Multi-directional input device and gaming machine

Abstract

The present invention discloses a multi-direction input device and a game machine. Among them, the multi-direction input device includes a first rocker arm and a second rocker arm. The first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are distributed in the up-and-down direction. Both the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm have a C-shaped portion in a C shape. Rotating shaft portions are provided at opposite ends of the C-shaped portions of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm. The rotating shaft portions are fixed by the cover, and a rotation axis is formed at both ends of the rotating shaft portions. The first rocker arm and the second rocker arm rotate relative to the cover through their respective rotating shaft portions. The operation portion penetrates through the C-shaped portion, and a strip-shaped hole is provided at the C-shaped portion. The strip-shaped hole can guide the operation portion to swing. The technical solution of the present invention can ensure the consistency of the feel when the multi-direction input device is in use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of input devices, and particularly relates to a multi-directional input device and a game machine applying the multi-directional input device. Background Art

[0002] The multi-directional input device generally includes a housing, an operating body rotatably arranged in the housing, two rocker arms that rotate according to the tilting action of the operating body, and a detection device that detects the rotation amount of the rocker arms and outputs corresponding signals according to the rotation amount of the rocker arms. However, in the related art, one of the two rocker arms of the multi-directional input device is usually driven by the rotating part of the operating body, and the other one is usually driven by the operating part of the operating body. That is, the two rocker arms are driven by two different parts of the rocker, and at this time, the two rocker arms are likely to give different resistances to the operating body, resulting in a difference in the feel when the multi-directional input device drives the two rocker arms through the rocker. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main object of the present invention is to provide a multi-directional input device, aiming to enable the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm of the multi-directional input device to be driven by the same part of the operating body, reducing the possibility that the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm give different resistances to the operating body, thereby ensuring the consistency of the feel when the multi-directional input device is used.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the multi-directional input device proposed by the present invention includes:

[0005] A cover, the cover is provided with an opening;

[0006] An operating body, the operating body has an operating part protruding upward from the opening, and the operating body can perform a tilting operation through the operating part;

[0007] A first rocker arm and a second rocker arm, the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm rotate along with the tilting operation of the operating body, and the axes of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are perpendicular to each other;

[0008] A first rotary electrical component and a second rotary electrical component, the first rotary electrical component and the second rotary electrical component respectively detect the rotation actions of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm;

[0009] A base, the base fixes the cover;

[0010] The first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are distributed in the vertical direction. Both the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm have a C-shaped portion in the shape of a C. Rotating shaft portions are provided at opposite ends of the C-shaped portions of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm. The rotating shaft portions are fixed by the cover, and a rotation axis is formed at both ends of the rotating shaft portions. The operating portion penetrates through the C-shaped portion, and a strip-shaped hole is provided at the C-shaped portion. The strip-shaped hole can guide the operating portion to swing.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention, the rotating shaft portions of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm can only be rotationally engaged through circular holes provided in the cover.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, the axis of the rotating shaft of the first rocker arm and the axis of the rotating shaft of the second rocker arm are located on the same horizontal plane.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, a flat portion is formed at a portion of the operating body that faces the inner side of the strip-shaped hole on the first rocker arm or the second rocker arm.

[0014] The present invention also provides a gaming machine, including a multi-direction input device, and the multi-direction input device includes:

[0015] A cover, the cover is provided with an opening portion;

[0016] An operating body, the operating body has an operating portion protruding upward from the opening portion, and the operating body can perform a tilting operation through the operating portion;

[0017] A first rocker arm and a second rocker arm, the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm rotate with the tilting operation of the operating body, and the axes of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are perpendicular to each other;

[0018] A first rotary electrical component and a second rotary electrical component, the first rotary electrical component and the second rotary electrical component respectively detect the rotational movements of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm;

[0019] A base, the base fixes the cover; and it is characterized in that:

[0020] The first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are distributed in the vertical direction. Both the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm have a C-shaped portion in the shape of a C. Rotating shaft portions are provided at opposite ends of the C-shaped portions of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm. The rotating shaft portions are fixed by the cover, and a rotation axis is formed at both ends of the rotating shaft portions. The operating portion penetrates through the C-shaped portion, and a strip-shaped hole is provided at the C-shaped portion. The strip-shaped hole can guide the operating portion to swing.

[0021] Both the first swing arm and the second swing arm of the multi-directional input device of the technical solution of the present invention are formed with a C-shaped portion, and the C-shaped portion is provided with a strip-shaped hole for the operation portion of the operating body to pass through, and the operation portion abuts against the hole wall of the strip-shaped hole on the first swing arm and the second swing arm. At this time, when the operation portion of the operating body performs a tilting action, the operation portion can drive the first swing arm by applying a force to the hole wall of the strip-shaped hole on the first swing arm, or can drive the second swing arm by applying a force to the hole wall of the strip-shaped hole on the second swing arm. That is to say, in this solution, the operating body drives the first swing arm and the second swing arm through the operation portion. Compared with the prior art in which the first swing arm and the second swing arm of the multi-directional input device are driven by different parts of the operating body, the first swing arm and the second swing arm of the multi-directional input device in this solution are driven by the same part of the operating body. In this way, the possibility that the first swing arm and the second swing arm give different resistances to the operating body is reduced, thereby ensuring the consistency of the feel when the multi-directional input device is used. In addition, since the first swing arm and the second swing arm in this solution are both generally C-shaped, the first swing arm and the second swing arm can be distributed more compactly, reducing the occupation of space by the two, so that the overall volume of the multi-directional input device can be reduced and it is convenient to manage and carry. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings.

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic assembly structure diagram of an embodiment of the multi-directional input device of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 is Figure 1 a partial structure schematic diagram of the multi-directional input device without the cover;

[0025] Figure 3 is Figure 1 a schematic assembly structure diagram of the operating body and the first swing arm and the second swing arm of the multi-directional input device;

[0026] Figure 4 is Figure 3 an exploded structure schematic diagram of the operating body and the first swing arm and the second swing arm of the multi-directional input device;

[0027] Figure 5 is Figure 1 a schematic cross-sectional diagram of a partial structure of the multi-directional input device;

[0028] Figure 6 isFigure 1 Schematic cross-sectional view of another partial structure of the multi-directional input device;

[0029] Explanation of the reference numerals in the drawings:

[0030]

[0031]

[0032] The realization, functional features and advantages of the object of the present invention will be further described with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. Specific embodiments

[0033] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0034] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back...) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement conditions between components in a specific posture (as shown in the accompanying drawings). If the specific posture changes, the directional indications will also change accordingly.

[0035] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the terms "connection", "fixation", etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, "fixation" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the communication inside two components or the interaction relationship between two components, unless otherwise clearly limited. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific situations.

[0036] In addition, the descriptions involving "first", "second", etc. in the present invention are only for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In addition, the technical solutions between various embodiments can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the fact that those of ordinary skill in the art can implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the protection scope required by the present invention.

[0037] The present invention provides a main multi-directional input device

[0038] Please refer to Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figure 3 In one embodiment of the present invention, the multi-direction input device includes a cover 10, an operating body 20, a first rocker arm 31, a second rocker arm 33, a first rotary electrical component 41, a second rotary electrical component 43, and a base 50. The cover 10 is provided with an opening 11. The operating body 20 has an operating portion 21 protruding upward from the opening 11, and the operating body 20 can perform a tilting operation through the operating portion 21. The first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 rotate with the tilting operation of the operating body 20, and the axes of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 are perpendicular to each other. The first rotary electrical component 41 and the second rotary electrical component 43 respectively detect the rotational movements of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33. The base 50 fixes the cover 10. The first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 are distributed in the vertical direction. Both the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 have a C-shaped portion 35 in the shape of a C. Rotating shaft portions 37 are provided at opposite ends of the C-shaped portions 35 of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33. The rotating shaft portions 37 are fixed through the cover 10, and a rotation axis is formed at both ends of the rotating shaft portions 37. The portion of the C-shaped portion 35 in the shape of a circular arch is located above, and the portion provided with the rotating shaft portion 37 is located below. The first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 rotate relative to the cover 10 through their respective rotating shaft portions 37. The operating portion 21 passes through the C-shaped portion 35, and a strip-shaped hole 39 is provided at the C-shaped portion 35. The strip-shaped hole 39 can guide the operating portion 21 to swing.

