(12) United States Patent
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 6,394,906 B1
`
`Ogata
`(45) Date of Patent:
`May 28, 2002
`
`U8006394906B1
`
`(54) ACTUATING DEVICE FOR GAME
`MACHINE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Hiroki Ogata, Chiba (JP)
`
`(73) Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
`(JP)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/158,062
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Sep. 22, 1998
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(30)
`Scp. 22, 1997
`(JP)
`............................................. 9-257216
`
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................. A63F 13/06
`(51)
`463/38; 463/37; 273/148 B
`(52) US. Cl.
`..........
`
`(58) Field of Search .................. 463/37, 38; 273/148 B
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,486,629 A * 12/1984 Sledesky .................... 200/6 A
`4,739,315 A *
`4/1988 Soma et al.
`.. 340/710
`5,012,230 A *
`4/1991 Yasuda
`340/706
`..
`5,555,004 A *
`9/1996 Ono et al.
`.. 345/161
`5,701,142 A * 12/1997 Brown et a1.
`.. 345/168
`5,801,918 A "
`9/1998 Ahearn et al.
`.. 361/683
`5,897,437 A *
`4/1999 Nishiumi et a1.
`............. 463/47
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`
`
`..
`
`JP
`
`12/2001
`62194389
`O'l‘l-IER PUBLICATION S
`
`PS Analog Controller Finally Launched on the Market!,
`Game Walker, Jun. 1997, p. 76, No. 32, Japan.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Joe H. Cheng
`Assistant Examiner—Jo lie K Kasick
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or FirmAerner, David, Littenberg,
`Krumholz & Mentlik, LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An actuating device for a game machine is disclosed in
`Which the hand or fingers do not fatigue on prolonged use,
`thereby imparting an optimum feel for the user. The actu-
`ating device has a main body unit and first and second grips
`projecting from one side of the main body unit at opposite
`ends thereof. Vibration—imparting units are enclosed within
`the first and second grips. First and second actuating units
`are mounted at opposite ends of the main body unit. The first
`and second actuating units include plural thrusting actuators
`which protrude from the upper surface of the main body
`unit. Third and fourth actuating units are arranged on the
`proximal ends of the first and second grips so as to confront
`one another. The third and fourth actuating units include
`rotation actuators and signal input elements actuated by the
`rotation actuators. The portions of the rotation actuators
`which actuate the third and fourth actuating units are pro-
`vided with top portions of a flexible material having out-
`wardly bulging distal end portions.
`
`JP
`
`07-112074
`
`5/1995
`
`15 Claims, 15 Drawing Sheets
`
`
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`FIG.7
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`Sheet 8 0f 15
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`US 6,394,906 B1
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`Sheet 10 0f 15
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`Sheet 11 0f 15
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`US 6,394,906 B1
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`IRONBURG EX2007, Page 12
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`US 6,394,906 B1
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`US 6,394,906 B1
`
`1
`ACTUATING DEVICE FOR GAME
`MACHINE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the invention
`
`This invention relates to an actuating device used in a
`game machine employing a display unit of, for example, a
`television receiver. More particularly, it relates to an actu-
`ating device for a game machine having an actuating portion
`for controlling various operations, such as those of rotating
`a display character on a display screen, continuously chang-
`ing the movement speed or deforming the display character.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`Conventionally, a game machine employing a television
`receiver has a main body unit of the game machine, con-
`nected to a television receiver used as a display device, and
`an actuating device for controlling a display character con—
`nected via a connection cable to the main body unit of the
`game machine and which is displayed on the display screen
`of the television receiver.
`
`The main body unit of the game machine has, enclosed
`therein, a disc driving portion for reproducing an optical disc
`as a recording medium carrying a game program and a
`picture processing device for displaying on the screen of the
`television receiver a display character along with the back—
`ground picture in accordance with a game program recorded
`on the optical disc.
`On the actuating device, connected to the main body unit
`of the game machine, there are arranged plural actuators
`The user actuates these actuators to input
`the command
`information concerning the operation of the display charac-
`ters displayed on the display screen of the television receiver
`to control the movement direction of the display character
`depending on the command information.
`The actuating device used in this type of the game
`machine is held by hand or finger during use. On one side
`and on the opposite side of the main body unit, there are
`arranged a direction command actuating unit having a
`cross-shaped or circular direction indicating operating but-
`ton and a function setting executing unit having plural
`function setting executing buttons for setting the operating
`function of the display character or executing its operation.
