U.S. Pat. No. 11,369,869

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.

First Embodiment

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2,FIG. 1is a schematic diagram of a game controller used with a first mobile device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a functional block diagram of a first handle body according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

A game controller1is connected to a first mobile device M1. The game controller1at least includes a first handle body11.

The first handle body11includes a first control circuit111, a first operation interface112, a first connection portion113, a first battery114, and a first communication module115. The first operation interface112is electrically connected to the first connection portion113.

The first communication module115includes a first wireless communication circuit115A and a first wired communication circuit115B. The first control circuit111is electrically connected to the first communication module115, the first battery114, the first operation interface112, and the first connection portion112.

In this embodiment, the first mobile device M1can be disposed at a side of the first handle body11. The first handle body11has an accommodation space that has the first connection portion113disposed therein and can accommodate the first mobile device M1.

When the first mobile device M1is electrically connected to the first connection portion113of the first handle body11, the first control circuit111turns on the first wired communication circuit115B of the first communication module115to communicate with the first mobile device M1by the first connection portion113. In other words, the first handle body11is in communication with the first mobile device M1by the first wired communication circuit115B and the first connection portion113. The first mobile device M1is capable of charging the first battery114of the first handle body11by the first connection portion113. In other words, when the first mobile device M1communicates with the first handle body11of the game controller1in a wired manner, the first mobile device M1can charge the first battery114of the first handle body11. In addition, control signals from the first operation interface112of the first handle body11can be transmitted to the first mobile device M1for operation and control.

The first control circuit111is a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a microprocessor The first wireless communication circuit115A is 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 battery114is a lithium ion battery, a lithium manganese battery, a lithium polymer battery, or a nickel hydrogen battery.

When the first mobile device M1is not electrically connected to the first connection portion113, a mobile communication module M1-1of the first mobile device is capable of communicating with the first wireless communication circuit115A of the first communication module115of the first handle body11.

In addition, the first connection portion113is replaceable or detachable in this embodiment.

Second Embodiment

Referring toFIG. 3andFIG. 4,FIG. 3is a schematic view of the game controller according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure cooperating with the first mobile device.FIG. 4is a functional block diagram of a second handle body according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

The game controller1further includes a second handle body12. The second handle body12is coupled to the first handle body11. In this embodiment, the first handle body11is capable of being coupled to the second handle body12in an electrical connection manner or in a communication connection manner. In this embodiment, a structure and functions of the second handle body12are similar to those of the first handle body11, and will not be reiterated herein.

The first mobile device M1is disposed between the first handle body11and the second handle body12.

The second handle body12includes a second control circuit121, a second operation interface122, a second connection portion123, a second battery124, and a second communication module125. The second operation interface122is electrically connected to the second connection portion123. The second communication module125includes a second wireless communication circuit125A and a second wired communication circuit125B. The second control circuit121is electrically connected to the second communication module125, the second battery124, the second operation interface122, and the second connection portion123.

Referring toFIG. 5,FIG. 5is a schematic view of a first handle body and the second handle body of the game controller according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure cooperating with the first mobile device to charge and to be in communication therewith.

When a power value of the first battery114of the first handle body11is lower than a predetermined power value, and the first handle body11is electrically connected to the first mobile device M1by the first connection portion113, the first mobile device M1charges the first battery114, and the first control circuit111turns off the first wired communication circuit115B and the first wireless communication circuit115A of the first communication module115. The second handle body12is in communication with the first mobile device M1by the second wireless communication circuit125A of the second communication module125. In other words, the first handle body11cannot transmit the control signals to the mobile device M1. Only the second handle body12can transmit the control signals to the first mobile device M1in a wireless communication manner.

Referring toFIG. 6,FIG. 6is another schematic view of the first handle body and the second handle body of the game controller according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure cooperating with the first mobile device to charge and to be in communication therewith.

Similarly, when a power value of the second battery124of the second handle body12is lower than a predetermined power value, and the second handle body12is electrically connected to the first mobile device M1by the second connection portion123, the first mobile device M1charges the second battery124, and the second control circuit121turns off the second wired communication circuit125B and the second wireless communication circuit125A of the second communication module125. The first handle body11is in communication with the first mobile device M1by the first wireless communication circuit115A of the first communication module115. In other words, the second handle body12cannot transmit the control signals to the mobile device M1. Only the first handle body11can transmit the control signals to the first mobile device M1in a wireless communication manner.

In this embodiment, the predetermined power value can be 10% or 20% of the highest power. The predetermined power value can be set according to actual requirements, and is not limited in the present disclosure.

