U.S. Pat. No. 9,802,118

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with some aspects of the invention, a game controller includes a plurality of input devices and a cradle for holding a handheld display device, for example a smartphone (or portable media player, personal digital assistant, or other handheld device), in a viewable position. Circuitry of the game controller may be in communication with circuitry of the display device by way of wireless communication circuitry. The handheld display device may include one or more processors for executing game program instructions, including processing of inputs from the game controller, with results of game play displayed on a display of the display device.

FIG. 1illustrates a top perspective view of a game controller in accordance with aspects of the invention. The game controller includes a base111and a cradle123. The base is formed of a housing with a top wall113and a bottom wall (not visible inFIG. 1) coupled by side walls115. In some embodiments the base is substantially dimensioned to be similar in size and shape to a smartphone or other handheld display device.

A plurality of user input devices extend through the top wall of the base. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1, the input devices include a pair of analog sticks117a,b, a plurality of game pad buttons119, and a plurality of directional buttons121. The input devices are coupled to circuitry within the base, with a battery or other power source within the base as well in some embodiments. In most embodiments the circuitry within the base communicates information as to the state of the input devices to a controller executing a game program.

The cradle123is pivotably coupled to the base, in a hinged fashion in various embodiments. The cradle includes a backing125, with an extending bottom arm127and an extending top arm129. The arms extend from opposing ends of the backing. The arms are, in many embodiments, pivotably coupled to the backing, allowing the arms to be pivoted to an extended or open position, or pivoted to a closed position substantially parallel to the backing. As illustrated inFIG. 1, with the arms in the extended position, the arms extend generally in the same direction and generally orthogonal to a plane defined by the backing. In embodiments in which the backingand the arms are each generally planar, the cradle may be considered to be of a generally square U-shape.

Tabs131a,bextend from about an end of the top arm, with the tabs extending inward towards the bottom arm. Similarly, tabs131c,dextend from about an end of the bottom arm, inwardly towards the top arm. The tabs help to retain a device, such as a smartphone or other handheld display device, held by the cradle. For example, in some embodiments the arms oppose each other by a distance about equal to a width of a smartphone, and have a length slightly greater than a depth of the smartphone (with the smartphone having a height, a width, and a depth, with a display on a surface substantially extending over the height and the width). In such embodiments the tabs assist in holding the smartphone in the cradle, with the tabs extending slightly over a surface of the smartphone.

FIG. 2illustrates a top perspective view of the game controller ofFIG. 1with the cradle pivoted, or rotated, to a closed position. In the closed position the cradle has been pivoted out of view about the bottom wall of the base111. Accordingly, while the top wall113and sidewalls115are generally visible for the base, as is a portion of hinge structure211for the cradle, the cradle is generally out of view. The hinge structure for or of the cradle is generally within a cutout of the sidewall of the base and preferably provides a generally continuous surface with the sidewall when the cradle is in the closed position.

FIG. 3illustrates a bottom perspective view of the game controller ofFIG. 1, with the cradle in the closed position. In the closed position, the backing125of the cradle is within a latitudinal cutout across the bottom wall311of the base111. The cradle is coupled to the base by way of hinges319, with a closed position locking mechanism maintaining the cradle in the closed position. The closed position locking mechanism is unlockable through use of a button317on a sidewall115of the base.

The base also includes additional user input devices on its bottom wall in some embodiments. As shown inFIG. 3, buttons in the form of sliding input devices313a,bare disposed in hollows315a,bof the bottom wall. The buttons correspond, in operation, to shoulder buttons of game controllers for game consoles, in some embodiments. The hollows are on opposing sides of the latitudinal cutout in the base holding the closed cradle.

FIG. 4illustrates a further top perspective view of the game controller ofFIG. 1, with the cradle in the open position, extending from the base111, and retaining a smartphone411. The smartphone is held between the top arm129and the bottom arm127of the cradle. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the top arm and the bottom arm are against opposing sides of the smartphone, with the opposing sides separated by the width of the smartphone. The tabs131a-dassist in the cradle retaining the smartphone, with the tabs extending partially over a top surface of the smartphone, but not necessarily contacting the top surface of the smartphone.

In the open position, the cradle is at a slight angle from a plane defined by the base, allowing for easier viewing of a face, including a display413, of the smartphone. In the embodiment ofFIG. 4, the base has a width substantially equal to a height of the smartphone.

FIG. 5illustrates a side view of the game controller ofFIG. 1with the cradle in the open position and retaining the smartphone411. The cradle extends at a slight angle from the base111(with the button317for operating the closed position locking mechanism also visible). With the cradle retaining the smartphone, a rear of the smartphone is about, and inFIG. 5abuts, the backing125of the cradle. Sides of the smartphone are adjacent the top arm129and the bottom arm127, with the tabs (of which tabs131b,dare visible) extending partially over the face of the smartphone, but not necessarily contacting the face of the smartphone.

FIG. 6illustrates a further bottom perspective view of the game controller ofFIG. 1, with the cradle in the open position. InFIG. 6, a latitudinal cutout611extends across the base, with the latitudinal cutout dimensioned to receive the backing of the cradle.

