U.S. Pat. No. 11,325,027

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Like numbers in the drawings indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the meaning of “a”, “an”, and “the” includes plural reference, and the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on”. Titles or subtitles can be used herein for the convenience of a reader, which shall have no influence on the scope of the present disclosure.

The terms used herein generally have their ordinary meanings in the art. In the case of conflict, the present document, including any definitions given herein, will prevail. The same thing can be expressed in more than one way. Alternative language and synonyms can be used for any term(s) discussed herein, and no special significance is to be placed upon whether a term is elaborated or discussed herein. A recital of one or more synonyms does not exclude the use of other synonyms. The use of examples anywhere in this specification including examples of any terms is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the present disclosure or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the present disclosure is not limited to various embodiments given herein. Numbering terms such as “first”, “second” or “third” can be used to describe various components, signals or the like, which are for distinguishing one component/signal from another one only, and are not intended to, nor should be construed to impose any substantive limitations on the components, signals or the like.

References are made toFIG. 1toFIG. 3, in whichFIG. 1is a schematic view of a game controller according to one embodiment of the present disclosure,FIG. 2is a functional block diagram of the game controller according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 3is another functional block diagram of the game controller according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

A game controller1includes a first handle11, a second handle12, and a function expansion module13. The first handle11and the second handle12are connected to each other to jointly form an accommodating space AS. The function expansion module13is disposed in the accommodating space AS between the first handle11and the second handle12, and is connected to the first handle11or the second handle12.

In the present embodiment, the function expansion module13is communicatively connected or electrically connected to the first handle11or the second handle12.

The first handle11includes a first operating interface111, a first connection part112, and a third connection part113. The first operating interface111is electrically connected to the first connection part112and the third connection part113. The second handle12includes a second operating interface121and a second connection part122. The second operating interface121is electrically connected to the second connection part122. The function expansion module13includes at least a function expansion connection part131.

In the present embodiment, the first handle11and the second handle12can be connected to each other through the first connection part112and the second connection part122.

The third connection part113of the first handle11is electrically connected to the function expansion connection part131of the function expansion module13.

The first handle11further includes a first control module115, a first wireless communication module116, and a first battery module117. The first control module115is electrically connected to the first operating interface111, the first connection part112, the third connection part113, the first wireless communication module116, and the first battery module117.

The second handle12further includes a second control module125, a second wireless communication module126, and a second battery module127. The second control module125is electrically connected to the second operating interface121, the second connection part122, the second wireless communication module126, and the second battery module127.

The first control module115transmits a plurality of first control signals to the second wireless communication module126of the second handle12through the first wireless communication module116. The second wireless communication module126then transmits the first control signals that are received to the second control module125.

Similarly, the second control module125can also transmit a plurality of second control signals to the first wireless communication module116of the first handle11through the second wireless communication module126. The first wireless communication module116transmits the second control signals that are received to the first control module115. The first wireless communication module116and the second wireless communication module126can then be used to communicatively connect to a mobile device MD.

The first battery module117provides an electrical energy to the first control module115, the first wireless communication module116, and the first operating interface111.

The first battery module117of the first handle11provides the electrical energy to the second handle12through the first connection part112and the second connection part122. The first battery module117provides the electrical energy to the function expansion module13through the third connection part113and the function expansion connection part131.

Moreover, the third connection part113of the first handle11is electrically connected to the function expansion connection part131of the function expansion module13.

The second battery module127of the second handle12is electrically connected to the second wireless communication module126. The second battery module127can provide an electrical energy to the second wireless communication module126, the second control module125, and the second operating interface121. The second battery module127of the second handle12provides the electrical energy to the first handle11through the first connection part112and the second connection part122.

In the present embodiment, the first handle11and the second handle12can transmit an electrical energy to each other, so as to improve a usage efficiency of the game controller1.

The first connection part112, the second connection part122, the third connection part113, and the function expansion connection part131can each be a micro universal serial bus (USB) connector, a Type A USB connector, a Type C USB connector, or a LIGHTNING connector.

The first control module115and the second control module125can each be a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a micro control unit (MCU).

The first battery module117and the second battery module127can each be a lithium ion battery, a lithium manganese dioxide battery, a lithium polymer battery, or a nickel hydrogen battery.

The first wireless communication module116and the second wireless communication module126can each be a WI-FI® communication unit, a BLUETOOTH® communication unit, a Zigbee communication unit, a LoRa communication unit, a Sigfox communication unit, or an NB-IoT communication unit.

