U.S. Pat. No. 12,239,902

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosed embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that one or more embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are schematically shown in order to simplify the drawing.

In addition, the terms used in the present disclosure, such as technical and scientific terms, have its own meanings and can be comprehended by those skilled in the art, unless the terms are additionally defined in the present disclosure. That is, the terms used in the following paragraphs should be read on the meaning commonly used in the related fields and will not be overly explained, unless the terms have a specific meaning in the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS.1to5,FIG.1is a perspective view of a game controller10according to one embodiment of the disclosure,FIG.2is a perspective view of the game controller10inFIG.1where an electrical connector400sticks into an accommodation space S of a holder100,FIG.3is a perspective view of the game controller10inFIG.1where the holder100is stretched out,FIG.4is an exploded view of the game controller10inFIG.1, andFIG.5is another exploded view of the game controller10inFIG.1.

In this embodiment, the game controller10is adapted for a mobile device20. The mobile device20is, for example, a smart phone or a tablet computer. The game controller10includes a holder100, two control handles200and300, and an electrical connector400. The holder100includes a first support110and a second support120. The second support120is slidably disposed on the first support110. The first support110and the second support120together form an accommodation space S, and the second support120is slidable relative to the first support110along a direction F2or a direction opposite to the direction F2to adjust a length L1and L2of the holder100; that is, a length of the accommodation space S of the holder100is adjustable for accommodating the mobile device20with different size. Specifically, the first support110includes a first slidable part111and a first clamp part112. The first clamp part112is connected to the first slidable part111. The second support120includes a second slidable part121and a second clamp part122. The second clamp part122is connected to the second slidable part121. The second slidable part121is slidably disposed on the first slidable part111, and the accommodation space S is formed between the second clamp part122and the first clamp part112.

The control handles200and300are respectively and removably mounted on two opposite sides of the holder100. Specifically, the first clamp part112has a first mount structure1121, and the second clamp part122has a first mount structure1221. The control handle200includes a main body210and a plurality of signal input components240-260disposed on the main body210, and the control handle300includes a main body310and a plurality of signal input components340-360disposed on the main body310. The main body210has a second mount structure211, and the main body310has a second mount structure311. The first mount structures1121and1221and the second mount structures211and311are respectively, for example, grooves and protrusions mating each other. The second mount structures211and311are respectively and slidably disposed on the first mount structures1121and1221, such that the control handles200and300are respectively and slidably mounted on the two opposite sides of the holder100.

In this embodiment, the control handles200and300are removable from the holder100, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto; in some other embodiments, the control handles may be irremovably fixed to the holder.

The control handle200has a chamber212, and the first clamp part112of the first support110of the holder100has a through hole1122. The through hole1122is aligned with the chamber212, and the electrical connector400is slidably located in the chamber212and the through hole1122. The control handle200further has a slot213connected to the chamber212. The game controller10further includes an extension component450fixed to the electrical connector400and slidably located in the slot213. In addition, the extension component450is exposed to outside of the control handle200from the slot213, such that the electrical connector400can be moved relative to the control handle200along a direction F1or a direction opposite to the direction F1by operating the extension component450. Therefore, the electrical connector400is slidably disposed on the control handle200, such that the electrical connector400is slidable relative to the control handle200in the direction F1so as to be partially located in the accommodation space S or withdrawn from the accommodation space S along the direction opposite to the direction F1. Furthermore, the slidable direction (e.g., the direction F1) of the electrical connector400is substantially perpendicular to the slidable direction (e.g., a direction A shown inFIG.6) of the control handle200.

In this embodiment, the game controller10further includes two elastic pads510and520. The elastic pads510and520are respectively and removably disposed on the first clamp part112and the second clamp part122. The mobile device20can be firmly clamped by the first clamp part112of the first support110and the second clamp part122of the second support120via the elastic pads510and520.

Note that the quantity of the elastic pads510and520are not restricted in the disclosure; in some other embodiments, the game controller may include only one elastic pad, and this elastic pad may be disposed on the first clamp part or the second clamp part.

In this embodiment, the elastic pads510and520are respectively removable from the first clamp part112and the second clamp part122, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto; in some other embodiments, the elastic pads may be irremovable from the first clamp part and the second clamp part.

In this embodiment, the holder100has a transmission wire (not shown) disposed therein. The control handles200and300are electrically connected to each other via the transmission wire. Specifically, the first support110of the holder100further includes a plurality of first electrical contacts113. The second support120of the holder100further includes a plurality of second electrical contacts123. The second electrical contacts123are electrically connected to the first electrical contacts113via the transmission wire. The control handle200further includes a plurality of third electrical contacts220disposed on the main body210, and the control handle300further includes a plurality of third electrical contacts320disposed on the main body310. When the control handles200and300are respectively mounted on the first clamp part112of the first support110and the second clamp part122of the second support120, the third electrical contacts220and320are respectively in electrical contact with the first electrical contacts113and the second electrical contacts123.

Then, referring toFIGS.6to8,FIGS.6to8show an operation of the game controller10inFIG.1.

As shown inFIG.6, the installation of the game controller10is firstly introduced. The first step is to maintain the electrical connector400to be hidden in the control handle200, then slide the control handles200and300relative to the first support110and the second support120along the direction A. By doing so, the control handles200and300are respectively mounted on the first support110and the second support120of the holder100.

Then, as shown inFIG.7, when the mobile device20with a protective casing30is installed on the holder100, the electrical connector400can be moved along a direction

B, and a length D1of the electrical connector400protruding from the control handle200can be determined according to the thickness of the protective casing30for ensuring the insertion of the electrical connector400into an electrical jack22of the mobile device20.

As shown inFIG.8, when the mobile device20without the protective casing is installed on the holder100, the electrical connector400is required to be adjusted along a direction C compared to the position of the electrical connector400shown inFIG.7for shortening the length D2of the electrical connector400protruding from the control handle200, thereby ensuring the insertion of the electrical connector400into the electrical jack22of the mobile device20.

According to the game controller as discussed in the above embodiment, the electrical connector is slidable relative to the control handle, such that the length of the electrical connector protruding from the control handle can be adjusted according to the total length of the mobile device with or without the protective casing. Therefore, the game controller is suitable for both cases where the mobile device is with and without the protective casing.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present disclosure. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary embodiments only, with a scope of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.