Switch unit and game machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9542795-B2
Application number	US-201214129155-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2012
Priority date	Jun 29, 2011
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A switch unit is provided, comprising: a display part configured to display an image in at least one input area; an input part provided above the display part, the input part comprising a contact, wherein when the input part is pressed toward the at least one input area displayed on the display part, the contact corresponding to the input area is conducted; and an operating button configured to cause conduction of the contact of the input part, the contact corresponding to the input area, by a press-down operation toward the input area of the display part, wherein the operating button is made of a translucent rectangular parallelepiped member, and at least one side wall of the translucent rectangular parallelepiped member is formed into an inclined surface widening outwardly toward bottom of the operating button.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A switch unit comprising:
a display part configured to display an image in at least one input area;
an input part provided above the display part, the input part comprising a contact, wherein when the input part is pressed toward the at least one input area displayed on the display part, the contact corresponding to the input area is conducted;
an operating button configured to cause conduction of the contact of the input part, the contact corresponding to the input area, by a press-down operation toward the input area of the display part; and
an operating button case having an opening for the access of the operating button,
wherein the operating button is made of a translucent rectangular parallelepiped member, and at least one side wall of the translucent rectangular parallelepiped member is formed into an inclined surface widening outwardly toward bottom of the operating button,
wherein at least one pair of opposite side walls of the operating button made of the translucent rectangular parallelepiped member are formed into inclined surfaces each widening outwardly toward the bottom of the operating button,
wherein an inclined angle of one inclined surface of one of the pair of opposite side walls is larger than an inclined angle of the other inclined surface of the other side walls,
wherein the input part is configured to detect the press-down operation of the operating button and is provided with a light-emitting part for illuminating a circumference of the operating button,
wherein a light diffusion portion and a light guide portion are being formed on the operating button case,
wherein the light guide portion is configured to prevent light emitting from the light emitting part to reach the operating button, and
wherein the light diffusion portion configured to face the light emitting part to illuminate the circumference of the operating button.

2. The switch unit according to claim 1 , wherein four side walls of the operating button made of the translucent rectangular parallelepiped member are formed into inclined surfaces each widening outwardly toward the bottom of the operating button.

3. The switch unit according to claim 2 , further comprising an elastic member provided between the operating button and the input part,
wherein the operating button comprises contact pressing portions formed on four lower corners of the operating button, and
wherein a cavity is formed in the elastic member at all or a part of positions making contact with the contact pressing portions formed on the four lower corners of the operating button.

4. The switch unit according to claim 3 , wherein the operating button made of the translucent rectangular parallelepiped member comprises support ends on one side thereof, and is provided so as to be freely pressed down by pivoting around the support ends.

5. The switch unit according to claim 4 ,
wherein cavities are formed in the elastic member at all positions making contact with the contact pressing portions formed on the four lower corners of the operating button, and
wherein the cavities of the elastic member, being located at positions making contact with contact pressing portions on two corners on one side of the contact pressing portions formed on the four lower corners of the operating button, are filled with fillers.

6. The switch unit according to claim 1 , further comprising an elastic member provided between the operating button and the input part,
wherein the operating button comprises contact pressing portions formed on four lower corners of the operating button, and
wherein a cavity is formed in the elastic member at all or a part of positions making contact with the contact pressing portions formed on the four lower corners of the operating button.

7. The switch unit according to claim 6 , wherein the operating button made of the translucent rectangular parallelepiped member comprises support ends on one side of the operating button, and is provided so as to be freely pressed down by pivoting around the support ends.

8. The switch unit according to claim 7 ,
wherein cavities are formed in the elastic member at all positions making contact with the contact pressing portions formed on the four lower corners of the operating button, and
wherein the cavities of the elastic member, being located at positions making contact with contact pressing portions on two corners on one side of the contact pressing portions formed on the four lower corners of the operating button, are filled with fillers.

9. The switch unit according to claim 1 , wherein four side walls of the operating button made of the translucent rectangular parallelepiped member are formed into inclined surfaces each widening outwardly toward the bottom of the operating button.

10. The switch unit according to claim 9 , further comprising an elastic member provided between the operating button and the input part,
wherein the operating button comprises contact pressing portions formed on four lower corners of the operating button, and
wherein a cavity is formed in the elastic member at all or a part of positions making contact with the contact pressing portions formed on the four lower corners of the operating button.

11. The switch unit according to claim 10 , wherein the operating button made of the translucent rectangular parallelepiped member comprises support ends on one side thereof, and is provided so as to be freely pressed down by pivoting around the support ends.

12. The switch unit according to claim 11 ,
wherein cavities are formed in the elastic member at all positions making contact with the contact pressing portions formed on the four lower corners of the operating button, and
wherein the cavities of the elastic member, being located at positions making contact with contact pressing portions on two corners on one side of the contact pressing portions formed on the four lower corners of the operating button, are filled with fillers.

13. The switch unit according to claim 1 , further comprising an elastic member provided between the operating button and the input part,
wherein the operating button comprises contact pressing portions formed on four lower corners of the operating button, and
wherein a cavity is formed in the elastic member at all or a part of positions making contact with the contact pressing portions formed on the four lower corners of the operating button.

14. The switch unit according to claim 13 , wherein the operating button made of the translucent rectangular parallelepiped member comprises support ends on one side thereof, and is provided so as to be freely pressed down by pivoting around the support ends.

15. The switch unit according to claim 14 ,
wherein cavities are formed in the elastic member at all positions making contact with the contact pressing portions formed on the four lower corners of the operating button, and
wherein the cavities of the elastic member, being located at positions making contact with contact pressing portions on two corners on one side of the contact pressing portions formed on the four lower corners of the operating button, are filled with fillers.

16. A game machine comprising a switch unit, said switch unit comprising:
a display part configured to display an image in at least one input area;
an input part provided above the display part, the input part comprising a contact, wherein when the input part is pressed toward the at least one input area displayed on the display part, the contact corresponding to the input area is conducted;
an operating button configure

Assignees

• Okazaki Ryoji
• Yasuda Eiji
• Fujita Junya
• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Okazaki Ryoji
• Yasuda Eiji
• Fujita Junya

Classifications

• G07F17/3209 Primary

  Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen · CPC title

• G06F2203/04809

  Textured surface identifying touch areas, e.g. overlay structure for a virtual keyboard · CPC title