EP0103327B1 - Switching device with a plurality of positions, such as a multidirectional control for an electronic game - Google Patents

Switching device with a plurality of positions, such as a multidirectional control for an electronic game Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0103327B1
EP0103327B1 EP83201205A EP83201205A EP0103327B1 EP 0103327 B1 EP0103327 B1 EP 0103327B1 EP 83201205 A EP83201205 A EP 83201205A EP 83201205 A EP83201205 A EP 83201205A EP 0103327 B1 EP0103327 B1 EP 0103327B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
housing
control member
control
tongues
control lever
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP83201205A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0103327A1 (en
Inventor
Diran Robert Sahakian
Lucien Pellerin
Sjoerd Nijboer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Radiotechnique Compelec RTC SA
Koninklijke Philips NV
Original Assignee
Radiotechnique Compelec RTC SA
Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken NV
Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Radiotechnique Compelec RTC SA, Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken NV, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV filed Critical Radiotechnique Compelec RTC SA
Publication of EP0103327A1 publication Critical patent/EP0103327A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0103327B1 publication Critical patent/EP0103327B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
    • G05G9/00—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously
    • G05G9/02—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only
    • G05G9/04—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
    • G05G9/047—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks
    • G05G9/04785—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks the controlling member being the operating part of a switch arrangement
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
    • G05G9/00—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously
    • G05G9/02—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only
    • G05G9/04—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
    • G05G9/047—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks
    • G05G2009/04703—Mounting of controlling member
    • G05G2009/04711—Mounting of controlling member with substantially hemispherical bearing part forced into engagement, e.g. by a spring
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05G—CONTROL DEVICES OR SYSTEMS INSOFAR AS CHARACTERISED BY MECHANICAL FEATURES ONLY
    • G05G9/00—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously
    • G05G9/02—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only
    • G05G9/04—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously
    • G05G9/047—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks
    • G05G2009/0474—Manually-actuated control mechanisms provided with one single controlling member co-operating with two or more controlled members, e.g. selectively, simultaneously the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only in which movement in two or more ways can occur simultaneously the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
    • G05G2009/04744—Switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H1/00—Contacts
    • H01H1/02—Contacts characterised by the material thereof
    • H01H1/021—Composite material
    • H01H1/029—Composite material comprising conducting material dispersed in an elastic support or binding material
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H2221/00—Actuators
    • H01H2221/008—Actuators other then push button
    • H01H2221/012—Joy stick type