`The direction command actuating unit
`includes four
`switches having actuators which are arranged orthogonally
`relative to one another and which are brought into and out
`of contact with the contact. These switches are selectively
`turned on and off by the cross—shaped or circular direction
`command actuators for moving the display character. For
`example,
`the display character is digitally moved in the
`direction along which is arrayed the one of the four switches
`that
`is turned on. The function setting executing unit
`includes switches in association with the plural function
`setting actuators so that the function of the display character
`allocated to each button is set or the function proper to the
`display character is executed.
`The direction command actuator of the actuating device is
`configured so that the one of the four switches arranged in
`the mutually perpendicular directions gives a command
`signal of moving the display character in the direction along
`which is arrayed the switch turned on, so that it is not
`possible to give the command information of rotating and
`simultaneously advancing the display character or changing
`its line of sight. The result is that it becomes difficult to
`construct the game program employing the display character
`performing diversified operations.
`
`10
`
`tom
`
`30
`
`L»LA
`
`40
`
`60
`
`2
`On the other hand, since switches constituting the direc—
`tion command actuating unit simply is turned on and off by
`actuation of the direction command actuator to give the
`command information controlling the movement of the
`display character, the movement of the display character
`becomes intermittent such that a series of continuous move-
`ments cannot be executed.
`
`There has been proposed an actuating device having an
`actuating unit which renders it possible to input a command
`signal for moving and simultaneously rotating the display
`character, moving the display character as its speed is varied
`or changing its configurations.
`This type of the actuating device is described in the
`Japanese Laying—open Publication H—7—88252.
`There is provided in an actuator adapted to be thrust and
`simultaneously rotated in the actuating unit adapted for
`rotating a display character or changing its configuration.
`This type of the actuator is gripped or thrust by hand or
`finger.
`The actuator for actuating the direction command actuator
`is also thrust by being thrust by hand or finger.
`The actuator of the actuating device for the game machine
`is frequently acted on during execution of the game pro-
`gram. Moreover, the actuating unit is used for prolonged
`time.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide
`an actuating unit for the game machine which can give an
`optimum operating feeling to the actuation of the actuator
`acted on frequently.
`It is another object of the present invention to provide an
`actuating unit for the game machine in which the user is not
`fatigued in hand, finger or even on prolonged use of the unit.
`It is still another object of the present invention to provide
`an actuating device for a game machine which affords an
`agreeable use feeling and which is high in reliability.
`It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
`an actuating device for a game machine which enables the
`game to be executed with highly vivid play feeling.
`For accomplishing the above objects, an actuating device
`for a game machine includes first and second grips protruded
`from one side of each end of the main body unit of the
`device. On one and the opposite ends of the main body unit
`are provided first and second actuating units. Each of the
`first and second actuating units is provided with plural
`thrusting actuators projected to the upper surface side of the
`main body unit and with plural signal input elements thrust
`by these thrusting actuators.
`The actuating device also includes third and fourth actu-
`ating units arranged facing each other on the proximal ends
`of the first and second grips and which are provided with
`signal input terminals actuated by the thrusting actuators.
`These third and fourth actuating units can be actuated by
`thumb fingers of both hands of the user holding the first and
`second grips.
`The third and fourth actuating units including the signal
`input terminals actuated by the rotation actuators input to the
`main body unit of the device command signals enable
`rotation and translation simultaneously of the display char—
`acter displayed on the screen, movement of the display
`character with varying speed or change of the configuration.
`In the present actuating device for the game machine,
`each rotation actuator includes a main actuator body portion
`of a synthetic resin connected to an associated actuating unit
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`US 6,394,906 B1
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`3
`and a top portion of a flexible material swollen—out at its
`distal end and which is formed as one with the main actuator
`body portion. Since the top portion contacted with the hand
`or finger has its distal end swollen-out and is formed of a
`flexible material, an optimum contact feeling can be realized
`to improve use feeling,
`There is enclosed in the actuating device of the present
`invention a vibration-imparting unit which imparts vibra-
`tions to the user during operation to execute a game with a
`Vivid play feeling. This vibration-imparting unit is provided
`in the first and second grips and is made up of a driving
`motor and an eccentric member mounted on a driving shaft
`of the motor. The Vibration—imparting unit has different
`Vibration-iiiiparting states to realize a more vivid play feel-
`ing in executing a game.
`In the actuating device for the game machine according to
`the present invention, since the top portion of the rotation
`actuator for entering a command signal in executing the
`game program, contacted by the hand or finger of the user,
`is formed of a flexible material and is swollen out at its distal
`end, optimum contact feeling may be realized to improve the
`use feeling.