FIG. 7illustrates a further bottom perspective view of a game controller in accordance with aspects of the invention, with a cradle723in the open position, extending from the base111, and retaining a smartphone411. As may be seen inFIG. 7, the backing of the cradle is segmented into an upper plate713and a lower plate715, which in the embodiment ofFIG. 7are substantially coplanar. With the smartphone retained by the cradle, a small gap711is visible between the upper plate and the lower plate.

FIG. 8illustrates a partial top cut-away perspective view of the game controller ofFIG. 7. InFIG. 8, the cradle723is in the extended open position with respect to the base111. The upper plate713and the lower plate715of the backing can be seen as connected by an intermediate plate817, with a lower portion of the intermediate plate overlying the lower plate, and an upper portion of the intermediate plate overlying the upper plate. The intermediate plate, shown in partial cut-away view, includes springs819a,b, which are coupled to the lower and upper plates. The springs normally bias the upper and lower plates towards one another. Extension of the springs allows for separation of the upper and lower plates, and therefore the arms127,129extending from the lower and upper plates, respectively. When separated, the arms, through bias of the plates, are pulled towards one another, providing a clamping action and assisting in retention of a smartphone or other handheld display device in the cradle. In addition, in some embodiments, and as illustrated inFIG. 8, an inner facing surface of the upper arm129includes a pad811a(with a similar pad on an inner facing surface of the lower arm127, not visible inFIG. 8). The pad is preferably of a somewhat compliant material, which also preferably provides for increased frictional forces when contacting the sides of a smartphone, and in some embodiments comprises an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) polymer.

Some embodiments include a lock mechanism for locking the cradle in the open position.FIG. 9illustrates a rear perspective view of a game controller in accordance with aspects of the invention, with the cradle123in the open position with respect to the base111. An unlock button911is provided on a connecting hinge portion of the cradle. Depression of the unlock button allows the cradle to be unlocked and moved from the open position.

Details of an example cradle open position locking system may be seen in the partial bottom cut-away perspective view ofFIG. 10. InFIG. 10, the connecting hinge portion of the cradle, in a cutout in a sidewall of the base111, is partially removed, allowing for view of details of the example locking system. In the example locking system, a post1013includes a foot insertable into a cavity (not shown) in a side of the cutout in the sidewall of the base when the cradle is in the open position, but not at when the cradle is in other positions. Insertion of the foot of the post into the cavity prevents pivoting movement of the cradle with respect to the base. In some embodiments, the post is parallel to, but offset from, an axis of rotation of the cradle with respect to the base, so as to achieve this effect. In some embodiments, the sidewall comprises a plurality of different cavities for receiving the foot of the post at a plurality of different opened positions.

The post is normally biased by a spring1015towards the side of the cutout in the sidewall. The biasing of the post by the spring allows for automatic insertion of the foot of the post into the cavity when the cradle is in the open position, as well as serving to retain the foot of the post in the cavity thereafter.

Depression of the button911results in contact between the button and the post, with force of the contact causing the post to overcome the bias provided by the spring. In overcoming the bias provided by the spring, the post moves away from the side of the cutout in the sidewall, and the foot of the post withdraws from the cavity. This unlocks the cradle, and allows the cradle to move from the open position, for example to pivot to the closed position. In some embodiments the button contacts an angled side of the post, allowing for translation of movement of the button in one direction to movement of the post in a substantially orthogonal direction.

FIG. 11illustrates a further bottom perspective view of the game controller ofFIG. 1, with the cradle in the closed position and retaining a smartphone. With the cradle in the closed position, a rear surface of the smartphone411is substantially adjacent the bottom wall of the base111, with the rear of the smartphone and the bottom wall of the base separated by the backing of the cradle.

As illustrated inFIG. 11, the base111of the controller and the smartphone411have substantially identical footprints. Similarity in size of the smartphone and the base allows for ease of holding of the smartphone and controller with the cradle in the closed position, for example while using the smartphone as a telephone. In some uses, for example, a player may play a videogame executing on the smartphone, receive a phone call on the smartphone, pause play of the videogame, move the cradle to the closed position, and conveniently hold the combined game controller and smartphone as one may often hold a phone for phone conversations.

FIG. 12illustrates a side view of the game controller ofFIG. 1, with the cradle in the closed position and retaining the smartphone. InFIG. 12, the smartphone411is approximate the base111of the controller, with the smartphone held in the cradle. Pads811aand811b, on the lower and upper arms, respectively, of the cradle assist in retention of the smartphone by the cradle. Similarly, tabs extending inward from the arms, with tabs131a,cvisible inFIG. 12, also assist in retention of the smartphone by the cradle.

FIG. 13illustrates a further top perspective view of the game controller ofFIG. 1, with the cradle in the closed position and retaining a smartphone. InFIG. 13, the base111of the controller overlies the smartphone, with arms, for example arm129, assisting in retention of the smartphone.

Although the invention has been discussed with respect to various embodiments, it should be recognized that the invention comprises the novel and non-obvious claims supported by this disclosure.