Controller with removably attachable text input device

• US 20040222970A1
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Stewart, James R., Martinez, Greg, Lum, Richard S., Walker, Robert S., Stiles, William P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,493,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• 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 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device

Abstract

A small-sized text input device is attachable to and removable from a game controller. The text input device can be sized and configured to fit between grip portions of the game controller, and can be attachable to the game controller with a separate attachment bracket. Different brackets can be used to attach the text input device to different types of game controllers. A game player holding the game controller can access the text keys of the text input device with his or her thumbs, and by making only minor (or no) adjustment to the position of his or her hands on the grip portions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing computer game play and text input, comprising:

a hand-held game controller having body portions sized and configured for holding by a game player with two hands; and

an attached text input device, the text input device;

being selectively and non-destructively removable from the game controller,

being re-attachable to the game controller, after being non-destructively removed therefrom, so as to permit subsequent non-destructive removal, and

having at least 20 simultaneously-viewable text keys.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the text input device has at least 26 simultaneously-viewable text keys, each of the text keys corresponding to a different letter of the alphabet.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein substantially all text keys of the text input device are simultaneously viewable when the text input device is attached to the game controller.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a majority of the at least 26 keys are single-position buttons and are arranged in a single array.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a majority of the at least 26 keys are single-position buttons and are arranged in three or fewer rows.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a majority of the at least 26 keys are single-position buttons and are arranged in ten or fewer columns.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the game controller comprises at least one thumb stick.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the game controller comprises at least one trigger.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein a majority of the keys of the text input device only transmit text character codes.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the game controller comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub with multiple ports, wherein the game play controls of the game controller are in communication with one of the ports, and wherein the text input device is in communication with another port.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the game controller body portions comprise two handle portions that, when held by a user in a game playing position with palms fully engaging the handle portions, orient the palms so as to oppose one another and be separated by no more than 7.5 inches.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the text input device is attached in a location between the handle portions such that a user holding the game controller in a game playing position can access the text input device with his or her thumbs.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the game controller lacks an integral dedicated text key.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a bracket for coupling the text input device to the game controller.

15. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the game play controls of the game controller provide output recognized as game play input without requiring a separate signal to indicate whether game controller output should be regarded as text or game play input, and wherein the text keys of the text input device provide output recognized as text input without requiring a separate signal to indicate whether the text input device output should be regarded as text input or game play input.

16. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a computer processor in communication with the game controller and with the text input device; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory having machine-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor;

cause signals corresponding to actuation of any of substantially all of the game play controls to be recognized by the processor as non-text game play input, and

cause signals corresponding to actuation of any of substantially all of the text keys to be recognized by the processor as a text character, and wherein

substantially all controls of the text input device are text keys.

17. An apparatus for providing computer game play and text input, comprising:

a game controller having a housing, the housing having two opposed handle portions configured for grasping in opposed hands of a game player and at least one integral component forming at least a part of each handle portion; and

an attached text input device, the text input device;

being selectively and non-destructively removable from the game controller,

being re-attachable to the game controller, after being non-destructively removed therefrom, so as to permit subsequent non-destructive removal, and

having a housing sized to fit within a space bounded by the handle portions.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the game controller comprises at least one thumb stick.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the game controller comprises at least one trigger.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the text input device fits within inside outer edges of the handle portions.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a portion of the text input device contacts a surface of a handle portion.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the handle portions, when held by a user in a game playing position with palms fully engaging the outer surfaces of the handle portions, separate the palms by no more than 7.5 inches.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the text input device is attached in a location such that a user holding the game controller in a game playing position can access the text input device with his or her thumbs.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the game controller lacks an integral dedicated text key.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a bracket for coupling the text input device to the game controller.

26. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the game play controls of the game controller provide output recognized as game play input without requiring a separate signal to indicate whether game controller output should be regarded as text or game play input, and wherein the text keys of the text input device provide output recognized as text input without requiring a separate signal to indicate whether the text input device output should be regarded as text input or game play input.

27. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a computer processor in communication with the game controller and with the text input device; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory having machine-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor;

cause signals corresponding to actuation of any of substantially all of the game play controls to be recognized by the processor as non-text game play input, and

cause signals corresponding to actuation of any of substantially all of the text keys to be recognized by the processor as a text character, and wherein

substantially all controls of the text input device are text keys.

28. An apparatus for providing computer game play and text input, comprising:

a first housing having two opposed handle portions configured for grasping in opposed hands of a game player and at least one integral component forming at least a part of each handle portion;

at least one externally-accessible communication port located on the first housing;

a plurality of game play controls located on external regions of the first housing;

a second housing selectively and non-destructively removable from the first housing, the second housing being non-permanently re-attachable to the first housing after non-destructive removal therefrom;

a plurality of text keys located on external regions of the second housing; and

a communication cable emanating from the second housing and terminating in a connector, the connector being connected to the communication port.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein at least one game play control is a thumb stick.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein at least one game play control is a trigger.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein a majority of the text keys only transmit text character codes.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub with multiple ports, the USB hub located within the first housing, and wherein:

the game play controls are in communication with one of the USB ports, and

the at least one externally-accessible communication port comprises another of the USB ports.

33. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the two handle portions, when held by a user in a game playing position with palms fully engaging the handle portions, orient the palms so as to oppose one another and be separated by no more than 7.5 inches.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the second housing is attached in a location such that a user holding the first housing in a game playing position can access the plurality of text keys with his or her thumbs.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein an integral dedicated text key is not located on the first housing.

36. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a bracket for coupling the second housing to the first housing.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

the bracket comprises a beam, a retaining shoulder fixed to and extending from a first part of the beam, and an engaging member fixed to a second part of the beam,

the engaging member engages the second housing, is selectively and non-destructively disengagable from the second housing, and is non-permanently re-engagable with the second housing after non-destructive disengagement therefrom,

a face of the shoulder contacts a front of the first housing, and

a lateral portion of the second housing contacts and is pulled by the beam toward an external surface of one of the handle portions.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

the bracket comprises a beam, a retaining shoulder fixed to and extending from a first part of the beam, an attachment plate fixed to a second part of the beam, and a tip extending from the attachment plate

the attachment plate is coupled to the second housing, is selectively and non-destructively removable from the second housing, and is non-permanently re-attachable to the second housing after non-destructive removal therefrom,

a face of the shoulder contacts a front of the first housing, and

the attachment plate tip contacts and is pulled by the beam toward an external surface of the first housing.

39. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the game play controls provide output recognized as game play input without requiring a separate signal to indicate whether game play control output should be regarded as text or game play input, and wherein the text keys provide output recognized as text input without requiring a separate signal to indicate whether text key output should be regarded as text input or game play input.

40. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a computer processor in communication with the game play controls and with the text keys; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory having machine-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor;

cause signals corresponding to actuation of any of substantially all of the game play controls to be recognized by the processor as non-text game play input, and

cause signals corresponding to actuation of any of substantially all of the text keys to be recognized by the processor as a text character, and wherein

substantially all externally located controls on the second housing are text keys.

43. The method of claim 36, wherein positioning the bracket first end and attached text input device comprises placing a portion of an underside of the text input device into contact with the player end of the game controller.

41. A method of adapting a hand-held game controller to provide text input, the game controller substantially lacking text input capability, comprising:

receiving a text input device having a plurality of single position text keys, the text input device being sized to fit within a region bounded by hand grip portions of the game controller; and

coupling the text input device to the game controller.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein coupling the text input device to the game controller comprises:

attaching the text input device to a first end of a bracket,

positioning the bracket first end and attached text input device on a player end of the game controller, and

wrapping a second end of the bracket over a distal end of the game controller so as to hold the text input device in position.