Upper exterior member and lower exterior member of the input device

Abstract

To reduce the influence of a hand holding an input device or a finger operating an operation member on sound collection by a microphone.SOLUTION: An input device 10 comprises: a right held unit 10R having an upper surface on which an operation button 11 operated with fingers of the right hand is arranged; a left held unit 10L having an upper surface on which a direction key 12 operated with fingers of the left hand is arranged; and a center unit 10M located between the right held unit 10R and the left held unit 10L. A first microphone 21 and a second microphone 22 are installed inside the center unit 10M. The first microphone 21 is located behind the center of the center unit 10M in the front-back direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3A

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an input device having a microphone.

Background Art

[0002] Many input devices used for game operations have a plurality of operation members such as an operation stick, push buttons, a cross key (direction key), trigger buttons, and the like. Patent Document 1 discloses an input device having such operation members and a voice input function. This input device has a microphone array composed of a plurality of microphones. In Patent Document 1, adaptive beamforming processing is performed on the user's spoken voice using voice data obtained from a plurality of microphones.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] While holding the input device, the user places a finger on or extends a finger to operate the operation member. Depending on the position of the microphone, the hand holding the input device or the finger operating the operation member may obstruct the sound collection by the microphone, potentially inhibiting the generation of appropriate voice data.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The input device proposed in the present disclosure includes a right held portion having an upper surface on which a first right operating member operated by the fingers of the right hand is disposed, a left held portion having an upper surface on which a first left operating member operated by the fingers of the left hand is disposed, a central portion located between the right held portion and the left held portion, a first microphone disposed inside the central portion and located behind the center of the central portion in the front-rear direction, and a second microphone disposed inside the central portion.

[0006] According to this input device, it is possible to reduce the influence of the hand holding the input device and the fingers operating the operating members on the sound collection by the first microphone and the sound collection by the second microphone. Further, according to this input device, it is possible to improve the acquisition performance of the user's speech voice through the first microphone.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1A

Figure 1B

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, the input device proposed in the present disclosure will be described. In this specification, as an example of the input device proposed in the present disclosure, the input device 10 shown in FIG. 1A and the like will be described. The structure of the input device proposed in the present disclosure is used, for example, for the operation of an information processing device that functions as a game device.

[0009] In the following description, the directions indicated by X1 and X2 in FIG. 1A are referred to as the right direction and the left direction, respectively, and the directions indicated by Y1 and Y2 are referred to as the front direction and the rear direction, respectively. Also, the directions indicated by Z1 and Z2 in FIG. 2 are referred to as the upward direction and the downward direction, respectively.

[0010] [Arrangement of Operating Members] As shown in FIG. 1A, the input device 10 has a right-held portion 10R held by the right hand and a left-held portion 10L held by the left hand. Operating members are arranged on the upper surfaces of the right-held portion 10R and the left-held portion 10L. For example, four operation buttons 11 located at the vertices of a rhombus are arranged on the upper surface of the right-held portion 10R. A cross-shaped direction key 12 is arranged on the upper surface of the left-held portion 10L. The shape of the direction key 12 does not have to be cross-shaped. For example, the direction key 12 may be circular. These operating members are located at the front parts of the right-held portions 10R and 10L. An operation button 13 and a trigger button 14 (see FIG. 3A) located below the operation button 13 are also arranged on the front surfaces of the right-held portion 10R and the left-held portion 10L. Each of the right-held portion 10R and the left-held portion 10L has a swelling portion G that extends rearward from the region Ra where the upper surface operating members (in the example of the input device 10, the direction key 12 and the four operation buttons 11) are arranged.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1A, the input device 10 has a central portion 10M located between a right held portion 10R and a left held portion 10L. In this specification, the central portion 10M is the portion between an operation member (specifically, four operation buttons 11) disposed on the upper surface of the right held portion 10R and an operation member (specifically, a direction key 12) disposed on the upper surface of the left held portion 10L. That is, the central portion 10M is the portion between a straight line passing through the left ends of the four operation buttons 11 of the right held portion 10R and a straight line passing through the right ends of the direction keys 12 of the left held portion 10L. The bulging portions G of the held portions 10R and 10L extend further rearward than the rear end of the central portion 10M, but the shape of the input device 10 is not limited to this. That is, the rear end of the central portion 10M may reach the rear ends of the held portions 10R and 10L.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1A, the central portion 10M has a plate-like operation pad 16 that constitutes the front portion of its upper surface. The operation pad 16 has a touch sensor that detects the position touched by the user's finger. Further, the operation pad 16 is movable up and down and also functions as a push button. Below the operation pad 16, a switch 51 (see FIG. 3A) that detects a push operation on the operation pad 16 is disposed. Further, the central portion 10M may have an operation button 18 disposed behind the operation pad 16. The operation button 18 functions, for example, as a power button or as a home button for displaying an initial screen. Furthermore, the central portion 10M has operation buttons 19R and 19L that are separated left and right. The operation buttons 19R and 19L are shortcut buttons for executing a specific function, such as displaying various selection items or transmitting a game image. In the example of the input device 10, the right operation button 19R is located to the right of the operation pad 16, and the left operation button 19L is located to the left of the operation pad 16.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1A, the input device 10 has operation sticks 17R and 17L that are arranged apart in the left-right direction. In the example of the input device 10, the right operation stick 17R is located behind the four operation buttons 11 provided on the right holding portion 10R and closer to the center P1 of the input device 10 in the left-right direction than the four operation buttons 11. The left operation stick 17L is located behind the direction keys 12 provided on the left holding portion 10L and closer to the center P1 of the input device 10 in the left-right direction than the direction keys 12. The operation sticks 17R and 17L can be tilted in the radial direction of the operation sticks 17R and 17L or rotated in a tilted state. The operation sticks 17R and 17L may be slidable in the radial direction. The height of the operation sticks 17R and 17L is higher than that of other operation members, such as the direction keys 12 and the operation buttons 11.