[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cover 10 can mainly be used to shield the first rocker arm 31, the second rocker arm 33, and a part of the operating body 20 (i.e., the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 can be disposed inside the cover 10), reducing the possibility of being damaged by external objects, thereby facilitating the extension of the service life of the multi-direction input device. Among them, the projection of the cover 10 on the horizontal plane can be generally square-shaped. Specifically, the cover 10 can include a bottom wall and a side wall. The bottom wall is disposed opposite to the base 50 and forms an opening 11. The side wall is disposed around the periphery of the bottom wall and extends in the direction facing the base 50. One end of the side wall away from the top wall is connected to the base 50. To facilitate the repair and replacement of the components located inside the cover 10, the side wall of the cover 10 can be detachably connected to the base 50, specifically, it can be connected by screws, snap connections, or magnetic attraction fixation, etc., to simplify the disassembly and assembly process of the cover 10. Of course, the present application is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the cover 10 can also be fixedly connected to the base 50. The operating body 20 can mainly be used for the user to drive and perform corresponding tilting actions to input corresponding action signals. For example, by driving the operating body 20 to tilt forward, backward, left, or right, etc., corresponding forward, backward, left, or right action signals can be input. Among them, the operating part 21 of the operating body 20 passes through the opening 11 of the cover 10 and is exposed to the outside of the cover 10. The projection of the operating part 21 on the horizontal plane can be circular. Please refer to Figure 2 , Figure 5 and Figure 6, the operating body 20 may further include an upper hemispherical portion 23 connected to the lower end of the operating portion 21. The upper hemispherical portion 23 is provided in a hemispherical shape and has a diameter larger than that of the operating portion 21. The surface of the upper hemispherical portion 23 facing away from the operating portion 21 is formed as a hemispherical flat portion 25, and a lower hemispherical portion 27 protrudes from the hemispherical flat portion 25. The centers of the lower hemispherical portion 27 and the upper hemispherical portion 23 coincide, and the diameter of the lower hemispherical portion 27 is smaller than that of the upper hemispherical portion 23. At this time, the multi-direction input device may further include a lower support body 61 and an upper support body 63 substantially in a cylindrical shape. The lower support body 61 is provided on the base 50 and is located within the cover 10. The upper end of the lower support body 61 is provided with a hemispherical concave portion 611, and the hemispherical concave portion 611 abuts and supports the lower hemispherical portion 27; the upper support body 63 is located within the cover 10 and covers the outside of the lower support body 61. The upper support body 63 is provided with a hemispherical hole 631 corresponding to the position of the opening portion 11. The upper support body 63 is further provided with a through hole 633 communicating with the upper hemispherical hole 631 above the hemispherical hole 631. The diameter of the through hole 633 is larger than that of the operating portion 21. A part of the upper hemisphere abuts against the hole wall of the hemispherical hole 631, and a part protrudes from the through hole 633. In this way, the hole wall of the hemispherical hole 631 of the upper support body 63 abuts against the upper hemispherical portion 23, and the upper end of the lower support body 61 abuts against the lower hemispherical portion 27, thereby realizing the spherical rotational cooperation of the operating body 20, that is, it can be rotated arbitrarily in the 360° direction. Of course, it should be noted that this application is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the operating body 20 may also be provided with a rotating section below the operating portion 21. One end of the rotating section is rotatably connected to the operating portion 21, and the other end is rotatably connected to the base 50, and the rotation axes of the rotating section and the operating portion 21 are perpendicular to the rotation axes of the rotating section and the base 50, that is, one is parallel to the rotation axis of the first rocker arm 31, and one is parallel to the rotation axis of the second rocker arm 33. The first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 are successively penetrated by the operating portion 21 of the operating body 20, mainly for being driven by the operating portion 21 of the operating body 20 to perform corresponding rotations, and the rotation amounts thereof are respectively detected by the first rotary electrical component 41 and the second rotary electrical component 43, so as to output corresponding signals according to the rotation amounts. When the X direction and the Y direction perpendicular to each other are defined on the horizontal plane, the rotation axis of the first rocker arm 31 may be along one of the X direction and the Y direction, and the rotation axis of the second rocker arm 33 may be along the other of the X direction and the Y direction. The positional relationship between the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 and the upper support body 63 is set such that the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 are located above the upper support body 63. Among them, in the longitudinal section of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33, the middle sections of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 are substantially in a C shape. Therefore, the middle sections of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 are defined as C-shaped portions 35, and the portions protruding from both ends of the middle section are defined as rotating shaft portions 37.The strip-shaped holes 39 on the C-shaped portions 35 of the first swing arm 31 and the second swing arm 33 are used for the operating portion 21 to move therein. Since the rotation axes of the first swing arm 31 and the second swing arm 33 are perpendicular to each other, the extending direction of the strip-shaped hole 39 on the C-shaped portion 35 of the first swing arm 31 and the extending direction of the strip-shaped hole 39 on the C-shaped portion 35 of the second swing arm 33 are perpendicular to each other. That is, when the operating portion 21 drives the first swing arm 31 to rotate, the operating portion 21 moves along the strip-shaped hole 39 on the C-shaped portion 35 of the second swing arm 33; when the operating portion 21 drives the second swing arm 33 to rotate, the operating portion 21 moves along the strip-shaped hole 39 on the C-shaped portion 35 of the first swing arm 31. In order to improve the smoothness of the first swing arm 31 and the second swing arm 33 during their respective rotations, the C-shaped portion 35 of the first swing arm 31 and the C-shaped portion 35 of the second swing arm 33 are arranged at intervals in the up-down direction. The first rotary electrical component 41 and the second rotary electrical component 43 can mainly be used to detect the rotation amounts of the first swing arm 31 and the second swing arm 33. Since this working principle is a prior art, it will not be described in detail here. Among them, the first rotary electrical component 41 can be arranged outside the cover 10 and connected to the first swing arm 31; the second rotary electrical component 43 can also be arranged outside the cover 10 and connected to the first swing arm 31. The base 50 can mainly be used to fix components such as the cover 10, the lower support body 61, and the upper support body 63, playing a role of bearing and supporting.