`Since the main actuator body portion and the top portion
`making up the rotation actuator is formed by two—color
`molding, the main actuator body portion and the top portion
`can be positively unified to each other to assure high
`operational reliability of the actuating unit.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective View showing an actuating device
`for a game machine.
`FIG. 2 is a plan View showing the actuating device shown
`in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is a back-side View thereof.
`FIG. 4 is front View thereof.
`
`FIG. 5 is a right-hand side View thereof
`FIG. 6 is a left-hand side view thereof,
`
`FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the use state thereof
`FIG. 8 is a side View showing the state of using the
`actuating device for the game a machine mounted in a
`mounting surface.
`FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing essential portions of
`a first actuating unit.
`FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional View showing the first
`actuating unit.
`FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional showing the state of first to
`fourth thrusting actuators of the first actuating unit.
`FIG. 12 is a cross—sectional View showing the state in
`which a second actuator of the first actuating unit is being
`thrust.
`FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional View showing the state in
`which a second actuator of the first actuating unit has been
`thrust.
`
`FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective View showing a
`multi-directional input device constituting third and fourth
`actuating units.
`FIG. 15 is a cross—sectional View showing the multi—
`directional input device in an initial state of the actuating
`shaft.
`
`FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional View showing the multi-
`directional input device on rotational actuation of the actu—
`ating shaft.
`FIG. 17 is a perspective View of the multi-directional
`input device for illustrating the state of actuating a thrusting
`actuating type switch element, with a portion thereof being
`broken away.
`
`10
`
`tom
`
`30
`
`L»LA
`
`40
`
`50
`
`60
`
`4
`FIG. 18 is a perspective View of the multi—directional
`input device for illustrating the actuated state of the thrusting
`actuating type switch element, with a portion thereof being
`broken away.
`FIG. 19 is a side View showing a rotary actuating member
`used in the first and second actuating units.
`FIG. 20 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the rotary
`actuating member.
`FIG. 21 is a bottom View for illustrating the state in which
`a vibration imparting mechanism is provided in first and
`second grips.
`FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective View showing the
`Vibration imparting mechanism.
`FIG. 23 is a perspective View showing the state in which
`the vibration imparting mechanism has been assembled in a
`main body unit of the device.
`FIG. 24 is a plan View showing the state in which the
`actuating device for the game machine has been connected
`to a main body unit of the game machine.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`Referring to the drawings, an actuating device for a game
`machine according to the present invention will be explained
`in detail.
`
`The actuating device for the game machine is connected
`to a main body unit of the game machine having enclosed
`therein a disc driving unit for reproducing an optical disc as
`a recording medium carrying a recorded game program and
`a picture processing device for displaying a display charac-
`ter along with the background on a screen of the television
`receiver in accordance with a game program recorded on the
`optical disc.
`An actuating device 1 for the game machine according to
`the present invention includes a main body unit 4 made up
`of an upper half 2 and a lower half 3 abutted and connected
`to each other by fasteners, such as set screws, as shown in
`FIG. 1. From one side of ends of the main body unit 4 are
`protruded a first grip 5 and a second grip 6 which are held
`by left and right palms when the device 1 is connected to the
`main body unit of the game a machine for executing the
`game. The first and second grips 5, 6 are protruded towards
`the lower side of the main body unit 4 as they are flared and
`spaced apart from each other towards their distal ends, as
`shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. For enabling prolonged gripping of
`the first and second grips 5, 6, these grips are tapered from
`the connecting sides to the main body unit 4 towards the
`distal ends, while being arcuately contoured in peripheral
`surfaces and at the distal ends, as shown in FIGS. 2, S and
`6.
`
`On one end of the main body unit 4 is provided a first
`actuating unit 9, having first to fourth thrusting actuators 8a,
`8b, 8C, 8d protruded on the upper surface side of the main
`body unit 4, as shown in FIGS.
`1 and 2. The first to fourth
`thrusting actuators 8a to 8d making up the first actuating unit
`9 are formed as one with a rotary actuating member 10
`having its center portion supported for rotation and are
`arrayed in mutually perpendicular directions about the cen—
`ter of rotation of the rotary actuating member 10. That is, the
`first actuating unit 9 is provided with switch elements as
`signal inputting elements in association with the first
`to
`fourth thrusting actuators 8a to 8d. The first actuating unit 9,
`operates as a direction command controller for controlling
`the movement of the display character. By selectively thrust—
`ing the first to fourth thrusting actuators 8a to 8d to turn the
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`5
`switches associated with these thrusting actuators 8a to 8d
`on and off, the display character is moved in the arraying
`direction of the thrustingly actuated thrusting actuators 8a to
`8d.