[0014] The operation sticks 17R and 17L, the four operation buttons 11, and the direction keys 12 are operation members that are particularly frequently used during gameplay. More specifically, the usage frequencies of the operation sticks 17R and 17L, the four operation buttons 11, and the direction keys 12 are higher than those of the operation buttons 18 and the operation buttons 19R and 19L. In the example of the input device 10, the four operation buttons 11 arranged on the right holding portion 10R correspond to the "first right operation member" in the claims, and the direction keys 12 arranged on the left holding portion 10L correspond to the "first left operation member" in the claims. As shown in FIG. 1A, the "first right operation member" is an operation member that intersects a straight line L5 along the side surface of the right holding portion 10R. The "first left operation member" is an operation member that intersects a straight line L6 along the side surface of the left holding portion 10L. Also, in the example of the input device 10, the right operation stick 17R corresponds to the "second right operation member" in the claims, and the left operation stick 17L corresponds to the "second left operation member" in the claims.

[0015] The types and arrangements of the operation members are not limited to the example of the input device 10. For example, an operation stick 17R may be arranged at the front part of the right held part 10R (the position of the four operation buttons 11). That is, the "first right operation member" may be the operation stick 17R. Similarly, an operation stick 17L may be arranged at the front part of the left held part 10L (the position of the direction keys 12). That is, the "first left operation member" may be the operation stick 17L. Also, operation buttons 11 and direction keys 12 may be arranged at the positions of the operation sticks 17R and 17L in the input device 10. The "second right operation member" and the "second left operation member" may be the operation buttons 11 and direction keys 12. Further, the central part 10M may not have the plate-shaped operation pad 16.

[0016] [Microphone] As shown in FIGS. 1B and 3A, the input device 10 incorporates a first microphone 21 and a second microphone 22 for acquiring the user's spoken voice. The voice data acquired through the microphones 21 and 22 is transmitted to a game device 90 (see FIG. 4) connected to the input device 10 and is provided, for example, for voice recognition processing. Also, the voice data acquired through the microphones 21 and 22 may be transmitted to the game device 90 and used for voice chat (voice call) with other users. In order to enable voice recognition processing and voice chat, the input device 10 has a voice input / output circuit 27 (see FIG. 4) that executes beamforming processing for forming directivity with respect to the sensitivities of the microphones 21 and 22. The voice input / output circuit 27 will be described later.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1B and 3A, the first microphone 21 and the second microphone 22 are arranged inside the central portion 10M. Therefore, the positions of the microphones 21 and 22 are separated from the operating members (the four operation buttons 11 in the example of the input device 10) on the upper surface of the right holding portion 10R and the operating members (the direction keys 12 in the example of the input device 10) on the upper surface of the left holding portion 10L. The input device 10 is formed of a resin (such as ABS resin or polycarbonate) and has an exterior member 30 that constitutes the outer surface of the input device 10. The exterior member 30 has a portion that constitutes the outer surface of the central portion 10M, a portion that constitutes the outer surface of the right holding portion 10R, and a portion that constitutes the outer surface of the left holding portion 10L. The microphones 21 and 22 are arranged inside the portion that constitutes the central portion 10M. On the outer surface of the portion that constitutes the central portion 10M, a first sound hole 31 (see FIG. 3A) that allows the propagation of sound toward the first microphone 21 and a second sound hole 32 (see FIG. 3A) that allows the propagation of sound toward the second microphone 22 are formed.

[0018] In this way, since the microphones 21 and 22 are arranged in the central portion 10M and are separated from the operating members arranged in the right holding portion 10R and the left holding portion 10L, during the game play using the input device 10, the influence of the user's finger on the sound collection by the first microphone 21 and the influence of the user's finger on the sound collection by the second microphone 22 can be reduced. In other words, it is possible to prevent the user's finger from blocking the arrival of the user's speech sound (target sound) to the first microphone 21 or blocking the arrival of the speech sound to the second microphone 22.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1A, in the area Rm1 behind the operation member (in the example of the input device 10, four operation buttons 11) arranged on the upper surface of the right held portion 10R and the area Rh1 behind the operation member (in the example of the input device 10, the direction keys 12) arranged on the upper surface of the left held portion 10L, no microphones are arranged. Also, in the example of the input device 10, no microphones are arranged in the area Rm2 in front of the operation member arranged on the upper surface of the right held portion 10R and the area Rh2 in front of the operation member arranged on the upper surface of the left held portion 10L. That is, the microphones (i.e., microphones 21 and 22) used for beamforming processing are arranged at positions where it is extremely unlikely that the user's finger blocks the arrival of the user's spoken voice to the microphones.

[0020] In addition, in the state where the input device 10 is held by the user, the microphones 21 and 22 are arranged closer to the user side than the operation buttons 18 and the operation pad 16. That is, the microphones 21 and 22 are arranged at positions where it is less likely that the arrival of the user's spoken voice to the microphones is blocked by the user's finger. In the example of the input device 10, the microphones 21 and 22 are arranged closer to the user side than all the input means operated by finger arranged on the upper surface of the input device 10.

[0021] In the example of the input device 10, the second microphone 22 is located below the first microphone 21. The first microphone 21 faces upward, and the second microphone 22 faces downward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3A, the position of the first sound hole 31 for the first microphone 21 and the position of the second sound hole 32 for the second microphone 22 are separated in the vertical direction. The second sound hole 32 is separated downward from the first sound hole 31. Note that in the example of the input device 10, the sound holes 31 and 32 include not only the portions formed on the outer surface of the exterior member 30 but also the portions (cylindrical portions) extending from the outer surface toward the microphones 21 and 22.

