Game controller and game system

• US 10,137,365 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ikeda, Akio
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuff, Michael
• Application Number:
  US15/295,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20170028297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 463 37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• 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 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2408 Touch-sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2447 Motion detector
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1068 being specially adapted to detect the point of contact of the player on a surface, e.g. floor mat, touch pad
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6045 for mapping control signals received from the input arrangement into game commands
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 : Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 : Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

A first control unit includes a first operation data generation section for generating first operation data in accordance with a motion of a first control unit body included in the first control unit. A second control unit includes a second operation data generation section for generating second operation data in accordance with a direction input operation performed by a player or a motion of a second control unit body included in the second control unit. Further, one of the first control unit and the second control unit includes a transmission section for transmitting the first operation data and the second operation data to a computer at a predetermined timing.

Claims

1. A game system, comprising:

an information processing apparatus having a processing system that includes at least one processor and communication circuitry configured to wirelessly communicate data; and

a controller arrangement, comprising;

a first controller having a housing that is dimensioned and shaped in order to be held by a first hand of a user, the first controller including;

a first inertial sensor configured to output data related to motion and/or attitude of the first controller,

first communication circuitry configured to conduct wireless communication, the first communication circuitry further configured to wirelessly communicate data between the first controller and the information processing apparatus, and

a first button located on a first surface of the housing of the first controller, the first button configured to be operated by the user while the user holds the housing of the first controller; and

a second controller having a housing that is dimensioned and shaped in order to be held by a second hand of the user, the second controller including;

a second inertial sensor configured to output data related to motion and/or attitude of the second controller,

second communication circuitry configured to conduct wireless communication, the second communication circuitry further configured to wirelessly communicate data between the second controller and the information processing apparatus, and

a second button located on a first surface of the housing of the second controller, the second button configured to be operated by the user while the user holds the housing of the second controller.

2. The game system of claim 1, wherein the first button on the first surface of the housing of the first controller is a trigger button.

3. The game system of claim 1, further comprising a display operatively coupled to the information processing apparatus and configured to display an image output from the information processing apparatus.

4. The game system of claim 1, wherein

the first controller further includes a first input portion on a second surface of the housing of the first controller, the first input portion configured to provide directional input control, and

the second controller further includes a second input portion on a second surface of the housing of the second controller, the second input portion configured to provide directional input control.

5. The game system of claim 1, wherein

the first controller further includes a first inclinable stick on a second surface of the housing of the first controller, and

the second controller further includes a second inclinable stick on a second surface of the housing of the second controller.

6. The game system of claim 1, wherein at least the first controller includes a first vibrator configured to provide vibration-feedback.

7. The game system of claim 1, wherein

the first controller further includes a first touch sensitive panel on a second surface of the housing of the first controller, and

the second controller further includes a second touch sensitive panel on a second surface of the housing of the second controller.

8. The game system of claim 1, wherein at least the first controller further includes a first home button on a second surface of the housing of the first controller.

9. The game system of claim 1, wherein

the first controller further includes at least one additional input button on a second surface of the housing of the first controller, and

the second controller further includes at least one additional input button on a second surface of the housing of the second controller.

10. The game system of claim 1, wherein at least the first controller further includes circuitry to detect infrared light.

11. The game system of claim 1, wherein the first controller further includes a first connection portion positioned on a rear end of the housing of the first controller.

12. A controller arrangement, comprising:

a first controller having a housing that is dimensioned and shaped in order to be held by a first hand of a user, the first controller including;

a first inertial sensor configured to output data related to motion and/or attitude of the first controller,

first communication circuitry configured to conduct wireless communication, the first communication circuitry further configured to wirelessly communicate data between the first controller and an information processing apparatus, and

a first button located on a first surface of the housing of the first controller, the first button configured to be operated by the user while the user holds the housing of the first controller; and

a second controller having a housing that is dimensioned and shaped in order to be held by a second hand of the user, the second controller including;

a second inertial sensor configured to output data related to motion and/or attitude of the second controller,

second communication circuitry configured to conduct wireless communication, the second communication circuitry further configured to wirelessly communicate data between the second controller and the information processing apparatus, and

a second button located on a first surface of the housing of the second controller, the second button configured to be operated by the user while the user holds the housing of the second controller.

13. The controller arrangement of claim 12, wherein

the first controller further includes a first input portion on a second surface of the housing of the first controller, the first input portion configured to provide directional input control, and

the second controller further includes a second input portion on a second surface of the housing of the second controller, the second input portion configured to provide directional input control.

14. The controller arrangement of claim 12, wherein

the first controller further includes a first inclinable stick on a second surface of the housing of the first controller, and

the second controller further includes a second inclinable stick on a second surface of the housing of the second controller.

15. The controller arrangement of claim 12, wherein at least the first controller includes a first vibrator configured to provide vibration-feedback.

16. The controller arrangement of claim 12, wherein

the first controller further includes a first touch sensitive panel on a second surface of the housing of the first controller, and

the second controller further includes a second touch sensitive panel on a second surface of the housing of the second controller.

17. The controller arrangement of claim 12, wherein at least the first controller further includes a first home button on a second surface of the housing of the first controller.

18. The controller arrangement of claim 12, wherein

the first controller further includes at least one additional input button on a second surface of the housing of the first controller, and

the second controller further includes at least one additional input button on a second surface of the housing of the second controller.

19. The controller arrangement of claim 12, wherein at least the first controller further includes circuitry to detect infrared light.

20. The controller arrangement of claim 12, wherein the first controller further includes a first connection portion positioned on a rear end of the housing of the first controller.

21. A system configured for video game play, comprising:

an information processing apparatus having a processing system including at least one processor and at least one memory, the information processing apparatus operatively coupled to a display device;

a first controller dimensioned and shaped in order to be held by a first hand of a user; and

a second controller dimensioned and shaped in order to be held by a second hand of the user;

the first controller comprising;

processing circuitry,

a first inertial sensor configured to output data related to motion and/or attitude of the first controller,

first communication circuitry configured to conduct communication between the first controller and the information processing apparatus, and

an input button located on a first surface of the first controller;

the second controller comprising;

a second inertial sensor configured to output data related to motion and/or attitude of the second controller,

second communication circuitry configured to conduct communication between the second controller and the information processing apparatus, and

an inclinable stick configured to provide input when the inclinable stick is moved.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the first controller further comprises a first vibration device configured to provide haptic feedback.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the first controller further comprises a first image capturing device configured to capture infrared light.