JPH07176241A - Control key mechanism - Google Patents

Control key mechanism

Info

Publication number
JPH07176241A
JPH07176241A JP6319298A JP31929894A JPH07176241A JP H07176241 A JPH07176241 A JP H07176241A JP 6319298 A JP6319298 A JP 6319298A JP 31929894 A JP31929894 A JP 31929894A JP H07176241 A JPH07176241 A JP H07176241A
Authority
JP
Japan
Prior art keywords
key top
elastic body
contact
supporting point
pressed
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.)
Pending
Application number
JP6319298A
Other languages
Japanese (ja)
Inventor
Takeki Sugiyama
武樹 杉山
Hiroshi Matsumiya
博 松宮
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.)
Sega Corp
Original Assignee
Sega Enterprises Ltd
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 Sega Enterprises Ltd filed Critical Sega Enterprises Ltd
Priority to JP6319298A priority Critical patent/JPH07176241A/en
Publication of JPH07176241A publication Critical patent/JPH07176241A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H25/00—Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part
    • H01H25/04—Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick
    • H01H25/041—Operating part movable angularly in more than one plane, e.g. joystick having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Landscapes

  • Switches With Compound Operations (AREA)

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an click operating feeling, by performing switch action in a manner wherein a bottom surface of a key top, when pushed, contacts a supporting point to make a click motion around it and presses contact points against an elastic body. CONSTITUTION:When any points of a key top member 2 is pressed, the member 2 is lowered down against elastic force of a rubber contact 51 of an elastic body 5 in a pressed side, and a flat part 22 in a bottom surface of the member 2 is brought into contact with a supporting point part 3. Then, the member 2 is tilted around the supporting point 3 which serves as the supporting point, and presses the elastic body 5 by a contact pressing part 21 corresponding to the pressing position, and the rubber contact 51, provided in this elastic body 5, short-circuits an electrode on a circuit board 4. When performed operation in an oblique direction, the member 2 is lowered down against elastic force of the elastic body 5 in a pressed position, and the flat part 22 in the bottom surface of the member 2 is brought into contact with the supporting point part 3, to tilt the member 2 around this supporting point part 3 as the supporting point, so that the elastic body 5 corresponding to a pressing position of the member 2 is pressed to perform conduction.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】Detailed Description of the Invention

【０００１】[0001]

【産業上の利用分野】本発明はテレビゲーム装置やポー
タブル型電子ゲーム装置に用いられるコントロールキー
機構に関し、特に該テレビゲーム装置やポータブル型電
子ゲーム装置に於ける表示キャラクター等の移動方向を
指定するためのキー操作を極めて軽いタッチで操作でき
るようにしたものである。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control key mechanism used in a television game device or a portable electronic game device, and more particularly, to specify a moving direction of a display character or the like in the television game device or the portable electronic game device. The key operation for this can be operated with an extremely light touch.

【０００２】[0002]

【従来の技術】従来、テレビゲーム装置やポータブル型
電子ゲーム装置に用いされる方向性キーとして実公平３
−１３９５１号には、キートップと一体的に形成された
底面中央の先端部が半球状となっており、該球状部の先
端と基板との間に常に微少間隙が存在するように該キー
トップと一体的に形成された円板部下面が弾力性の保持
部材に載置されている。キートップがある方向に押圧さ
れると、球状部の先端と基板とが当接されて支点が形成
され、押圧された部分に対応する保持部の下面に形成さ
れている導電ゴムが基板上の電極を電気的に短絡させて
回路が形成されるようになっている。2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a directional key used in a video game device or a portable electronic game device, it is actually fair.
No. 13951 has a hemispherical tip at the center of the bottom surface integrally formed with the key top, so that a minute gap is always present between the tip of the spherical portion and the substrate. The lower surface of the disc portion integrally formed with the is placed on the elastic holding member. When the key top is pressed in a certain direction, the tip of the spherical portion and the substrate are brought into contact with each other to form a fulcrum, and the conductive rubber formed on the lower surface of the holding portion corresponding to the pressed portion is on the substrate. The electrodes are electrically short-circuited to form a circuit.