`
`On the opposite side of the main body unit 4 is arranged
`a second actuating unit 12 having first to fourth thrusting
`actuators 11a, 11b, llc, 11d protruded from the main body
`unit 4 and which are arranged in mutually perpendicular
`directions, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. These first to fourth
`thrusting actuators 11a to 11d are formed as independent
`members and signal
`inputting elements, not shown, are
`provided in association with the thrusting actuators 11a to
`11d. The second actuating unit 12 operates as a fimction
`setting executing unit for setting the functions of the display
`character allocated to the thrusting actuators 11a to 11d or
`executing the functions owned by the display character by
`turning the switches associated with the first
`to fourth
`thrusting actuators 11a to 11d on and off.
`The actuating device 1 according to the present invention
`includes third and fourth actuators 14, 15 mounted facing
`each other on the corners of the proximal ends of the first and
`second grips 5, 6 connecting to the main body unit 4, as
`shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. These third and fourth actuators 14,
`15 are provided with a rotation actuator 16 rotatable through
`360° about a central actuating shaft and a signal inputting
`element, such as a variable resistance element, actuated by
`this rotation actuator 16. Specifically, the rotation actuator
`16 is mounted at
`the distal end of an actuating shaft,
`mounted under the bias of a biasing member for restoration
`thereof to a neutral position, and is rotated through 360°
`about the center of the actuating shaft as the center of
`rotation. These third and fourth actuators 14, 15 use an
`actuating unit which, by rotating the rotation actuator 16
`issues a command signal for realizing analog movements,
`such as rotating and simultaneously moving the display
`character, moving the display character with a variable
`speed, or varying its configurations.
`On left and right side ends on the front side of the main
`body unit 4 opposite to its back side provided with the first
`and second grips 5, 6 are arranged fifth and sixth actuating
`units 17, 18. These fifth and sixth actuating units 17, 18 are
`provided with first and second thrusting actuators 19a, 19b
`and 200, 20b, respectively, as shown in FIG. 4. These
`thrusting actuators 19a, 19b and 20a, 20b are provided with
`associated switching elements. The fifth and sixth actuating
`units 17, 18 operate as function setting executing units for
`setting the functions of the display character allocated to the
`thrusting actuators 19a, 19b and 20a, 20b or executing the
`functions owned by the display character by turning on
`switches, not shown, associated with the first and second
`thrusting actuators 19a, 19b and 20a, 20]).
`Between the first actuating unit 9 and the second actuating
`unit 12 on the upper surface of the main body unit 4, there
`are provided, side—by—side, a start switch 22 for commanding
`the start of a garlic and a selection switch 23 for selecting
`relative facility or difficulty when starting a game, as shown
`in FIGS. 1 and 2. On the other hand, there are provided,
`between the third actuating unit 14 and the fourth actuating
`unit 15 on the upper surface of the main body unit 4, a mode
`selection switch 24 for selecting the operating mode of the
`third and fourth actuating units 14, 15 and a display unit 25
`for displaying the state of the operating modes of the third
`and fourth actuating units 14, 15. The display unit 25 is
`constituted by a light emitting element, such as LED. By the
`changeover operation of the mode selection switch 24, an
`operating mode enabling the inputting of a command signal
`from the third and fourth actuating units 14, 15 or an
`
`10
`
`tom
`
`30
`
`L»LA
`
`40
`
`50
`
`60
`
`6
`operating mode inhibiting the inputting of the command
`signal from the third and fourth actuating units 14, 15 is
`selected, while the command signal from the third and fourth
`actuating units 14, 15 is enabled to be entered and the
`operating mode is selected which has made a switching
`between the function of the first to fourth thrusting actuators
`11a to 11d of the second actuating unit 12 and the function
`of the first and second thrusting actuators 19a, 19b and 20a,
`
`20b of the fifth and sixth actuating units 17, 18. The display
`
`
`unit 25 is turned on and 0
`depending on the state of these
`operating modes, while switching is made of the display
`light.
`On the lower side of tie main body unit 4 are formed
`engagement recesses 26, 27 in which portions of hands or
`fingers Rf, Lf are engaged when the first grip 5 and the
`second grip 6 are gripped by the hands or fingers Rf, Lf, as
`shown in FIGS. 5 to 8. These engagement recesses 26, 27 are
`formed as smoothly curved reentrant recesses, as shown in
`FIGS. 5 and 6.
