed on a monitor, said control key assembly comprising:

a substrate having two pairs of electrode portions formed on a surface thereof, each of said electrode portions having a pair of separate contacts;

a resilient member placed on said substrate and comprising

two pairs of resiliently deformable, protuberant portions formed correspondingly to said pair of electrode portions, each of said protuberant portions having an electrode contact movably supported and facing toward but closely spaced from the corresponding one of said electrode portions, and

a hole disposed in a middle position between said pair of protuberant portions;

a fulcrum member disposed partially in said hole and protruding out of said hole; and

a manually manipulatable member comprising a first portion at which an operator manipulates said manually manipulatable member, two pairs of second portions formed correspondingly to, and disposed on, said protuberant portions, and a central portion formed correspondingly to said protruding portion of the fulcrum member, said manually manipulatable member being maintained in a level position and closely spaced from said fulcrum member by means of said protuberant portions when said manually manipulatable member is free of a manipulating force, said manually manipulatable member being caused tilting in response to a manipulating force applied to said manually manipulatable member at said first portion to cause a selected one of said electrical contacts to move down to engage in the corresponding electrode portions thereby to control movement of characters displayed on the monitor.

19. A multi-directional switch assembly for use with a video game apparatus for controlling movement of an image displayed on a monitor, comprising:

a substrate having plural pairs of electrical switch terminal formed thereon;

a plurality of movable electrical contact members mounted on said substrate, each of said movable electrical contact members having a movable electrical contact and resilient means for resiliently supporting the movable electrical contact and being arranged so that the movable electrical contact moves into and out of engagement with the corresponding pair of electrical switch terminals to constitute an electrical switch;

a manually manipulatable member mounted on said plurality of movable electrical contacts so as to move down said movable electrical contacts in response to forces applied to the manually manipulatable member;

a protruding member disposed on said substrate and underneath said manually manipulatable member for restricting downward movement of said manually manipulatable member; and

a housing member having means for movably maintaining said manually manipulatable member within a predetermined space thereof,

said movable electrical contact members and said supporting member being arranged so that said manually manipulatable member is movably maintained at a level position and closely spaced from said supporting member by said resilient means when said manually manipulatable member is free of a manipulating force and so that the electrical switches are closed in response to manipulating forces applied to said manually manipulatable member thereby to control movement of the image displayed on the monitor.

20. A video game apparatus with a multi-directional switch assembly for controlling movement of an image displayed on a monitor, said multi-directional switch assembly comprising:

a substrate having plural pairs of electrical switch terminals formed thereon;

a plurality of movable electrical contact members mounted on said substrate, each of said movable electrical contact members having a movable electrical contact and resilient means for resiliently supporting the movable electrical contact and being arranged so that the movable electrical contact moves into and out of engagement with the corresponding pair of electrical switch terminals to constitute an electrical switch;

a manually manipulatable member mounted on said plurality of movable electrical contacts so as to move down said movable electrical contacts in response to forces applied to the manually manipulatable member;

a protruding member disposed on said substrate and underneath said manually manipulatable member for restricting downward movement of said manually manipulatable member; and

a housing member having stopper means for restricting upward movement of said manually manipulatable member within a predetermined space thereof,

said movable electrical contact members and said supporting member being arranged so that said manually manipulatable member is movably maintained at a level position and closely spaced from said supporting member by said resilient means when said manually manipulatable member is free of a manipulating force and so that the electrical switches are closed in response to manipulating forces applied to said manually manipulatable member thereby to control movement of the image displayed on the monitor.