Operation device

Abstract

This operation device is to be used by being fixed to a portable device provided with a display screen, the operation device comprising: a right-hand unit (20) that a user grips and uses with the right hand; a left-hand unit (30) that the user grips and uses with the left hand; and a flexible cord-shaped member (40) that is connected to both the right-hand unit (20) and the left-hand unit (30). The right-hand unit (20) is provided with an abutting portion (24) that abuts on one side surface of the portable device, and the left-hand unit (30) is provided with an abutting portion (34) that abuts the opposite side surface of the portable device.

Description

Control device

[0001] The present invention relates to an operation device used for inputting operations to an information processing device.

[0002] For example, when a user plays a video game, it is desirable to use an operation device equipped with operation members suitable for the operation to be performed by the user. For this reason, for example, home game consoles and the like are provided with operation devices dedicated to the operation.

[0003] Because the screen size of portable devices with display screens, such as smartphones and tablet terminals, is relatively small, users may want to use them while holding them in their hands, which makes it difficult for users to input operations using an operating device separate from the portable device.

[0004] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and one of its objects is to provide an operating device that can be used together with a portable device having a display screen.

[0005] An operating device according to one aspect of the present invention is an operating device that is fixed to a portable device having a display screen and is used, and includes a right-hand unit that the user holds in their right hand, a left-hand unit that the user holds in their left hand, and a flexible string-like member that is connected to both the right-hand unit and the left-hand unit, wherein the right-hand unit has an abutment portion that abuts against one side of the portable device, and the left-hand unit has an abutment portion that abuts against the side of the portable device opposite to the one side.

[0006] 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of an operating device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the operating device fixed to a portable device as viewed from the front; FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the operating device fixed to a portable device as viewed from the rear; FIG. 8 is a view showing the operating device fixed to a portable device as viewed from the side; FIG. 9 is a view showing an example of an attachment for connecting a right-hand unit and a left-hand unit; FIG. 10 is a view showing the right-hand unit and the left-hand unit connected via the attachment shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 11 is a view showing the right-hand unit and the left-hand unit connected by an attachment having a slide pad; FIG. 12 is a view showing the right-hand unit and the left-hand unit directly connected; FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of a unit having a plug connector;

[0007] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of an operating device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The operating device 10 according to this embodiment is used in a state fixed to a portable information processing device 50 so that a user can perform operation input to the information processing device 50. Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrams showing how the operating device 10 according to this embodiment is used in a state fixed to the information processing device 50, with Fig. 2 showing the state as seen from the front side (the side on which the display screen is arranged) and Fig. 3 showing the state as seen from the back side (the side opposite to the front side).

[0009] The information processing device 50 is a portable terminal device having a substantially rectangular, flat-plate shape, such as a smartphone or tablet terminal, and is provided with a substantially rectangular display screen 51 on one surface. In the following description, when a user uses the information processing device 50 together with the operation device 10, the information processing device 50 displays images to be presented to the user in an orientation (landscape display) in which the longitudinal direction of the display screen 51 is the horizontal direction. Furthermore, for convenience of description, the longitudinal direction (horizontal direction) of the display screen 51 is defined as the X-axis direction, the short side direction (vertical direction) is defined as the Y-axis direction, and the thickness direction of the information processing device 50 is defined as the Z-axis direction. Furthermore, the surface on which the display screen 51 of the information processing device 50 is arranged (the surface on the positive Z-axis side) is referred to as the front surface 52, and the surface opposite to that (the surface on the negative Z-axis side) is referred to as the back surface 53. Of the four sides, the side on the right side (the surface on the positive X-axis side) as seen from the user facing the display screen 51 is referred to as the right surface 54, the side on the opposite left side (the surface on the negative X-axis side) is referred to as the left surface 55, the upper side (the surface on the positive Y-axis side) is referred to as the upper surface 56, and the lower side on the opposite side (the surface on the negative Y-axis side) is referred to as the lower surface 57.

[0010] 1, the operating device 10 includes a right-hand unit 20, a left-hand unit 30, and a string-like member 40. In this embodiment, the user can use the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 by holding them in their right and left hands, respectively, while they are fixed to the information processing device 50.

[0011] The right-hand unit 20 is an operation unit that is held by the user in the right hand, and includes an operation member 21, a communication interface 22, a contact portion 23, and a connecting portion 24.

