Controller for a game machine

A controller for a game machine, said controller being held in use by a user between left and right palms, comprising:

• a flat-shaped housing having an upper surface, a lower surface and a side surface spatially separating the upper and lower surfaces;
• upper surface user operating means for generating electrical signals and formed at a position on the upper surface of said housing reachable, in use, by a thumb of a hand holding the housing;
• and
• side surface user operating means for generating electrical signals formed at a position on the side surface of said housing reachable, in use, by an index finger or a middle finger of the hand holding the housing, wherein said side surface user operating means includes:
• an elongate key member axially supported at one end and pivotal in said housing and positioned to have a portion thereof exposed along the side surface of said housing,
• switch means contained in said housing of generating an electrical signal when depressed by pivotally moving said key member, and
• holding mean or holding said switch means in said housing at a position where said switch mean can be depressed by said key member.

A controller for a game machine, said controlled being held in sue by a user between left and right palms, comprising:

• a flat-shaped housing having an upper surface, a lower surface and a rounded side surface spatially separating the upper and lower surfaces;
• upper surface user operating means for generating electrical signals and formed at a position on the upper surface of said housing reachable, in use, by a thumb of a hand holding the housing;
• and
• side surface user operating means for generating electrical signals and formed at a position on the side surface of said housing reachable, in use by an index finger or a middle finger of the hand holding the housing, wherein said side surface user operating means includes:
• an elongate key member axially supported and rotatable in said housing and positioned to have a portion exposed along the side surface of said housing,
• switch means contained in said housing for outputting an electrical signal when depressed by pivoting of said key member, and
• holding means formed integrally in said housing for holding said switch means at a position where said switch means can be depressed by said key member;
• and
• said switch means includes:
• a rubber contact held by said holding means and resiliently deformable when depressed by pivotal movement of said key member, and
• a first member provided adjacent to said rubber contact and having a contact circuit which provides an electric signal upon contact with said rubber contact.

A controller for a game machine, said controller being held, in use, by a user between left and right palms, comprising:

• a flat-shaped housing having an upper surface, as a lower surface and a side surface spatially separating the upper and lower surfaces;
• upper surface user operating means for generating electrical signals formed at a position on the upper surface of said housing where, in use, a thumb of a hand holding the housing can reach;
• and
• side surface user operating means for generating electrical signals formed at a position on the side surface of said housing where, in use, an index finger or a middle finger of the hand holding the housing can reach, wherein
• said side surface user operating means includes an operating member for a left hand and an operating member for a right hand arranged symmetrically on left and right portions of the side surface of said housing, each of the side surface user operating members including an elongate key member axially supported nd pivotal in said housing and positioned to have a portion thereof exposed along the side surface of said housing.