Game controller

• US 10,286,306 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2017
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Okamura, Takanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall, Shauna-Kay
• Application Number:
  US15/422,785
• Publication Number:
  US 20170354871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 463 37
• 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 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50

Abstract

An example of a game controller includes a key top of an operation button, a tubular light-guiding portion surrounding a periphery of the key top, a light-shielding portion surrounding a periphery of the light-guiding portion, an elastic member placed immediately below the key top and configured to allow light to pass therethrough, a switch placed below the elastic member, and an LED. The key top and the light-guiding portion are exposed through a surface of a housing of the game controller. Light from the LED is incident on the light-guiding portion and guided to a surface of the housing through the inside of the light-guiding portion. The light-guiding portion is surrounded by the light-shielding portion, and therefore, light does not come out to the periphery of the light-guiding portion. Consequently, it is possible to cause the periphery of the operation button to emit light in a ring-shaped manner.

Claims

1. A game controller comprising:

a housing including an aperture portion;

a key top of an operation button exposed through the aperture portion and configured to be pressed with a finger of a user;

a light-emitting section;

a tubular light-guiding portion configured to guide light from the light-emitting section and surrounding an outer periphery of the key top;

a light-shielding portion surrounding an outer periphery of the light-guiding portion; and

a switch placed below the key top, wherein

an upper surface of the key top and an upper surface of the light-guiding portion are exposed through the aperture portion.

2. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

the switch is placed below a center of the key top.

3. The game controller according to claim 1, further comprising

an elastic portion placed below the key top and configured to bias the key top in a direction opposite to a pressing direction, wherein

when the key top is pressed, the key top comes into contact with the switch through the elastic portion.

4. The game controller according to claim 3, wherein

the elastic portion is formed of a light-guiding material, and

the light-emitting section is placed below the elastic portion and at a position where the light-emitting section overlaps the elastic portion.

5. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

the light-shielding portion is tubular.

6. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

the light-emitting section is placed inside a region surrounded by the light-shielding portion.

7. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

as the light-emitting section, a plurality of light-emitting sections are provided.

8. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

as the light-emitting section, a plurality of light-emitting sections are placed at positions symmetrical with respect to a center of the key top.

9. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

the light-shielding portion is not exposed through a surface of the housing.

10. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

even when the key top is pressed, the light-guiding portion is not pressed in a direction of pressing the key top.

11. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

the switch and the light-emitting section are placed on a substrate provided in the housing.

12. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

an upper surface of the light-guiding portion has substantially the same height as a surface of the housing.

13. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

an upper surface of the key top has substantially the same height as a surface of the housing.

14. The game controller according to claim 1, wherein

the operation button is a home button.

15. A game controller comprising:

a housing with an aperture;

an operation button with a key top that extends through the aperture and is configured to be pressed with a finger of a user;

a light emitter;

a tubular light-guide configured to guide light from the light emitter and that surrounds an outer periphery of the key top;

a light shield that surrounds an outer periphery of the tubular light-guide; and

a switch below the key top, wherein

an upper surface of the key top and an upper surface of the light-guide are exposed through the aperture.