[0022] When the user holds the input device 10, the sound source of the uttered voice (the user's mouth) is usually located diagonally rearward and upward from the input device 10. Therefore, according to the two sound holes 31 and 32 that are separated in the vertical direction, the distance from the sound source of the uttered voice (the user's mouth) while holding the input device 10 to the first microphone 21 via the first sound hole 31 and the distance from the same sound source to the second microphone 22 via the second sound hole 32 can be made different. In the example of the input device 10, the distance from the user's mouth to the second microphone 22 can be made larger than the distance from the user's mouth to the first microphone 21. As a result, the beam directions (the directions in which the microphones have high sensitivity) of the microphones 21 and 22 can be directed toward the user's mouth, which is the sound source, and voice data of the uttered voice can be obtained with high accuracy.

[0023] Note that, unlike the example of the input device 10, the positions of the first sound hole 31 and the second sound hole 32 may be separated in the front-rear direction. Even in this case, the distance from the sound source of the uttered voice to the first microphone 21 via the first sound hole 31 and the distance from the same sound source to the second microphone 22 via the second sound hole 32 can be made different. Note that even without changing the positions of the microphones 21 and 22, by adjusting the positions of the sound holes 31 and 32, the distance from the sound source to the first microphone 21 via the first sound hole 31 and the distance from the same sound source to the second microphone 22 via the second sound hole 32 can be changed, and the directivity characteristics in the beamforming process can be changed. Conversely, even without changing the positions of the sound holes 31 and 32, by adjusting the positions of the microphones 21 and 22, the distance from the sound source to the first microphone 21 via the first sound hole 31 and the distance from the same sound source to the second microphone 22 via the second sound hole 32 can be changed, and the directivity characteristics in the beamforming process can be changed.

[0024] In still other examples, both of the two microphones 21 and 22 may face upward. And the positions of the two microphones 21 and 22 may be separated in at least one of the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. Even in this case, the distance from the sound source of the uttered voice (the user's mouth) holding the input device 10 to the first microphone 21 via the first sound hole 31 and the distance from the same sound source to the second microphone 22 via the second sound hole 32 can be made different.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1B, the first microphone 21 and the second microphone 22 intersect a plane P1 along the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. That is, the first microphone 21 and the second microphone 22 intersect a plane P1 orthogonal to the left-right direction. The first sound hole 31 is formed above the first microphone 21, and the second sound hole 22 is formed above the second microphone 22. Therefore, the sound holes 31 and 32 also intersect the plane P1. According to such an arrangement of the sound holes 31 and 32 and the microphones 21 and 22, ambient sound with a sound source to the left or right of the input device 10 can be effectively reduced by beamforming processing.

[0026] The plane P1 is desirably a plane that passes through the sound source of the uttered voice (the user's mouth) and passes through the center along the front-rear direction while the user holds the input device 10. In the example of the input device 10, the plane P1 is a plane that passes between the left and right operation sticks 17R and 17L. More specifically, the plane P1 is a plane that passes through the center of the input device 10 in the left-right direction. In other words, the plane P1 is a plane that passes through the middle between the right side surface and the left side surface of the input device 10. Further in other words, the plane P1 is a plane that passes through the middle between the left and right held portions 10R and 10L. The center of the first microphone 21 and the center of the first sound hole 31 may be located on the plane P1 or may be displaced from the plane P1. Similarly, the center of the second microphone 22 and the center of the second sound hole 32 may be located on the plane P1 or may be displaced from the plane P1. Also, the plane P1 may be displaced from the center of the input device 10 in the left-right direction. The input device 10 does not have to have a bilaterally symmetric shape. In this case, although the plane P1 is not a plane that passes through the center of the input device 10 in the left-right direction, it desirably passes through the middle between the left and right held portions 10R and 10L. By doing so, the plane P1 becomes a plane that passes through the sound source of the uttered voice (the user's mouth) and passes through the center along the front-rear direction while the user holds the input device 10.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3A, the input device 10 has a circuit board 20. On the circuit board 20, for example, a switch 51 for detecting a pressing operation on the operation pad 16 described above, a connector 52 for connecting a charging cable, and the like are mounted. Also, on the circuit board 20, a plurality of integrated circuits (not shown) that function as an audio input / output circuit 27 (see FIG. 6), a control device 26 (see FIG. 6), and the like are mounted.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3A, the first microphone 21 is disposed above the circuit board 20, and the second microphone 22 is disposed below the circuit board 20. Therefore, the position of the second microphone 22 is lower than the position of the first microphone 21. In the example of the input device 10, the first microphone 21 is directly attached to the upper surface of the circuit board 20. Also, the second microphone 22 is directly attached to the lower surface of the circuit board 20.

[0029] Accordingly, the directions in which the two microphones 21 and 22 face are different from each other. Specifically, the first microphone 21 faces upward, and the second microphone 22 faces downward. As a result, the distance from the sound source of the uttered voice (the user's mouth) to the second microphone 22 via the second sound hole 32 is greater than the distance from the same sound source to the first microphone 21 via the first sound hole 31.

