U.S. Pat. No. 10,758,817

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention may be embodied in many forms, there are described in detail herein specific embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.

For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.

Referring now toFIG. 1, a view of a working 3D printed game controller prototype, with the base portion on the left and the upper portion on the right, showing the bottom side of the upper portion is shown generally at10. The base portion12is designed to be stationary while the upper portion14is designed to move two dimensionally parallel to the bottom portion12, when assembled together as shown best inFIG. 2. The bottom portion12has projections16and20which cooperate with key pairs18and22respectively to record forward, backwards, left, right and combinations of these movements. The key pairs are electrically connected to a controller24via wires26and the controller24has a connector, which can be any commercially available connector such as a mini-USB connector, to connect the game controller to a computer or keyboard (not shown). One or more thumb switches or keys could also be provided, as shown at30.

FIG. 2shows the working 3D printed game controller prototype assembled, with the upper portion14resting on the projections of the base portion, and constructed and arranged so the upper portion can move relative to the base portion, with the projections depressing the keys to translate the relative motion of the upper portion14to the lower portion12into keyboard commands which move an object or game character in a game forward, backward, left, right, or left spinning or strafing, or right spinning or strafing, or any other allowable motion permitted by a game. The upper portion also has three rows of keys, which are schematically shown in the 3D printed prototype, with the front row being commercially available mechanical keyswitches from Cherry Americas, shown at28. In the working version, the three rows of keys would preferably be configured and tilted at an angle to make it easy and comfortable to depress with fingers of a left hand (in this version). A right handed game controller is also contemplated. The keys can be any commercially available key, or could be

FIG. 3shows a dome switch membrane.

FIG. 4shows an alternative embodiment in which the palm portion of the upper portion is adjustable. In the prototype, it is shown as pegs which slot into holes, to move the palm portion32towards or away from the rows of keys. In this embodiment, there is also a support34to hold four keys which are actuated with the top (or back) of the fingers, by lifting the finger up to depress the key. Once again, the keys can be any commercially available type of key and are electrically connected to the controller to communicate programmable key strokes to the game. The programming for the keys are either stored in the gaming device keyboard or they can be stored on the individual computer they are connected to.

FIGS. 5 and 6shows the alternative embodiment in the assembled state. In addition to the palm portion32, there is also a raised portion36, which provides a finger rest, for comfort.

FIG. 7shows a side view of the embodiment ofFIGS. 4-6, and the 3D printed schematic for the keys or switches is shown at38. In the working version, keys or switches38would be positioned so they can be activated by the back of the four fingers, one button or key per finger.

FIG. 8shows a closer view of the finger rest raised portion36, with the schematic view of the three rows of keys in front of the finger rest raised portion36.

FIG. 9-13shows an alternative embodiment for a 3D joystick type control. The joystick control sits on four keys and the upper portion is moved, which causes the control to depress on or more of the keys, to control movement of an object or game character in a game forward, backward, left, right, or left spinning or strafing, or right spinning or strafing, or any other allowable motion permitted by a game.

FIG. 14shows an alternate embodiment which includes three rows of keys with the row50closest to the palm raised above the other two rows, and two rows51and53furthest from the palm. There is also a finger separator plate52.

FIG. 15shows an exemplary hand placement with the finger separator between the ring finger and the middle finger.

FIG. 16shows the index finger arched forward to reach the forward most row of keys.

FIG. 17shows the index finger straightened or flattened out so enable striking the raised rearmost key, shown at53. In use, the users fingers arch over to reach the front and second rows of keys51and53and the user presses the row50keys be straightening out a finger and pressing down with the portion of the finger between the middle knuckle and the palm knuckle. The row50keys are raised above the row51and53keys to enable the pressing of the row50keys as described above.

FIG. 18shows slightly smaller projections from the base portion which operate the same as described above.

FIG. 19shows a side view showing the thumb key, the circuit board and the wired connector which is attached to the circuit board and which connects the controller to the game platform or computer.

FIG. 20shows another alternate embodiment with two rails54onto which a an adjustable palm portion slides using slots56(upside down in this picture to show the slots).

FIG. 21shows the slots partially slid onto the rails.

FIG. 22shows the palm portion prior to being slid onto the rails.

It should be understood that the features of the various embodiments can be incorporated together, as desired. For example, the riser34and back finger keys38ofFIGS. 4-7could be combined with the finger separator52ofFIG. 14and/or the raised keys of row50ofFIGS. 14 and 17.