Definitions

  • Such a device is known from document EP-A-0024813, for use as a manual control associated with an electronic video game, control with which the user communicates orders to the electronic game, for example for moving objects or of characters whose image is represented on a cathode-ray screen.
  • the control member can be moved in eight different directions from a central position which is perpendicular to the main face of the housing. When pushed in one of these directions, a peripheral ring forming part of the same control member toggles so that a point on the periphery exerts pressure on one of the four electrical switches arranged on a concentric circle and of the same diameter as the peripheral crown.
  • the elastic return means of the control member to the central rest position are formed, in part, by the peripheral crown itself, made deformable by arc-shaped recesses, leaving only four attachment points of the peripheral ring to the control member.
  • the elastic return means are also formed by an additional piece in the form of a glove finger, which is threaded on the rod of the control lever and connected to the housing by a deformable bellows, this part being made of a flexible elastomer .
  • the known device has the disadvantage of not allowing an angle of inclination of the control lever as large as that which is desired in practice, and of requiring a relatively large force to actuate it. This is due in particular to the fact that the preponderant part of the restoring forces is provided by the deformable peripheral crown which also ensures the pressure on the switches and which is difficult, if not impossible, to adjust these two forces independently (restoring force and pressing the switches).
  • the known device uses four switches which allows control of eight directions, since two consecutive switches can also be used; They must also be operated simultaneously.
  • the invention aims to provide a device which does not have these drawbacks.
  • Another object of the invention is to obtain a device whose structure is simplified so that it can be manufactured easily and at a lower price.
  • a multi-way switch device as defined in the preamble, is characterized in that the portions of the control member forming the elastic return means are formed by a plurality of tongues cut radially in a part of the disc-shaped control member which connects the control lever to the peripheral crown, the flexible end of said tongues being turned towards the center of said disc-shaped part, in that the opening of the upper part of the housing comprises a truncated cone extending towards the interior of the casing and whose axis substantially coincides with the axis of the central pivot, truncated cone which constitutes said abutment means by its external lateral surface on which bear said tabs.
  • the device according to the invention has the advantage of allowing the return force of the control member to be determined, by construction, completely independently of the adjustment of the pressure on the contact means.
  • This pressure is itself dependent on the deformation of the part of the disc-shaped control member, and in particular of its peripheral crown.
  • this peripheral ring can act at any point on its periphery so that the number of switches can be changed at will without having to re-adjust the pressure or return forces to the rest position.
  • control lever can be tilted at a large angle (25 or 30 degrees from the central position).
  • a small inclination angle can be provided just as easily, if desired.
  • control member is molded from a material endowed with elastic property, such as a polyoxymethylene, homopolymer or copolymer, or even an aromatic polyamide.
  • the tongues By their radial arrangement, and their flexible end disposed on a circle of diameter substantially smaller than that of the peripheral crown, the tongues provide the restoring force of the control member in the central position under the effect of a bending which remains low amplitude.
  • One or other of the polymeric materials endowed with elastic property, in particular those mentioned above, can withstand such deformations without fatigue so that the control member can ensure an extremely high number of operations without failure.
  • any known switch acting by pressure can be used.
  • the device is remarkable in that one of the parts of the housing being made of insulating material and carrying on its internal surface a set of conductive paths isolated from each other, the control member comprises on its peripheral ring a ring made of conductive elastomer intended to establish by pressure at the locations provided for the contacts, an electrical connection between at least two of the conductive paths.
  • the device is composed of a minimum number of separate parts so that it is particularly economical.
  • FIGS. 1A and 1B show a sectional view of the same switch device. It consists of a housing 10 formed by the assembly of a lower part 11 and an upper part 12.
  • the housing 10 contains contact means forming a switch.
  • these means consist of two parts 13, 14 folded with a flexible film of insulating material, which carry conductive paths as well as an intermediate film 15 provided with openings at the location provided for the contacts.
  • FIGS. 1A and 1B only the active locations of the contacts 16 have been shown for clarity of the drawing. According to a technique known per se, by pressing on the part 13 of flexible film, at one of the locations provided for the contacts 16, these being distributed on a circle, the closure of the electrical circuit constituted by one of the paths is determined.
  • the device also comprises a monobloc control member 20, made of a material endowed with elastic flexibility. Preferably, this member is obtained by molding a polyoxymethylene or an aromatic polyamide.
  • the control member comprises a rod 21 forming an operating lever and a flared part in the form of a disc, ending in a peripheral crown 23 of circular shape.
  • the control member 20 can oscillate in all directions from a central rest position, FIG. 1A representing said member in its rest position while in FIG. 1B, the member 20 has been shown in the position where the rod 21 of the lever has been tilted to the right and causes contact at the location 16a. Oven allow the control member 20 to tilt in different directions while it remains held in translation, it comprises at the center of its lower part, a cavity 24 of substantially conical shape in which is engaged a finger 25 forming a central pivot carried by the lower part 11 of the housing.
  • the maintaining in translation of said member is also ensured by the fact that it comprises at the foot of the rod 21 a spherical bloom 27, surmounting the cavity 24.
  • the upper part 12 of the housing comprises, for the passage of the rod 21, an opening in the form of a truncated cone 28 extending towards the interior of the housing and whose axis substantially coincides with the axis of the central pivot.
  • any movement of the member 20, if it was stressed towards the outside of the housing is limited by abutment of the spherical opening 27 on the end of the truncated cone 28.
  • Figure 2 shows the control member 20 of the device of Figure 1 by a top view. It will make it possible to describe, in conjunction with FIGS. 1A and 1B, the elastic means for returning the control member to its central rest position.
  • the member 20 comprises a plurality of tongues 30 cut radially in the disc-shaped part 22 which connects the control lever to the spherical crown 23.
  • the tongues 30 have one end secured to the control member near the peripheral ring 23.
  • the cutting of the tongues has an M-shaped arrangement so that the integral end of the control member is divided into two lateral branches of tongues, attached to the nearby control member of spherical development 27.
  • the other end of the tongues 30 is free and flexible. It is arranged in all cases to come to bear on the external lateral surface of the truncated cone 28 constituting the opening of the housing. In the rest position of the control member 20 (as shown in FIG. 1A), all the tongues 30 are supported on the truncated cone 28. This is not essential in reality and, if such were not not the case, the central rest position of the member 20 would only be less well defined. In the preferred mode where the tongues are in support, said tongues are slightly deformed so that they each exert, and practically equally, a very moderate pressure force on the surface of the truncated cone 28, force which maintains the member 20 in its rest position, and also supports it on finger 25.
  • the working position In the position of the member 20 shown in FIG. 1B, called the working position, it is a zone 33 of the peripheral ring 23 which exerts pressure on the contact location 18a.
  • the depression of the part 13 of the flexible film is only very limited with this type of switch, provision is advantageously made for the control member 20 to have a thinned lip at its periphery 23, lip which is then flexible and little deform under the pressure force at the contact location 16a.
  • the rod 21 being pushed into abutment on the internal edge of the truncated cone 28, the value of the pressure exerted by the thinned lips remains controllable and not excessive, and this despite the small variations in dimensions coming from manufacturing tolerances of the different elements.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates in this regard an alternative embodiment of the invention in which, by a modification of the contact means used, the whole device is very simple.
  • the equivalent portions of the arrangement in FIG. 3 and in FIGS. 1A and 1B bear the same numerical references.
  • the variant of FIG. 3 is distinguished by the fact that the conductive paths 40 are here directly carried by the internal face of the lower part 11 of the housing. (FIG. 3 shows all of the conductive paths 40 by a dotted line, with the exception of the contact locations marked by a solid line).
  • a polymeric material having good dielectric properties is used, on which the conductive paths can be produced by a screen printing operation of conductive paste.
  • the control member 20 carries on its peripheral ring a ring 41 of attached conductive elastomer and fixed for example in a groove 42 of the periphery.
  • a portion of the conductive paths carried by the lower part 11 is represented by a partial plan view in the part 43 of the figure surrounded by a dashed line.
  • the conductive path 46 is, in this case, the "common" conductor, while the conductive path 47 is located on a sector corresponding to a determined direction.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)

Description

La présente invention concerne un perfectionnement à un dispositif interrupteur à plusieurs voies, tel qu' une commande multidirectionnelle pour jeu électronique, comportant un boîtier formé de deux parties assemblées qui contient essentiellement d'une part une pluralité de moyens de contact formant interrupteur, distribués selon un cercle et rendus solidaires d'une partie du boîtier et, d'autre part, un organe de commande manuelle intégrant en une pièce unique en matière douée de flexibilité élastique:

  • - un levier de commande dont la tige émerge du boitier au travers d'une ouverture de sa partie supérieure, tandis que l'autre extrémité du levier est maintenue en translation par un pivot central porté par la partie inférieure du boîtier, levier de commande qui peut être incliné dans différentes positions à partir d'une position centrale de repos,
  • - des moyens élastiques de rappel sous forme de portions de l'organe de commande élastiquement déformables prévues pour s'appuyer sur des moyens de butée portés par le boîtier, lesdits moyens de rappel sollicitant le levier de commande vers la position centrale de repos,
  • - une couronne périphérique destinée à agir par pression localisée de la périphérie sur au moins un des moyens de contacts lorsqu'on incline manuellement le levier de commande.
The present invention relates to an improvement to a multi-way switch device, such as a multidirectional control for an electronic game, comprising a housing formed of two assembled parts which essentially contains on the one hand a plurality of contact means forming a switch, distributed according to a circle and made integral with a part of the housing and, on the other hand, a manual control member integrating into a single piece of material endowed with elastic flexibility:
  • - a control lever whose rod emerges from the housing through an opening in its upper part, while the other end of the lever is held in translation by a central pivot carried by the lower part of the housing, control lever which can be tilted in different positions from a central rest position,
  • elastic return means in the form of portions of the elastically deformable control member provided to rest on stop means carried by the housing, said return means urging the control lever towards the central rest position,
  • - A peripheral ring intended to act by localized pressure from the periphery on at least one of the contact means when the control lever is tilted manually.

Un tel dispositif est connu du document EP-A-0024813, pour une utilisation en tant que commande manuelle associée à un jeu électronique vidéo, commande avec laquelle l'utilisateur communique des ordres au jeu électronique, par exemple pour le déplacement d'objets ou de personnages dont l'image est représentée sur un écran cathodique. Selon le dispositif connu, l'organe de commande peut être déplacé dans huits directions différentes à partir d'une position centrale qui est perpendiculaire à la face principale du boîtier. Lorsqu'il est poussé dans l'une de ces directions, une couronne periphérique faisant partie du même organe de commande bascule de sorte qu' un point de la périphérie exerce une pression sur l'un des quatre interrupteurs électriques disposés sur un cercle concentrique et de même diamètre que la couronne périphérique.Such a device is known from document EP-A-0024813, for use as a manual control associated with an electronic video game, control with which the user communicates orders to the electronic game, for example for moving objects or of characters whose image is represented on a cathode-ray screen. According to the known device, the control member can be moved in eight different directions from a central position which is perpendicular to the main face of the housing. When pushed in one of these directions, a peripheral ring forming part of the same control member toggles so that a point on the periphery exerts pressure on one of the four electrical switches arranged on a concentric circle and of the same diameter as the peripheral crown.

Les moyens élastiques de rappel de l'organe de commande vers la position centrale de repos sont formés, pour partie, par la couronne périphérique elle même, rendu déformable par des évidements en forme d'arc, laissant subsister uniquement quatre points d'attache de la couronne périphérique à l'organe de commande. Pour une autre partie, les moyens élastiques de rappel sont également formés par une pièce supplémentaire en forme de doigt de gant, qui est enfilée sur la tige du levier de commande et reliée au boîtier par un soufflet déformable cette pièce étant réalisée en un élastomère souple.The elastic return means of the control member to the central rest position are formed, in part, by the peripheral crown itself, made deformable by arc-shaped recesses, leaving only four attachment points of the peripheral ring to the control member. For another part, the elastic return means are also formed by an additional piece in the form of a glove finger, which is threaded on the rod of the control lever and connected to the housing by a deformable bellows, this part being made of a flexible elastomer .

Le dispositif connu présente l'inconvénient de ne pas permettre un angle d'inclinaison du levier de commande aussi grand que celui qui est souhaité dans la pratique, et de nécessiter une force relativement importante pour l'actionner. Ceci est dû notamment au fait que la part prépondérante des forces de rappel est fournie par la couronne périphérique déformable qui assure également la pression sur les interrupteurs et qui est difficile, voire impossible, de régler indépendamment ces deux forces (force de rappel et force de pression sur les interrupteurs).The known device has the disadvantage of not allowing an angle of inclination of the control lever as large as that which is desired in practice, and of requiring a relatively large force to actuate it. This is due in particular to the fact that the preponderant part of the restoring forces is provided by the deformable peripheral crown which also ensures the pressure on the switches and which is difficult, if not impossible, to adjust these two forces independently (restoring force and pressing the switches).

Par ailleurs, le dispositif connu utilise quatre interrupteurs ce qui permet une commande de huit directions, car deux interrupteurs consécutifs peuvent éga; lement être actionnés simultanément. Or, selon les applications, il peut être désirable d'augmenter le nombre d'interrupteurs ce qui, étant donné le mode de construction du dispositif connu, peut conduire à des difficultés insurmontables.Furthermore, the known device uses four switches which allows control of eight directions, since two consecutive switches can also be used; They must also be operated simultaneously. However, depending on the applications, it may be desirable to increase the number of switches, which, given the construction method of the known device, can lead to insurmountable difficulties.

L'invention à pour but de fournir un dispositif qui ne comporte pas ces inconvénients.The invention aims to provide a device which does not have these drawbacks.

Un autre but de l'invention vise à obtenir un dispositif dont la structure soit simplifiée de sorte qu'il puisse être fabriqué aisément et à un prix moins élevé.Another object of the invention is to obtain a device whose structure is simplified so that it can be manufactured easily and at a lower price.

A cet effet, selon l'invention un dispositif interrupteur à plusieurs voies, tel que défini en préambule, est caractérisé en ce que les portions de l'organe de commande formant les moyens élastiques de rappel sont constituées par une pluralité de languettes découpées radialement dans une partie de l'organe de commande en forme de disque qui relie le levier de commande à la couronne périphérique, l'extrémité flexible desdites languettes étant tournée vers le centre de la-dite partie en forme de disque,en ce que l'ouverture de la partie supérieuré du boîtier comporte un tronc de cône s' étendant vers l'intérieur du boitier et dont l'axe coïcide sensiblement avec l'axe du pivot central, tronc de cône qui constitue lesdits moyens de butée par sa surface latérale externe sur laquelle prennent appui lesdites languettes.To this end, according to the invention a multi-way switch device, as defined in the preamble, is characterized in that the portions of the control member forming the elastic return means are formed by a plurality of tongues cut radially in a part of the disc-shaped control member which connects the control lever to the peripheral crown, the flexible end of said tongues being turned towards the center of said disc-shaped part, in that the opening of the upper part of the housing comprises a truncated cone extending towards the interior of the casing and whose axis substantially coincides with the axis of the central pivot, truncated cone which constitutes said abutment means by its external lateral surface on which bear said tabs.

Le dispositif selon l'invention à l'avantage de permettre que la force de rappel de l'organe de commande puisse être déterminée, par construction, de manière tout à fait indépendante du réglage de la pression sur les moyens de contacts. Cette pression est elle-même tributaire de la déformation de la partie de l'organe de commande en forme de disque, et notamment de sa couronne périphérique. Par ailleurs, cette couronne périphérique peut agir par n'importe quel point de sa périphérie de sorte que le nombre d'interrupteurs peut être modifié à volonté sans avoir à régler de nouveau les forces de pression ni de rappel en position de repos.The device according to the invention has the advantage of allowing the return force of the control member to be determined, by construction, completely independently of the adjustment of the pressure on the contact means. This pressure is itself dependent on the deformation of the part of the disc-shaped control member, and in particular of its peripheral crown. Furthermore, this peripheral ring can act at any point on its periphery so that the number of switches can be changed at will without having to re-adjust the pressure or return forces to the rest position.

