Controller device

Abstract

A controller device 1 includes a first member 10 and a second member 20 that are disposed facing one other to form a cylindrical hollow section. The first member 10 and the second member 20 hold therebetween an operator's finger that has been inserted into the hollow section formed between the first member 10 and the second member 20, whereby the controller device 1 can be worn on the operator's finger. The second member 20 is supported so as to be movable relative to the first member 10 in the radial direction and the axial direction of the hollow section. When moving in the axial direction, the second member 20 moves between a mobile position where the diameter of the hollow section can be increased / decreased and an engagement position where the diameter of the hollow section is fixed.

Description

Controller device

[0001] The present invention relates to a controller device that can be worn on an operator's finger.

[0002] In recent years, controllers that can be used in various information processing devices such as home game consoles have been developed, and among them, there are controllers that can be worn on the finger for operation.

[0003] However, when worn on the finger, it is necessary to change the size according to the diameter of the operator's finger. Therefore, conventionally, controllers worn on the finger are prepared in a plurality of variations according to the finger size, and the user purchases a controller device that fits their finger size from among these variations. There are various problems such as the procedures until purchase, such as measuring the finger size, being complicated, and being unable to deal with the situation when the finger size changes after purchase. At present, devices worn on the finger are not widespread.

[0004] Therefore, it is also conceivable to adjust the diameter with an elastic body or the like so that the diameter can be changed according to the finger. In this case, if the elastic modulus of the elastic body is too high, it becomes difficult to adjust during wearing, and if the elastic modulus is too low, the diameter easily changes, making it easy to fall off during operation.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a controller device that can be worn on a finger, and one of its purposes is to provide a controller device that can easily perform adjustment according to the finger size and prevent falling off during operation.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention for solving the problems of the above conventional example has a first member and a second member that are arranged opposite to each other to form a cylindrical hollow portion, and sandwiches an operator's finger inserted into the cylindrical hollow portion formed between the first member and the second member, and is a controller device that can be worn on the operator's finger. The second member is supported so as to be relatively movable with respect to the first member in the radial direction and the axial direction of the cylindrical hollow portion, and when moving in the axial direction, it moves between a movable position where the diameter of the hollow portion can be expanded and contracted and an engagement position where the diameter of the hollow portion is fixed.

[0007] According to this embodiment, it is possible to easily adjust the size to fit the finger, and it is possible to prevent the device from falling off during operation.

[0008] This is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic exploded perspective view showing an example of a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a first side view of a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a second component of a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the engagement state between the second component and the first side view of a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the movement of the second component of a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a circuit section included in a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a schematic perspective view showing another example of a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is an explanatory diagram showing an example of mounting a controller device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As illustrated in Figure 1, a controller device 1 according to one example of this embodiment comprises an exterior body 1a including a first member 10, a second member 20, and a fixing member 30, and a circuit unit 50 housed in this exterior body 1a (parts of which, such as operating members, may be exposed to the outside). In the following examples, the size and proportions of each part are merely illustrative and may differ from those shown in the drawings.

[0010] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the first member 10 comprises a substantially planar base 11 and a first side portion 12 and a second side portion 13 erected on two opposing sides 11a and 11b of the base portion 11. These first side portion 12 and second side portion 13 are erected in the same direction relative to the base portion 11, forming a substantially Π-shaped columnar structure as a whole.

[0011] In the following explanation, the normal direction of the base portion 11 is defined as the Y-axis, and the normal direction of the surface of the first side portion 12 or the second side portion 13 is defined as the Z-axis. Furthermore, the axial direction perpendicular to the Y and Z axes (the direction perpendicular to the Y-axis within the plane of the first side portion 12 or the second side portion 13) is defined as the X-axis.

[0012] Furthermore, substantially flat fixing members 30 are provided at the ends of the first side portion 12 and the second side portion 13, which face the base portion 11. If the lengths of the first side portion 12 and the second side portion 13 (distance from the base portion 11 to the end) are different, the fixing members 30 are provided parallel to the base portion 11, extending from the shorter end to the other side.

[0013] Here, the base portion 11 of the first member 10 is the surface that comes into contact with the operator's finger when the operator wears the controller device 1 on their finger, with its inner surface 110 (the first side portion 12 and the base portion 11). For this reason, it is preferable that the inner surface 110 of the base portion 11 is shaped like a part of the inner surface of a cylinder to match the shape of a typical adult finger.

[0014] The first side portion 12 is substantially plate-shaped, and a linear ratchet gear 121 is formed on its inner surface 120 in a straight line from the side facing the base portion 11 toward the opposite side, that is, parallel to the Y-axis, as illustrated in Figures 3(a) and (c). Specifically, this linear ratchet gear 121 is positioned in the center of the width direction (X-axis direction) of the first side portion 12, and flat portions 122 and 123 are formed on at least one side of its X-axis (both sides in Figure 3). Here, the flat portions 122 and 123 are planar (gear-free) portions formed parallel to the linear ratchet gear 121 along the Y-axis for substantially the same length as the linear ratchet gear 121.

[0015] In this embodiment, the linear ratchet gear 121, when viewed from a plane parallel to the YZ plane, has a tooth arrangement formed by repeatedly having a surface 121a parallel to the Z axis and facing the base portion 11, and an inclined surface 121b that slopes from the end of the surface 121a on the second side portion 13 side toward the base side of the adjacent surface 121a, as illustrated in Figure 3(b).

[0016] The second side portion 13 is substantially plate-shaped, and a keyway 131 is formed on its inner surface at a position facing the linear ratchet gear 121 of the first side portion 12. In one example of this embodiment, the circuit portion 50 is housed within this second side portion 13. Therefore, the second side portion 13 may be configured to be somewhat wider in the area where the operating portion of the circuit portion 50 is located, for example, to include a disc-shaped portion 13a. However, this is just one example, and for example, the operating portion (described later) of the circuit portion 50 may be located on the base portion 11 of the Y axis.

[0017] The second member 20 is sandwiched between the first side portion 12 and the second side portion 13 of the first member 10, and is supported so as to be movable relative to the first member 10 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, as will be explained later. As illustrated in Figure 4, the second member 20 has a key 202 formed on its bottom surface 201, and the side surface 203a of the side 203 facing the base portion 11 of the first member 10 in the Y-axis direction is part of the inner surface of a cylinder to match the shape of a typical adult finger (Figures 4(a), (b)). Here, the key 202 is convex in shape so as to fit with play into the key groove 131 of the second side portion 13, and is guided by the key groove 131 to slide within the key groove 131 in the Y-axis direction.

[0018] Furthermore, a ratchet pawl 205 that can engage with the linear ratchet gear 121 of the first side portion 12 is provided on the upper surface 204 of the second member 20. As illustrated in Figures 4(a) and (c), this ratchet pawl 205 is pivotally supported by a shaft 2051 positioned at the end of a recess 2041 formed in the upper surface 204. Figure 4(c) is a partially enlarged view of Figure 4(a). This shaft 2051 is positioned so as to be parallel to the X-axis when the normal direction of the upper surface 204 is parallel to the Z-axis direction (when the ratchet pawl 205 is engaged with the linear ratchet gear 121).

[0019] As shown in Figure 4(c), the ratchet pawl 205 rotates around this axis 2051 and is movable between a retracted position 205a within the recess 2041 and a protruding position 205b extending out of the recess 2041. Furthermore, the ratchet pawl 205 is biased by an elastic body 2042, such as a spring, located within the recess 2041, in the direction normal to the upper surface 204 and in the direction of protruding from the upper surface 204.

[0020] However, this is just one example, and instead of pivotally supporting the ratchet pawl 205, for example, a guide groove could be formed linearly in the Z-axis direction so that the ratchet pawl 205 can move linearly along this groove in the Z-axis direction, and an elastic body 2042 disposed in the recess 2041 could bias it in the direction normal to the upper surface 204 and in the direction of protruding from the upper surface 204. In this example as well, the ratchet pawl 204 can move between a position retracted in the recess 2041 and a position protruding from the recess 2041.

[0021] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the ratchet pawl 205 has a triangular shape that engages with the surfaces 121a and 121b of the linear ratchet gear 121 illustrated in Figure 3, and one of its surfaces abuts against surface 121a of the linear ratchet gear 121 when engaged. In this state, when the ratchet pawl 205 is engaged with the linear ratchet gear 121, the second member 20 is allowed to move toward the base 11 of the first member 10, but is restricted from moving toward the base 11 of the first member 10.

[0022] One of the characteristic features of this embodiment is that, because the key 202 on the bottom surface 201 of the second member 20 is fitted with play into the keyway 131 of the second side surface 13, when the normals of the bottom surface 201 and top surface 204 of the second member 20 are parallel to the Z axis (Figure 6(a)), and a force is applied in the X axis direction, the second member 20 tilts in the direction of the force, as illustrated in Figures 6(b) and (c), and the ratchet pawl 205 engages and disengages from the linear ratchet gear 121 of the first side surface 12 and moves to the location of the flat portion 122 or flat portion 123 formed on the side of the linear ratchet gear 121 (becoming relatively movable in the X axis direction). At this time, the ratchet pawl 205 is no longer restricted in movement by the linear ratchet gear 121, so the second member 20 becomes freely movable relative to the first member 10 in the Y axis direction.

[0023] The position of the second member illustrated in Figure 6(a) corresponds to the engagement position of the second member of the present invention, and the positions of the second member illustrated in Figures 6(b) and (c) correspond to the movable position of the second member of the present invention.

[0024] In this embodiment, the dimensions of each part of the linear ratchet gear 121, ratchet pawl 205, keyway 131, and key 202, such as the width in the X-axis direction and the height (depth) in the Z-axis direction, are determined such that the ratchet pawl 205 can engage with and disengage from the linear ratchet gear 121 when subjected to force in the X-axis direction, and the second member 20 does not fall out of the first member 10 even when force is applied in the X-axis direction (as illustrated in Figures 6(b) and (c), when the second member 20 is inclined, its upper surface 204 contacts the linear ratchet gear 121 or the inner surface of the first side portion 12, preventing it from falling out). For example, on the outer side (the side opposite to the linear ratchet gear 121) of the flat portions 122 and 123 of the inner surface 120 of the first side portion 12, protrusions (parts that protrude inward) 124 and 125 (shown by dashed lines in Figures 3(a) and (c)) may be provided parallel to the flat portions 122 and 123, so that even if a force is applied to the second member 20 in the X-axis direction, the ratchet pawl 205 will engage with these protrusions 124 and 125, preventing the second member 20 from falling off the first member 10.

[0025] The fixing member 30 has a cap 31 that forms a surface with respect to the base 11 at the end of the first side portion 12 and the second side portion 13, and an elastic body 32 such as a spring that biases the second member 20 toward the base 11 from the cap 31.

[0026] In this embodiment, the first member 10 and the second member 20 are arranged facing each other to form a cylindrical hollow portion E, and the second member 20 is biased toward the base 11 of the first member 10 by the elastic body 32 of the fixing member 30 (Figure 1). Furthermore, except when the operator inserts their finger or removes the controller device 1 from their finger, the second member 20 is restricted from moving away from the base 11 of the first member 10 (in the Y-axis direction, radial direction of the hollow portion E; the hollow portion E is substantially cylindrical, and its axial direction corresponds to the X-axis direction in the figure), preventing the diameter of the hollow portion E from expanding and causing it to detach from the finger while the controller device 1 is attached and being operated. As already described in one example of this embodiment, this restriction is achieved by the engagement of the linear ratchet gear 121 and the ratchet pawl 205.

[0027] When the operator inserts their finger into the cylindrical hollow portion E formed between the first member 10 and the second member 20, the second member 20 receives a force in the insertion direction and tilts in the XZ plane (Figure 6(b)), causing the ratchet pawl 205 to disengage from the linear ratchet gear 121 on the first side portion 12 and move to the location of the flat portion 122 formed on the side of the linear ratchet gear 121.

[0028] Therefore, the second member 20 moves in the Y-axis direction within the hollow portion E to match the diameter of the operator's finger. Eventually, the operator finishes putting on the controller device 1 and adjusts its position to achieve a comfortable fit. At this point, when the normal direction of the bottom surface 201 of the second member 20 becomes parallel to the Z-axis, the ratchet pawl 205 re-engages with the linear ratchet gear 121, preventing it from moving away from the base 11 of the first member 10. In other words, the operator's finger is maintained in a state where it is held between the base 11 of the first member 10 and the second member 20.

[0029] Furthermore, when the operator removes the controller device 1 attached to their finger, the second member 20 is subjected to a force in the opposite direction to that during insertion, causing it to tilt in the XZ plane (Figure 6(c)), and the ratchet pawl 205 engages and disengages from the linear ratchet gear 121 on the first side portion 12 and moves to the location of the flat portion 123 formed on the side of the linear ratchet gear 121. As a result, the second member 20 can move in the Y-axis direction within the hollow portion E to match the diameter of the operator's finger, making it relatively easy to remove the controller device 1 from the finger.

[0030] [Example of Circuit Unit] In this embodiment, the circuit unit 50, as illustrated in Figure 7, includes a microprocessor 51, a memory unit 52, an operation unit 53, and a communication unit 54. The microprocessor 51 operates according to a program stored in the memory unit 52 and sends information representing the content of the operation performed by the operator to the operation unit 53 via the communication unit 54 to an external device (for example, a personal computer or an information processing device such as a home game console).

