U.S. Pat. No. 11,504,613

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. 1toFIG. 5, a first embodiment of the present disclosure provides a first handle body of a game controller as illustrated inFIG. 1.FIG. 2is a functional block diagram of the first handle body of the game controller ofFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a schematic view of the first handle body matching a second handle body of the game controller according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 4is a functional block diagram of the second handle body ofFIG. 3.FIG. 5is a schematic view of the first handle body matching with the second handle body through a connection module according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG. 1toFIG. 3, the game controller1includes at least a first handle body11. The first handle body11includes a first control module111, a first operation interface112, a first connection portion113and a second connection portion114. The first operation interface112is connected to the first control module111.

The first connection portion113is electrically connected to the first operation interface112. The first connection portion113is a male connector. The first handle body11is connected to a mobile device M1through the first connection portion113. The second connection portion114is a female connector. In the present embodiment, the first connection portion113and the second connection portion114are disposed on one side of the first handle body11.

Referring toFIG. 2, additionally, the first handle body11can be connected to a second handle body12through the second connection portion114and a signal transmission wire CAB1. A first terminal CAB1-1and a second terminal CAB1-2of the signal transmission wire CAB1each includes a male connector.

In the present embodiment, the male connectors of the first terminal CAB1-1and the second terminal CAB1-2of the signal transmission wire CAB1can each be a Type-A universal serial bus (USB) connector, a Type-C USB connector, a micro USB connector, or a LIGHTNING connector.

Referring toFIG. 4, the second handle body12includes a second control module121, a second operation interface122and a third connection portion123.

The second control module121is electrically connected to the second operation interface122and the third connection portion123. The third connection portion123is electrically connected to the second operation interface122.

In the present embodiment, the second connection portion114of the first handle body11is connected to the third connection portion123of the second handle body12through the signal transmission wire CAB1. The second connection portion114of the first handle body11and the third connection portion123of the second handle body12are female connectors. Moreover, the second connection portion114of the first handle body11and the third connection portion123of the second handle body12can be the same connector or different connectors, and it is not limited in the present disclosure. In addition, the third connection portion123of the second handle body12can be a detachable connector or a connector having a telescopic structure. The first connection portion113, the second connection portion114and the third connection portion123can each be a Type-A USB connector, a Type-C USB connector, a micro USB connector or a LIGHTNING connector.

In the present embodiment, the first terminal CAB1-1of the signal transmission wire CAB1is electrically connected to the second connection portion114of the first handle body11. The second terminal CAB1-2of the signal transmission wire CAB1is electrically connected to the third connection portion123of the second handle body12.

When the first handle body11and the second handle body12are connected through the signal transmission wire CAB1, a plurality of control signals of the first operation interface112are first transmitted to the first control module111, and then the first control module111transmits the plurality of control signals of the first operation interface112to the mobile device M1through the first connection portion113. At this time, a plurality of control signals of the second operation interface122are transmitted to the first control module111through the third connection portion123, the signal transmission wire CAB1and the second connection portion114, and the first control module111transmits the plurality of control signals of the second operation interface122to the mobile device M1.

When the first handle body11and the second handle body12are connected through the signal transmission wire CAB1, the first control module111of the first handle body11transmits a signal to be verified to the second handle body12, and the second handle body12transmits a device verification code to the first handle body11based on the signal to be verified. The first control module111of the first handle body11determines whether or not the device verification code of the second handle body12matches with the first handle body11.

That is, when the first handle body11and the second handle body12are electrically connected, the first handle body11transmits a verification signal to the second handle body12. The signal to be verified of the first handle body11and the device verification code of the second handle body12can be achieved through an identification code, a voltage signal, a current signal, a pin setting of the connection portion, a custom communication protocol, or the like.

In addition, the first control module111and the second control module121of the first handle body11transmit a plurality of signals of a serial peripheral interface communication protocol or an inter-integrated circuit communication protocol to the second control module121and the first control module111, respectively.

Further, one side of the first handle body11includes an accommodation space. The mobile device M1is disposed in the accommodation space of the first handle body11and is electrically connected to the first connection portion113.

Referring toFIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the game controller1can further include a connection module13. The connection module13is disposed between the first handle body11and the second handle body12. The connection module13is connected to the first handle body11and the second handle body12. The signal transmission wire CAB1can be disposed in the connection module13.

The first control module111and the second control module121can each be a central processing unit (CPU), a microcontroller or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

The first operation interface112and the second operation interface122can each be a button, a joystick, a touch interface, or the like.

In the present embodiment, the second handle body12can be a handle body of different model and size from the first handle body11when manufactured, as long as the second handle body12can pass the verification procedure of the first handle body11. For example, the first handle body11inFIG. 2can be electrically connected to the third handle body14and verify the third handle body14.

In another embodiment, the first handle body11and the second handle body12can transmit signals to be verified to each other to verify each other.

Second Embodiment

Referring toFIG. 6andFIG. 7,FIG. 6is a schematic view of a game controller according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, andFIG. 7is a functional block diagram of the first handle body and the second handle body ofFIG. 6.

A first handle body31and a second handle body32of a game controller3in the present embodiment are two matched handle bodies of the game controller3of the same model.

Referring toFIG. 6, the game controller3includes the first handle body31, the second handle body32and a signal transmission wire CAB3.

Referring toFIG. 7, the first handle body31includes a first control module311, a first operation interface312, a first connection portion313and a second connection portion314. The first operation interface312is electrically connected to the first control module311. The first connection portion313is electrically connected to the first operation interface312. The first connection portion313is a male connector. The first handle body31is connected to a mobile device M3through the first connection portion313. The second connection portion314is electrically connected to the first control module111. The second connection portion314is a female connector. In the present embodiment, the first connection portion313and the second connection portion314are disposed on one side of the first handle body31.

The second handle body32includes a second control module321, a second operation interface322and a third connection portion323. The second control module321is electrically connected to the second operation interface322and the third connection portion323. The third connection portion323is electrically connected to the second operation interface322.

The first handle body31can be connected to the second handle body32through the second connection portion314and the signal transmission wire CAB3. A first terminal CAB3-1and a second terminal CAB3-2of the signal transmission wire CAB3each includes a male connector.

In the present embodiment, the second connection portion314of the first handle body31is electrically connected to the third connection portion323of the second handle body32through the signal transmission wire CAB3. The second connection portion314of the first handle body31and the third connection portion323of the second handle body32are each a female connector. Further, the second connection portion314of the first handle body31and the third connection portion323of the second handle body32can be the same connector or different connectors, and it is not limited in the present disclosure. In addition, the third connection portion323of the second handle body32is a detachable connector or a connector having a telescopic structure. The first connection portion313, the second connection portion314and the third connection portion323can each be a Type-A USB connector, a Type-C USB connector, a micro USB connector or a LIGHTNING connector.

In the present embodiment, the male connector of the first terminal CAB3-1of the signal transmission wire CAB3and the male connector of the second terminal CAB3-2of the signal transmission wire CAB3can each be a Type-A USB connector, a Type-C USB connector, a micro USB connector or a LIGHTNING connector.

When the first handle body31and the second handle body32are connected through the signal transmission wire CAB3, a plurality of control signals of the first operation interface312are first transmitted to the first control module311, and then the first control module311transmits the plurality of control signals of the first operation interface312to the mobile device M3through the first connection portion313. At this time, a plurality of control signals of the second operation interface322are transmitted to the first control module311through the third connection portion323, the signal transmission wire CAB3and the second connection portion314, and the first control module311transmits the plurality of control signals of the second operation interface322to the mobile device M3.

When the first handle body31and the second handle body32are connected through the signal transmission wire CAB3, the first control module311of the first handle body31transmits a signal to be verified to the second handle body32, and the second handle body32transmits a device verification code to the first handle body31based on the signal to be verified. The first control module311of the first handle body31determines whether or not the device verification code of the second handle body32matches with the first handle body31.

That is, when the first handle body31and the second handle body32are electrically connected, the first handle body31transmits a verification signal to the second handle body32. The signal to be verified of the first handle body31and the device verification code of the second handle body32each can be achieved through an identification code, a voltage signal, a current signal, a pin setting of the connection portion, a custom communication protocol, or the like.

In addition, the first control module311and the second control module321of the first handle body31transmit a plurality of signals of a serial peripheral interface communication protocol or an inter-integrated circuit communication protocol to the second control module321and to the first control module311, respectively.

In the present embodiment, when the second handle body32is damaged or missing, users can replace the damaged or the missing second handle body32with another second handle body32of the same model, or with a second handle body that can be verified by the first handle body31, as described in the first embodiment.

Beneficial Effects of the Embodiments

In conclusion, one of the beneficial effects of the present disclosure is that a second connection portion can be disposed in the first handle body of the game controller of the present disclosure, and the first handle body can be electrically connected to the second handle body through a signal transmission wire. Since components can be conveniently disassembled, the game controller is more flexible in use. In addition, adjustments can be made to produce different combinations of handle bodies according to a grip feeling of the user, so as to improve the user experience.

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.