In other embodiments, when the first mobile device M1charges the first battery114, the first control circuit111can turn off only the first wired communication circuit115B of the first communication module115, and communicate with the second wireless communication circuit125A of the second handle body12by the first wireless communication circuit115A, so as to transmit the control signals to the second control circuit121of the second handle body12. Then, the control signals are transmitted to the first mobile device M1by the second wireless communication circuit125A for operation and control.

Similarly, when the first mobile device M1charges the second battery124, the second control circuit121can turn off only the second wired communication circuit125B of the second communication module125, and communicate with the first wireless communication circuit115A of the first handle body11by the second wireless communication circuit125A, so as to transmit the control signals to the first control circuit111of the first handle body11. Then, the control signals are transmitted to the first mobile device M1by the first wireless communication circuit115A for operation and control.

The first control circuit111and the second control circuit121are each a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a microprocessor. The first wireless communication circuit115A and the second wireless communication circuit125A are each 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 battery114and the second battery124are each a lithium ion battery, a lithium manganese battery, a lithium polymer battery, or a nickel hydrogen battery.

Third Embodiment

Referring toFIG. 7andFIG. 8,FIG. 7is a schematic view of a first handle body and a second handle body of a game controller according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure respectively cooperating with a first mobile device and a second mobile device.FIG. 8is a functional block diagram of the first handle body and the second handle body of the game controller according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure respectively cooperating with a first mobile device and a second mobile device.

In this embodiment, a game controller3includes a first handle body31and a second handle body32.

The first handle body31includes a first control circuit311, a first operation interface312, a first connection portion313, a first battery314, a first communication module315, and a first display circuit316. The first operation interface312is electrically connected to the first connection portion313.

The first communication module315includes a first wireless communication circuit315A and a first wired communication circuit315B. The first control circuit311is electrically connected to the first communication module315, the first battery314, the first operation interface312, the first connection portion312, and the first display circuit316.

The second handle body32includes a second control circuit321, a second operation interface322, a second connection portion323, a second battery324, a second communication module325, and a second display circuit326. The second operation interface322is electrically connected to the second connection portion323. The second communication module325includes a second wireless communication circuit325A and a second wired communication circuit325B. The second control circuit321is electrically connected to the second communication module325, the second battery324, the second operation interface322, the second connection portion322, and the second display circuit326.

In this embodiment, the first mobile device M1and the second mobile device M2are respectively used with the first handle body31and the second handle body32.

The first mobile device M1can be disposed at a side of the first handle body31. The first handle body31has an accommodation space that the first connection portion313is disposed therein, and the first mobile device M1is also disposed therein. Similarly, the second mobile device M2can be disposed at a side of the second handle body32. The second handle body32has an accommodation space that the second connection portion323is disposed therein, and the second mobile device M2is also disposed therein.

Similar to the first and the second embodiments, the first handle body31and the second handle body32in this embodiment can also switch communication modules, so as to be connected to the mobile device in a wired manner or in a wireless communication manner.

Therefore, when the first handle body31is coupled to the first mobile device M1, and the second handle body is coupled to the second mobile device M2, the first handle body31communicates with the second wireless communication circuit325A of the second communication module325by the first wireless communication circuit315A of the first communication module315, so as to transmit information. The transmitted information between the first handle body31and the second handle body32can be displayed by the first display circuit316and the second display circuit326.

In this embodiment, each of the first display circuit316and the second display circuit326may be a liquid crystal display circuit, an organic light emitting diode display circuit, or a touch display circuit. In addition, inputting information into the first handle body31and the second handle body32can be performed in a handwriting manner, in a touch manner, or through the first operation interface312or the second operation interface322.

The first control circuit311and the second control circuit321are each a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a microprocessor. The first wireless communication circuit315A and the second wireless communication circuit325A are each 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 battery314and the second battery324are each a lithium ion battery, a lithium manganese battery, a lithium polymer battery, or a nickel hydrogen battery.

Beneficial Effects of the Embodiments

In conclusion, the game controller provided by the present disclosure can be electrically connected to a mobile device to receive power and communicate with the mobile device. In addition, without being electrically connected to the mobile device, the game controller can still communicate with the mobile device, thereby expanding usage scenarios provided to a user. Furthermore, the game controller of the present disclosure can also be charged by the handle body at one side and be controlled by the handle body on another side. In addition, the two handheld bodies of the game controller of the present disclosure can each be paired with one mobile device. Information can also be transmitted between the two handle bodies. All of the above can greatly increase the usage scenarios of the game controller

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.