Game controller with structural bridge

• US 10,391,393 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2018
• Issued: 08/27/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gamevice, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wikipad, Incorporated (Gamevice, Inc.)
• Inventors: Townley, Fraser, Gamble, Kelly, Dooley, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yen, Jason T
• Application Number:
  US16/230,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20190118082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 249 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 13/31 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 2009/2457 Display screens, e.g. monitors, video displays
• 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: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• 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 13/4027 using bus bridges G06F13/4022 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 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, and a touch sensitive input module. 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. The retention mechanism adaptively secures the structural bridge such that the pair of control modules snugly accommodate the length of the computing device.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

a computing device;

a pair of confinement structures, the pair of confinement structures interacting with the computing device and adjacent at least two opposing sides of the computing device, but not more than three sides of the sides of the computing device, each of the pair of confinement structures comprising a communication link, each of the communication links configured for electronic communication with the computing device;

a rigid structural bridge disposed between and secured to the pair of confinement structures, the rigid structural bridge comprising a passageway between the pair of confinement structures, the passageway promotes electrical communication between the communication link of a first confinement structure of the pair of confinement structures and the computing device, the passageway further promotes electrical communication between the communication link of a second confinement structure of the pair of confinement structures and the computing device; and

a pair of electronic game control modules, each electronic game control module of the pair of electronic game control modules is secured to and interacts with a corresponding confinement structure of the pair of confinement structures, each electronic game control module in electronic communication with the communication link of its corresponding confinement structure, wherein each electronic game control module is a separate and distinct structure from each of their corresponding confinement structures, forming no structural portion of their corresponding confinement structures, and in which each of the pair of confinement structures are separate and distinct structures from the structural bridge, forming no structural portion of the structural bridge.

2. The combination of claim 1, in which the rigid structural bridge supports electronics associated with the computing device.

3. The combination of claim 2, in which the computing device further comprising a back, the back provides an internal surface, an external surface and cooperates with the at least two opposing sides of the computing device.

4. The combination of claim 3, in which the rigid structural bridge cooperates with the back of the computing device.

5. The combination of claim 4, in which the rigid structural bridge cooperating with the back of the computing device is adjacent to the external surface of the back of the computing device.

6. The combination of claim 4, in which the computing device comprises an electronic display screen, and wherein at least one electronic game control module of the pair of electronic game control modules passes signals through its corresponding communication link to the computing device, the signals passed to the computing device controlling images displayed on the electronic display screen of the computing device.

7. The combination of claim 2, in which the electronics supported by the rigid structural bridge is a communication module associated with the computing device.

8. A combination comprising:

a structural bridge, the structural bridge having a first end associated with a first electronic game control module of a pair of electronic game control modules and a second end associated with a second electronic game control module of the pair of electronic game control modules, the structural bridge configured for adaptation to a computing device, the computing device having a length greater than its width, the structural bridge accommodates the length of the computing device, and in which the structural bridge provides a void, the void disposed between the first end of the structural bridge and the second end of the structural bridge, the void having right, left, upper, and lower sides, each side of the void communicating with a material of the structural bridge.

9. The device of claim 8, in which the first of the pair of electronic game control modules further comprises a retention mechanism, a bottom cover, wherein the bottom cover provides a position guide, and in which the retention 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 electronic game control modules.

10. The device of claim 9, 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 electronic game control modules.

11. The device of claim 9, in which at least one of the pair of electronic game control modules is a video game control module, and in which the video game control module passes signals to the computing device, the signals control images displayed on an electronic display screen of the computing device.

12. A combination comprising:

a first electronic game control module of a pair of electronic game control modules, and a second electronic game control module of the pair of electronic game control modules each the first and the second electronic game control modules includes at least a plurality of instructional input devices, and at least one of the first and the second electronic game control modules further comprising a restraint, the restraint providing at least a spring member; and

a structural bridge interposed between said first and second electronic game control module, said structural bridge comprising a first side, said first side of said structural bridge in contact adjacency with said first electronic game control module, said structural bridge further comprising a second side, said second side of said structural bridge in contact adjacency with said second electronic game control module, said structural bridge still further comprising a retention mechanism, the retention mechanism providing at least a boss, an interaction of the spring member of the restraint with the boss of the retention mechanism couples the structural bridge to at least one of the first and the second electronic game control modules.

13. The combination of claim 12, further comprising a computing device, the computing device comprising an upper, lower, left and right side, collectively the sides of the computing device, the computing device disposed between and in contact adjacency with each the first and second electronic game control modules of the pair of electronic game control modules, the pair of electronic game control modules engaging the computing device on at least two opposing sides of the computing device, but not more than three sides of the sides of the computing device, said pair of electronic game control modules are separate and distinct structures from the computing device.

14. The combination of claim 13, in which the structural bridge is a rigid structural bridge, the rigid structural bridge comprising a signal pathway, the signal pathway passes signals from each said first and second electronic game control modules.

