The present technology relates to a controller.
A structure in which a stick module is mounted on a substrate in a game controller has been known.
An exemplary embodiment provides a controller that includes a substrate, a stick, and a functional component. The stick is to be operated by a user. The functional component performs a controller function, and it is different from the stick. The substrate includes a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface. The stick includes an arm that moves as the stick is operated, the arm extending from a side of the front surface toward a side of the rear surface. The substrate includes a circuit provided on the front surface and electrically connected to the functional component and a first sensor provided on the rear surface, the first sensor directly or indirectly detecting a motion of the arm.
According to the controller according to the present technology, the stick includes the arm that moves as the stick is operated, the arm extending from the side of the front surface to the side of the rear surface of the substrate. The substrate includes the circuit provided on the front surface and electrically connected to the functional component and the first sensor provided on the rear surface, the first sensor directly or indirectly detecting a motion of the arm. Therefore, a space in the housing can effectively be utilized.
According to the controller, the stick may include a first member that rotates in a first direction of rotation with swing of the stick and a second member that rotates in a second direction of rotation with swing of the stick, the second direction of rotation being different from the first direction of rotation. The first member may include a first rotation shaft that is in parallel to the substrate and provided on the side of the front surface. The arm may move with rotation of the first rotation shaft.
According to the controller, the first rotation shaft is provided on the side of the front surface of the substrate and hence a notch or a hole for arrangement of the first rotation shaft does not have to be provided in the substrate. Therefore, a space for providing a notch or a hole in the substrate can be reduced. Consequently, high rigidity of the substrate can be maintained.
According to the controller, the controller may further include a movable component provided on the side of the rear surface, the movable component being movable in a direction in parallel to the substrate. The arm may move the movable component with rotation of the first rotation shaft. The first sensor may detect a motion of the movable component.
According to the controller, the movable component is provided on the side of the rear surface of the substrate and it is movable in the direction in parallel to the substrate. Therefore, a space in an upward-downward direction of the substrate can be reduced.
According to the controller, the arm may be connected to the first rotation shaft. A rear-surface-side end of the arm may rotate around the first rotation shaft, with rotation of the first rotation shaft.
According to the controller, the rear-surface-side end of the arm is located on the side of the rear surface of the substrate. The arm can thus have a longer length. Therefore, an amount of rotation of the rear-surface-side end that rotates around the first rotation shaft can be increased. Consequently, an amount of slide of the movable component increases. Therefore, a resolution of the movable component detected by the first sensor can be enhanced.
According to the controller, the substrate may be provided with a through portion. At least one of the stick, the first member, and the second member may be located in the through portion.
According to the controller, the stick may include a first member that swings in a first direction of swing with swing of the stick and a second member that swings in a second direction of swing with swing of the stick, the second direction of swing being different from the first direction of swing. The arm may move with swing of the first member.
According to the controller, the stick may be provided with a skirt. Swing of the skirt with swing of the stick may be restricted by the front surface or a restriction portion provided on the front surface. The movable component or the first sensor may be provided on a side opposite to the skirt with respect to the substrate.
According to the controller, the movable component or the first sensor is provided on the side opposite to the skirt with respect to the substrate. Therefore, swing can be restricted with the use of the skirt while the space in the direction in parallel to the substrate is reduced.
According to the controller, the controller may further include a second sensor. The second sensor may be provided in the restriction portion or between the restriction portion and the front surface.
According to the controller, the second sensor may include a first electrode and a second electrode distant from the first electrode. The second sensor detects a capacitance that varies in response to contact of the skirt. The controller may further include a flexible printed circuit electrically connected to the first electrode. The second electrode is provided on the substrate. The space in the upward-downward direction can thus be made smaller than in an example where the second electrode is distant from the substrate in the upward-downward direction.
According to the controller, the functional component may be a button. The button may include a button operated portion to be pressed in by the user and a first contact that can be in contact with the button operated portion. The controller may include a housing where the first contact is accommodated. The first contact may be located on the substrate. The button operated portion may be exposed to outside of the housing in a direction identical to a direction of exposure of a stick operated portion in the stick, the stick operated portion being to be operated by the user. In the necessity to press the button operated portion in to press the first contact, the small substrate and the small space in the housing can lead to reduction in amount of stroke or volume of the button in the upward-downward direction.