Par ailleurs le dispositif selon l'invention se prête particulièrement bien à ce que le levier de commande puisse être incliné selon un angle important (25 ou 30 degrés à partir de la position centrale). Bien entendu, on peut prévoir tout aussi facilement, si on le désire, un angle d'inclination faible.Furthermore, the device according to the invention lends itself particularly well to the fact that the control lever can be tilted at a large angle (25 or 30 degrees from the central position). Of course, a small inclination angle can be provided just as easily, if desired.

De préférence l'organe de commande est moulé dans une matière douée de propriété élastique, tel qu'un polyoxyméthylene, homopolymère ou copolymere, ou encore un polyamide aromatique.Preferably the control member is molded from a material endowed with elastic property, such as a polyoxymethylene, homopolymer or copolymer, or even an aromatic polyamide.

Par leur disposition radiale, et leur extrémité flexible disposée sur un cercle de diamètre sensiblement inférieur à celui de la couronne périphérique, les languettes fournissent la force de rappel de l'organe de commande en position centrale sous l'effet d'une flexion qui reste de faible amplitude. L'un ou l'autre des matériaux polymèriques doués de propriété élastique notamment ceux cités plus haut, peuvent supporter sans fatigue de telles déformations de sorte que l'organe de commande peut assurer sans défaillance un nombre de manoeuvres extrêmement élevé. Par ailleurs, en suivant des règles géométriques simples, on peut facilement réduire au minimum le déplacement de l'extrémité flexible des languettes en appui sur la surface latérale du tronc de cône lors de la flexion liée au fonctionnement de sorte que l'usure par frottement est négligeable et le fonctionnement est silencieux.By their radial arrangement, and their flexible end disposed on a circle of diameter substantially smaller than that of the peripheral crown, the tongues provide the restoring force of the control member in the central position under the effect of a bending which remains low amplitude. One or other of the polymeric materials endowed with elastic property, in particular those mentioned above, can withstand such deformations without fatigue so that the control member can ensure an extremely high number of operations without failure. Furthermore, by following simple geometrical rules, it is easy to minimize the displacement of the flexible end of the tongues in abutment on the lateral surface of the truncated cone during bending linked to operation so that wear by friction is negligible and operation is silent.

En tant que moyen de contact, on peut utiliser tout interrupteur connu agissant par pression.As a contact means, any known switch acting by pressure can be used.

Selon une variante de mise en oeuvre de l'invention, le dispositif est remarquable en ce que l'une des parties du boîtier étant en matéri au isolant et portant sur sa surface interne un ensemble de trajets conducteurs isolés les uns des autres, l'organe de commande comporte sur sa couronne périphérique un anneau rapporté en élastomère conducteur destiné à établir par pression aux emplacements prévus pour les contacts, une liaison êlectrique entre au moins deux des trajets conducteurs.According to a variant implementation of the invention, the device is remarkable in that one of the parts of the housing being made of insulating material and carrying on its internal surface a set of conductive paths isolated from each other, the control member comprises on its peripheral ring a ring made of conductive elastomer intended to establish by pressure at the locations provided for the contacts, an electrical connection between at least two of the conductive paths.

Selon cette variante, le dispositif est composé d'un nombre minimal de pièces distinctes de sorte qu' il est particulierement économique.According to this variant, the device is composed of a minimum number of separate parts so that it is particularly economical.

La description qui va suivre en regard des dessins annexés fera bien comprendre comment l'invention peut être réalisée.

  • Les figures 1A et 1 B sont des vues en coupe d'un dispositif selon l'invention, l'organe de commande étant respectivement au repos et en position de travail.
  • La figure 2 représente par une vue en plan l'organe de commande du dispositif de la figure 1:
  • La figure 3 est une vue en coupe d'un dispositif selon une variante de mise en oeuvre de l'invention.
The description which follows with reference to the appended drawings will make it clear how the invention can be implemented.
  • Figures 1A and 1B are sectional views of a device according to the invention, the control member being respectively at rest and in the working position.
  • FIG. 2 represents, in a plan view, the control member of the device of FIG. 1:
  • Figure 3 is a sectional view of a device according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Les figure 1A et 1 B montrent une vue en coupe du même dispositif interrupteur. Il se composé d'un boîtier 10 formé de l'assemblage d'une partie inférieure 11 et d'une partie supérieure 12. Le boîtier 10 renferme des moyens de contacts formant interrupteur. Dans l'exemple représenté, ces moyens sont constitués par deux parties 13, 14 repliées d'un film souple en matériau isolant, qui portent des trajets conducteurs ainsi qu' un film intercalaire 15 muni d'ouvertures aux emplacement prévus pour les contacts. Sur les figures 1A et 1B, on a fait figurer uniquement les emplacements actifs des contacts 16 pour la clarté du dessin. Selon une technique connue en soi, par pression sur la partie 13 de film souple, à l'un des emplacements prévus pour les contacts 16, ceuxci étant répartis sur un cercle, on détermine la fermeture du circuit électrique constitué par l'un des trajets conducteurs portés par la partie 14 et un trajet conducteur commun porté par la partie 13 du film souple. Les trajets conducteurs s'étendent vers une extrémitë du film ou un connecteur 17 assure la liaison électrique avec les conducteur ducâble 18 qui permet de relier le dispositif à l'appareil (non représenté) pour lequel le système constitue une commande multidirectionnelle. L'ensemble des moyens de contact électrique est rendu solidaire avec la partie inférieure 11 du boîtier au moyen, par exemple, de tétons 19 de positionnement. Le dispositif comporte encore un organe de commande 20 monobloc, réalisé en une matière douée de flexibilité élastique. De préférence cet organe est obtenu par moulage d'un polyoxyméthylène ou un polyamide aromatique. L'organe de commande comporte une tige 21 formant levier de manoeuvre et une partie évasée en forme de disque, se terminant par une couronne périphérique 23 de forme circulaire. L'organe de commande 20 peut osciller dans toutes les directions à partir d'une position centrale de repos, la figure IA représentant ledit organe dans sa position de repos tandis qu' à la figure 1 B, l'organe 20 a été représenté dans la position où la tige 21 du levier a été inclinée vers la droite et provoque un contact à l'emplacement 16a. Four permettre à l'organe de commande 20 de s'incliner selon différentes directions alors qu'il reste maintenu en translation, celui-ci comporte au centre de sa partie inférieure, une cavité 24 de forme sensiblement conique dans laquelle est engagé un doigt 25 formant pivot central porté par la partie inférieure 11 du boîtier.Figures 1A and 1B show a sectional view of the same switch device. It consists of a housing 10 formed by the assembly of a lower part 11 and an upper part 12. The housing 10 contains contact means forming a switch. In the example shown, these means consist of two parts 13, 14 folded with a flexible film of insulating material, which carry conductive paths as well as an intermediate film 15 provided with openings at the location provided for the contacts. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, only the active locations of the contacts 16 have been shown for clarity of the drawing. According to a technique known per se, by pressing on the part 13 of flexible film, at one of the locations provided for the contacts 16, these being distributed on a circle, the closure of the electrical circuit constituted by one of the paths is determined. conductors carried by part 14 and a common conductor path carried by part 13 of the flexible film. The conductive paths extend towards an end of the film or a connector 17 provides the electrical connection with the conductors of the cable 18 which makes it possible to connect the device to the device (not shown) for which the system constitutes a multidirectional control. All of the electrical contact means are made integral with the lower part 11 of the housing by means, for example, of pins 19 for positioning. The device also comprises a monobloc control member 20, made of a material endowed with elastic flexibility. Preferably, this member is obtained by molding a polyoxymethylene or an aromatic polyamide. The control member comprises a rod 21 forming an operating lever and a flared part in the form of a disc, ending in a peripheral crown 23 of circular shape. The control member 20 can oscillate in all directions from a central rest position, FIG. 1A representing said member in its rest position while in FIG. 1B, the member 20 has been shown in the position where the rod 21 of the lever has been tilted to the right and causes contact at the location 16a. Oven allow the control member 20 to tilt in different directions while it remains held in translation, it comprises at the center of its lower part, a cavity 24 of substantially conical shape in which is engaged a finger 25 forming a central pivot carried by the lower part 11 of the housing.

En dehors des moyens élastiques de rappel qui seront décrits ci-après et qui contribuent à pousser l'organe 20 en appui sur le doigt 25, le maintien en translation dudit organe est encore assuré du fait qu' il comporte au pied de la tige 21 un épanouissement de forme sphérique 27, surmontant la cavité 24. Pour sa part, la partie supérieure 12 du boîtier comporte, pour le passage de la tige 21, une ouverture en forme de tronc de cône 28 s' étendant vers l'intérieur du boîtier et dont l'axe coîncide sensiblement avec l'axe du pivot central. Bien que l'on préfère en général prévoir un faible jeu mécanique entre l'extrémité du tronc de cône 28 et l'épanouissement sphérique 27 (pour éviter des frottements indésirables), tout mouvement de l'organe 20, s'il était sollicité vers l'extérieur du boîtier, est limité par butée de 1' épanouissement sphérique 27 sur t'extrémité du tronc de cône 28.Apart from the elastic return means which will be described below and which contribute to pushing the member 20 in abutment on the finger 25, the maintaining in translation of said member is also ensured by the fact that it comprises at the foot of the rod 21 a spherical bloom 27, surmounting the cavity 24. For its part, the upper part 12 of the housing comprises, for the passage of the rod 21, an opening in the form of a truncated cone 28 extending towards the interior of the housing and whose axis substantially coincides with the axis of the central pivot. Although it is generally preferred to provide a small mechanical clearance between the end of the truncated cone 28 and the spherical opening 27 (to avoid undesirable friction), any movement of the member 20, if it was stressed towards the outside of the housing is limited by abutment of the spherical opening 27 on the end of the truncated cone 28.

La figure 2 représente l'organe de commande 20 du dispositif de la figure 1 par une vue de dessus. Elle va permettre de décrire, en liaison avec les figures 1A et 1 B, les moyens élastiques de rappel de l'organe de commande vers sa position centrale de repos. A cet effet, l'organe 20 comporte une pluralité de languettes 30 découpées radialement dans la partie 22 en forme de disque qui relie le levier de commande à la couronne sphérique 23.Figure 2 shows the control member 20 of the device of Figure 1 by a top view. It will make it possible to describe, in conjunction with FIGS. 1A and 1B, the elastic means for returning the control member to its central rest position. To this end, the member 20 comprises a plurality of tongues 30 cut radially in the disc-shaped part 22 which connects the control lever to the spherical crown 23.

Selon l'exemple représenté aux lignes 1A, 1B et 2 les languettes 30 ont une extrémité solidaire de l'organe de commande à proximité de la couronne périphérique 23.According to the example shown in lines 1A, 1B and 2, the tongues 30 have one end secured to the control member near the peripheral ring 23.

Selon une autre variante non représentée, la découpe des languettes présente une disposition en forme de M de sorte que l'extrémité solidaire de l'organe de commande se trouve partagée en deux branches latérales de languettes, attachées à l'organe de commande à proximité de l'épanouissement sphérique 27.According to another variant not shown, the cutting of the tongues has an M-shaped arrangement so that the integral end of the control member is divided into two lateral branches of tongues, attached to the nearby control member of spherical development 27.

L'autre extrémité des languettes 30 est libre et flexible. Elle est disposée dans tous les cas pour venir s'appuyer sur la surface latérale externe du tronc de cône 28 constituant l'ouverture du boîtier. En position de repos de l'organe de commande 20 (telle que représentée à la figure 1A), toutes les languettes 30 sont en appui sur le tronc de cône 28. Ceci n'est pas indispensable en réalité et, si tel n'était pas le cas, la position centrale de repos de l'organe 20 serait seulement moins bien définie. Dans le mode préféré où les languettes sont en appui, lesdites languettes sont peu déformées de sorte qu'elles exercent chacune, et de manière pratiquement égale, un effort de pression très modéré sur la surface du tronc de cône 28, effort qui maintient l'organe 20 dans sa position de repos, et également assure son appui sur le doigt 25.The other end of the tongues 30 is free and flexible. It is arranged in all cases to come to bear on the external lateral surface of the truncated cone 28 constituting the opening of the housing. In the rest position of the control member 20 (as shown in FIG. 1A), all the tongues 30 are supported on the truncated cone 28. This is not essential in reality and, if such were not not the case, the central rest position of the member 20 would only be less well defined. In the preferred mode where the tongues are in support, said tongues are slightly deformed so that they each exert, and practically equally, a very moderate pressure force on the surface of the truncated cone 28, force which maintains the member 20 in its rest position, and also supports it on finger 25.

Sur la figure IB, on observe que certaines languettes telles que 30a sont écartées du tronc de cône 28 tandis que d'autres, telles que 30b sont au contraire sensiblement déformées en réponse à une sollicitation de la tige 21, telle qu' indiquée sur la figure par la flèche 31. La déformation des languettes 30b crée un couplé de redressement de l'organe 20, qui prend sa position de repos dès que la sollicitation cesse.In FIG. 1B, it is observed that certain tongues such as 30a are spaced from the truncated cone 28 while others, such as 30b are on the contrary substantially deformed in response to a stress on the rod 21, as indicated on the is shown by the arrow 31. The deformation of the tongues 30b creates a straightening coupling of the member 20, which takes its rest position as soon as the stress ceases.

Dans la position de l'organe 20 représentée à la figure 1 B, dite position de travail, c'est une zone 33 de la couronne périphérique 23 qui exerce une pression sur l'emplacement de contact 18a. Comme, sous l'effet de cette pression, l'enfoncement de la partie 13 du film souple n'est que très limité avec ce type d'interrupteur, on prévoit avantageusement que l'organe de commande 20 comporte une lèvre amincie à sa périphérie 23, lèvre qui est alors flexible et peu se déformer sous l'effort de pression à l'emplacement de contact 16a. On obtient alors que la tige 21 étant poussée en butée sur le bord interne du tronc de cône 28, la valeur de la pression exercée par la lévre amincie reste controlable et non excessive, et cela malgrè les petites variations de dimensions provenant des tolérances de fabrication des différents éléments.In the position of the member 20 shown in FIG. 1B, called the working position, it is a zone 33 of the peripheral ring 23 which exerts pressure on the contact location 18a. As, under the effect of this pressure, the depression of the part 13 of the flexible film is only very limited with this type of switch, provision is advantageously made for the control member 20 to have a thinned lip at its periphery 23, lip which is then flexible and little deform under the pressure force at the contact location 16a. We then obtain that the rod 21 being pushed into abutment on the internal edge of the truncated cone 28, the value of the pressure exerted by the thinned lips remains controllable and not excessive, and this despite the small variations in dimensions coming from manufacturing tolerances of the different elements.

Il est à noter que les moyens de contact qui ont été décrits dans l'exemple ne sont pas spécifiques de l'invention, et que tout autre interrupteur actionné par pression pourrait être utilisé de la même manière. On pourra fixer sur la partie inférieure du boîtier un certain nombre d'interrupteurs répartis selon un cercle, leur nombre dépendant du nombre de directions que l'on désire pouvoir commander.It should be noted that the contact means which have been described in the example are not specific to the invention, and that any other pressure actuated switch could be used in the same way. We can fix on the lower part of the box a number of switches distributed in a circle, their number depending on the number of directions that we want to be able to control.

La figure 3 illustre à ce propos une variante de réalisation de l'invention dans laquelle, par une modification des moyens de contacts utilisés, on aboutit à une très grande simplicité de l'ensemble du dispositif. Les portions équivalentes des disposition de la figure 3 et des figures 1A et 1 B portent les même repères numériques. La variante de la figure 3 se distingue par le fait que les trajets conducteurs 40 sont ici directement portés par la face interne de la partie inférieure 11 du boîtier. (On a représenté sur la figure 3 l'ensemble des trajets conducteurs 40 par un pointillé, à l'exception des emplacement de contacts marqués par un trait plein). On utilise pour la partie 11 du boîtier un matériau polymérique ayant de bonnes propriétés diélectriques, sur lequel on peut réaliser les trajets conducteurs par une opération de sérigraphie de pâte conductrice. Le fait que le doigt 25 soit rapporté sur la partie inférieure 11, et non pas venu de moulage avec celle-ci, peut rendre plus simple l'opération de sérigraphie en question. L'organe de commande 20 porte sur sa couronne périphérique un anneau 41 en élastomère conducteur rapporté et fixé par exemple dans une gorge 42 de la périphérie. Une portion des trajets conducteurs portés par la partie inférieure 11 est représentée par une vue partielle en plan dans la partie 43 de figure entourée d'un trait mixte. Le trajet conducteur 46 est, dans ce cas, le conducteur 'commun", alors que le trajet conducteur 47 est localisé sur un secteur correspondant à une direction déterminée. Pour favoriser la liaison électrique entre les trajets conducteurs 48 et 47 déterminée par pression localisée de l'anneau 41, on a prévu une disposition sinueuse des trajets qui multiplie l'effet de shunt lors du contact de l'anneau 41. On pourrait, de manière équivalente, prévoir que les trajets conducteurs 46 et 47 comportent dea parties radiales affectant la forme des dents de deux peignes imbriqués mais isolés entre eux, ceci notamment aux emplacements prévus pour les contacts.FIG. 3 illustrates in this regard an alternative embodiment of the invention in which, by a modification of the contact means used, the whole device is very simple. The equivalent portions of the arrangement in FIG. 3 and in FIGS. 1A and 1B bear the same numerical references. The variant of FIG. 3 is distinguished by the fact that the conductive paths 40 are here directly carried by the internal face of the lower part 11 of the housing. (FIG. 3 shows all of the conductive paths 40 by a dotted line, with the exception of the contact locations marked by a solid line). For the part 11 of the housing, a polymeric material having good dielectric properties is used, on which the conductive paths can be produced by a screen printing operation of conductive paste. The fact that the finger 25 is attached to the lower part 11, and not molded therewith, can make the screen printing operation in question simpler. The control member 20 carries on its peripheral ring a ring 41 of attached conductive elastomer and fixed for example in a groove 42 of the periphery. A portion of the conductive paths carried by the lower part 11 is represented by a partial plan view in the part 43 of the figure surrounded by a dashed line. The conductive path 46 is, in this case, the "common" conductor, while the conductive path 47 is located on a sector corresponding to a determined direction. To promote the electrical connection between the conductive paths 48 and 47 determined by localized pressure of the ring 41, a winding arrangement of the paths has been provided which multiplies the effect of shunt upon contact with the ring 41. It could, in an equivalent manner, be provided for the conductive paths 46 and 47 to have radial parts affecting the forms teeth of two nested combs but isolated from each other, this in particular at the locations provided for the contacts.