`
`
`
`On the front side of the main body unit 4 are formed
`depending finger supports 28, 29, in association with the
`engagement recesses 26, 27, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
`Specifically, these finger supports 28,29 are protuberantly
`formed from the lower ends of protrusions 31, 32 on both
`ends on the front surface of the main body unit 4 where the
`fifth and sixth actuating units 17, 18 are formed.
`In the actuating device of the present invention, in which
`the first and second grips 5, 6 are protuberantly provided on
`the main body unit 4, as described above,
`these first and
`second grips 5, 6 are held in a wrapping fashion by both
`palms of the hands, as shown in FIG. 7, so that there is no
`necessity of holding the main body unit 4 by fingers, such
`that the actuating device 1 can be held in a state in which up
`to a maximum of ten and at least six fingers can be moved
`freely. If, for example, the first and second grips 5, 6 are held
`in a wrapping fashion by both palms of the hands, as shown
`in FIG. 7, thumb fingers Rfl, Lfl of both hands can be
`extended over the rotation actuators 16 of the third and
`fourth actuating units 14, 15, over the first to fourth thrusting
`actuators 8a to 8d of the first actuating unit 9 and over the
`first to fourth thrusting actuators 11a to 11d of the second
`actuating unit 12 to permit selective thrusting of the rotation
`actuators 16 and the thrusting actuators 8a to 8d and 11a to
`11d. In particular, since the rotation actuators 16 of the third
`and fourth actuating units 14, 15 are arranged facing each
`other on the proximal ends of the first and second grips 5, 6
`corresponding to the connecting portions to the main body
`unit 4, the rotation actuators 16 are closest to the thumb
`fingers Rfl, Lf1 of both hands when the first and second
`grips 5, 6 are gripped by the hands, so that the rotation
`actuators 16 can be easily rotated by both thumb fingers Rfl,
`Lfl.
`
`Also, when the first and second grips 5, 6 are gripped in
`a wrapping fashion by both palms of the hands, as shown in
`FIG. 7, index fingers Rf2, Lf2 and middle fingers Rf3, Lf3
`of both hands can be extended to such positions as to enable
`selective thrusting of the first and second thrusting actuators
`19a, 19b, 20a, 20b of the fifth and sixth actuating units 17,
`18.
`
`When the actuating device 1 is gripped by hands or
`fingers, finger supports 28, 29 can be held as the first and
`second grips 5, 6 are wrapped in the palms of the hands,
`while fourth fingers Rf4, Lf4 of both hands and/or little
`fingers Rf5, I.f5 are engaged in the engagement recesses 26,
`27, so that the main body unit 4 can be held at fixed positions
`relative to the fingers of the hands of the user. That is, the
`
`IRONBURG EX2007, Page 19
`
`IRONBURG EX2007, Page 19
`
`

`

`US 6,394,906 B1
`
`7
`fingers can be correctly positioned in association with the
`first to sixth actuating units 9, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 18, thus
`realizing reliable actuation.
`The actuating device 1 according to the present invention
`can also be set on a planar setting surface S, such as a table,
`as shown in FIG. 8. If the actuating device 1 is set on the
`setting surface S, with the distal ends of the first and second
`grips 5, 6 and those of the finger supports 28, 29 as supports,
`the actuating surfaces of the first to fourth thrusting actuators
`8a to 8d of the first actuating unit 9, the first to fourth
`thrusting actuators 11a to 11d of the second actuating unit 12
`and the rotation actuators 16 of the third and fourth actuating
`units 14, 15 are substantially parallel to the setting surface
`S, as shown in FIG. 8. Thus, the actuating device 1 of the
`present invention can be set on the planar setting surface S
`and the hands placed on the setting surface S, with the first
`and second grips 5, 6 being supported by the palms to
`actuate the first to sixth actuating units 9, 12, 14, 15, 17 and
`18.