[0040] The first swing arm 31 and the second swing arm 33 of the multi-direction input device of the technical solution of the present invention are both formed with C-shaped portions 35. The C-shaped portions 35 are provided with strip-shaped holes 39 through which the operating portion 21 of the operating body 20 passes. The operating portion 21 abuts against the hole walls of the strip-shaped holes 39 on the first swing arm 31 and the second swing arm 33. At this time, when the operating portion 21 of the operating body 20 performs a tilting action, the operating portion 21 can drive the first swing arm 31 by applying a force to the hole wall of the strip-shaped hole 39 on the first swing arm 31, or drive the second swing arm 33 by applying a force to the hole wall of the strip-shaped hole 39 on the second swing arm 33. That is, in this solution, the operating body 20 drives the first swing arm 31 and the second swing arm 33 through the operating portion 21. Compared with the prior art in which the first swing arm 31 and the second swing arm 33 of the multi-direction input device are driven by different parts of the operating body 20, the first swing arm 31 and the second swing arm 33 of the multi-direction input device in this solution are driven by the same part of the operating body 20. In this way, the possibility that the first swing arm 31 and the second swing arm 33 give different resistances to the operating body 20 is reduced, thereby ensuring the consistency of the feel when the multi-direction input device is used. In addition, since the first swing arm 31 and the second swing arm 33 in this solution are both generally in a C shape, the first swing arm 31 and the second swing arm 33 can be distributed more compactly, reducing the occupation of space by the two, so that the overall volume of the multi-direction input device can be reduced and it is convenient to manage and carry.

[0041] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In an embodiment of the present invention, the rotating shaft portions 37 of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 can only be rotationally engaged through the circular holes 13 provided in the cover 10.

