Game operating device

Abstract

A game operating device (controller) includes a longitudinal housing, and a holding portion held by hand to be wrapped by its palm it is formed in the housing. A direction switch is provided on an upper surface at a position where it can be operated by thumb of the hand holding the holding portion, and a start switch and a select switch are provided backward thereof. An X button 46 and a Y button are further arranged in line on the upper surface of the housing. An imaging information arithmetic unit is provided at a front end of the housing in a longitudinal direction in such a manner that an imaging device thereof is exposed from a front-end surface. A concave portion is formed on a lower surface at a position corresponding to the direction switch. The concave portion includes a valley and two inclined surfaces. An A button capable of being operated by index finger of the hand holding the holding portion is provided on the backward inclined surface. By processing an image signal obtained by imaging an infrared ray from LED modules by the imaging device, it is possible to obtain an operation signal varying according to a position and/or attitude of the controller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A game controller, comprising:
 an upper surface;   a power button mounted on the controller such that a top surface of the power button is positioned substantially parallel to or below the upper surface, and where the power button is positioned such that the power button can be operated by a thumb of a user's hand that is holding the controller;   a directional input device located on the upper surface; and   a first control button located on the controller such that the first control button can be operated by an index finger of a user's hand that is holding the controller.   
     
     
         2 . The game controller of  claim 1 , wherein operation of the power button causes the game controller to output a signal which causes a game playing device to be turned on and/or off. 
     
     
         3 . The game controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a wireless transmitter that sends user operation data to a game playing device. 
     
     
         4 . The game controller of  claim 1 , wherein the first control button is configured as a trigger button. 
     
     
         5 . The game controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a second control button, wherein operation of the second control button causes the game controller to output a signal that invokes a home menu function. 
     
     
         6 . The game controller of  claim 5 , wherein the second control button is located on the controller at a central position with respect to a horizontal axis of the controller. 
     
     
         7 . The game controller of  claim 5 , wherein the second control button is mounted on the controller such that a top surface of the second control button is positioned substantially parallel to or below the upper surface. 
     
     
         8 . The game controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a vibrator that is configured to cause the controller to vibrate in response to receipt of a vibration signal from a game playing device. 
     
     
         9 . The game controller of  claim 1 , further comprising an inertial sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The game controller of  claim 9 , wherein the inertial sensor comprises an accelerometer-based inertial sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The game controller of  claim 9 , wherein the inertial sensor comprises a gyroscopic-based inertial sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The game controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of indicator lights located on the upper surface of the controller. 
     
     
         13 . The game controller of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of indicator lights are arranged to form a single row on the upper surface of the controller. 
     
     
         14 . The game controller of  claim 1 , wherein the directional input device comprises a first directional input device, and further comprising a second directional input device. 
     
     
         15 . The game controller of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and second directional input devices comprises a cross-key. 
     
     
         16 . The game controller of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first and second directional input devices comprises an analog directional input device. 
     
     
         17 . The game controller of  claim 14 , wherein one of the first and second directional input devices comprises a cross-key, and wherein the other of the first and second directional input devices comprises an analog directional input device. 
     
     
         18 . The game controller of  claim 14 , further comprising four control buttons arranged in a cross pattern located on the upper surface. 
     
     
         19 . The game controller of  claim 1 , further comprising a second control button located on the controller such that the second control button can be operated by an index finger of a user's hand that is holding the controller. 
     
     
         20 . The game controller of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second control buttons are located on a peripheral side surface of the controller such that when a user holds the controller with both hands, a finger of the user's first hand can operate the first control button and a finger of the user's second hand can operate the second control button. 
     
     
         21 . The game controller of  claim 1 , wherein the power button is positioned such that it cannot be seen when viewing the controller from the side. 
     
     
         22 . The game controller of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the controller surrounding the power button is inclined downward with respect to the upper surface. 
     
     
         23 . A game controller, comprising:
 an upper surface;   a power button located in a hole formed in the upper surface such that the power button cannot be seen when viewing the controller from the side; and   a directional input device located on the upper surface.   
     
     
         24 . The game controller of  claim 23 , wherein when the power button is depressed, a top surface of the power button is positioned below the upper surface. 
     
     
         25 . The game controller of  claim 23 , wherein a portion of the controller surrounding the power button is inclined downward with respect to the upper surface. 
     
     
         26 . The game controller of  claim 23 , wherein a portion of the controller surrounding the power button is recessed below the upper surface. 
     
     
         27 . A game controller, comprising:
 an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein a power button receiving portion is located on the upper surface, the power button receiving portion including a hole that is at least partially surrounded by an inclined side surface that inclines downward from the upper surface toward the central hole;   a power button mounted in the hole of the power button receiving portion; and   a directional input device located on the upper surface.   
     
     
         28 . The game controller of  claim 27 , wherein the power button is positioned such that when the power button is depressed, a top surface of the power button is located between the upper surface and the lower surface. 
     
     
         29 . The game controller of  claim 28 , wherein when the power button is not depressed, the top surface of the power button is positioned substantially parallel to the upper surface. 
     
     
         30 . A game controller, comprising:
 an upper surface;   a wireless transmitter that sends user operation data to a game playing device;   a power button located in a hole on the upper surface, the power button being positioned such that when the power button is depressed, a top surface of the power button is positioned below a planer portion of the upper surface surrounding the hole, and wherein operation of the power button causes the wireless transmitter to output a signal which causes a game playing device to be turned on and/or off; and   a directional input device located on the upper surface.