U.S. Pat. No. 9,504,911

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. As used herein, the term module refers to any hardware, software, firmware, electronic control component, processing logic, and/or processor device, individually or in any combination, including without limitation: application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that executes one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality.

With reference toFIGS. 1-2, a game controller100is shown that includes one or more trigger adjustment mechanisms in accordance with various embodiments. Although the figures shown herein depict an example with certain arrangements of elements, additional intervening elements, devices, features, or components may be present in an actual embodiments. It should also be understoodFIGS. 1-2are merely illustrative and may not be drawn to scale.

As depicted inFIGS. 1-2, the game controller100generally includes a main body102and one or more actuator devices disposed thereon. The main body102may be configured to be held by a player or user of a game. The actuator devices generate signals that are transmitted (e.g., wired or wirelessly) to a game console (not shown) and/or processed within the game controller100for game play.

In various embodiments, a front side103of the game controller100(shown inFIG. 1) includes actuator devices104a-104nthat, when depressed or manipulated by a finger or thumb of the user, generate signals that indicate the depression of the button or a direction or degree in which the button was manipulated. For example, one or more of the actuator devices104a-104gmay be digital devices (e.g., selection buttons, direction pads, etc.) that generate digital signals based on the depression of the actuator device. In another example, one or more of the actuator devices104h-104nmay be analog devices (e.g., joysticks, etc.) that generate analog signals based on manipulation of the actuator device.

A back side105of the game controller100(shown inFIG. 2) similarly includes actuator devices106a-106nthat, when depressed or manipulated by a finger or thumb of the user, generate signals that indicate the depression of the button or a direction or degree in which the button was manipulated. For example, one or more of the actuator devices106a-106bmay be digital devices (e.g., selection buttons, or other buttons) that generate digital signals based on the depression of the actuator device.

In various embodiments, at least one of the actuator devices106a-106non the back side105of the game controller100is a trigger device108. The trigger device108includes a trigger body110that is depressible. The trigger device108may be an analog device that, when depressed generates an analog signal based on an amount or degree of the depression.

In various embodiments, the trigger device108includes at least one adjustment mechanism112in accordance with various embodiments. In one example, the adjustable adjustment mechanism112extends through the main body102at a location below the trigger body110and adjusts a stop position of the trigger device108. For example, the adjustable adjustment mechanism112includes a surface area that contacts a surface area of the trigger body110when the trigger body110is depressed a certain amount. The contact of the two surface areas stops the trigger body110from further movement.

As shown in more detail in the cross sectional side view ofFIG. 3(from the section plane Y ofFIG. 2), the trigger body110pivots along a pivot axis114which may be substantially perpendicular to one of the surfaces of the main body102. In one example, a top side115of the trigger body110pivots between point A (a start point) and point B (a stop point). The adjustable adjustment mechanism112is used to adjust the point B (the stop point) to B′ (an adjusted stop point).

For example, at least a portion of the adjustable adjustment mechanism112extends through the main body102and into an inner cavity116of the main body102. When the trigger body110is depressed enough (as shown), a surface area118of a bottom side119of the trigger body110contacts a surface area120at an end of the adjustable adjustment mechanism112to stop the trigger body110from further depression. The surface area118may extend along the entire bottom side119of the trigger body110or may include only a portion of the bottom side119of the trigger body110(e.g., a protrusion from one or more sidewalls). For example, in game controllers for the Xbox®, a protrusion associated with a set screw (not shown) may be used as the surface area118.

Given the length of the adjustable adjustment mechanism112shown, the surface area120of the adjustable adjustment mechanism112(and thus, the contact position) may be adjusted to any number of positions between point C and point D along an axis122. The axis may be substantially perpendicular to the pivot axis114. Adjusting the contact position causes the point B on the pivot axis114to be adjusted to point B′. It should be noted that although the surface area120and surface area118are described and illustrated herein, the contact between the adjustment mechanism112and the trigger body110is not limited to surface contact. Rather, the adjustment mechanism112may contact the trigger body110through point to point contact, or point to surface contact. Thus, the embodiments herein are merely exemplary.

For exemplary purposes, the embodiments described and shown include a screw as the adjustable adjustment mechanism112. The screw is received in screw threads124of the back side105(FIG. 2) of the main body102. The screw threads124may be cut into the main body102or may be part of a thread insert (not shown) that is inserted into an opening in the main body102. As can be appreciated, in various other embodiments, the adjustable adjustment mechanism112may be implemented as a plunger device, a screw or rod with a lever or arm attached, a screw or rod with any number of modifications or attachments, or any other element that is adjustable relative to the main body102to adjust the movement of the trigger device108.

With reference back toFIG. 2, in addition to the adjustable adjustment mechanism112, in various embodiments, the trigger device108may further include a non-adjustable adjustment mechanism126. The non-adjustable adjustment mechanism126extends through a top side127(FIG. 3) of the trigger body110to provide a non-adjustable stop position of the trigger device108. For example, the non-adjustable adjustment mechanism126includes a surface area that contacts a surface area of the main body102when the trigger body110is depressed a certain amount. The contact of the two surface areas stops the trigger body110from further movement.

As shown in more detail in the cross sectional view ofFIG. 3, in various embodiments, when the trigger body110is depressed enough, a surface area128of the non-adjustable adjustment mechanism126that protrudes out from the trigger body110contacts a surface area130the main body102to stop the trigger body110from further depression. When the non-adjustable adjustment mechanism126is in place, the pivot range of the top side115of the trigger body110is between point A and point B″ along the pivot axis114. When the non-adjustable adjustment mechanism126is removed, the pivot range of the top side114of the trigger body110is between point A and point B or B′(depending on whether the adjustable adjustment mechanism112is in place).

For exemplary purposes, the embodiments described and shown implement the non-adjustable adjustment mechanism126as a screw that extends through a top side127of the trigger body110. The screw is received in screw threads132of the trigger body110. The screw threads132may be cut into the trigger body110or may be part of a thread insert (not shown) that is inserted into an opening in the trigger body110. As can be appreciated, in various other embodiments, the non-adjustable adjustment mechanism126may be implemented at various locations of the trigger body110. For example, the non-adjustable adjustment mechanism126may extend through a side or sides of the trigger body110, so long as when depressed, the non-adjustment mechanism126contacts a surface area of the main body102. As can further be appreciated, in various embodiments, the non-adjustable adjustment mechanism126may be implemented as a rod inserted into holes, a screw screwed into threads, or any other mechanism for creating a contact surface that stops the movement of the trigger body110relative to the main body102.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.