[0012] The operation member 21 is a member that allows the user to input various operations to the information processing device 50, and may include various operation members such as an operation button or a tilt operation member. The operation member 21 is located in a position that allows the user to operate it with the thumb or index finger of the right hand while holding the right-hand unit 20 in the right hand. Note that, although the operation member 21 is located only on the front side of the right-hand unit 20 in FIG. 1 , the operation member 21 is not limited to this, and may also be located on other sides, the back, etc.

[0013] The communication interface 22 is an interface for transmitting an operation signal indicating the content of an operation input by a user to the operation member 21 to the information processing device 50. In this embodiment, the communication interface 22 is a wireless communication interface that transmits an operation signal directly to the information processing device 50 by wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0014] The contact portion 23 is formed on the left side surface of the right-hand unit 20 so as to contact the right side surface 54 of the information processing device 50. As will be described in detail later, when the user uses the operation device 10, the right-hand unit 20 is fixed in a state in which the contact portion 23 is in contact with the right side surface 54 of the information processing device 50.

[0015] The connecting portion 24 is disposed on the rear side of the right-hand unit 20, and is connected in such a manner that the string-like member 40, which will be described later, does not easily come off.

[0016] Left-hand unit 30 is an operation unit that the user holds in his or her left hand and includes an operation member 31, a communication interface 32, a contact portion 33, and a connecting portion 34. Note that left-hand unit 30 is configured to be substantially symmetrical to right-hand unit 20 in terms of its overall shape.

[0017] The operation member 31 is a member that allows the user to input various operations to the information processing device 50, and may include various operation members similar to the operation member 21. The operation member 31 is arranged in a position that allows the user to operate it with the thumb or index finger of the left hand while holding the left-hand unit 30 in the left hand. The operation member 31 may also be arranged not only on the front side of the left-hand unit 30, but also on other sides or the back. Furthermore, the operation member 31 may differ in type, number, arrangement, etc. from the operation member 21 arranged on the right-hand unit 20.

[0018] The communication interface 32 is an interface for transmitting operation data indicating the content of the user's operation input to the operation member 31 to the information processing device 50. In this embodiment, similar to the communication interface 22, the communication interface 32 transmits the operation data directly to the information processing device 50 by wireless communication.

[0019] The contact portion 33 is formed on the right side surface of the left-hand unit 30 so as to contact a left side surface 55 of the information processing device 50 (the side surface opposite to the right side surface 54 with which the contact portion 23 of the right-hand unit 20 contacts). When the user uses the operation device 10, the left-hand unit 30 is fixed in a state in which the contact portion 33 contacts the left side surface 55 of the information processing device 50.

[0020] The connecting portion 34 is disposed on the rear side of the left-hand unit 30, and is connected in such a manner that a string-like member 40, which will be described later, does not easily come off.

[0021] String-like member 40 is an elongated member made of a flexible material, and one end of string-like member 40 is connected to connecting portion 24 of right-hand unit 20. The end opposite to the end connected to right-hand unit 20 is connected to connecting portion 34 of left-hand unit 30. In other words, right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30 are separate and independent housings, but are connected to each other via string-like member 40. Since connecting portion 24 of right-hand unit 20 and connecting portion 34 of left-hand unit 30 are located on the rear side of each unit, when right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30 are fixed to information processing device 50, string-like member 40 wraps around to rear surface 53 of information processing device 50 as shown in FIG. 3 , and does not interfere with the user's viewing of display screen 51 of information processing device 50.

[0022] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the string-like member 40 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and its length is stretchable. In this way, the length of the string-like member 40 is variable, so that the operating device 10 according to this embodiment can be fixed and used with a plurality of types of information processing devices 50 of different sizes.

[0023] An example of the shape of the contact portions 23 and 33 for fixing the operating device 10 according to this embodiment to the information processing device 50 will be described below with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 schematically shows the information processing device 50 as viewed from the lower surface 57 side (i.e., the negative Y-axis direction side).

[0024] In this example, a portion of the left side surface of the right-hand unit 20 is formed in a U-shape that opens toward the information processing device 50 (the negative X-axis direction) when viewed from the Y-axis direction, thereby forming a groove that extends along the Y-axis direction. This groove functions as abutment portion 23. Hereinafter, the three surfaces that make up the U-shaped side surface that functions as abutment portion 23 will be referred to as surface 23a, surface 23b, and surface 23c. Here, surface 23a is the surface facing the negative Z-axis direction, surface 23b is the surface facing the negative X-axis direction, and surface 23c is the surface facing the positive Z-axis direction.

