Control Lever Device with Positioning Roller Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control lever devices for driving game machines lack a realistic gearshift feeling and are structurally complex due to the need for automatic return mechanisms and additional switching means, which complicates the design and reduces generality.

Innovation Solution

A control lever device with a control lever unit that includes positioning rollers and detection sections to provide a gearshift feeling, allowing the control lever to be positioned at multiple stages without automatic return means, and a moving path control section to simplify the structure and enhance versatility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an automatic return means is provided to return the tilted lever to the upright position, then the lever can be automatically returned, but the structure becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic return functionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the automatic return means from the system entirely. Instead of using springs or elastic elements to automatically return the lever, the design relies on the operator to manually return the lever to the upright position after use. This extraction of the automatic return mechanism directly reduces structural complexity while maintaining the core functionality of lever tilting in one or both axes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The lever system is designed to be self-servicing in terms of positioning - the lever naturally maintains its tilted position through the positioning roller mechanism and detection means, without requiring active automatic return forces. The system serves itself by using the weight and positioning mechanism rather than active elastic return forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If switching means is provided irrespective of the lever receiving section, then lever position detection is enabled, but the degree of generality is decreased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelever position detectionVSAvoiddegree of generality
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal switching means that can detect lever positions across multiple configurations - whether the lever tilts in one axis only or in both axes. The switching means is designed to work with different lever receiving section configurations, making the overall system more general and adaptable rather than less so. This universal detection approach increases versatility by accommodating various tilting configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The switching means is designed to be dynamic and adaptable to different lever positions and configurations. Rather than being fixed for a single configuration, the switching means can detect positions in one-axis or two-axis tilting systems, providing flexibility and maintaining high degree of generality across different operational modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the lever receiving section is designed to allow tilting in one-axis direction and other-axis direction, then multi-directional control is achieved, but the structure becomes more complex compared to single-direction tilting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-directional control capabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control functionality by allowing the lever receiving section to be configured for either one-axis or two-axis tilting based on specific needs. The positioning roller and switching means are designed to handle both configurations, but the actual implementation can be simplified to only what is needed - either single-axis or dual-axis tilting - thereby reducing unnecessary structural complexity while maintaining multi-directional capability where required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7563169B2Control lever device
Publication Date: 2009.07.21 BANDAI NAMCO EXPERIENCE INC
  • US7563169B2 patent drawing
  • US7563169B2 patent drawing
  • US7563169B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A control lever device includes: a control lever unit including an inner frame, a control lever supported by the inner frame in a manner to be movable about a fulcrum along a first direction, and a positioning roller attached in the inner frame and allowing the control lever to be positioned at first and second displacement positions located on a straight line by allowing an end of the control lever to pass over the positioning roller; an outer frame supporting the control lever unit so that the control lever unit is movable in a second direction intersecting the first direction at right angles; and a moving path control section controlling a moving path of the control lever. The control lever unit includes a lever position detection section detecting a position of the control lever. The outer frame includes a unit position detection section detecting movement of the control lever unit.