【０００３】[0003]

【発明が解決しようとする課題】前記せるような従来の
テレビゲーム装置やポータブル型電子ゲーム装置に用い
される方向性キーは、一体的に形成されたキートップ部
材の底面中央の先端部と基板との間に常に微少間隙が存
在するように該キートップと一体的に形成された円板部
下面が弾力性の保持部材に載置されている。そしてキー
トップがある方向に押圧されて初めて球状部の先端と基
板とが当接されて支点が形成され、押圧された部分に対
応する保持部の下面に形成されている導電ゴムが基板上
の電極を電気的に短絡させて回路が形成されるようにな
っている。The directional key used in the conventional video game device or portable electronic game device as described above is a key top member integrally formed with the tip of the bottom center and the substrate. The lower surface of the disk portion integrally formed with the key top is placed on the elastic holding member so that a minute gap is always present between the key holding member and the key top. Only when the key top is pressed in a certain direction, the tip of the spherical portion and the substrate are brought into contact with each other to form a fulcrum, and the conductive rubber formed on the lower surface of the holding portion corresponding to the pressed portion is on the substrate. The electrodes are electrically short-circuited to form a circuit.

【０００４】従って、キートップが一体的に形成され、
その底面中央の先端部を球状に突出させてこれを支点と
してシーソー式にキートップを操作するのである。この
球状部の支点との基板との摩擦抵抗が大きく、キートッ
プ操作の都度、球状先端部の過度な衝撃力が基板に加わ
るものであった。よって使用頻度が多いので磨耗も激し
く方向性キーの耐用度が低く、過度な衝撃力が故障の原
因となっていた。Therefore, the key top is integrally formed,
The tip of the bottom center is projected in a spherical shape, and the key top is operated in a seesaw fashion using this as a fulcrum. The frictional resistance between the fulcrum of the spherical portion and the substrate is large, and an excessive impact force of the spherical tip portion is applied to the substrate each time the key top is operated. As a result, the directional key is often worn and worn heavily, and the durability of the directional key is low, and excessive impact force causes failure.

【０００５】[0005]

【課題を解決するための手段】本発明では上記問題点を
解決するために、ハウジングの開口部より一部を露出せ
る底面中央を平面としたキートップ部材と、該キートッ
プ部材の下方に位置する回路基板上に配置された接点を
含む弾性体と、該弾性体の中央の保持部に保持された支
点体を有し、該支点体を球体としたコントロールキー機
構である。According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a key top member having a flat center in the bottom surface which exposes a part from the opening of the housing, and a key top member located below the key top member. And a fulcrum body held by a central holding portion of the elastic body, and the fulcrum body is a spherical control key mechanism.

【０００６】[0006]

【作用】本発明は上記構成からなり、その作用を述べれ
ば、キートップを押した場合にキートップの下面中央が
弾性体中央の保持部に保持された支点部に接し、該支点
部を支点としてキートップがさらに傾斜し弾性体の接点
部を押圧してスイッチ動作を行うのである。The present invention has the above-described structure. To describe the operation thereof, when the key top is pressed, the center of the lower surface of the key top comes into contact with the fulcrum portion held by the holding portion at the center of the elastic body, and the fulcrum portion is fulcrum As a result, the key top is further inclined and the contact portion of the elastic body is pressed to perform the switch operation.

【０００７】[0007]

【実施例】以下、図面に基づき本発明の構成を説明す
る。図面は本発明の実施例を示し、図１は本発明のコン
トロールキー機構の平面図であり、図２は図１のＡ−Ａ
線断面図である。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a plan view of a control key mechanism of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is A-A of FIG.
It is a line sectional view.

【０００８】キートップ部材２はキートップ2aが短円柱
形でハウジング１の開口部11より露出している。キート
ップ部材２の底面には上下左右位置に接点押圧部21、21
が一体的に突出して形成されており（図２では左右位置
を示す）、底面中央は同様に突出した平面部22になって
いる。キートップ部材の下方周壁2bはキートップ2aより
径の大きい円形に形成されハウジング１内に収納され、
キートップ2aは開口部11に遊嵌されている。上側のハウ
ジング裏側には開口部11に沿って二重の円環壁12、13が
垂下され、外側の円環壁13の径はキートップ部材の下方
周壁2bの径より若干小さく内側の円環壁12より若干高さ
が高く下方周壁2bに当接して、キートップ部材２がハウ
ジング１より抜け出るのを阻止する。In the key top member 2, the key top 2a has a short cylindrical shape and is exposed from the opening 11 of the housing 1. On the bottom surface of the key top member 2, contact pressing portions 21, 21 are provided at upper, lower, left and right positions.
Are integrally formed so as to project (left and right positions are shown in FIG. 2), and the center of the bottom surface is a similarly projecting plane portion 22. The lower peripheral wall 2b of the key top member is formed in a circular shape having a diameter larger than that of the key top 2a and is housed in the housing 1,
The key top 2a is loosely fitted in the opening 11. Double annular walls 12 and 13 are hung along the opening 11 on the back side of the upper housing, and the diameter of the outer annular wall 13 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the lower peripheral wall 2b of the key top member. It is slightly higher than the wall 12 and contacts the lower peripheral wall 2b to prevent the key top member 2 from coming out of the housing 1.

【０００９】キートップ部材の接点押圧部21、21はそれ
ぞれ弾性体５のゴム接点51、51に当接され、該キートッ
プ部材２の中央真下位置は球体の支点部３が位置してお
り、該支点部３は回路基板４上に載置された弾性体５の
中央にある有底の短円筒型の保持部52に挟持されてい
る。支点部３としてスチール性の球体がよく、これは真
球に制作することが容易であるからである。弾性体５は
各押圧接点51、51と、保持部52を一体にして形成したも
のであり、キートップ部材２の下方にあたるハウジング
１の底面から垂設した基台14と該基台14を囲む支持壁15
上に回路基板４が水平配置されている。回路基板上に
は、キートップ部材２の上下左右方向に対応して４つの
接点（図示せず）が配置されている。該弾性体５にはそ
れぞれゴム接点51が内設され、弾性体５を押圧すること
により、回路基板４の接点を閉じる。よってキートップ
部材２は弾性体５によって上側に付勢されてキートップ
下部の上側が円環壁13に当接する状態になる。The contact pressing portions 21, 21 of the key top member are brought into contact with the rubber contacts 51, 51 of the elastic body 5, respectively, and the fulcrum portion 3 of the sphere is located directly below the center of the key top member 2. The fulcrum portion 3 is sandwiched by a bottomed short cylindrical holding portion 52 at the center of the elastic body 5 placed on the circuit board 4. The fulcrum portion 3 is preferably a steel sphere because it is easy to make a sphere. The elastic body 5 is formed by integrally forming the pressing contacts 51, 51 and the holding portion 52, and surrounds the base 14 and the base 14, which is vertically provided from the bottom surface of the housing 1 below the key top member 2. Support wall 15
The circuit board 4 is horizontally arranged on the upper side. On the circuit board, four contact points (not shown) are arranged corresponding to the vertical and horizontal directions of the key top member 2. Rubber contacts 51 are provided inside the elastic bodies 5, respectively, and by pressing the elastic bodies 5, the contacts of the circuit board 4 are closed. Therefore, the key top member 2 is biased upward by the elastic body 5 so that the upper side of the lower part of the key top comes into contact with the annular wall 13.

【００１０】キートップ部材２の上下左右の何れかの一
方を押圧すれば、キートップ部材２は押した側の弾性体
５のゴム接点51の弾性力に抗し下がり、キートップ部材
の底面の平面部22が支点部３に当接する。すると、キー
トップ部材２は支点部３を支点として押圧した側に傾斜
し、その押圧位置に対応する接点押圧部21で弾性体５を
押し、該弾性体５に内設したゴム接点51が回路基板４上
の電極（図示せず）を短絡させて導通させる。When either one of the upper, lower, left and right sides of the key top member 2 is pressed, the key top member 2 resists the elastic force of the rubber contact 51 of the elastic body 5 on the pressed side, and the bottom surface of the key top member 2 is pressed. The flat surface portion 22 contacts the fulcrum portion 3. Then, the key top member 2 inclines toward the side pressed with the fulcrum portion 3 as a fulcrum, the elastic body 5 is pressed by the contact point pressing portion 21 corresponding to the pressed position, and the rubber contact 51 provided inside the elastic body 5 causes the circuit to move. The electrodes (not shown) on the substrate 4 are short-circuited to make them conductive.

【００１１】キートップ部材２を上下方向または左右方
向を同時に操作すると、キートップ部材の平面部22が支
点部３に当接し、それより下方へは該キートップ部材２
は下降することができず、従って回路基板４上の上下方
向の回路または左右方向の回路を同時に導通することが
できないようになっている。そしてキートップ部材２か
ら手を離し、キートップ部材２の押圧を解除すると、キ
ートップの接点押圧部21に当接していた弾性体５の復元
力でキートップ部材２が元の位置に戻る。このようにし
てそれぞれ上下左右方向の操作をそれぞれ単独で行うこ
とができる。When the key top member 2 is operated simultaneously in the up-down direction or the left-right direction, the flat surface portion 22 of the key top member comes into contact with the fulcrum portion 3, and the key top member 2 is moved downward from that.
Cannot descend, and therefore, the circuits in the vertical direction or the circuits in the horizontal direction on the circuit board 4 cannot be conducted at the same time. Then, when the keytop member 2 is released and the pressing of the keytop member 2 is released, the keytop member 2 returns to the original position by the restoring force of the elastic body 5 that was in contact with the contact pressing portion 21 of the keytop. In this way, the up, down, left and right operations can be performed independently.

【００１２】斜め方向の操作を行うには、例えばキート
ップ部材２の右上方向を押圧すればキートップ部材２は
押した位置、つまり右側及び上側の弾性体５の弾性力に
抗し下がり、キートップ部材の底面の平面部22が支点部
３に当接し、該支点部３を支点としてキートップ部材２
が傾斜し、その押圧位置に対応する上側及び左側の弾性
体５が押圧されそれぞれに内設したゴム接点51が回路基
板の接点に接触し導通が行なわれ、キャラクター等の画
面動作を右上斜め方向に移動する。同様にこれに準じ
て、同じように左上斜め方向、右下斜め方向及び左下斜
め方向に操作することができる。To perform the operation in the diagonal direction, for example, if the upper right direction of the key top member 2 is pressed, the key top member 2 resists the elastic force of the elastic members 5 on the pressed position, that is, on the right side and the upper side. The flat surface portion 22 of the bottom surface of the top member abuts on the fulcrum portion 3, and the key top member 2 with the fulcrum portion 3 as a fulcrum
Are inclined, the upper and left elastic bodies 5 corresponding to the pressing positions are pressed, and the rubber contacts 51 provided inside the respective contact with the contacts of the circuit board to conduct electricity. Move to. Similarly, in accordance with this, the same operation can be performed in the upper left diagonal direction, the lower right diagonal direction, and the lower left diagonal direction.

【００１３】支点部としてのスチール製の球体は真球度
の精度が出しやすく、支点としてはキートップの何れの
方向にも同一の操作性が得られるのである。尚、上記構
成においては支点部として球体を例にして説明したが、
球体ではキートップ部材の底面の平面部とは点接触とな
る。しかしながら、本発明では球体に限らず、弾性体の
短円筒部には短円柱でもよく、短円柱ではキートップを
何れかの方向に押すと、円柱の上縁にキートップの底面
の平面部が当接して支点として傾斜しゴム接点を閉じ、
この場合にキートップの傾斜方向は何れでも同一条件で
操作感が一律になる。また支点部はキートップが上下左
右の４方向のみならば方形体でもよく、本発明の如く八
方向ならば短八角柱でもよくこの場合はキートップ部材
との接点は線接触となり、これらはキートップが傾斜す
る方向において同一の状態で傾斜するものであればよ
い。The sphere made of steel as the fulcrum portion is easy to obtain the accuracy of the sphericity, and the same operability can be obtained as the fulcrum in any direction of the key top. In the above configuration, a sphere is used as an example of the fulcrum section, but
In the sphere, it makes point contact with the flat surface of the bottom surface of the key top member. However, the present invention is not limited to a sphere, and a short cylinder portion of the elastic body may be a short cylinder, and when the key top is pushed in any direction in the short cylinder, the flat portion of the bottom surface of the key top is formed on the upper edge of the cylinder. Abut and tilt as a fulcrum to close the rubber contact,
In this case, the operation feeling is uniform under the same condition regardless of the inclination direction of the key top. Further, the fulcrum portion may be a rectangular body if the key tops have only four directions of up, down, left and right, and may be a short octagonal prism if it has eight directions as in the present invention. In this case, the contact point with the key top member is line contact, and these are key It suffices that the top is inclined in the same state in the inclined direction.

【００１４】[0014]

【発明の効果】本発明は以上説明したような構成である
ので、特に該テレビゲーム装置やボータブル型電子ゲー
ム装置に於ける表示キャラクター等の移動方向を指定す
るためのコントロールキー機構に於いて、キートップ操
作時の押圧動作が支点部に当接してから傾斜してスイッ
チ動作を行なうことができ、キートップ動作に遊びが適
度にあるメリハリの効いた操作感が得られる。さらに各
操作方向に向けて支点部が同一形状であることからキー
トップが何れの方向に傾斜しても一律の操作感覚が得ら
れる。Since the present invention has the structure as described above, in particular, in the control key mechanism for designating the moving direction of the display character and the like in the video game device and the voltatable electronic game device, The pressing operation at the time of key-top operation can be tilted to perform the switch operation after coming into contact with the fulcrum portion, so that the key-top operation has an appropriate play with a sharp play. Further, since the fulcrum portion has the same shape in each operation direction, a uniform operation feeling can be obtained no matter which direction the key top is inclined.

【００１５】従って、キートップ操作時に、弾性体に抗
してキートップを押圧する際に、キートップの底面が支
点部に当接して本格的に弾性体を押圧して接点を押し、
メリハリの効いた操作感が得られ、操作性が勝れたもの
となっている。そして復元時には弾性体の復元に合わせ
キートップ下部が戻ればよいので、上下左右４方向及び
４斜め方向に操作時のレスポンスがよい。Therefore, when the key top is pressed against the elastic body at the time of operating the key top, the bottom surface of the key top comes into contact with the fulcrum portion and presses the elastic body in earnest to press the contacts.
The operability is excellent because the operation feeling is clear. Since the lower part of the key top has only to be returned in accordance with the restoration of the elastic body at the time of restoration, the response at the time of operation is good in the up / down / left / right four directions and the four diagonal directions.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief description of drawings]

【図１】本発明の平面図である。FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present invention.

【図２】図１のＡーＡ線断面図である。FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

【符号の説明】[Explanation of symbols]

１．ハウジング 11. 開口部 12. 円環壁 13. 円環壁 14. 基台 15. 支持壁 ２. キートップ部材 2a. キートップ 2b. 下方周壁 21. 接点押圧部 22. 平面部 ３. 球体 ４. 回路基板 ５．弾性体 51. ゴム接点 52. 保持部 1. Housing 11. Opening 12. Annular wall 13. Annular wall 14. Base 15. Support wall 2. Key top member 2a. Key top 2b. Lower peripheral wall 21. Contact pressing part 22. Flat part 3. Sphere 4. Circuit board 5. Elastic body 51. Rubber contact 52. Holding part

Claims (2)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] 【請求項１】ハウジングの開口部より一部を露出せる底
面中央を平面としたキートップ部材と、該キートップ部
材の下方に位置する回路基板上に配置された接点を含む
弾性体と、該弾性体の中央の保持部に保持された支点体
を有することを特徴とするコントロールキー機構。1. A key top member having a flat bottom center exposing a part of the housing through an opening, and an elastic body including contacts arranged on a circuit board located below the key top member, A control key mechanism having a fulcrum body held by a central holding portion of an elastic body. 【請求項２】 請求項１において支点体を球体としたこ
とを特徴とするコントロールキー機構。2. The control key mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the fulcrum is a sphere.
JP6319298A 1994-11-29 1994-11-29 Control key mechanism Pending JPH07176241A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP6319298A JPH07176241A (en) 1994-11-29 1994-11-29 Control key mechanism

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP6319298A JPH07176241A (en) 1994-11-29 1994-11-29 Control key mechanism

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP9042589A Division JPH09326219A (en) 1997-02-26 1997-02-26 Control key device and game device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
JPH07176241A true JPH07176241A (en) 1995-07-14

Family

ID=18108639

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
JP6319298A Pending JPH07176241A (en) 1994-11-29 1994-11-29 Control key mechanism

Country Status (1)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH07176241A (en)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6366811A (en) * 1986-09-05 1988-03-25 オムロン株式会社 Directive switch
JPS6320336B2 (en) * 1980-10-30 1988-04-27 Konika Kk
US4896003A (en) * 1989-06-30 1990-01-23 Hsieh Man Ching Multi-position electrical switch

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6320336B2 (en) * 1980-10-30 1988-04-27 Konika Kk
JPS6366811A (en) * 1986-09-05 1988-03-25 オムロン株式会社 Directive switch
US4896003A (en) * 1989-06-30 1990-01-23 Hsieh Man Ching Multi-position electrical switch

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