[0025] The contact portion 33 of the left-hand unit 30 is formed substantially symmetrically with the contact portion 23 of the right-hand unit 20. That is, a portion of the right side surface of the left-hand unit 30 is formed in a U-shape that opens toward the information processing device 50 (the positive X-axis direction) when viewed from the Y-axis direction, thereby forming a groove extending along the Y-axis direction. This groove functions as the contact portion 33. Hereinafter, the three surfaces that make up the U-shaped side surface that functions as the contact portion 33 will be referred to as surface 33a, surface 33b, and surface 33c. Surface 33a faces the negative Z-axis direction, surface 33b faces the positive X-axis direction, and surface 33c faces the positive Z-axis direction.

[0026] When attaching the operation device 10 to the information processing device 50, the right end of the information processing device 50 is inserted into the space formed by the contact portion 23 of the right-hand unit 20, and the left end of the information processing device 50 is inserted into the space formed by the contact portion 33 of the left-hand unit 30. Here, the length of the string-like member 40 when the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 are fixed to the information processing device 50 is longer than the length (natural length) when no force is applied. As a result, when the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 are fixed to the information processing device 50, the elasticity of the string-like member 40 applies a pulling force to each of the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 toward the center of the information processing device 50. The block arrows in FIG. 4 indicate the direction of this pulling force. This traction force causes the surfaces 23 a of the contact portions 23 and 33 a of the contact portions 33 to abut against and press against the front surface 52 of the information processing device 50, the surfaces 23 b of the contact portions 23 against the right side surface 54 of the information processing device 50, and the surfaces 33 b of the contact portions 33 against the left side surface 55 of the information processing device 50. As a result, the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 engage with the left and right ends of the information processing device 50, and the operating device 10 is fixed to the information processing device 50.

[0027] Here, it is desirable that the width in the Z-axis direction of the grooves functioning as the abutment portions 23 and 33 (i.e., the length in the Z-axis direction of the surfaces 23b and 33b) be greater than the thickness of the information processing device 50. This allows the operation device 10 to be fixed and used with a plurality of types of information processing devices 50 having different thicknesses. Note that, although the abutment portions 23 and 33 are assumed to have a U-shape in side view here, each abutment portion may have a different shape as long as it has a surface that abuts at least the front surface 52 and the corresponding side surface (right side surface 54 or left side surface 55) of the information processing device 50.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, connecting portion 24 is formed so as to protrude further to the left (negative direction of the X axis) from the left side surface on the rear side of right-hand unit 20, and a protrusion 24a is formed that protrudes further to the front side (positive direction of the Z axis) from this protrusion. Connecting portion 34 is similarly formed so as to protrude further to the right (positive direction of the X axis) from the right side surface on the rear side of left-hand unit 30, and a protrusion 34a is formed that protrudes further to the front side (positive direction of the Z axis) from this protrusion. The upper surfaces of these protrusions 24a and 34a are formed from a deformable material such as rubber or sponge, and are sized to a height that will abut against rear surface 53 of information processing device 50 when right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30 are fixed to information processing device 50. As a result, the protrusions 24a and 34a support the information processing device 50 from the bottom surface 53 side, so that even if the width in the Z-axis direction of the abutment portions 23 and 33 is greater than the thickness of the information processing device 50, the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 can be fixed in a stable state so that they do not wobble relative to the information processing device 50.

[0029] Furthermore, it is desirable that at least a portion of the surface of contact portion 23 and contact portion 33 be formed from a non-slip material such as rubber. Specifically, the portions of the surface of contact portion 23 and contact portion 33, including the areas that come into direct contact with information processing device 50, are formed from a material with a relatively higher coefficient of friction than the other portions of the housing surfaces of right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30. This makes it possible to prevent each unit from wobbling or shifting position relative to information processing device 50 when contact portion 23 and contact portion 33 engage with the left and right ends of information processing device 50 to secure right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30 to information processing device 50.