[0030] Also, according to the structure in which the first microphone 21 is disposed above the circuit board 20 and the second microphone 22 is disposed below the circuit board 20, the positions of the two microphones 21 and 22 can be aggregated, and the arrangement of the microphones 21 and 22 becomes easy. In the example of the input device 10, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the input device 10 is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the circuit board 20, that is, in a plan view of the input device 10, the two microphones 21 and 22 are at least partially overlapped. In one example, the center position of the first microphone 21 coincides with the center position of the second microphone 22. Different from this, the center position of the second microphone 22 may be deviated from the center position of the first microphone 21, and in the plan view of the input device 10, the first microphone 21 and the second microphone 22 may only partially overlap.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1A, in the plan view of the input device 10, the first microphone 21 is located behind the center L1 of the central portion 10M in the front-rear direction. Due to this arrangement of the first microphone 21, the distance between the sound source of the spoken voice (the user's mouth) and the first microphone 21 becomes shorter, so that the user's spoken voice can easily reach the first microphone 21. Also, the second microphone 22 is also located behind the center L1 in the plan view of the input device 10. As a result, the distance between the sound source of the spoken voice and the second microphone 22 also becomes shorter, so that the spoken voice can easily reach the second microphone 22. Consequently, the directivity of the microphones 21 and 22 can be strengthened toward the sound source of the spoken voice.

[0032] The orientations, positions, and mounting structures of the microphones 21 and 22 are not limited to the examples of the input device 10. The first microphone 21 may be mounted at a position away from the circuit board 20 upward. For example, the first microphone 21 may be disposed on the upper side of the circuit board 20 (see FIG. 3A) or attached to the inner surface of the exterior member 30. And the first microphone 21 may be electrically connected to the circuit board 20 via an electric wire. By doing so, the distance between the first microphone 21 and the first sound hole 31 can be narrowed.

[0033] Similarly, the second microphone 22 may be mounted at a position away from the circuit board 20 downward. The second microphone 22 may be attached to, for example, the inner surface of the lower case 30L. And the second microphone 22 may be electrically connected to the circuit board 20 via an electric wire. By doing so, the distance between the second microphone 22 and the second sound hole 32 can be narrowed. In this case, the second microphone 22 is preferably directed downward.

[0034] In yet another example, the input device 10 may have two circuit boards separated in the vertical direction. And the first microphone 21 may be mounted on the upper circuit board, and the second microphone 22 may be mounted on the lower circuit board.

[0035] As yet another example, in a plan view of the input device 10, the first microphone 21 may not have an overlapping portion with the second microphone 22. For example, one of the two microphones 21 and 22 may be positioned in front of the other microphone.

[0036] As yet another example, while the first microphone 21 faces upward, the second microphone 22 may be arranged to face rearward.

[0037] [Positional Relationship between Microphone and Operating Member] As shown in FIG. 1B, the first microphone 21 is positioned to the left of the right operation stick 17R and to the right of the left operation stick 17L. Also, the first microphone 21 is positioned behind the front ends 17c of the operation sticks 17R and 17L. That is, the first microphone 21 is positioned between the left and right operation sticks 17R and 17L. According to this arrangement of the first microphone 21, the influence of the fingers of a user operating the operation sticks 17R and 17L and operating members (in the example of the input device 10, the operation pad 16 and the four operation buttons 11) arranged in front of the operation sticks 17R and 17L on the sound collection by the first microphone 21 can be reduced. In the example of the input device 10, the first microphone 21 is positioned behind the center 17d of the left and right operation sticks 17R and 17L.

[0038] As described above, a plurality of operating members are arranged on the upper surface of the central portion 10M. The first microphone 21 is positioned behind all the operating members arranged on the upper surface of the central portion 10M. In the example of the input device 10, as shown in FIG. 1A, the operation pad 16, the operation button 18, and the operation buttons 19R and 19L are arranged on the upper surface of the central portion 10M. Among these operating members 16, 18, 19R, and 19L, the operation button 18 is positioned most rearward. The first microphone 21 is positioned behind the operation button 18.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 3A, the central portion 10M has a speaker 53 inside thereof. The central portion 10M has a speaker sound hole 34 on its upper surface for emitting the sound of the speaker 53 to the outside. The speaker sound hole 34 is located above the speaker 53. In a plan view of the input device 10, the first microphone 21 and the first sound hole 31 are located behind the speaker 53 and the speaker sound hole 34.

[0040] As described above, the second microphone 22 is located on the opposite side of the first microphone 21 with the circuit board 20 interposed therebetween. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1B, the second microphone 22 is located to the left of the right operation stick 17R and to the right of the left operation stick 17L, like the first microphone 21. Also, in a plan view of the input device 10, the second microphone 22 is located behind the center 17d of the operation sticks 17R and 17L. That is, the second microphone 22 is located between the left and right operation sticks 17R and 17L. In the example of the input device 10, the first microphone 21 is located behind the center 17d of the left and right operation sticks 17R and 17L.

[0041] The second microphone 22 is also located behind all the operation members arranged on the upper surface of the central portion 10M in a plan view of the input device 10. In the example of the input device 10, the second microphone 22 is located behind the operation button 18, like the first microphone 21 (see FIG. 1B).

[0042] The input device 10 has a battery 54. As shown in FIG. 3A, in the example of the input device 10, the battery 54 is disposed inside the central portion 10M. The battery 54 is located below the circuit board 20. The second microphone 22 disposed below the circuit board 20 is arranged so as not to overlap the battery 54 in a plan view of the input device 10. That is, the second microphone 22 is located outside the outer peripheral edge of the battery 54 in a plan view of the input device 10. Due to this arrangement of the second microphone 22, the second sound hole 32 can be positioned vertically below the second microphone 22. In the example of the input device 10, the second microphone 22 is located behind the rear edge 54a of the battery 54.