Par rapport aux exemples décrits, l'homme de l'art pourra limaginer facilement d'autres variantes qui restent néanmoins dans le cadre de l'invention. Notamment, les moyens de contact qui ont été décrits comme étant fixés à la partie inférieure du boîtier pourraient, de manière équivalente, être fixés sous la partie supérieure. De légères modifications géométriques doivent être apportées au système pour qu' il fonctionne dans ce cas; elles sont aisées à déterminer.Compared to the examples described, those skilled in the art can easily imagine other variants which nevertheless remain within the scope of the invention. In particular, the contact means which have been described as being fixed to the lower part of the housing could, in an equivalent manner, be fixed under the upper part. Slight geometric modifications must be made to the system for it to work in this case; they are easy to determine.

En ce qui concerne les matériaux utilisables pour réaliser le boîtier, on aura principalement recours, pour des raisons d' économie, aux matières plastiques mises en forme par moulage. Il va de soi qu'en dehors des impératif s d'isolement électrique, on dispose d'un choix important pour déterminer les matériaux entrant dans la construction du dispositif selon l'invention, à l'exception de l'organe de commande qui requiert l'utilisation d'un matériau se déformant élastiquement et sans fluage notable.As regards the materials which can be used to make the housing, we will mainly have recourse, for reasons of economy, to plastics formed by molding. It goes without saying that apart from the requirements of electrical insulation, there is a significant choice for determining the materials entering in the construction of the device according to the invention, with the exception of the control member which requires the use of a material which is elastically deformed and without significant creep.

Claims (2)

1. Multi-path interruptor device, such as a multidirectional control element for electronic games, comprising a housing (10) constituted by two assembled parts (1 1), (12) containing essentially on the one hand a plurality of contact means forming an interruptor distributed along a circle and united with a part of the housing and on the other hand a manual control member (20) integrated to form a single part of a material having an elastic flexibility:
- a control lever, whose pin (21) emerges from the housing through an opening of its upper part (12), while the other end of the lever is held in translation by a central pivot (25) carried by the lower part of the housing, which control lever can be inclined in different directions from a central rest position.
- elastic return means in the form of parts of the control member elastically deformable and arranged to be supported by abutment means carried by the housing, the said return means pivoting the control lever to the central rest position,
- a peripheral crown (23) intended to act by local pressure of the periphery upon at least one of the pressure of the contact means when the control lever is manually inclined,

characterized in that the parts of the control member (20) forming the elastic return means are consituted by a plurality of tongues (30) cut radially out of a part (22) of the control member in the form of a disk, which connects the control lever to the peripheral crown (23), the flexible end of the said tongues facing the centre of the said part (22) in the form of a disk, in that the opening of the upper part of the housing comprising a truncated cone (28) which extends to the interior of the housing and whose axis coincides substantially with the axis of the central pivot, which truncated cone constitutes the said abutment means for its external lateral surface, by which the said tongues (30) are supported.
2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that, one of the parts (11) of the housing being made of an insulating material and carrying on its internal surface an assembly of conductor paths (46, 47) insulated from each other, the control member (20) comprises on its peripheral crown (42) an associated ring (41) made of a conducting elastomer intended to establish by pressure at the areas (40) provided for the contacts an electrical connection between at least two of the conductor paths (46, 47).
EP83201205A 1982-08-20 1983-08-19 Switching device with a plurality of positions, such as a multidirectional control for an electronic game Expired EP0103327B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8214400A FR2532106B1 (en) 1982-08-20 1982-08-20 MULTI-WAY SWITCH DEVICE, SUCH AS A MULTI-DIRECTIONAL CONTROL FOR AN ELECTRONIC GAME
FR8214400 1982-08-20

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0103327A1 EP0103327A1 (en) 1984-03-21
EP0103327B1 true EP0103327B1 (en) 1986-02-26

Family

ID=9276978

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP83201205A Expired EP0103327B1 (en) 1982-08-20 1983-08-19 Switching device with a plurality of positions, such as a multidirectional control for an electronic game

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US4511769A (en)
EP (1) EP0103327B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS5954126A (en)
CA (1) CA1232931A (en)
DE (1) DE3362305D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2532106B1 (en)