[0031] The memory unit 52 holds the program executed by the microprocessor 51 and also operates as the work memory for the microprocessor 51. This program is provided, for example, on a computer-readable and non-temporary recording medium and stored in the memory unit 52.

[0032] The control unit 53 is a joystick, a button, or the like, and accepts input from the operator. In one example of this embodiment, this control unit 53 is located on the disc-shaped portion 13a of the second side portion 13. The operator, with the controller device 1 attached, for example, to the middle finger of their right hand, operates the control unit 53 located on the disc-shaped portion 13a with the thumb of the right hand on which the controller device 1 is attached.

[0033] The operation unit 53 outputs information to the microprocessor 51 that represents the content of the operation received from the operator (for example, button operation information including information that identifies a button and information that indicates that the button identified by said information has been pressed, and information that represents the direction and amount of operation of a joystick).

[0034] The communication unit 54 communicates with information processing devices such as personal computers and home game consoles via a wireless interface such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or a wired interface such as USB, in accordance with instructions input from the microprocessor 51. The communication unit 54 then sends information representing the content of the operation output by the operation unit 53 to the information processing device with which it is communicating, in accordance with instructions input from the microprocessor 51.

[0035] [Rotation Prevention] In this embodiment, the side of the first member 10 on the side where the operating section 53 of the circuit section 50 is located (the second side section 12 in the example described so far) may be made longer than the other side member (the first side section 11 in this example). In this example, as illustrated in Figure 8, the portion 12e of the second side section 12 that extends beyond the first member 10 (outside the cap 31 of the fixing member 30) will be attached to the finger adjacent to the finger wearing the controller device 1 (supporting finger) (Figure 9). As a result, when pressing a button or the like on the operating section 53, the movement of the controller device 1 to rotate around the finger wearing it is restricted, preventing the controller device 1 from moving during operation.

[0036] [Posture Restoration] In this embodiment, when no force in the X-axis direction is applied to the second member 20 (except when attaching or detaching it from a finger), the second member 20 may be further provided with a posture restoration means for restoring the posture of the second member 20 so that the ratchet pawl 205 of the second member 20 is engaged with the linear ratchet gear 121 of the first member 10.

[0037] Specifically, this posture recovery mechanism may be implemented, for example, by arranging permanent magnets on the linear ratchet gear 121 and the ratchet pawl 205 such that their opposite polarities face each other.

[0038] [Effects of the Embodiment] According to the controller device 1 of this embodiment, when attaching it to the finger, it is easy to adjust it to the size of the finger, and the diameter does not change during operation.

[0039] 1 Controller device, 10 First member, 11 Base, 12 First side portion, 121 Linear ratchet gear, 122, 123 Flat portion, 13 Second side portion, 131 Keyway, 20 Second member, 202 Key, 205 Ratchet pawl, 30 Fixing member, 31 Cap, 32 Elastic body, 50 Circuit section, 51 Microprocessor, 52 Memory section, 53 Operation section, 54 Communication section.

Claims

1. A controller device that can be attached to an operator's finger by gripping the operator's finger, which is inserted into the cylindrical hollow portion formed between the first member and the second member, wherein the second member is supported relative to the first member so as to be movable in the radial direction and axial direction of the cylindrical hollow portion, and when moving in the axial direction, the controller device moves between a movable position in which the diameter of the hollow portion can be expanded or contracted and an engagement position in which the diameter of the hollow portion is fixed.

2. A controller device according to claim 1, wherein the first member comprises a linear ratchet gear arranged parallel to the radial direction of the cylindrical hollow portion, and the second member comprises a ratchet pawl that engages with the linear ratchet gear in the engagement position and engages with and disengages from the linear ratchet gear in the movable position.

3. A controller device according to claim 2, wherein the linear ratchet gear of the first member is arranged parallel to the radial direction of the cylindrical hollow portion, a flat portion is formed on at least one side of the linear ratchet gear of the first member in the axial direction, and the ratchet pawl of the second member engages with the linear ratchet gear in the engagement position and moves to the position of the flat portion to engage with and disengage from the linear ratchet gear in the movable position.

4. A controller device according to claim 2, wherein the linear ratchet gear of the first member is arranged parallel to the radial direction of the cylindrical hollow portion, and the relative radial movement direction of the ratchet pawl and the linear ratchet gear of the hollow portion is restricted to one direction in which the first member and the second member are closer to each other.

5. A controller device according to claim 1, further comprising a posture recovery means for biasing the first member and the second member toward each other in the radial direction of the cylindrical hollow portion.

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