[0030] As described above, in the example shown in the figure, the width of the abutment portions 23 and 33 in the Z-axis direction is larger than that of the information processing device 50, and each unit is fixed to the information processing device 50 without directly contacting the information processing device 50 with the surfaces 23c and 33c. However, this is not limiting, and if the thickness of the information processing device 50 is expected to be within a certain range, the abutment portions 23 and 33 may be formed so that the surfaces 23c and 33c are fixed in contact with the bottom surface 53 of the information processing device 50. Specifically, by forming the surfaces of the abutment portions 23 and 33 from a deformable material such as rubber or sponge, when the right end of the information processing device 50 is inserted into the abutment portion 23 and the left end of the information processing device 50 is inserted into the abutment portion 33, the surfaces 23a and 33a can be pressed against the front surface 52 of the information processing device 50, and the surfaces 23c and 33c can be pressed against the back surface 53 of the information processing device 50. As a result, the information processing device 50 is supported by the contact portions 23 and 33, and the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 can be stably fixed to the information processing device 50. In this case, it is not necessary for the upper surfaces of the protrusions 24 a and 34 a to contact the rear surface 53 of the information processing device 50.

[0031] Furthermore, the operation device 10 according to this embodiment may be used in a state where it is separated and independent from the information processing device 50, by connecting the two units to each other without using the information processing device 50, rather than fixing the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 to the information processing device 50. This allows the user to use the operation device 10 for inputting operations to tablet terminals, home game consoles, personal computers, in-vehicle terminals, and the like, which are too large for the operation device 10 to accommodate.

[0032] Specifically, right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30 each have a connecting mechanism for connecting to each other. Right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30 may be directly connectable to each other without using any other members, or may be connected by a separately prepared connecting attachment.

[0033] In the example of FIG. 1, the protrusion 24a formed on the connecting portion 24 and the protrusion 34a formed on the connecting portion 34 also function as a connecting mechanism for connecting the two units.

[0034] In this example, a dedicated attachment 60 is provided, and fitting portions 61 and 62 that fit with protrusions 24 a and 34 a, respectively, are provided on the underside of attachment 60. Protrusion 24 a of right-hand unit 20 fits into fitting portion 61, and protrusion 34 a of left-hand unit 30 fits into fitting portion 62, respectively, whereby right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30 are connected to each other via attachment 60.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the attachment 60 in this example as seen from below, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the operation device 10 as seen from the front side with the right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30 connected using this attachment 60. In this example, the protrusions 24a and 34a are configured so that their base (rear) sides are narrower than their tip (front) sides, and correspondingly, the fitting portions 61 and 62 are formed as narrowed holes that fit into the base sides of the protrusions 24a and 34a. As a result, the tip sides of the protrusions 24a and 34a are hooked and fitted into the fitting portions 61 and 62, allowing the right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30 to be attached to the attachment 60 without easily coming off. By connecting the right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30 to each other in this manner, the user can use the operation device 10 alone to perform operation inputs to various information processing devices.

[0036] When the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 are connected in this manner, the distance between the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 is shorter than when the units are fixed to the information processing device 50, and it is therefore expected that the string-like member 40 will be in a loose state. Therefore, it is desirable to ensure that the string-like member 40 does not get in the way when connecting the two units. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 and other figures, a notch 24b is formed in the connecting portion 24, opening from the upper side (positive Y-axis direction) to the left side, and the string-like member 40 is connected within this notch 24b. Therefore, the string-like member 40 extends outward from the opening of this notch 24b. Similarly, a notch 34b is formed in the connecting portion 34, opening from the upper side (positive Y-axis direction) to the right side, and the string-like member 40 is connected within this notch 34b.

[0037] Due to the presence of these notches 24b and 34b, when the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 are brought closer together, the string-like member 40 extends upward (towards the positive Y-axis direction) from both the connecting portion 24 and the connecting portion 34 as shown in Figure 6, preventing it from hanging down towards the user.

[0038] In the example of FIG. 6 , the attachment 60 is simply used to connect the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30. However, this is not limited to this, and the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 may also be connected to an attachment equipped with other operating members that can be used for user operation input. FIG. 7 shows an example of connecting the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 using an attachment 65 equipped with a slide pad 66 on the front surface. In this example, two mating portions (not shown) similar to those in the example of the attachment 60 are arranged on the back surface of the attachment 65, and the protrusions 24 a of the right-hand unit 20 and the protrusions 34 a of the left-hand unit 30 are respectively fitted into and fixed to the mating portions. In this case, the attachment 65 is equipped with a wireless communication interface and transmits operation signals indicating the content of user operation inputs to the operating members equipped on the attachment 65 to the information processing device 50 via wireless communication.