Families Citing this family (29)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS614326U (en) * 1984-06-14 1986-01-11 アルプス電気株式会社 multi-directional operating device
JPS6136932U (en) * 1984-08-10 1986-03-07 アルプス電気株式会社 Membrane switch for stake control equipment
CH671480A5 (en) * 1986-06-20 1989-08-31 Wilfried Duenki
US5086313A (en) * 1988-01-28 1992-02-04 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Operation switch unit for a camera
US4900946A (en) * 1988-06-03 1990-02-13 Navistar International Transportation Corp. Multi-function switch for automotive vehicles
IT1232530B (en) * 1989-06-29 1992-02-19 Olivetti & Co Spa CONTACT KEYBOARD
US4896003A (en) * 1989-06-30 1990-01-23 Hsieh Man Ching Multi-position electrical switch
US5028808A (en) * 1989-07-14 1991-07-02 Boc Health Care, Inc. Devices capable of sensing rotary motion
US5115106A (en) * 1990-04-20 1992-05-19 Honeywell Inc. Momentary "on" switch suitable for keyboards
JP2990224B2 (en) * 1991-02-27 1999-12-13 沖電気工業株式会社 Push button switch and method of manufacturing the same
US5276299A (en) * 1991-11-05 1994-01-04 Otis Elevator Company Elevator limit switch
US5227594A (en) * 1991-12-12 1993-07-13 Guardian Electric Manufacturing Company Electrical multi-directional switch
CA2101370C (en) * 1992-07-31 1999-04-27 Hiroshi Matsumiya Control-key mechanism having improved operation feeling
WO1994028634A1 (en) * 1993-05-21 1994-12-08 Arthur D. Little Enterprises, Inc. User-configurable control device
US5488206A (en) * 1994-01-31 1996-01-30 Wu; Donald Joystick switch assembly
US5473126A (en) * 1994-01-31 1995-12-05 Wu; Donald Joystick switch assembly
DE69625523T2 (en) 1995-05-10 2003-07-10 Nintendo Co Ltd Control unit with analog joystick
US5675309A (en) * 1995-06-29 1997-10-07 Devolpi Dean Curved disc joystick pointing device
JPH09161617A (en) * 1995-11-30 1997-06-20 Sega Enterp Ltd Switch device
JP3996984B2 (en) * 1997-09-08 2007-10-24 株式会社シマノ Bicycle shift mode selector switch
US6313826B1 (en) 1998-04-07 2001-11-06 Varatouch Technology Incorporated Pointing device with non-spring return mechanism
US6184866B1 (en) 1997-09-29 2001-02-06 Varatouch Technology Incorporated Pointing device
US6236034B1 (en) * 1998-08-28 2001-05-22 Varatouch Technology Incorporated Pointing device having segment resistor subtrate
JP3951493B2 (en) * 1999-03-15 2007-08-01 松下電器産業株式会社 Multi-directional operation switch and composite switch using the same
JP3968944B2 (en) * 2000-03-15 2007-08-29 松下電器産業株式会社 In-vehicle multidirectional operation switch and operation unit using the same
DE10024626C2 (en) * 2000-05-18 2002-03-28 Amphenol Tuchel Elect navigation switch
JP3925067B2 (en) * 2000-10-05 2007-06-06 松下電器産業株式会社 Multi-directional input device and electronic apparatus using the same
CN110189951B (en) * 2019-05-29 2024-05-07 德丰电创科技股份有限公司 Control rod
EP4012859A1 (en) * 2020-12-10 2022-06-15 Schneider Electric Industries SAS Contact finger alignment arrangement for a switchgear cubicle

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4132873A (en) * 1977-03-16 1979-01-02 General Time Corporation Multiposition switch
US4349708A (en) * 1979-08-22 1982-09-14 Atari, Inc. Joystick control
US4297542A (en) * 1979-12-19 1981-10-27 Shumway Anthony G Folded circuit switch apparatus having multiple contacts
US4313113A (en) * 1980-03-24 1982-01-26 Xerox Corporation Cursor control
JPS57128185A (en) * 1981-01-08 1982-08-09 Atari Inc Control unit for portable player operation
US4408103A (en) * 1982-01-06 1983-10-04 Smith Engineering Joystick operated multiple position switch
US4394548A (en) * 1982-03-08 1983-07-19 Amp Incorporated Joystick switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4511769A (en) 1985-04-16
FR2532106B1 (en) 1985-10-25
JPS5954126A (en) 1984-03-28
EP0103327A1 (en) 1984-03-21
DE3362305D1 (en) 1986-04-03
FR2532106A1 (en) 1984-02-24
CA1232931A (en) 1988-02-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0103327B1 (en) Switching device with a plurality of positions, such as a multidirectional control for an electronic game
EP0246968B1 (en) Analog manipulator having priveleged orientations
EP2621751B1 (en) Command system with mobile joystick knob
EP0001031B1 (en) Push button switch with snap action
FR2878646A1 (en) Electrical switch for use in e.g. portable computer, has contact portion establishing electrical switching way between common fixed contact and two associated fixed contacts in order to establish another electrical switching way
FR2754934A1 (en) PANEL SWITCH MOBILE CONTACT BODY AND PANEL SWITCH USING THE SAME
FR2664438A1 (en) DEVICE MADE OF TWO ARTICULATED ELEMENTS AROUND A HINGE AND CONNECTED THROUGH AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION.
FR2797923A1 (en) PIVOT WITH FLEXIBLE BLADES
FR2899719A1 (en) ELECTRICAL SWITCH WITH MULTIPLE SWITCHES
FR2968826A1 (en) DOUBLE DOME COMPACT SECURED PUSH-BUTTON SWITCH
FR2906930A1 (en) METAL DOME CONTACT COMPONENT AND CARD COMPRISING THE SAME
FR2844094A1 (en) MULTIPLE SWITCHING DEVICE
FR2796755A1 (en) Electrical switch for use in mobile phone includes rotary coding wheel and axially movable switch to combine two switch actions in one switch
FR2919425A1 (en) ELECTRICAL SWITCH WITH MULTIPLE SWITCHES.
EP0389366B1 (en) Actuating lever handle, particularly for motor vehicles, with two rotating rings
FR2937789A1 (en) KEYBOARD WITH LONG TOUCH STROKE AND IMPROVED TOUCH SENSATION
EP1435633B1 (en) Operating device with multiple axial positions for an electronic apparatus
FR2856191A1 (en) Electronic apparatus e.g. computer, operations controlling device, has drum resting on releasing unit establishing three switching paths which are deformable under action of one of vertical direction forces, from rest position
EP1416506B1 (en) Input device with a button movable around several axis
FR2509517A1 (en) OVERRIDE SWITCH DEVICE HAVING A CAM TRANSMISSION MECHANISM AND A SWIVEL BLADE
FR3071076A1 (en) CONTROL DEVICE FOR MAN-MACHINE INTERFACE WITH ELECTRO-ACTIVE ELEMENTS
EP3538788B1 (en) Mechanical transmission device
FR2861214A1 (en) Joystick switch for use in mobile phone includes pivoting actuator with spring and ball pressed against selected contact within fixed contact ring
WO2004070450A1 (en) Object orientation device
EP0225277B1 (en) Electric contact device for clocks

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19840518

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3362305

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19860403

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: ING. C. GREGORJ S.P.A.

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19880429

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Effective date: 19880503

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 19881122