[0043] [Details of Sound Holes] As described above, the first microphone 21 faces upward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the first sound hole 31 for the first microphone 21 is located above the first microphone 21 and is formed on the upper surface of the central portion 10M. Also, the second microphone 22 faces downward. Therefore, the second sound hole 32 for the second microphone 22 is formed on the lower surface of the central portion 10M and is located below the second microphone 22. The exterior member 30 has an upper case 30U that covers the upper side of the components of the input device 10 and a lower case 30L that covers the lower side of the components and is combined with the upper case 30U. The first sound hole 31 is formed in the upper case 30U, and the second sound hole 32 is formed in the lower case 30L.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3B, the first sound hole 31 is cylindrical and extends downward from the outer surface of the exterior member 30 (the upper surface of the central portion 10M) toward the first microphone 21. The lower end 31b of the first sound hole 31 may directly or indirectly contact the first microphone 21. In the example of the input device 10, an annular member 35 formed of a material having a lower rigidity than the material of the exterior member 30 (for example, an elastic material such as rubber) is disposed between the lower end 31b of the first sound hole 31 and the first microphone 21. This can reduce the stress acting on the first microphone 21 and the circuit board 20. The first sound hole 31 is connected to the first microphone 21 through the opening of the annular member 35.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 3B, the size (diameter, width in the front-rear direction, or width in the left-right direction) of the upper end of the first sound hole 31 is smaller than that of the first microphone 21. The size of the first sound hole 31 gradually increases toward the first microphone 21, and the size of the lower end 31b corresponds to the size of the first microphone 21. Different from the example of the input device 10, the size of the first sound hole 31 may be constant from the upper end to the lower end 31b of the first sound hole 31.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3A, the upper surface of the central portion 10M has a relatively high high region R1 and a relatively low low region R2. The first sound hole 31 is formed in the low region R2. This can effectively prevent the user's finger from blocking the first sound hole 31. In the example of the input device 10, the high region R1 is formed at the front of the central portion 10M. The low region R2 is formed behind the high region R1 and is inclined so as to gradually descend rearward. Different from the example of the input device 10, the low region R2 may not be inclined. That is, a step may be formed between the low region R2 and the high region R1.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 2, the exterior member 30 has base cover portions 33R and 33L that respectively cover the bases 17b of the operation sticks 17R and 17L. The base cover portions 33R and 33L are annular in plan view, and the operation sticks 17R and 17L are disposed inside thereof. The first sound hole 31 is located between the left and right base cover portions 33R and 33L, and the position of the first sound hole 31 is lower than the upper ends 33a of the base cover portions 33R and 33L.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 3B, the second sound hole 32 is cylindrical and extends upward from the outer surface of the exterior member 30 (the lower surface of the central portion 10M) toward the second microphone 22. The upper end 32b of the second sound hole 32 may directly or indirectly contact the second microphone 22. In the example of the input device 10, an annular member 36 formed of a material having a lower rigidity than the material of the exterior member 30 (for example, an elastic material such as rubber) is disposed between the upper end 32b of the second sound hole 32 and the second microphone 22. This can reduce the stress acting on the second microphone 22 and the circuit board 20. The second sound hole 32 is connected to the second microphone 22 through the opening of the annular member 36.

[0049] In the example of the input device 10, as shown in FIG. 3B, the size (diameter, width in the front-rear direction, or width in the left-right direction) of the lower end of the second sound hole 32 is smaller than that of the second microphone 22. The size of the second sound hole 32 gradually increases toward the second microphone 22, and the size of the upper end 32b of the second sound hole 32 corresponds to the size of the second microphone 22. Different from the example of the input device 10, the size of the second sound hole 32 may be constant from the lower end to the upper end 32b of the second sound hole 32.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 3A, the lower surface of the central portion 10M has a slope 30b that rises rearward at the rear thereof. The second sound hole 32 is formed in the slope 30b. This makes the position of the second sound hole 32 higher than the flat portion 30c of the lower surface of the central portion 10M. Therefore, for example, when the user places the input device 10 on the leg, it is possible to prevent the second sound hole 32 from being blocked by the leg.

[0051] [Other components] The input device 10 has a terminal 55 and switches 56 of microphones 21 and 22. To the terminal 55, for example, a headset having a microphone, headphones, or the like is connected. The switch 56 incorporates a light-emitting part (for example, an LED) in its outer peripheral part and may also function as an indicator indicating the operating state of the input device 10. As shown in FIG. 2, in the example of the input device 10, the terminal 55 and the indicator 56 are attached to the rear edge of the circuit board 20 and are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. The terminal 55 and the indicator 56 are located between base cover parts 33R and 33L that cover the bases 17b of the operation sticks 17R and 17L.

[0052] The light-emitting part of the switch 56 emits light in a color corresponding to the operating state of, for example, the audio input / output circuit 27 (see FIG. 4). The audio input / output circuit 27 has, for example, three states as its operating states. The first state is, for example, a state in which the audio data acquired through the microphones 21 and 22 is converted into data for voice recognition in the game device 90 and this is transmitted to the game device 90. The second state is, for example, a state in which the audio data acquired through the microphones 21 and 22 is converted into data for voice chat (voice call) with other users and this is transmitted to the game device 90. The third state is, for example, a state in which both the data for voice chat (voice call) with other users and the data for voice recognition in the game device 90 are transmitted to the game device 90. The state indicated by the light-emitting part of the switch 56 is not limited to the example described here.

[0053] [Signal processing] The configuration of system 1 including input device 10 and the processes executed by input device 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, system 1 includes input device 10 and game device 90. Game device 90 may be a dedicated game device or an information processing device such as a personal computer that executes a game program. Input device 10 and game device 90 transmit and receive data by wireless communication such as the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard. Input device 10 and game device 90 may be communicatively connected by wire according to a standard such as USB. A display 92 and a speaker 91 are connected to game device 90.

[0054] Input device 10 has an audio input / output circuit 27, a control device 26, a speaker 53 (see FIG. 3A), a terminal 55 (see FIG. 2), microphones 21 and 22, and a plurality of operation members. Specifically, the plurality of operation members are the operation buttons 11, 13, 14, 18, 19, the operation pad 16, and the operation sticks 17R and 17L described above. In the following description and FIG. 4, these will be referred to as operation members 11 to 19.