According to the controller, the stick may be movable as being pressed in in a direction from the front surface toward the rear surface. The controller may further include a second contact that is in contact with the first rotation shaft with movement of the stick as being pressed in. The second contact may be provided in a region in the front surface, the region being opposed to an end of the first rotation shaft. A pressed-in button function can thus be performed in the controller where the space in the housing is effectively utilized.
The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
An embodiment of the present technology will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding elements in the drawings have the same reference characters allotted and description thereof will not be repeated.
[A. Controller]
A construction of a controller 100 according to a first embodiment will initially be described.
Functional component 2 is a component different from stick 1. Functional component 2 performs a controller function. A part of functional component 2 may be provided on a substrate 30. Functional component 2 is, for example, a button. Housing 3 is provided with a second through hole 66. The button is arranged in second through hole 66. A part of the button is located on the outside of housing 3. The button is to be operated by the user. Housing 3 extends along a first direction 101. First direction 101 is, for example, a longitudinal direction of housing 3. A second direction 102 is, for example, a direction of a short side of housing 3. Second direction 102 is orthogonal to first direction 101. In a plan view, stick 1 and the button may be aligned along first direction 101.
As shown in
Skirt 43 is contiguous, for example, to central shaft 42. Skirt 43 is arranged to surround central shaft 42. Skirt 43 is arranged in first through hole 65. Skirt 43 may be contiguous to stick operated portion 41. Skirt 43 is arranged under stick operated portion 41. Skirt 43 may increase in inner diameter as a distance from stick operated portion 41 is longer. From a different point of view, skirt 43 may increase in inner diameter from stick operated portion 41 toward substrate 30.
As shown in
First member 10 includes a first arm 11, a first rotation shaft 12, and a first main body portion 13. First arm 11 moves as stick 1 is operated. First arm 11 extends from front surface 31 side toward rear surface 32 side of substrate 30. First arm 11 is arranged in through portion 33. First arm 11 passes through portion 33 to project from front surface 31 side toward rear surface 32 side. First arm 11 is contiguous to first rotation shaft 12. First rotation shaft 12 extends along a direction in parallel to substrate 30. First rotation shaft 12 extends, for example, along first direction 101.
As shown in
Controller 100 according to the first embodiment may include a cushion material 7, a flexible printed circuit 6, and a restriction portion 5. A first electrode 81 (see
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
When the user presses button operated portion 51 in toward front surface 31 of substrate 30, button operated portion 51 comes in contact with first contact 52. Controller 100 thus detects input from the user. When the user releases button operated portion 51, a not-shown pressing-back mechanism moves button operated portion 51 away from first contact 52. A circuit 53 is provided on front surface 31 of substrate 30. Circuit 53 is a circuit for the functional component. Circuit 53 is electrically connected to functional component 2. Specifically, circuit 53 is electrically connected to first contact 52.
Though an example in which functional component 2 is the button is described above, functional component 2 is not limited to the button. Functional component 2 may be, for example, a battery, a wireless communication component, a light-emitting diode, an antenna, or the like. The wireless communication component may support such a communication method as near field communication, Bluetooth®, or infrared communication. Functional component 2 may entirely be located in the inside of housing 3.
As shown in
As shown in
Connector 8 may be provided, for example, on rear surface 32 of substrate 30. Flexible printed circuit 6 is electrically connected to connector 8. Flexible printed circuit 6 may be folded over to have one end located on rear surface 32 side of substrate 30 and to have the other end located on front surface 31 side of substrate 30.
At least one of stick 1, first member 10, and second member 20 may be located in through portion 33. Specifically, a part of central shaft 42 of stick 1 may be located in through portion 33. First rotation shaft 12 and/or first main body portion 13 may be located in through portion 33. Second rotation shaft 22 and/or second main body portion 23 may be located in through portion 33. At least one of stick 1, first member 10, and second member 20 may pass through portion 33 to extend to rear surface 32 side or to somewhere in through portion 33.
