Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Including keyboard
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-30
2003-05-20
Hjerpe, Richard (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Including keyboard
C200S0050EA, C463S037000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06567074
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to push-button-type operation apparatuses for use in games, for example, and in particular relates to an operation apparatus using an operating unit having plural push-buttons formed integrally therewith.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 4
is an assembly view of a conventional operation apparatus;
FIGS. 5A and 5B
are schematic representations of the operation, wherein
FIG. 5A
shows a state before operation and
FIG. 5B
shows a state during the operation.
An operation apparatus
50
shown in
FIG. 4
is for use in a controller for game machines, for example. The operation apparatus
50
is provided with an operating unit
52
, a switch member
53
, and a supporter
56
arranged in a panel
51
.
On the top surface of the panel
51
, holes
51
a
,
51
b
,
51
c
, and
51
d
, which are divided into four sections, are formed in a cross-arrangement. The operating unit
52
is inserted into the holes
51
a
,
51
b
,
51
c
, and
51
d
from the backside of the panel
51
. The operating unit
52
is integrally formed of four push buttons
52
a
,
52
b
,
52
c
, and
52
d
which protrude out of the holes
51
a
,
51
b
,
51
c
, and
51
d
, respectively. On the side of the operating unit
52
, a flange
52
e
is integrally formed to protrude outwardly.
Underneath the operating unit
52
, a supporter
56
is provided, and a switch member
53
is further arranged underneath the supporter
56
.
The switch member
53
comprises an elastic member
54
and a circuit board
55
. On the top surface of the elastic member
54
, elastically deformable projections to be pressed
54
a
,
54
b
,
54
c
, and
54
d
are formed at positions opposing the push buttons
52
a
,
52
b
,
52
c
, and
52
d
, respectively. On the backsides of the projections to be pressed
54
a
,
54
b
,
54
c
, and
54
d
, conductive members
57
a
and
57
c
are provided. On the other hand, on the circuit board
55
, electrodes
55
a
and
55
c
are formed at positions opposing the conductive members
57
a
and
57
c,
respectively. Each of the electrodes
55
a
and
55
c
is formed of two semi-circular electrodes opposing each other at a predetermined interval therebetween (see FIG.
4
and FIGS.
5
A and
5
B). In addition, although conductive members of the projections to be pressed
54
b
and
54
d
are not shown, they are arranged to respectively oppose the conductive members
57
a
and
57
c
just like the conductive members
57
a
and
57
c.
In the operation apparatus
50
described above, when the push button
52
a
is pressed down, for example, the conductive member
57
a
is brought into contact with the electrode
55
a.
Thereby, one semi-circular electrode is connected to the other so that the switch is turned on.
In the operation apparatus
50
, however, during non-operation, as shown in
FIG. 5A
, the operating unit
52
is raised upwardly by spring-return forces of the projections to be pressed
54
a
,
54
b
,
54
c
, and
54
d
. Then, when the push button
52
a
is pressed down after the non-operation state, as shown in
FIG. 5B
, there has been a problem that despite of the push button
52
a
being only pressed down, other push buttons such as the push button
52
c
or
52
d
may be simultaneously pressed down so that the switch is turned on. Such movement results in a malfunction and a mistake in the operation, which damage operationality.
That is, in the operation apparatus
50
shown in
FIGS. 5A and 5B
, when the push button
52
a
is pressed down, the operating unit
52
is inclined about a point P as a fulcrum in the flange
52
e
formed in the side of the push button
52
b
opposing the push button
52
a
. Because in the inclination, the point P as the fulcrum is located mostly apart from the push button
52
a
, the push buttons
52
c
and
52
d
are positioned in the intermediate between the push buttons
52
a
and
52
b
, so that the downward displacement thereof is large. Therefore, the switches of the push buttons
52
c
and
52
d
may be turned on by mistake although they are not operated.
Also, when the push button
52
a
is pressed down, a pressing load is generated between the conductive member
57
a
and the electrode
55
a
, which is increased by pressing loads added thereto due to the push buttons
52
c
and
52
d
which are not pressed, resulting in a defect of the damaged operational touch.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the problems described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an operation apparatus capable of pushing a push button without turning on another switch of another push button which is not operated and moreover being capable of reducing a pressing load during pushing down a push button.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an operation apparatus suitable for a switch member capable of outputting in an analog fashion.
An operation apparatus according to the present invention comprises a first and a second pressing operation element whose output is changed by a pressing operation, a third pressing operation element disposed at an intermediate position between the first and the second pressing operation element, which is off the line connecting the first and the second pressing operation element, an operating unit which presses the first pressing operation element when the operating unit is inclined in a first direction and presses the second pressing operation element when the operating unit is inclined in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the operating unit pressing the third pressing operation element when the operating unit is inclined in a third direction which is different from the first and the second direction, push buttons disposed in the operating unit for applying a pressing force for inclining the operating unit in each of the directions, and a supporting portion for supporting the top surface of the operating unit, on which the push buttons are arranged, at a position inside the push buttons, wherein the operating unit can be inclined in each of the directions, using the point on which the supporting portion abuts as a fulcrum.
An apparatus according to the present invention may further comprise a fourth pressing operation element disposed opposite the third pressing operation element and interposing the line connecting the first and the second pressing operation element therebetween, wherein the fourth pressing operation element may be pressed when the operating unit is inclined in a fourth direction opposite the third direction using the point on which the supporting portion abuts as a fulcrum.
According to the present invention, because the operating unit is inclined using the inside part of the push buttons of the operating unit as a fulcrum when the first pressing operation element is pressed or when the second pressing operation element is pressed, the pressing amount of the third pressing operation element or the fourth pressing operation element is reduced, so that the output of the third or the fourth pressing operation element cannot be changed by mistake.
For example, holes may be independently formed on a panel so that each of the push buttons protrudes therefrom, and the intermediate portion of the holes on the panel is the supporting portion.
In this case, the inside of the panel may be provided with a substrate for supporting the pressing operation elements, and the operating unit may be sandwiched between the panel and the substrate so as to be supported.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, the outer periphery of the operating unit may be provided with a flange opposing the gap between the push buttons and the holes from the inside of the panel, and the flange may be formed at a position which is set such that it does not come into contact with the panel when the operating unit is inclined.
Because the flange fills up the gap between the push buttons and the holes, the mechanism inside the panel is invisible through the gap. The flange does not act as a fulcrum for the in
Furudate Toshio
Numata Tetsu
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Fatahi-yar M.
Hjerpe Richard
LandOfFree
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