U.S. Pat. No. 8,075,399

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment will now be described in detail below and with reference to the drawings.

Referring toFIGS. 1-3, an exemplary embodiment of a handheld game console100includes a console main body110and two game controlling devices120. The console main body110has at least one game program stored therein. The game controlling devices120are configured for players to input commands to control processes of the at least one game program in the console main body110. The console main body110and the game controlling devices120can be connected and communicated by an electrically conductive wire or by a wireless network.

In the present embodiment, the console main body110includes a housing111, a data storage unit112, a central processing unit113, a display screen114, two speakers115, a wireless receiver116, a first battery unit117and a first cover118. The housing111has a shape of a rectangle, and has a first side surface1101, a second side surface1102, a front surface1103connected between the first side surface1101and the second side surface1102, and a back surface1104opposite to the front surface1103. The back surface1104defines a recess1100to receiving the first battery unit117. The data storage unit112is configured to storing a plurality of game programs therein. The central processing unit113is configured for processing the game programs according to commands of players, changing the processes of the game programs stored in the data storage unit112, and controlling the display unit114and the speakers115according to the processes of the game programs. The data storage unit112and the central processing unit113are received in the housing111. The display screen114is defined in the front surface1103of the housing111and is adapted for displaying images of the game programs. The speakers115are configured to emit sound effects of the game programs, can be disposed in any surface of the housing111. The wireless receiver116is used for receiving wireless signals from the game controlling devices120, converting the wireless signals into electronic signals, and transmitting the electronic signals to the central processing unit113. The wireless receiver116is also received in the housing111. The first battery unit117is configured to supply power for the data storage unit112, the central processing unit113, the display screen114, the speakers115, and the wireless receiver116. The first cover118is cooperated with the housing111to cover the recess1100, thus, the first battery unit117in the recess1100can be protected. The first cover118can have a ribbed area configured for players conveniently assembling the first cover118onto the housing111.

The console main body110has two engaging protrusions119configured for cooperating with the game controlling devices120. The two engaging protrusions119are rectangular, and extend from two opposite sides of the console main body110. In detail, one of the engaging protrusions119extends from the first side surface1101, another extends from the second side surface1102. In the illustrated embodiment, two speakers115are disposed in the two engaging protrusions119respectively. It is noted that each of the engaging protrusions119is not limited to being rectangular, other shapes may be adopted as desired.

The game controlling devices120are each cylindrical, and have a shell121, a number of buttons122, a wireless transmitter123, a second battery unit124, and a second cover125. The buttons122are provided on a front surface of the shell121and include a number of direction buttons1221and a number of function buttons1222, which are configured for players to input commands. The wireless transmitter123is received in the shell121and is configured for converting the commands of the player on the buttons122to wireless signals and transmitting the wireless signals to the wireless receiver116of the console main body110. The second battery unit125is received in a recess1200which is defined in a back surface of the shell121, opposite to the buttons122. The second battery unit125can be a battery, and is used for supplying power to the wireless transmitter123. The second cover125is cooperated with the shell121to cover the recess1200, thus, the second battery unit125in the recess1200can be protected. The second cover125can have a ribbed area for players conveniently assembling the second cover125onto the shell121too.

Each of the game controlling devices120has a slot126penetrated through the shell121. The slots126each correspond to the engaging protrusions119. Thus, one engaging protrusion119of the console main body110can pass through and fit into one game controlling device120, while another engaging protrusion119can pass through and fit into another game controlling device120, and thereby the game controlling devices120are assembled and engaged with the console main body110.

Thus, the handheld game console100has two modes, i.e., an assembled mode and a disassembled mode. In the assembled mode, the two game controlling devices120are mechanically coupled to and can communicate with the console main body110. That is, the engaging protrusions119are fit into the slots126, the display screen114and the buttons122are in the same side, the speakers115defined on the engaging protrusions119are received and shielded by the game controlling devices120, thereby the game controlling devices120are engaged with the console main body110, and players also can operate the game controlling devices120to control the processes of the game programs in the console main body110. In the disassembled mode, the two controlling device120are detached from the console main body110and also can communicate with the main body110too. As such, the game controlling devices120and the console main body110are separate from each other, and players also can operate the game controlling devices120to control the processes of the game programs in the console main body110.

Additionally, to ensure the engagement of the game controlling devices120and the console main body110, a slit1190may be defined in each of the engaging protrusions119, and two opposite sliding latches1261are slidably mounted on each of the shells121. Therefore, the two sliding latches1261can slide and latch into the slit119in the assembled mode to latch the game controlling devices120and the console main body110. Otherwise, in the disassembled mode, the two sliding latches1261can slide away from the slit1190to unlatch the game controlling devices120and the console main body110, so that the game controlling devices120can be released from the console main body110.

In this embodiment, the handheld game console100includes two game controlling devices120, thus two hands of a player can operate two game controlling devices120respectively for one-player games, or two players each can operate one game controlling devices120to play two-player or multi-player games. It is noted that the number of the game controlling devices120is not limited to be two, less or more may be provided corresponding to practical need. It is also noted that the number of the engaging protrusions119corresponds to the number of the input operation devices120, and the number of the speakers115corresponds to the number of the engaging protrusions119.

In the present embodiment, the game controlling devices120can be separated from or combined with the console main body110, thus players may feel more comfortable in hands during playing the game programs. And, the console main body110and the game controlling devices120can carry out separately, thus increase the convenience to carry about the handheld game console100.

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.