[0055] Audio input / output circuit 27 is an integrated circuit for controlling audio input and output and incorporates a digital signal processor that executes audio signal processing. Audio input / output circuit 27 outputs audio from either the headphones Hd connected to terminal 55 or speaker 53 based on the audio data received by control device 26 from game device 90. Also, audio input / output circuit 27 executes the necessary audio signal processing on the audio data obtained through microphones 21 and 22 and then outputs it to control device 26.

[0056] The control device 26 is an integrated circuit for controlling each part of the input device 10. The control device 26 has a communication circuit 26a. The communication circuit 26a controls wireless communication for exchanging information with the game device 90 via the antenna 26b. Specifically, the communication circuit 26a receives voice data for reproduction from the speaker 53 or the headphones Hd from the game device 90. Also, the control device 26 transmits voice data obtained by applying voice signal processing to the voice data from the microphones 21 and 22, data indicating the operation content of the user with respect to the operation members 11 to 19, etc. to the game device 90.

[0057] The speaker 53 reproduces the voice based on the voice data received from the game device 90 in monaural. When the headphones Hd are connected to the terminal 55, the audio input / output circuit 27 causes the headphones Hd to reproduce the voice based on the voice signal received from the game device 90 instead of the speaker 53.

[0058] Hereinafter, the voice data acquired through the microphones 21 and 22 is referred to as microphone voice data, and the voice data received from the game device 90 for reproduction by the speaker 53 or the headphones Hd of the input device 10 is referred to as reproduction voice data.

[0059] The game device 90 executes voice recognition processing on the microphone voice data received from the input device 10. Also, in order to reproduce the microphone voice data at another location, the voice data is transmitted to another game device (information processing device) (voice call).

[0060] As shown in FIG. 4, the audio input / output circuit 27 has, as its functions, a beamforming processing unit 27a, an echo cancellation unit 27b, and a noise cancellation unit 27c.

[0061] The beamforming processing unit 27a generates microphone audio data with directivity. That is, the beamforming processing unit 27a generates data in which data (signal) representing the user's speech audio is emphasized from the microphone audio data obtained from the microphones 21 and 22. For example, the beamforming processing unit 27a compensates for the propagation delay of the microphone audio data obtained from the second microphone 22, and adds the compensated microphone audio data to the microphone audio data obtained from the first microphone 21.

[0062] The echo cancellation unit 27b performs echo cancellation processing on the microphone audio data generated by the beamforming processing unit 27a. This is a process of removing acoustic echo generated when the microphones 21 and 22 acquire the audio reproduced from the speaker 53 from the microphone audio data. For example, the echo cancellation unit 27b removes the reproduced audio data output by the audio input / output circuit 27 to the speaker 53 from the microphone audio data generated by the beamforming processing unit 27a.

[0063] The noise removal unit 27c performs noise removal processing to remove noise from the microphone audio data after echo cancellation. The noise removal unit 27c performs noise removal processing using the user's operation input to part or all of the operation members 11 to 19. When an operation input is made to the operation members 11 to 19, an operation sound is generated, and the operation sound is included as noise in the microphone audio data. When the user makes an operation input to part or all of the operation members 11 to 19, the control device 26 inputs a signal indicating that the operation input has been made to the audio input / output circuit 27. The noise removal unit 27c receives the signal and performs a process of removing noise on the assumption that the audio data obtained at that timing contains noise (operation sound). For example, when the operation members 11 to 19 are operated, preset filter processing corresponding to the operation sound of the operation members 11 to 19 is applied to the microphone audio data.

[0064] [Summary] As described above, the input device 10 has a right held portion 10R having an upper surface on which an operation button 11 (first right operation member) operated by a finger of the right hand is disposed, a left held portion 10L having an upper surface on which a direction key 12 (first left operation member) operated by a finger of the left hand is disposed, and a central portion 10M located between the right held portion 10R and the left held portion 10L. Further, the input device 10 has a first microphone 21 disposed in the central portion 10M and a second microphone 22 also disposed in the central portion 10M. The first microphone 21 is located behind the center of the central portion 10M in the front-rear direction (the straight line L1 (see FIG. 1A)).

[0065] According to this structure, processing by the beamforming processing unit 27a can be executed using the audio data obtained by the two microphones 21 and 22. Further, since the distance between the sound source (the user's mouth) of the user's speech voice while holding the input device 10 and the first microphone 21 becomes short, the user's speech voice easily reaches the first microphone 21.

[0066] Also, in the example of the input device 10, the positions of the first sound hole 31 and the second sound hole 32 are separated in the vertical direction. According to this arrangement, the distance from the user's mouth while holding the input device 10 to the first microphone 21 via the first sound hole 31 and the distance from the user's mouth to the second microphone 22 via the second sound hole 32 can be made different. As a result, the beam directions of the microphones 21 and 22 can be directed toward the user's mouth as the sound source, and the user's speech voice can be obtained with high accuracy. The positions of the first sound hole 31 and the second sound hole 32 may be separated in the front-rear direction. Even in this case, the distance from the user's mouth to the first microphone 21 and the distance from the user's mouth to the second microphone 22 can be made different.

[0067] During the execution of the game, voice (game sound) is output from the speaker 91 connected to the game device 90. This speaker 91 may be arranged in front of the user together with the display 92. According to the structure in which the positions of the first sound hole 31 (or the first microphone 21) and the second sound hole 32 (or the second microphone 22) are separated in at least one of the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, not only the user's speech voice but also the voice output from the speaker 91 arranged in front of the user can reach the microphones 21 and 22 and may be mixed into the microphone voice data processed by the beamforming processing unit 27a (hereinafter, the voice output from the speaker 91 is referred to as "interference sound"). In this case, the echo cancellation unit 27b of the game device 90 or the input device 10 may execute a process of removing the interference sound from the microphone voice data processed by the beamforming processing unit 27a. For example, the game device 90 may remove the voice data output to the speaker 91 from the microphone voice data processed by the beamforming processing unit 27a.