[0042] It can be understood that providing the circular holes 13 in the cover 10 to achieve rotational engagement with the rotating shaft portions 37 of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 simplifies the rotational connection structure between the cover 10 and the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33, thereby facilitating the manufacture of the cover 10 and reducing the manufacturing cost of the cover 10. Of course, it should be noted that this application is not limited to this. In other embodiments, a cylinder may be provided at the position of the cover 10 corresponding to the rotating shaft portion 37, and the cylinder is inserted into the rotating shaft portion 37.

[0043] In an embodiment of the present invention, the axes of the rotating shafts of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 are located in the same horizontal plane.

[0044] It can be understood that the arrangement where the axes of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 are located in the same horizontal plane makes the rotation centers of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 coincide. In this way, it can further ensure the consistency of the rotation of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 when being driven, and thus improve the consistency of the feel when the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 are driven. Of course, this application is not limited to this. In other embodiments, it is also possible that there is a certain height difference in the vertical direction between the rotation axes of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33, as long as it can ensure that the feel is relatively consistent when the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 are driven by the operating body 20.

[0045] Please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 In an embodiment of the present invention, the operating body 20 forms a flat portion 29 at a position opposite to the inner side surface of the strip-shaped hole on the first rocker arm 31 or the second rocker arm 33.

[0046] It can be understood that the operating body 20 abuts against the inner side surface of the strip-shaped hole on the first rocker arm 31 or the second rocker arm 33 through the two opposite flat portions 29, which can play a certain limiting role on the operating body 20 and prevent the operating body 20 from rotating and affecting the detection results of the first rocker arm 31 and the second rocker arm 33 on it. Among them, it can be that the operating body 20 forms two opposite flat portions 29 with the inner side surface of the strip-shaped hole on the first rocker arm 31, or it can be that the operating body 20 forms two opposite flat portions 29 with the inner side surface of the strip-shaped hole on the second rocker arm 33.

[0047] The present invention also provides a gaming machine, which includes a multi-direction input device. The specific structure of the multi-direction input device can refer to the above-mentioned embodiments. Since this gaming machine adopts all the technical solutions of the above-mentioned embodiments, it has at least all the beneficial effects brought by the technical solutions of the above-mentioned embodiments, which will not be elaborated here one by one. Among them, the gaming machine may further include a display device, and the multi-direction input device is electrically connected to the display device.

[0048] The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not limit the patent scope of the present invention accordingly. Any equivalent structural transformation made under the inventive concept of the present invention by using the content of the specification and drawings of the present invention, or direct / indirect application in other related technical fields is included in the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-directional input device, comprising: A cover, which is provided with an opening; An operating body, which has an operating part protruding upward from the opening, and the operating body can perform a tilting operation through the operating part; A first rocker arm and a second rocker arm, the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm rotate with the tilting operation of the operating body, and the axes of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are perpendicular to each other; A first rotary electrical component and a second rotary electrical component, the first rotary electrical component and the second rotary electrical component respectively detect the rotational movements of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm; A base, which fixes the cover; characterized in that: The first rocker arm and the second rocker arm are distributed in the vertical direction, both the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm have a C-shaped part in the shape of a C, and rotating shaft parts are provided at opposite ends of the C-shaped parts of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm, and a rotation axis is formed at both ends of the rotating shaft part, and the rotating shaft part is fixed by the cover; the operating part penetrates through the C-shaped part, and a strip-shaped hole is provided at the C-shaped part, and the strip-shaped hole can guide the operating part to swing.

2. The multi-direction input device according to claim 1, wherein The respective rotating shaft parts of the first rocker arm and the second rocker arm can only be rotationally fitted through round holes provided in the cover.

3. The multi-directional input device according to claim 1, characterized in that The axis of the rotating shaft of the first rocker arm and the axis of the rotating shaft of the second rocker arm are located in the same horizontal plane.

4. The multi-direction input device according to claim 1, wherein, A flat part is formed at a part of the operating body that is opposite to the inner side surface of the strip-shaped hole on the first rocker arm or the second rocker arm.

5. A gaming machine, characterized in that, Including the multi-directional input device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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