[0039] Furthermore, in the above explanation, the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 are connected via a dedicated attachment 60 or 65, but each unit may be provided with a connecting mechanism that allows the two to be directly connected without using a dedicated attachment.

[0040] As an example, a magnet may be disposed as a coupling mechanism at the contact points of the coupling portions 24 and 34, and the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 may be coupled by the magnetic force of the magnet. Alternatively, to more securely couple the two units, one of the two units may be provided with a protrusion and the other with a coupling hole into which the protrusion can be inserted, and the two units may be coupled by fitting them together. FIG. 8 shows an example of the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 coupled together using such a coupling mechanism. In this example, the protrusion 24c on the left side of the coupling portion 24 is inserted into the coupling hole on the right side of the coupling portion 34, and the two units are coupled together by fitting them together. Alternatively, the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 may be provided with a coupling mechanism that couples them together in any manner.

[0041] As described above, with the operating device 10 according to this embodiment, the user can easily fix the operating device 10 to a portable information processing device 50 that does not have a dedicated connecting mechanism corresponding to the operating device 10, and can perform operation input using the operating device 10 while viewing the display contents of the display screen 51 arranged on the information processing device 50.

[0042] It should be noted that the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to those described above. For example, in the above description, the operation device 10 is fixed to the portable information processing device 50. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The operation device 10 may be fixed to a portable display device that is separated from the information processing device and has a display screen that displays a screen generated by the information processing device. In this case, too, the user can perform operation input to the information processing device using the operation device 10 fixed to the display device while viewing the display screen of the display device.

[0043] In the above description, it is assumed that information processing device 50 displays images with its longitudinal direction oriented horizontally, and right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30 are fixed to right side surface 54 and left side surface 55, respectively. However, this is not limited to this, and operation device 10 may be fixed to information processing device 50 for use even when information processing device 50 displays images vertically (with its longitudinal direction oriented vertically). In this case, the user engages one of right-hand unit 20 and left-hand unit 30 with upper surface 56 of information processing device 50 and the other with lower surface 57 opposite to upper surface 56 to fix them.

[0044] Furthermore, the appearance, shape, scale, and arrangement of operation members of the operation device 10 shown in the figures above are merely examples, and the operation device 10 may have various configurations without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 may each have a vibration mechanism in their housings that presents vibrations to the user, or a force feedback mechanism that presents a force feedback to the fingers that operate the operation members.

[0045] Furthermore, in the above description, the string member 40 is permanently connected to each of the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30, but the string member 40 may be configured to be detachable by the user. This allows the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 to be directly connected with the string member 40 detached, or the string member 40 to be replaced with another one in some cases. In particular, by replacing the string member 40 with another string member of a different length, the operating device 10 can be fixed and used with information processing devices 50 of various sizes.

[0046] In the above description, the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 are each connected to the information processing device 50 via wireless communication. However, this is not limiting, and the operation device 10 may be connected to the information processing device 50 via a wired communication.

[0047] Specifically, if a receptacle such as a USB is arranged on one side of information processing device 50 as a communication interface, either right-hand unit 20 or left-hand unit 30 may be provided with a plug connector that is connected to this receptacle.

[0048] 9 is a diagram showing an example of a unit equipped with such a plug connector. In this example, a plug connector 26 is disposed on the surface of the right-hand unit 20. More specifically, the plug connector 26 is disposed on the left side of the right-hand unit 20, protruding from the surface of a contact portion 23 that contacts the information processing device 50 toward the information processing device 50 (the negative X-axis direction). When the operation device 10 is fixed to the information processing device 50, this connector is inserted into a receptacle disposed on the right side 54 of the information processing device 50, and the two are connected. This establishes a wired communication connection between the right-hand unit 20 and the information processing device 50, enabling operation signals and the like to be transmitted to the information processing device 50.

[0049] Furthermore, by connecting the right-hand unit 20 and the information processing device 50 via the plug connector 26 in this manner, the right-hand unit 20 can be physically fixed to the information processing device 50. Therefore, in this example, the abutment portion 23 does not necessarily have to have a U-shape in side view.

[0050] Furthermore, in this example, the left-hand unit 30 may be connected to the information processing device 50 via wireless communication as described above, but may also be connected to the right-hand unit 20 via wired communication. In this case, a signal line 41 for wired communication connection is disposed inside the string-shaped member 40. Note that the length of the string-shaped member 40 varies due to its elasticity, but by providing a sufficient length for the signal line 41 within the right-hand unit 20 and / or left-hand unit 30, it is possible to prevent physical stress from being placed on the signal line 41 even if the length of the string-shaped member 40 varies.

[0051] In this case, the left-hand unit 30 transmits an operation signal indicating the content of the user's operation input to the operation member 31 to the right-hand unit 20 via the signal line 41 passing through the inside of the string-like member 40. The right-hand unit 20 transmits the operation signal received from the left-hand unit 30 and an operation signal indicating the content of the user's operation input to the operation member 21 provided therein together to the information processing device 50 via the plug connector 26. This allows the operating device 10 to transmit an operation signal to the information processing device 50 even if the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 do not have a wireless communication interface. Note that this wired connection via the plug connector 26 and the signal line 41 may be used not only for data communication but also for power supply.

[0052] Furthermore, in this example, the attachment 65 equipped with a unique operating member as shown in Fig. 7 may also be equipped with a receptacle, and the right-hand unit 20 may be connected to the attachment 65 by inserting the plug connector 26 into this receptacle. In this way, the attachment 65 can transmit an operation signal indicating the content of an operation input to an operating member such as the slide pad 66 equipped on the attachment 65 to the right-hand unit 20 via this plug connector 26. In this case, the attachment 65 does not need to be equipped with a wireless communication interface.

[0053] Furthermore, in the above description, the string-like member 40 is described as being made of an elastically stretchable material. However, if the size of the corresponding information processing device 50 is predetermined, the string-like member 40 may not necessarily be stretchable and may have a fixed length. Furthermore, the string-like member 40 may be configured so that at least a portion thereof is wound and stored within the right-hand unit 20 or the left-hand unit 30. As a specific example, the right-hand unit 20 may include a built-in reel for winding the string-like member 40, and at least a portion of the string-like member 40 is stored within the unit when the user is not applying force. In this case, when the user applies force in a direction separating the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30, the string-like member 40 is pulled out from the right-hand unit 20, and the length of the portion not stored within the right-hand unit 20 increases. In this state, when the user engages the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 with the information processing device 50 and then releases their hands, a force is applied that winds up the string-like member 40 and stores it within the right-hand unit 20. As a result, just as when the string-shaped member 40 itself stretches and contracts due to its elasticity, the right-hand unit 20 and the left-hand unit 30 are pulled and fixed to the information processing device 50 by the force trying to wind up the string-shaped member 40.

[0054] 10 Operation device, 20 Right-hand unit, 21 Operation member, 22 Communication interface, 23 Contact portion, 24 Connection portion, 26 Plug connector, 30 Left-hand unit, 31 Operation member, 32 Communication interface, 33 Contact portion, 34 Connection portion, 40 String-like member, 41 Signal line, 50 Information processing device, 51 Display screen, 60 Attachment, 61, 62 Fitting portion, 65 Attachment, 66 Slide pad.

Claims

1. An operating device that is fixed to a portable device equipped with a display screen and used, comprising: a right-handed unit that is held in a user's right hand for use; a left-handed unit that is held in a user's left hand for use; and a flexible string-like member that is connected to both the right-handed unit and the left-handed unit, wherein the right-handed unit has an abutment portion that abuts against one side of the portable device, and the left-handed unit has an abutment portion that abuts against a side of the portable device opposite to the one side.

2. An operating device as described in claim 1, wherein the string-like member is configured to be stretchable in length and applies a force pulling the right-hand unit and the left-hand unit toward the portable device when the right-hand unit and the left-hand unit are fixed to the portable device.

3. An operating device according to claim 2, wherein the contact portions of the right-hand unit and the left-hand unit at least contact the corresponding side surface of the portable device and the front surface of the portable device on which the display screen is located.

4. An operating device as described in claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the surface of the abutment portion of each of the right-hand unit and the left-hand unit is formed from a material having a higher coefficient of friction than other portions of the housing surface of the right-hand unit and the left-hand unit.

5. An operating device according to claim 1, wherein the right-hand unit and the left-hand unit are provided with a connecting mechanism for connecting the two without going through the portable device.

6. An operating device as described in claim 1, wherein the abutment portion of at least one of the right-hand unit and the left-hand unit is provided with a plug connector to be inserted into a receptacle arranged on the corresponding side of the portable device.

Images