Game controller with removable magnetic button

• US 10,137,364 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2015
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Schmitz, Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Skaarup, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/734,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20160361635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 463 36, 463 37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles

Abstract

A game controller includes an electronic input sensor and a button-retention feature. The button-retention feature is configured to removably affix a selected button accessory to the game controller through a magnetic attraction between the button-retention feature and the selected button accessory. The selected button accessory is one of a plurality of differently configured button accessories removably affixable to the game controller. The selected button accessory is configured to translate a touch applied to the selected button accessory to an actuation of the electronic input sensor when the selected button accessory is affixed to the game controller.

Claims

1. A game controller comprising:

an electronic input sensor; and

a moveable mounting platform including a magnet, the moveable mounting platform configured to removably affix a selected button accessory to the game controller through a magnetic attraction between the magnet and the selected button accessory, the selected button accessory being one of a plurality of differently configured button accessories removably affixable to the game controller through magnetic attraction to the magnet, the moveable mounting platform sandwiched between the selected button accessory and the electronic input sensor when the selected button accessory is removably affixed to the moveable mounting platform, wherein the movable mounting platform including the magnet moves together with the selected button accessory relative to the electronic input sensor when the selected button accessory is pressed, and wherein the electronic input sensor generates an activation signal responsive to the movement of the moveable mounting platform.

2. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the selected button accessory is made at least partially of ferromagnetic material having a magnetic attraction to the magnet.

3. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a component defining a mating feature configured to interlock with a corresponding mating feature on the selected button accessory to prevent the selected button accessory from rotating while affixed to the game controller.

4. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the movable mounting platform includes a mating feature configured to interlock with a corresponding mating feature on the selected button accessory to prevent the selected button accessory from rotating about the mounting platform.

5. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the electronic input sensor includes a collapsible switch configured to actuate responsive to the movement of the movable mounting platform.

6. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the electronic input sensor includes a Hall Effect sensor, and wherein the Hall Effect sensor varies an output signal responsive to the movement of the movable mounting platform.

7. The game controller of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of differently configured button accessories produce a different magnetic field that is identifiable by the Hall Effect sensor.

8. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a button identification device configured to identify the selected button accessory when the selected button accessory is affixed to the movable mounting platform and associate a control signal with the selected button accessory, wherein the game controller is configured to output the control signal responsive to actuation of the electronic input sensor while the selected button accessory is affixed to the movable mounting platform, and wherein each of the plurality of differently configured button accessories is associated with a different control signal.

9. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the electronic input sensor generates the activation signal responsive to movement of the movable mounting platform toward the electronic input sensor when the selected button accessory is pressed.

10. A controller comprising:

a plurality of electronic input sensors; and

a corresponding plurality of movable mounting platforms, each movable mounting platform including a magnet, each movable mounting platform configured to removably affix a selected button accessory to the movable mounting platform through a magnetic attraction between the magnet and the selected button accessory, the movable mounting platform sandwiched between the selected button accessory and a corresponding electronic input sensor when the selected button accessory is removably affixed to the movable mounting platform, the selected button accessory being one of a plurality of differently configured button accessories removably affixable to the movable mounting platform, wherein the movable mounting platform including the magnet moves together with the selected button accessory relative to the corresponding electronic input sensor when the selected button accessory is pressed, and wherein the corresponding electronic input sensor generates an activation signal responsive to the movement of the movable mounting platform.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of movable mounting platforms includes a visual indicator that indicates a selected button accessory type that is removably affixable to the mounting platform.

12. The controller of claim 10, wherein the plurality of movable mounting platforms are identically configured such that a same selected button accessory is removably affixable to each of the plurality of movable mounting platforms.

13. The controller of claim 10, wherein two or more movable mounting platforms of the plurality of movable mounting platforms are differently configured such that a same selected button accessory is not removably affixable to the two or more movable mounting platforms.

14. The controller of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of movable mounting platforms include a mating feature configured to interlock with a corresponding mating feature of a selected button accessory to prevent the selected button accessory from rotating about the movable mounting platform, and wherein the two or movable mounting platforms include differently configured mounting features.

15. The controller of claim 10, further comprising:

a button identification device configured to, for each of the corresponding plurality of movable mounting platforms, identify the selected button accessory when the selected button accessory is affixed to the corresponding movable mounting platform and associate a control signal with the selected button accessory, wherein the controller is configured to, for each selected button accessory affixed to a movable mounting platform, output the control signal associated with the selected button accessory responsive to actuation of the electronic input sensor corresponding to the selected button accessory while the selected button accessory is affixed to the movable mounting platform, and wherein each of the plurality of differently configured button accessories is associated with a different control signal.

16. A game controller comprising:

a first electronic input sensor;

a second electronic input sensor;

a first mounting platform including a first button-retention feature and a first mating feature, the first button-retention feature being configured to removably affix a first button accessory to the mounting platform through a magnetic attraction between the first button-retention feature and the first button accessory, the first mating feature being configured to interlock with a corresponding first mating feature of the first button accessory to prevent the first button accessory from rotating about the first mounting platform, and the first mounting platform being configured to translate a touch applied to the first button accessory to an actuation of the first electronic input sensor when the first button accessory is affixed to the first mounting platform; and

a second mounting platform including a second button-retention feature and a second mating feature, the second button-retention feature being configured to removably affix a second button accessory to the mounting platform through a magnetic attraction between the second button-retention feature and the second button accessory, the second mating feature being configured to interlock with a corresponding second mating feature of the second button accessory to prevent the second button accessory from rotating about the second mounting platform, and the second mounting platform being configured to translate a touch applied to the second button accessory to an actuation of the second electronic input sensor when the second button accessory is affixed to the second mounting platform,

and wherein the first mating feature of the first mounting platform is differently configured than the second mating feature of the second mounting platform such that the second button accessory is not removably affixable to the first mounting platform and the first button accessory is not removably affixable to the second mounting platform.

17. The game controller of claim 16, wherein the first mounting platforms includes a first visual indicator that indicates a first button accessory type that is removably affixable to the first mounting platform and wherein the second mounting platform includes second visual indicator that indicates a second button accessory type different than the first button accessory type that is removably affixable to the second mounting platform.

18. The game controller of claim 16, wherein the first mounting platform includes a first number of mating features, and wherein the second mounting platform includes a second number of mating features different than the first number of mating features.