First rotation shafts 12 are provided such that first main body portion 13 lies therebetween. First arm 11 is contiguous to one first rotation shaft 12. A direction of extension of first arm 11 may be orthogonal to a direction of extension of first rotation shaft 12. First rotation shaft 12 is provided on front surface 31 side of substrate 30. First rotation shaft 12 is in parallel to front surface 31 of substrate 30. Similarly, second rotation shafts 22 are provided such that second main body portion 23 lies therebetween. Second arm 21 is contiguous to one second rotation shaft 22. A direction of extension of second arm 21 may be orthogonal to a direction of extension of second rotation shaft 22. Second rotation shaft 22 is provided on front surface 31 side of substrate 30. Second rotation shaft 22 is in parallel to front surface 31 of substrate 30. When viewed in the upward-downward direction, the direction of extension of second rotation shaft 22 may be orthogonal to the direction of extension of first rotation shaft 12.
As shown in
As shown in
Skirt 43 is arranged above restriction portion 5. When the user swings stick 1, skirt 43 is inclined to come in contact with restriction portion 5. As a result of contact of skirt 43 with restriction portion 5, load is applied to restriction portion 5.
[B. Method of Operating Stick]
A method of operating stick 1 will now be described.
The user can operate stick 1, for example, along first direction 101 (see
A center of swing of stick 1 is located at an intersection between first rotation shaft 12 and second rotation shaft 22 that are virtually extended, and it is located, for example, at pullout prevention portion 86. Stick operated portion 41, central shaft 42, and skirt 43 integrally move. When stick 1 swings along first direction of swing S1, second member 20 is moved by central shaft 42 of stick 1. Specifically, second member 20 rotates around second rotation shaft 22 with swing of stick 1. Similarly, when stick 1 swings along second direction of swing S2, first member 10 is moved by central shaft 42 of stick 1. Specifically, first member 10 rotates around first rotation shaft 12 with swing of stick 1. “Rotation” herein means movement along a part of a circle (that is, an arc) around a center of rotation. An angle of rotation may be smaller than 180°.
Restriction portion 5 is provided on front surface 31 side of substrate 30 of controller 100 according to the first embodiment. When stick 1 swings, a lower end of skirt 43 comes in contact with restriction portion 5. Swing of stick 1 is thus stopped. In other words, swing of skirt 43 is restricted by restriction portion 5. Restriction portion 5 does not have to be provided on front surface 31 of substrate 30. In this case, swing of skirt 43 is restricted by front surface 31 of substrate 30.
[C. Substrate]
As shown in
Though a construction in which inner side surface 70 is distant from outer-periphery-side surface 76 is described above, controller 100 according to the present disclosure is not limited to this construction. Specifically, inner side surface 70 may be contiguous to outer-periphery-side surface 76. In this case, through portion 33 is a notch.
[D. Motion of Arm]
As shown in
[E. Motion of Movable Component]
As shown in
First movable component 91 includes a first slide member 91a, a second slide member 91b, and a first main body member 91c. Each of first slide member 91a and second slide member 91b is contiguous to first main body member 91c. First main body member 91c includes a not-shown first electrically conducting member made of metal. First arm 11 is located between first slide member 91a and second slide member 91b.
A first electrically conductive member has one end in contact, for example, with second region 62. The first electrically conductive member has the other end in contact, for example, with first region 61. When first movable component 91 moves, an electrical resistance between second region 62 and first region 61 may vary. First sensor 60 may thus detect the motion of first movable component 91. In this case, first sensor 60 indirectly detects the motion of first arm 11 by making use of the motion of first movable component 91. A direction of movement and a distance of movement of stick 1 may be estimated based on a position of first movable component 91.
Alternatively, first arm 11 does not have to be engaged with first movable component 91. For example, a rotary motion of first arm 11 may be converted to a linear motion of first movable component 91 with a link member (not shown) being interposed, the link member connecting first arm 11 and first movable component 91 to each other. The first movable component may thus be constructed to move with respect to the motion of first arm 11. Alternatively, controller 100 does not have to include first movable component 91. In this case, first sensor 60 may directly detect the motion of first arm 11. First sensor 60 may be, for example, a variable resistor directly engaged with first arm 11. A resistance of the variable resistor may vary as a result of the motion of first arm 11. First sensor 60 can directly or indirectly detect the motion of first arm 11 as above.
