JP2760313B2 - Control key device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control key device for inputting information to an information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Information processing apparatuses such as computers include:
It includes a control key device for inputting information (data) to be stored and performing operations for controlling operation of the device.

As one type of information processing apparatus or a device using the same, there is an electronic toy such as a video game apparatus or a portable electronic game (hereinafter simply referred to as a video game apparatus). The operation of the electronic toy is performed by operation keys such as a direction key top and a switch button provided on the control key device. The direction key top is used, for example, to indicate the direction of movement of a character without a display screen, and a dielectric rubber contact corresponding to the pressed portion electrically shorts the electrode pair on the substrate to form a circuit. A predetermined operation can be performed. Also, by pressing this switch button, the dielectric rubber contact electrically shorts the substrate-like electrode pair to form a circuit,
The switch is operated.

As shown in FIG. 3, a conventional control key device includes a direction key top 5 on the same plane of a housing 51.
2 and a switch button 53 are arranged. Then, the operator holds the housing 51 with both hands from the left and right, and operates the direction key top 52 and the switch button 53 with the left and right thumbs to play the game.

[0005]

In the above-described control key device, since the positional relationship between the direction key top and the switch button is fixed, it is not possible to cope with a user's request for various operation modes. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a control key device having improved operability by realizing various operation modes.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a control key device according to the present invention comprises two housings connected to each other so as to be rotatable, and the two housings are connected to each other by a connecting portion therebetween. The housings have a substantially symmetrical shape, and each housing is provided with a predetermined operation key. A control key device according to another aspect of the present invention is a control key device for operating an electronic toy, and includes two housings that are rotatably connected to each other. A directional keytop is provided, and a switch button is provided on the other surface.

A control key device according to still another aspect of the present invention is a device that is held by both hands of an operator and operated by the operator. And an operable operation unit provided within a range where the fingertips of each hand can reach, and the respective housings are substantially symmetrical to each other and rotatably connected to each other. A control key device according to still another aspect of the present invention includes a pair of housings rotatably connected to each other,
A predetermined operation key provided on each of the housings, each of the housings having a plane portion parallel to a rotation center axis thereof, and the operation key being provided on a plane portion of each of the housings. is there. A control key device according to still another aspect of the present invention is a control key device for operating an electronic toy that performs an operation in accordance with information displayed on a screen and plays, and is rotatably connected to each other. And a predetermined operation key provided on each of the housings. Each of the housings has a plane portion parallel to its rotation center axis, and the operation key is a flat surface of each of the housings. It is provided in the section. In a control key device according to still another aspect of the present invention, two housings having substantially the same outer shape are connected so as to be rotatable with each other, and each housing is provided with a predetermined operation key. It is a thing.

[0009]

The present invention has the above configuration, and can take various forms according to the user's request. Furthermore, by changing the combination of the direction key top and the switch button provided on the left and right housings, various operation modes can be selected in accordance with the type of the game.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the control key device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the left and right housings of the device of the present embodiment are mutually rotated.

The housing 1 of the control key device of this embodiment has two housings, that is, a left housing 1.
1 and a right housing 12. Left housing 11
Of the right housing 12
The switch button 3 is provided on the upper surface of the.

The directional key top 2 is provided with a directional keypad 21 provided substantially flush with the upper surface of the housing 1.
And a plurality of electrode pairs on a substrate provided inside the housing 1 and a conductive rubber contact disposed between the direction keypad 21 and the substrate. A predetermined conductive rubber contact corresponding to the pressed position of the direction keypad 21 short-circuits the corresponding electrode pair on the substrate to form a circuit. And it is comprised so that operation according to the formed circuit may be performed.

The switch button 3 is provided on a plane substantially at the same position as the upper surface of the housing 1 and includes a switch button keypad 31 including a plurality of buttons, a plurality of electrode pairs on a substrate provided inside the housing 1, Further, it has a conductive rubber contact disposed between the switch button keypad 31 and the substrate. Then, a predetermined conductive rubber contact corresponding to the button position of the switch button keypad 31 short-circuits the corresponding electrode pair on the substrate to form a circuit. And it is comprised so that operation according to the formed circuit may be performed.

A switch button similar to the switch button 3 provided on the right housing 12 is provided on the other surface of the left housing 11 on which the directional key top 2 is provided. On the other surface of the right housing 12 on which the switch button 3 is provided, a directional keytop similar to the directional keytop 2 provided on the left housing 11 is provided.

The left and right housings 11 and 12 are rotatably connected to each other by a pivot 4 so that they can rotate in at least one of the directions of arrows a and b as shown in FIG. It has become. Therefore, the left and right housings 11 and 12 are rotated relative to each other,
By combining the front and back surfaces, a combination of a direction key top / direction key top, a direction key top / switch button, a switch button / switch button, etc. can be realized. Since a plurality of such combinations can be performed, the combination can be selected according to the type of the game.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, various operation modes can be selected according to the type of game, and the operability is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a control key device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the left and right housings of the present embodiment in a state where they are rotated with respect to each other.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a conventional control key device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 housing, 2-way key top, 3 switch buttons, 4 pivots, 11 left housing, 12 right housing, 21-way key top keypad, 31 switch button keypad.

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A control key device for inputting information to an information processing device, wherein two housings are rotatably connected to each other, and the two housings are substantially symmetrical with respect to the connection portion. A control key device, wherein predetermined operation keys are provided on each housing. 2. A control key device for operating an electronic toy which operates and plays according to information displayed on a screen, comprising: two housings connected to each other so as to be rotatable;
A control key device, wherein a directional keytop is provided on one surface of each housing, and a switch button is provided on the other surface. 3. A control key device for inputting information to an information processing device which an operator holds and operates with both hands, a housing corresponding to each hand held by each hand, and a fingertip of each hand holding the housing. A control key device, comprising: an operable operation unit provided within a reach of the housing; each housing being substantially bilaterally symmetrical and rotatably connected to each other. 4. A control key device for inputting information to an information processing device, comprising: a pair of housings rotatably connected to each other; and predetermined operation keys provided on each of the housings, wherein the housing is The control key device, wherein each of the control keys has a flat portion parallel to its rotation center axis, and the operation keys are provided on the flat portions of each of the housings. 5. A control key device for operating an electronic toy which operates and plays in accordance with information displayed on a screen, comprising: a pair of housings rotatably connected to each other; A predetermined operation key provided, wherein each of the housings has a plane portion parallel to its rotation center axis, and wherein the operation keys are provided on a plane portion of each of the housings. Key device. 6. A control key device for inputting information to an information processing apparatus, wherein two housings having substantially the same outer shape are connected so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and a predetermined operation key is attached to each housing. A control key device, comprising: