Patent Arcade By KellDann
KellDann.com

U.S. Pat. No. 8,523,675

VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER

AssigneeMad Catz Europe Limited

Issue DateJune 26, 2012

Illustrative Figure

Abstract

A game controller comprising: a hand-held base unit comprising one or more base unit actuators, each configured to generate a respective actuation signal in response to user input; and a module comprising two or more module actuators, each configured to generate a respective actuation signal in response to user input. The module is mounted to the base unit and can be rotated horizontally between two or more orientations to adjust the configuration of the module actuators relative to the base unit actuator(s).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A gamepad1shown inFIG. 1comprises a base unit2and a module3mounted to the base unit. The base unit carries an analog stick4and a set of four action buttons5. The module3carries an analog stick6and a directional pad7(conventionally known as a D-pad). The gamepad1provides user input to a video game running on a game processor (not shown). The game processor may comprise a dedicated video game console such as a Sony Playstation™ or Microsoft Xbox™, or a more generic computing device such as an IBM PC™ or laptop. The analog sticks4,6and D-pad7act as direction controllers: that is, actuation signals generated in response to user input by the analog sticks4,6and D-pad7are generally used to control direction in the video game, such as the direction of movement of a person in a first-person shooting game. The actuation signals generated in response to user input by the action buttons5generally prompt an action in the video game, such as the firing of a shot in a first-person shooting game. The base unit2has a pair of hand grips8extending from its front, and a wire (also not shown) connecting the gamepad to the game processor extends from the rear of the base unit. The analog stick6and D-pad7are arranged in the orientation shown inFIG. 1; that is, with the D-pad7at the front-center position, and the analog stick6at the rear-left position. In this orientation the D-pad7is symmetrically opposite the analog stick4, enabling the D-pad7to be operated by the left thumb and the analog stick4to be operated by the right thumb. This configuration is commonly used in a conventional Xbox™ gamepad. The module3can be rotated between the orientation shown inFIG. 1to the orientation shown inFIG. 2, in which the analog stick6is at the front-center position. This configuration is commonly used in a conventional Playstation™ gamepad. Note that both the analog stick6and ...

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A gamepad1shown inFIG. 1comprises a base unit2and a module3mounted to the base unit. The base unit carries an analog stick4and a set of four action buttons5. The module3carries an analog stick6and a directional pad7(conventionally known as a D-pad).

The gamepad1provides user input to a video game running on a game processor (not shown). The game processor may comprise a dedicated video game console such as a Sony Playstation™ or Microsoft Xbox™, or a more generic computing device such as an IBM PC™ or laptop.

The analog sticks4,6and D-pad7act as direction controllers: that is, actuation signals generated in response to user input by the analog sticks4,6and D-pad7are generally used to control direction in the video game, such as the direction of movement of a person in a first-person shooting game. The actuation signals generated in response to user input by the action buttons5generally prompt an action in the video game, such as the firing of a shot in a first-person shooting game.

The base unit2has a pair of hand grips8extending from its front, and a wire (also not shown) connecting the gamepad to the game processor extends from the rear of the base unit.

The analog stick6and D-pad7are arranged in the orientation shown inFIG. 1; that is, with the D-pad7at the front-center position, and the analog stick6at the rear-left position. In this orientation the D-pad7is symmetrically opposite the analog stick4, enabling the D-pad7to be operated by the left thumb and the analog stick4to be operated by the right thumb. This configuration is commonly used in a conventional Xbox™ gamepad.

The module3can be rotated between the orientation shown inFIG. 1to the orientation shown inFIG. 2, in which the analog stick6is at the front-center position. This configuration is commonly used in a conventional Playstation™ gamepad. Note that both the analog stick6and D-pad7are accessible to a user, whether the module is in theFIG. 1orientation or theFIG. 2orientation. The rotation of the module is in the same plane as the base unit—i.e. horizontal if the base unit is being held horizontally.

The module3is housed in a recess10in the upper face of the base unit, shown inFIGS. 3,6and7. Two pairs of spring loaded latches12are provided at the base of the recess. The latches12engage with recesses20on each side of the module3, shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. A button13can be pressed to disengage the latches12and eject the module from the recess as shown inFIG. 3.

The base of the module, shown inFIG. 4, has a pair of recesses21,22which are offset from the center of the module by an equal distance D. Therefore the distance between the centers of the recesses21,22is 2D as illustrated inFIG. 4. A set of eight electrical pins23projects from the base of the recess21. This set of pins23carries actuation signals from both the analog stick6and the D-pad7. The base of the recess10in the base unit has two plugs14,15shown inFIG. 7, each carrying a set of eight electrical sockets, which are each offset from the center of the recess by the distance D. The plugs14,15slide into the module recesses21,22when the module is fitted to the base unit.

Each plug14,15forms a first half of a signal interface which couples the module to the base unit when the module is in a particular orientation. That is, when the module3is in the orientation ofFIG. 1the pins23are inserted into the sockets carried by the plug14, and when the module3is in the orientation ofFIG. 2the pins23are inserted into the sockets carried by the other plug15.

The plugs14,15each have respective output lines (not shown) which lead to a processor (not shown) in the base unit. The processor senses the orientation of the module by determining the presence of a signal on one or other of the output lines. The processor also acts as an interface between the video game and the various actuators on the game pad. An indication light16is illuminated a first colour when the module3is in the configuration ofFIG. 1, and a second colour when the module3is in the configuration ofFIG. 2.

Although the invention has been described above with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that various changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

  1. A video game controller, comprising: a hand-held base unit, the hand-held base unit including: a body defining an opening;and at least two first electrical connectors cooperating with the opening;and a removable module, the removable module including: two or more module actuators each configured to each generate an electrical actuation signal in response to user input;two or more second electrical connectors;and a module body carrying each of the two or more module actuators and the two or more second electrical connectors, wherein the module body is sized and configured to be at least partially received within the opening of the hand-held base unit in at least two different orientations, and wherein in a first orientation each of the two or more second electrical connectors connects to a respective one of the at least two first electrical connectors, and in a second orientation each of the two or more second electrical connectors connects to a different one of the at least two first electrical connectors.
  1. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein each of the second electrical connectors is associated with one of the two or more module actuators.
  2. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein each of the second electrical connectors is associated with a different one of the two or more module actuators.
  3. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein the two or more second electrical connectors are disposed on an exterior surface of the module body.
  4. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein the two or more second electrical connectors are disposed within one or more recesses in the module body.
  5. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein the at least two first electrical connectors are positioned within the opening.
  6. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein the opening and the module body each have an oblong shape.
  7. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein the opening is defined by a recess in the body.
  8. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein the two or more module actuators include at least: a directional pad;and an analog controller.
  9. The video game controller of claim 1 , wherein the removable module is configured to be rotated to change between the first and second orientations.
  10. The video game controller of claim 10 , wherein the rotation is horizontal relative to the hand-held base unit when the hand-held base unit is positioned horizontally.
  11. A method of operating a video game controller, comprising: accessing a hand-held video game controller with a removable module carrying a plurality of module actuators coupled in a first orientation relative to a base unit of the video game controller, wherein in the first orientation each of two first electrical connectors of the module is in electrical communication with a corresponding one of two second electrical connectors of a receiving portion of the base unit;removing the module from the receiving portion of the base unit;rotating the module from the first orientation to a different, second orientation relative to the base unit to change an orientation of the plurality of module actuators relative to the base unit and the receiving portion of the base unit;and recoupling the module to the same receiving portion of the base unit in the second orientation, including reestablishing electrical communication between the plurality of module actuators and the base unit such that each of the two first electrical connectors of the module is in electrical communication with a different one of the two second electrical connectors of the receiving portion of the base unit.
  12. The method of claim 12 , wherein removing the module from the receiving portion includes removing the module and each of the plurality of module actuators from an opening defined by the base unit.
  13. The method of claim 12 , wherein recoupling the module to the same receiving portion of the base unit includes inserting the module at least partially within an opening defined by the base unit.
  14. The method of claim 12 , wherein rotating the module includes changing an orientation of two directional module actuators relative to the base unit.
  15. The method of claim 12 , wherein two directional module actuators are in a first position when the hand-held video game controller is accessed, and wherein the at least two directional module actuators are in a different, second position upon recoupling the module to the same receiving portion.
  16. The method of claim 12 , wherein rotating and recoupling the module includes swapping places of two module actuators relative to the same receiving portion.
  17. A video game controller, comprising: a hand-held base unit;and a module comprising two or more module actuators and two or more electrical connectors on a single body, each module actuator being configured to generate a respective actuation signal in response to user input and convey the actuation signal to at least one respective electrical connector, wherein the module is removably mounted at least partially within an opening defined by the hand-held base unit, the module being configured to be rotated between two or more orientations, the module remaining at least partially within the opening in each of the two or more orientations, and the two or more orientations changing a configuration of the two or more module actuators and the two or more electrical connectors relative to the hand-held base unit.
  18. The video game controller of claim 18 , wherein the opening is associated with a recess in the hand-held base unit, the recess defining a plurality of discrete orientations for the module relative to the hand-held base unit.
  19. The video game controller of claim 18 , wherein the hand-held base unit includes a plurality of electrical contacts configured to engage the electrical connectors of the module, the electrical contacts being configured to engage the electrical connectors in each of the two or more orientations.

Disclaimer: Data collected from the USPTO and may be malformed, incomplete, and/or otherwise inaccurate.