As shown in
[F. Second Sensor]
When skirt 43 comes in contact with restriction portion 5 as a result of operation onto stick 1 by the user, load is applied to second sensor 80. Cushion material 7 thus deforms. Consequently, the distance between first electrode 81 and second electrode 82 varies. As a result, the capacitance of second sensor 80 varies. In other words, second sensor 80 detects the capacitance that varies as a result of contact of skirt 43. The load may be calculated based on the capacitance between first electrode 81 and second electrode 82 or on variation in capacitance. Controller 100 may include a not-shown computer. The computer may calculate the load based on the capacitance or on variation in capacitance. The computer may calculate an amount of tilt of stick 1 based on a value of the electrical resistance or variation in value of the electrical resistance detected by first sensor 60.
The computer may carry out certain control linearly or stepwise depending on the detected capacitance or the calculated load. The computer may carry out certain control in response to the load exceeding a certain threshold value. Though an example in which second sensor 80 is the capacitance sensor is described above, second sensor 80 is not limited to the capacitance sensor. Second sensor 80 may be, for example, a strain gauge, a magnetic sensor, or a pressure sensor.
A construction of controller 100 according to a second embodiment will now be described. Controller 100 according to the second embodiment is different from controller 100 according to the first embodiment mainly in that substrate 30 is located below central shaft 42, whereas it is otherwise similar to controller 100 according to the first embodiment. Features different from controller 100 according to the first embodiment will now mainly be described.
In first direction 101, pullout prevention portion 86 is larger in width than main body portion 85. Pullout prevention portion 86 is in contact with a lower end surface of second member 20. Stick 1 is thus prevented from coming off upward. Central shaft 42 is provided with a spring arrangement hole 47. Spring arrangement hole 47 passes through pullout prevention portion 86 to reach main body portion 85. Coil spring 9 is arranged in spring arrangement hole 47. Coil spring 9 has an upper end in contact with the bottom of spring arrangement hole 47. Parts that form stick 1 may integrally be formed. For example, stick operated portion 41 that forms stick 1 may be integrated with main body portion 85 and pullout prevention portion 86.
Controller 100 according to the second embodiment includes a spring support portion 49. Spring support portion 49 is arranged on front surface 31 of substrate 30. Spring support portion 49 includes a base portion 87 and a projecting portion 88. Projecting portion 88 is provided on base portion 87. Base portion 87 is located between front surface 31 of substrate 30 and projecting portion 88. Coil spring 9 is arranged around projecting portion 88. A part of projecting portion 88 is inserted in spring arrangement hole 47. In spring arrangement hole 47, coil spring 9 may be located on the outside of projecting portion 88 and in the inside of an inner wall portion that defines spring arrangement hole 47. Coil spring 9 may have a lower end in contact with base portion 87.
Controller 100 according to the second embodiment includes substrate 30 in a region opposed to central shaft 42. Therefore, controller 100 according to the second embodiment can be higher in strength than controller 100 according to the first embodiment.
(Modification)
First member 10 may swing in the first direction of swing with swing of stick 1. Second member 20 may swing in the second direction of swing with swing of stick 1. The second direction of swing is different from the first direction of swing. When viewed in the upward-downward direction, the second direction of swing and the first direction of swing may be orthogonal to each other. First arm 11 may move with swing of first member 10. Second arm 21 may move with swing of second member 20.
Each of first member 10 and second member 20 may swing as rotating around a certain virtual center, without including a physical rotation shaft. Each of first member 10 and second member 20 may swing, for example, along a guide. In another manner, each of first member 10 and second member 20 does not have to have a virtual center. Each of first member 10 and second member 20 may swing in a prescribed curve. Each of first member 10 and second member 20 may swing, for example, along an elliptic arc.
Although the present disclosure has been described and illustrated in detail, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present disclosure being interpreted by the terms of the appended claims.
This nonprovisional application claims priority on International Patent Application PCT/JP2021/028471 filed with the Japan Patent Office on Jul. 30, 2021, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | PCT/JP2021/028471 | Jul 2021 | US |
Child | 18421565 | US |