15. The combination of claim 14, in which the computing device further comprising a back, the back provides an internal surface, an external surface, and upper, lower, left and right sides, collectively the sides of the back of the computing device, the back of the computing device cooperating with the sides of the computing device, and in which the rigid structural bridge cooperates with the back of the computing device.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a first means for attaching an input device to a computing device, said computing device provides a central processing unit and plurality of sides, each of the plurality of sides cooperating with the electronic display screen of said computing device; and

a second means for controlling a movement of a virtual object displayed on said electronic display screen of said computing device, said virtual object provided by an electronic game, said electronic game interacting with said central processing unit, and wherein said second means is accommodated by said input device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, in which the computing device having a length greater than its width, and wherein the first means for attaching the input device to a computing device comprising:

a pair of confinement structures, the pair of confinement structures interacting with the computing device and adjacent at least two opposing sides of the computing device, the at least two opposing sides adjacent the electronic display screen and define end points of the length of the computing device, the pair of confinement structures adapt to and are in pressing contact with said end points of the length of the computing device, each of the pair of confinement structures comprising a communication link, each of the communication links configured for electronic communication with the central processing unit;

a rigid structural bridge disposed between and secured to the pair of confinement structures, the rigid structural bridge includes at least a passageway between the pair of confinement structures, the passageway promotes electrical communication between the communication link of a first confinement structure of the pair of confinement structures and the computing device, the passageway further promotes electrical communication between the communication link of a second confinement structure of the pair of confinement structures and the computing device; and

wherein the input device is a pair of control modules, each control module of the pair of control modules mechanically interacting with a corresponding confinement structure of the pair of confinement structures, wherein each control module is a separate and distinct structure from the pair of confinement structures, forming no structural portion of the pair of confinement structures, and in which each of the pair of confinement structures are separate and distinct structures from the structural bridge, forming no structural portion of the structural bridge.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the second means for controlling movement of the virtual object displayed on said electronic display comprising:

each control module of the pair of control modules is in electronic communication with the communication link of its corresponding confinement structure, each of the pair of control modules provides a plurality of instructional input devices, wherein said instructional input devices are adjacent each of the at least two opposing sides of the computing device, and wherein the instructional input devices in conjunction with the central processing unit control movement of the virtual object displayed on the electronic display screen.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, in which the computing device having a length greater than its width, and wherein the first means for attaching the input device to a computing device comprising:

the input device in electronic communication with the central processing unit, the input device providing a pair of control modules, the pair of control modules are adjacent to and confine the computing device on at least two opposing sides of the computing device, the at least two opposing sides adjacent the electronic display screen define end points of the length of the computing device, the pair of control modules each adapt to and are in pressing contact with said opposing end points of the length of the computing device; and

a structural bridge, the structural bridge secures the pair of control modules one to the other, and wherein a first of the pair of control modules comprising a retention mechanism communicating with the structural bridge, and wherein the retention mechanism secures the structural bridge to the first of the pair of control modules, such that the structural bridge accommodates the length of the computing device, and in which the structural bridge provides a void in the mid-section of the structural bridge, the void having right, left, upper, and lower sides, each side communicating with a material of the structural bridge.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, in which the second means for controlling a movement of a virtual object displayed on said electronic display comprising:

a communication link, the communication link facilitates communication between the pair of control modules and the central processing unit, each of the pair of control modules provides instructional input devices, wherein said instructional input devices are adjacent each of the at least two opposing sides of the computing device, wherein the instructional input devices in conjunction with the central processing unit control movement of the virtual object displayed on the electronic display screen.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, in which the computing device having a length greater than its width, and wherein the first means for attaching the input device to a computing device comprising:

the input device in electronic communication with the central processing unit of the computing device, the input device providing a pair of control modules a first control module of a pair of control modules, and a second control module of the pair of control modules, at least one of the first and the second control modules further comprising a fastening latch;

a structural bridge disposed between said first and second control module, said structural bridge comprising a first side, said first side of said structural bridge in contact adjacency with said first control module, said structural bridge further comprising a second side, said second side of said structural bridge in contact adjacency with said second control module, said structural bridge still further comprising a retention member, the retention member interacts with the fastening latch, the interaction of the fastening latch with the retention member restrains the structural bridge to a control module of the pair of control modules, and the pair of control modules to the computing device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, in which the second means for controlling a movement of the virtual object displayed on said electronic display comprising:

a communication link, the communication link facilitates communication between the pair of control modules and the central processing unit of the computing device; and

each the first and the second control modules of the pair of control modules comprising a plurality instructional input devices, and wherein the plurality of instructional input devices in conjunction with the central processing unit control movement of the virtual object displayed on the electronic display screen.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, in which the means for controlling the movement of the object displayed on the electronic display screen is provided by an input device, the input device comprises:

input module apertures, each input module aperture accepts either a game control module or a keyboard module as selected by a user, wherein said input module apertures are adjacent each of the at least two opposing sides of the plurality of sides of the computing device; and

a camera communicating with each the input device and the computing device, the camera capturing either still or video images as selected by the user, and in which the camera is responsive to at least the removable keyboard module when said keyboard module is operatively installed by the user within the input module aperture, and in which the removable keyboard module is a pair of touch responsive electronic display screens, each of the touch responsive electronic display screens having at least the functionality of the electronic display screen, includes the functionality of a mouse pad, and presents virtual keys of a keyboard for information entry.