Video game controller with cooling

• US 20070093292A1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NYKO Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NYKO Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Navid, Amir, Erickson, Craig, Naghi, Herschel
• Application Number:
  US11/497,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20070093292A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• 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 hand-held video game controller includes a suitable conductor of heat, such as aluminum or copper, disposed on a surface of its hand grips. The heat conductor may be in the form of one or more metal plates at one or more locations on the surface of the hand grips. The metal plates may be perforated and/or may have any suitable shape to enhance cooling characteristics. The video game controller may also include a thermoelectric cooling (TEC) system or a liquid circulation system to enhance cooling, and may have a radiator for dissipating heat to outside of the video game controller.

Claims

1. A video game controller comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of game control elements disposed on the housing and adapted to be used by a user to control a video game;

at least one heat conductor disposed on the housing and adapted to carry heat from palms of the user; and

at least one radiator disposed on the housing and adapted to dissipate the heat to outside of the video game controller.

2. The video game controller of claim 1, further comprising heat transfer means adapted to transfer the heat from the at least one conductor to the at least one radiator.

3. The video game controller of claim 2, wherein the heat transfer means comprises at least one thermoelectric cooler (TEC).

4. The video game controller of claim 2, wherein the heat transfer means comprises at least one heat conducting rod.

5. The video game controller of claim 4, wherein the heat transfer means further comprises at least one thermoelectric cooler (TEC) adapted to transfer the heat from the at least one heat conducting rod to the at least one radiator.

6. The video game controller of claim 2, wherein the heat transfer means comprises heat transferring liquid, and wherein the video game controller further comprises a pump for circulating the heat transferring liquid within the video game controller.

7. The video game controller of claim 6, wherein the heat transfer means further comprises at least one thermoelectric cooler (TEC) adapted to transfer the heat from the heat transferring liquid to the at least one radiator.

8. The video game controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one radiator comprises at least one of a grate or fins.

9. The video game controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat conductor is made of at least one of aluminum or copper.

10. The video game controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one heat conductor has perforations formed thereon.

11. A hand-held video game device comprising:

a housing;

a display screen mounted on the housing for displaying a video game;

a plurality of game control elements disposed on the housing and adapted to be used by a user to control the video game;

at least one heat conductor disposed on the housing and adapted to carry heat from palms of the user; and

at least one radiator disposed on the housing and adapted to dissipate the heat to outside of the video game device.

12. The hand-held video game device of claim 11, wherein the at least one radiator comprises at least one of a grate or fins.

13. The hand-held video game device of claim 11, wherein the at least one heat conductor is made of at least one of aluminum or copper.

14. A video game system comprising:

a video game console;

a monitor coupled to the video game console for displaying a video game; and

at least one video game controller adapted to be used by a user to control the video game, the video game controller comprising;

a housing;

a plurality of game control elements disposed on the housing, the game control elements for controlling the video game;

at least one heat conductor disposed on the housing and adapted to carry heat from palms of the user; and

at least one radiator disposed on the housing and adapted to dissipate the heat to outside of the video game controller.

15. The video game system of claim 14, wherein the at least one video game controller includes a wireless video game controller.

16. The video game system of claim 14, wherein the at least one video game controller includes a wired video game controller.

17. The video game system of claim 14, wherein the at least one video game controller includes cooling components adapted to transfer the heat from the at least one heat conductor to the at least one radiator.

18. The video game system of claim 14, wherein the video game console is adapted to communicate with one or more other video game consoles via an on-line connection.

19. A video game controller comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of game control elements disposed on the housing and adapted to be used by a user to control a video game;

liquid disposed inside the housing and adapted to carry heat from palms of the user; and

at least one radiator disposed on the housing and adapted to dissipate the heat to outside of the video game controller.

20. The video game controller of claim 19, further comprising a pump adapted to circulate the liquid within the housing, so as to carry the heat from the palms of the user to the at least one radiator.

21. A video game controller comprising:

a housing having an external surface, at least a portion of the external surface being made of a heat conducting material, such that the housing promotes dissipation of heat from palms of a user; and

a plurality of game control elements disposed on the housing and adapted to be used by the user to control a video game.

22. The video game controller of claim 21, wherein substantially the entire external surface of the housing is made of the heat conducting material.