[0068] [Modification Example] Note that the input device proposed in the present disclosure is not limited to the example shown by the above-described input device 10.

[0069] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the attachment structure of the microphones 21 and 22. The position of the cut surface in this figure is the same as that in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Hereinafter, the description will focus on the points different from the structure of the input device 10 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. Matters not described in FIG. 5 may be the same as the structure described in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0070] In FIG. 5, the first microphone 21 and the second microphone 22 are arranged on opposite sides with the circuit board 20 interposed therebetween, and are separated from the circuit board 20 in the vertical direction. The first microphone 21 is separated upward from the circuit board 20. The second microphone 22 is separated downward from the circuit board 20. The depths (lengths) of the first sound hole 31 and the second sound hole 32 can be shortened, and the acquisition of sound by the microphones 21 and 22 can be made more efficient. As a result, for example, the sizes (widths in the vertical and horizontal directions) of the sound holes 31 and 32 can be reduced. The microphones 21 and 22 and the circuit board 20 are electrically connected by electric wires (not shown).

[0071] As described above, a frame 40 is arranged above the circuit board 20. The frame 40 supports, for example, a sensor (switch) for detecting the movement of an operation member (for example, the operation button 11 or the direction key 12) provided on the upper surface of the input device 10. In the example of FIG. 5, the first microphone 21 is supported by the frame 40. The frame 40 has a microphone support portion 40a at its rearmost portion to which the first microphone 21 is attached. The first microphone 21 is held by a holder 37 made of a material having cushioning properties, and is attached to the microphone support portion 40a together with the holder 37.

[0072] As described above, a battery 54 is arranged below the circuit board 20. The battery 54 has a battery holder 49. The battery holder 49 is fixed, for example, to the inner surface of the circuit board 20 or the exterior member 30 (specifically, the lower case 30L). The second microphone 22 is supported by the battery holder 49. The battery holder 49 has a microphone support portion 49a at its rearmost portion to which the second microphone 22 is attached. The second microphone 22 is held by a holder 38 made of a material having cushioning properties, and is attached to the microphone support portion 49a together with the holder 38.

[0073] The frame 40 and the battery holder 49 are parts molded from resin. Thus, the microphones 21 and 22 are supported by molded products arranged inside the exterior member 30. By this, a high degree of freedom can be ensured regarding the position and posture of the microphones 21 and 22. Note that the microphones 21 and 22 may be supported by parts different from the frame 40 and the battery holder 49.

[0074] The first microphone 21 is arranged along the inner surface of the exterior member 30 (specifically, the upper case 30U). The first microphone 21 is parallel to the inner surface of the upper case 30U and, in the example shown in FIG. 5, is obliquely directed upward and rearward. The holder 37 holding the first microphone 21 is annular, and its outer peripheral edge is pressed against the inner surface of the upper case 30. Thereby, the sound passing through the first sound hole 31 can be efficiently acquired by the first microphone 21. The second microphone 22 is arranged along the inner surface of the exterior member 30 (specifically, the lower case 30L). The second microphone 22 is parallel to the inner surface of the lower case 30L and, in the example shown in FIG. 5, is obliquely directed downward and rearward. The holder 38 holding the second microphone 22 is annular, and its outer peripheral edge is pressed against the inner surface of the lower case 30L. Thereby, the sound passing through the second sound hole 32 can be efficiently acquired by the second microphone 22.

[0075] The first sound hole 31 and the second sound hole 32 are formed obliquely with respect to the inner surface of the exterior member 30. Specifically, in the exterior member 30, the portion where the first microphone 21 is directed extends rearward and downward, whereas the first sound hole 31 is formed in the vertical direction (the direction perpendicular to the circuit board 20). Also, in the exterior member 30, the portion where the second microphone 22 is directed extends rearward and upward, whereas the second sound hole 32 is formed in the vertical direction. By this, it becomes easy to ensure the distance to the microphones 21 and 22 via the sound holes 31 and 32.

[0076] FIG. 6 is a plan view of an input device 110, which is another example of the input device proposed in the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the input device 110 will be described focusing on the differences from the input device 10. For matters not described about the input device 110, the structure of the input device 10 may be applied.

[0077] The input device 110 is different from the input device 10 described above with respect to the positions of the second microphone 22 and the second sound hole 32. In the input device 110, the second microphone 22 is arranged on the upper side of the circuit board 20, similarly to the first microphone 21. And the second microphone 22 is located in front of the first microphone 21. The first microphone 21 and the second microphone 22 intersect a plane P1 along the front-rear direction and the up-down direction.

[0078] The second sound hole 32 is formed above the second microphone 22. In the input device 110, the exterior member 30 has a foremost portion 30g that is located in front of the operation pad 16 and extends in the left-right direction. The second sound hole 22 is formed in the foremost portion 30g. In this case, the second microphone 22 may be directly attached to the foremost portion of the circuit board 20. In other examples, it may be attached to the inner surface of the exterior member 30 in the vicinity of the second sound hole 22, or attached to the frame 40 (see FIG. 3A). With such a structure of the input device 110, it is also possible to make different the distance from the mouth of the user holding the input device 110 to the first microphone 21 via the first sound hole 31 and the distance from the mouth of the user to the second microphone 22 via the second sound hole 32.