`The first actuating unit 9 of the actuating device 1
`according to the present invention is explained in further
`detail. Referring to FIGS. 1, 9 and 10, the first to fourth
`thrusting actuators 8a to 8d are protuberantly formed on the
`rotary actuating member 10 within the substantially cross-
`shaped recess 30 on one end of the upper surface of the main
`body unit 4. On the upper and lower and left and right ends
`of the cross-shaped recess 30 are provided direction indica-
`tors 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d towards the inner sides of which four
`apertures 32 are formed in mutually perpendicular directions
`for allowing the first to fourth thrusting actuators 8a to 8d to
`be protruded from the upper surface side of the main body
`unit 4, respectively. The center area surrounded by these
`apertures 32 is formed as a central supporting projection 33
`for supporting the center portion on the upper surface side of
`the main body unit 4, as shown in FIG. 10. This central
`supporting projection 33 is formed as one with the upper
`inner surface of the main body unit 4. The central supporting
`projection 33 is faced by an elastic member 35 having four
`movable contacts 34 thrust by the first to fourth thrusting
`actuators 8a to 8d. At a center position of the elastic member
`35 is held a spherically-shaped fulcrum member 36, such as
`a steel ball, adapted for supporting the center of the bottom
`surface side of the rotary actuating member 10. The elastic
`member 35 confronts a circuit substrate 38 including four
`stationary contacts 37 adapted to be contacted with and
`disengaged from the movable contacts 34.
`The rotary actuating member 10 constituting the first
`actuating unit 9 is made up of a circular-shaped base 39, first
`to fourth thrusting actuators 8a to 8d formed as one with the
`upper part of the base 39, a spherically-shaped first recess 41
`in the bottom surface of the center portion of the base 39,
`adapted for engaging in the spherical surface of a
`spherically-shaped fulcrum member 36,
`a spherically-
`shaped second recess 42 in the ripper center surface portion
`of the base 39 adapted for engaging with the central sup—
`porting projection 33 and a contact guide 43 protuberantly
`formed on the lower side of the base 39 for thrusting the
`back surface of the movable contacts 34 of the elastic
`member 35, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The four thrusting
`actuators 8a to 8d formed as one with the rotary actuating
`member 10, are formed on the upper side of the base 39 so
`that the thrusting actuators 8a to 8d are tapered in a direction
`towards an imaginary converging point and so that
`the
`thrusting actuators 8a to 8d are increased in thickness in a
`direction from the center towards the outer ends, as shown
`in FIG. 9. The thrusting actuators 8a to 8d are protrude Via
`apertures 32 from the upper surface of the main body unit 4,
`as shown in FIG. 9.
`
`10
`
`tom
`
`30
`
`L»LA
`
`40
`
`50
`
`60
`
`8
`The elastic member 35 is sandwiched between a circuit
`substrate 38 and the rotary actuating member 10 and is
`provided with a number of movable contacts 34, such as
`rubber contacts, corresponding to the number of the first to
`fourth thrusting actuators 8a to 8d.
`A fulcrum member 36 is spherically—shaped and is
`arranged at a central portion of the rotary actuating member
`10 in register with the central supporting projection 33. The
`fulcrum member 36 is engaged in a first recess 41 formed at
`the center of the rotary actuating member 10.
`If the rotary actuating member 10 is arranged on the main
`body unit 4, the first to fourth thrusting actuators 8a to 8d are
`arranged radially, about the central supporting projection 33
`as center, and are progressively increased in height from the
`imaginary converging side ends towards the opposite outer
`ends. The result is that, when the finger is set at the center
`portion of the recess 30 surrounded by the first to fourth
`thrusting actuators 8a to 8d,
`the relative position can be
`easily discriminated by the tactile feeling at the end of the
`finger, due to the step difference between the center portion
`and the first to fourth thrusting actuators 8a to 8d, such that,
`when the finger end is shifted for switch actuation from the
`center towards the outer side of the recess 30, which of the
`first to fourth thrusting actuators 8a to PM is being thrust can
`be easily discriminated based solely on the tactile feeling.
`The rotary actuating member 10, is formed as one with the
`first to fourth thrusting actuators 8a to 8d, are formed by
`molding a synthetic resin material of a relatively high
`toughness. The result is that the first to fourth thrusting
`actuators 8a to 8d of increased toughness are thrust by the
`hand or finger such that
`the operational feeling is not
`optimum.
`Thus, a top layer 7 formed of a soft flexible material is
`formed as one with the upper surfaces of the first to fourth
`thrusting actuators 8a to 8d acted on by the hand or finger,
`as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. The top layer 7 is formed of
`a material exhibiting rubber—like elasticity. The top layer 7 is
`molded in two colors and formed as one with the first to
`fourth thrusting actuators 8a to 8d. The top layer 7 is slightly
`swollen out at the mid portion for improving the tactile
`feeling.
`Since the top layer 7 of a soft flexible material is provided
`on the first
`to fourth thrusting actuators 8a