Game controller with flexible bridge supporting point of sale input device

• US 10,092,830 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2017
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wikipad, Incorporated (Gamevice, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wikipad, Incorporated (Gamevice, Inc.)
• Inventors: Townley, Fraser, Gamble, Kelly D., Dooley, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): YEN, JASON TAHAI
• Application Number:
  US15/656,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20180036635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/31 Communication aspects specific to video games, e.g. between several handheld game devices at close range
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/50 Controlling the output signals based on the game progress
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1692 the I/O peripheral being a secondary touch screen used as control interface, e.g. virtual buttons or sliders
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/102 where the programme performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver G06F13/105 takes precedence; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/409 Mechanical coupling back panels H05K7/1438
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0042 Universal serial bus [USB]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 : Special purpose keyboards

Abstract

A device directed to a combination computing and input device. The computing device providing a plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sides are disposed between an electronic display screen and a back of the computing device. The input device communicates with the computing device and provides a pair of control modules adjacent to and confining the computing device on at least two opposing sides of the computing device. The input device further provides a structural bridge securing the pair of control modules one to the other, a touch sensitive input module, and a full function keyboard. The structural bridge adaptively and snugly accommodate the length of the computing device. A first of the pair of control modules features a retention mechanism communicating with the structural bridge, which snugly accommodates the length of the computing device.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a computing device, the computing device providing a plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sides are disposed between an electronic display screen of the computing device and a back of the computing device, the computing device having a length greater than a width of the computing device;

an input device in electronic communication with the computing device, the input device providing a pair of control modules, the pair of control modules adjacent to and confining the computing device on at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides of the computing device, the pair of control modules are configured such that the pair of control modules adaptively and snugly accommodate the length of the computing device, while the width of the computing device extends above and below the confines of a length of the pair of control modules, wherein each of the pair of control modules provides a front side and a back side;

a structural bridge securing the pair of control modules one to the other, the structural bridge in conjunction with the pair of control modules form a controller, the controller providing a front side and a back side, the structural bridge configured such that the structural bridge adaptively and snugly accommodates the length of the computing device, wherein a first of the pair of control modules comprising a retention mechanism communicating with the structural bridge, wherein the retention mechanism secures the structural bridge to the first of the pair of control modules, such that the structural bridge snugly accommodates the length of the computing device, wherein the structural bridge provides a front side and a back side;

a communication link facilitating communication between the pair of control modules and the computing device, and wherein the structural bridge masks a mid-portion of the back of the computing device; and

a transaction input circuit integrated within at least one of the control modules, the transaction input circuit configured to interact with a transaction input means.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a touch sensitive input module attached to the back side of the controller, in which the touch sensitive input module attached to the back side of the controller is attached to the back side of the structural bridge, else the touch sensitive input module attached to the back side of the controller is attached to the back side of a selected control module of the pair of control modules, and in which the first of the pair of control modules further comprises a bottom cover, the bottom cover provides a position guide, and in which the tensioning mechanism comprises:

an attachment boss communicating with the structural bridge;

an attachment support cooperating with the attachment boss, the attachment support in cooperation with the attachment boss secures the structural bridge, the structural bridge disposed between the attachment boss and the attachment support; and

a biasing structure communicating with the attachment support, the biasing structure provides tension between the structural bridge and the second of the pair of control modules.

3. The device of claim 2, in which the touch sensitive input module is a touch screen, the touch screen relays instructions to the computing device to alter an image displayed on the electronic display, and in which the attachment support comprises a guide aperture interacting with the position guide, the interaction of the guide aperture with the position guide maintains alignment between the structural bridge and the second of the pair of control modules.

4. The device of claim 3, in which the guide aperture is a slotted aperture.

5. The device of claim 4, in which the biasing structure is a coiled spring.

6. The device of claim 5, in which the structural bridge provides a width less than its length, the back of the computing device extending above and below the width of the structural bridge.

7. The device of claim 2, in which the input means is a chip reader, and further comprising a data storage device confined within the input device and communicating with the computing device.

8. The device of claim 2, in which the input means is a magnetic strip reader, and further comprising an auxiliary power source confined within the input device and communicating with the computing device.

9. The device of claim 2, in which the input means is an optical reader, and in which the input device is a game control module, and in which the game control module passes signals to the computing device, the signals control images displayed on the electronic display screen of the computing device.

10. The device of claim 2, in which the input device provides a keyboard module, and in which the keyboard module passes signals to the computing device, the signals control images displayed on the electronic display screen of the computing device.

11. The device of claim 2, in which the structural bridge is a ridged structure.

12. The device of claim 2, in which the structural bridge is a flexible structure.

13. The device of claim 2, in which the communication link is a signal pathway.

14. The device of claim 13, in which the signal pathway is a metallic pathway.

15. The device of claim 13, in which the signal pathway is a fiber optic pathway.

16. The device of claim 2, in which the communication link provides a communication platform.

17. The device of claim 16, in which the communication platform is a wired communication module.

18. The device of claim 16, in which the communication platform is a wireless communication platform.

19. The device of claim 18, in which the wireless communication platform operates in a frequency range of 2.4 GHz.

20. The device of claim 18, in which the wireless communication platform is a personal area network.

21. The device of claim 18, in which the wireless communication platform utilizes infrared technology for data transactions.