[0079] The input devices 10 and 110 are provided with the two microphones 21 and 22 described above. It is desirable that the number of microphones be two or three. By doing so, good beamforming processing can be performed while suppressing an increase in cost due to mounting of the microphones. When there are three microphones, the third microphone may also be located on the plane P1 (FIG. 1A) described above. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3A and the like, the second microphone 22 is located on the lower side of the circuit board 20, and the third microphone may be arranged at the position of the second microphone 22 shown in FIG. 6.

[0080] Note that the right held portion 10R where an operating member operated by the fingers of the right hand is arranged and the left held portion 10L where an operating member operated by the fingers of the left hand is arranged may be separated in the front-rear direction like, for example, a gun controller. In this case, the plane P1 (FIG. 1A) on which the microphones 21 and 22 are arranged may be a plane passing through the middle between the right side surface and the left side surface of the controller.

[0081] Also, the sound holes 31 and 32 do not have to be cylindrical. That is, although the sound holes 31 and 32 penetrate the outer surface of the exterior member 30, they do not have to have portions extending toward the microphones 21 and 22.

Claims

1. A lower exterior member that constitutes a lower surface of the input device, The input device is a right held portion having an upper surface on which a first right operating member operated by the fingers of a right hand is disposed and a right bulging portion bulging rearward from a region in which the first right operating member is disposed; a left held portion having an upper surface on which a first left operating member operated by the fingers of the left hand is disposed and a left bulging portion bulging rearward from a region in which the first left operating member is disposed; a central portion located between the right held portion and the left held portion; a second right operation member that is located rearward of the first right operation member, to the right of a center in a left-right direction of the input device, and closer to the center in the left-right direction than the first right operation member and the right bulge portion; a second left operation member located rearward of the first left operation member, located to the left of a center of the input device in the left-right direction, and located closer to the center in the left-right direction than the first left operation member and the left bulge portion; A first microphone and a second microphone provided in the central portion; an upper exterior member that configures an upper surface of the input device and has a right opening for arranging the second right operation member, a left opening for arranging the second left operation member, and an upper sound hole that allows sound to propagate to the first microphone; having The lower exterior member is a lower sound hole to allow sound to propagate to the second microphone; a rear wall extending obliquely upward and rearward and in which the lower tone hole is formed; having the lower sound hole is located between the right opening and the left opening in a plan view of the input device, and has an inner opening end formed on an inner surface of the lower exterior member and an outer opening end formed on an outer surface of the lower exterior member, The lower tone hole extends directly downward from the inner opening end toward the outer opening end, and the extending direction of the lower tone hole is inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the rear wall. The lower exterior part of the input device.

2. The lower sound hole is located below a circuit board of the input device. The lower exterior member of an input device according to claim 1 .

3. The lower tone hole and the upper tone hole intersect with a plane along the front-back direction and the up-down direction. The lower exterior member of an input device according to claim 1 .

4. The plane passes through the center of the front lower exterior member in the left-right direction. The lower exterior member of an input device according to claim 3 .

5. The lower tone hole and the upper tone hole are located behind the center of the central portion in the front-rear direction. The lower exterior member of an input device according to claim 1 .

6. the input device has a holder that holds an outer circumferential surface of the second microphone, The lower exterior member has an inner surface against which the outer circumferential surface of the holder is pressed. The lower exterior member of an input device according to claim 1 .

7. the input device has a circuit board; The second microphone is mounted on a lower surface of the circuit board, The lower sound hole extends upward toward the lower surface of the circuit board. The lower exterior member of an input device according to claim 1 .

8. An upper exterior member that constitutes an upper surface of the input device, The input device is a right held portion having an upper surface on which a first right operating member operated by the fingers of a right hand is disposed and a right bulging portion bulging rearward from a region in which the first right operating member is disposed; a left held portion having an upper surface on which a first left operating member operated by the fingers of the left hand is disposed and a left bulging portion bulging rearward from a region in which the first left operating member is disposed; a central portion located between the right held portion and the left held portion; a second right operation member that is located rearward of the first right operation member, to the right of a center in a left-right direction of the input device, and closer to the center in the left-right direction than the first right operation member and the right bulge portion; a second left operation member located rearward of the first left operation member, located to the left of a center of the input device in the left-right direction, and located closer to the center in the left-right direction than the first left operation member and the left bulge portion; a first microphone and a second microphone provided at a rear portion of the central portion and arranged so as to overlap each other in a plan view of the input device; a lower exterior member that constitutes a lower surface of the input device and has a lower sound hole facing downward; having The upper exterior member is an upper sound hole located behind the center of the central portion in the front-rear direction and allowing sound to propagate to the first microphone; an inclined portion extending diagonally rearward and downward and in which the upper tone hole is formed; a right opening for accommodating the second right operating member; a left opening for disposing the second left operation member; the upper sound hole is located between the right opening and the left opening in a plan view of the input device, and has an inner opening end formed on an inner surface of the upper exterior member and an outer opening end formed on an outer surface of the upper exterior member, The upper tone hole extends directly upward from the inner opening end toward the outer opening end, and the extension direction of the upper tone hole is inclined with respect to the direction perpendicular to the inclined portion, and is spaced upward from the lower tone hole. The upper exterior part of the input device.

9. The lower tone hole and the upper tone hole intersect with a plane along the front-back direction and the up-down direction. The upper exterior member of an input device according to claim 8 .

10. The plane is a plane passing through the center of the upper exterior member in the left-right direction. The upper exterior member of an input device according to claim 9.

11. the input device has a holder that holds an outer circumferential surface of the first microphone, The upper exterior member has an inner surface against which the outer circumferential surface of the holder is pressed. The upper exterior member of an input device according to claim 8 .

12. the input device has a circuit board; The first microphone is mounted on an upper surface of the circuit board, The upper sound hole extends downward toward the upper surface of the circuit board. The upper exterior member of an input device according to claim 8 .

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