The first operating interface111and the second operating interface121can each be a button, a joystick, or a touchscreen interface, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Reference is made toFIG. 4, which is a schematic view of the game controller of the present disclosure including a function expansion module and being connected to a first electronic device and a mobile device.

In the present embodiment, the function expansion module13is a wireless communication circuit. The game controller1provides an electrical energy to the function expansion module13through the third connection part113.

The game controller1is connected to the function expansion module13through the first wireless communication module116or the second wireless communication module126, so as to be connected to a first electronic device ED1.

The game controller1provides a plurality of function expansion communication signals to the first electronic device ED1through the function expansion module13.

The function expansion module13can be a WI-FI® communication unit, a BLUETOOTH® communication unit, a Zigbee communication unit, a LoRa communication unit, a Sigfox communication unit, or an NB-IoT communication unit.

In other words, the game controller1can be in communication with the mobile device MD through the first wireless communication module116or the second wireless communication module126. The game controller1can further be communicatively connected to other electronic devices (such as the first electronic device ED1) by being connected to the function expansion module13. In this way, the game controller1can transmit communication not only to the mobile device MD, but also to the other electronic devices through the function expansion module13.

Reference is made toFIG. 5, which is a schematic view of the game controller of the present disclosure including the function expansion module and being connected to the first electronic device.

A function expansion module13′ is a remote control circuit.

The game controller1is connected to a function expansion connection part131′ through the third connection part113to provide an electrical energy to the function expansion module13. The game controller1provides a plurality of auxiliary remote control signals to the first electronic device ED1through the function expansion module13, so as to control the first electronic device ED 1. The auxiliary remote control signals are infrared remote control signals, WI-FI® remote control signals, or BLUETOOTH® remote control signals.

When the function expansion module13′ is the remote control circuit, the function expansion module13can be a button remote control circuit or a touch remote control circuit.

Reference is made toFIG. 6, which is another schematic view of the game controller of the present disclosure including the function expansion module and being connected to the first electronic device and the mobile device.

A function expansion module13″ is a display circuit. The game controller1is connected to the function expansion module13through the first wireless communication module116or the second wireless communication module126, so as to be connected to the first electronic device ED1.

The first electronic device ED1can transmit a display image data or a control image data to the function expansion module13″ for display through the first wireless communication module116or the second wireless communication module126. That is, the game controller1can receive the display image data or the control image data transmitted by the first electronic device ED1or the mobile device MD.

In other embodiments, the game controller1can also transmit the display image data or the control image data to the function expansion module13″ through the third connection part113of the first handle11and a function expansion connection part131″ of the function expansion module13″.

When the function expansion module13″ is the display circuit, a plurality of touch control signals of the function expansion module13″ can be transmitted to the first electronic device ED1for control or display through the function expansion connection part131″, the third connection part113of the first handle11, or the first wireless communication module116.

In the present embodiment, the function expansion module13can be a touch display circuit, a liquid-crystal display circuit, a light-emitting diode display circuit, or an organic light-emitting diode display circuit.

Reference is made toFIG. 7, which is another schematic view of the game controller of the present disclosure including the function expansion module and being connected to the first electronic device.

A function expansion module13′″ can also be an authentication function unit. When the function expansion module13is the authentication function unit, the function expansion module13as a device having an authentication function can capture an authentication data of a user, and transmit the authentication data to an electronic device ED through the first handle11or the second handle12, so as to perform an authentication process.

When the function expansion module13′″ is the authentication function unit, the function expansion module13′″ can be a card reader, a fingerprint recognition device, an iris recognition device, a voiceprint recognition device, a vein recognition device, or a handwriting recognition device.

Reference is made toFIG. 8, which is another schematic view of the game controller according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

The first handle11further includes an electrical connection part118. A function expansion module14further includes an expansion electrical connection part142, in addition to a function expansion connection part141. The electrical connection part118of the first handle11is electrically connected to the expansion electrical connection part142of the function expansion module14.

The first handle11provides an electrical energy to the function expansion module14through the electrical connection part118and the expansion electrical connection part142.

In conclusion, one of the beneficial effects of the present disclosure is that the game controller provided herein can be connected to the function expansion module to expand usage scenarios of the game controller. The game controller, apart from being a controller for games, can also be used as an interactive input device for various electronic devices.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope.