Control button configuration for guitar-shaped video game controllers

• US 20090131170A1
• Filed: 11/16/2007
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hong Lip Yow, Raymond Yow
• Original Assignee: Hong Lip Yow, Raymond Yow
• Inventors: Yow, Raymond, Yow, Hong Lip
• Application Number:
  US11/985,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20090131170A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/342 for guitar-like instruments with or without strings and with a neck on which switches or string-fret contacts are used to detect the notes being played electric guitars in which the tones are generated by the vibration of strings G10H3/18
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/066 Colour, i.e. indications with two or more different colours
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/135 Musical aspects of games or videogames; Musical instrument-shaped game input interfaces game background music G10H2210/026; musical game scoring or performance evaluation G10H2210/091

Abstract

A control button configuration for a guitar-shaped electronic video game machine controller situated in a neck portion of the controller. The neck having a center is connected to a headstock at a first end and a body at a second end. One set of control buttons is disposed rectilinearly in the section between the first end and the center of the neck, or an upper neck section, and another set of control buttons is rectilinearly disposed in the section between the second end and the center of the neck, or a lower neck section. The set of control buttons in the upper neck section are disposed in equal distance from one another, and the set of control buttons in the lower neck section are disposed in equal distance from one another. Two sets of the control buttons have an equal number of control buttons and perform duplicative functions. Thereby, the users have an option to play the video games with either set of the control buttons. Each of the control buttons in the lower neck section has a specific area with a minimum radius. Because playable control buttons are disposed in the entire length of the neck, the control button configuration enables the users to experience the sensations of playing rock music video games with a realistic guitar, and because the video games can be played with only the control buttons in the lower neck section, the users need not over extend their arms to reach the control buttons; therefore, this control button configuration is particularly suited for the small stature users, such as small children.

Claims

1. A control button configuration for guitar-shaped video game controllers comprising:

a neck connected to a headstock at a first end and a body at a second end, the neck having a center,

wherein the center defining the neck into an upper section and a lower section,

wherein the upper section and the lower section are equal in length;

plurality of control buttons disposed rectilinearly in the upper section; and

plurality of control buttons disposed rectilinearly in the lower section,

wherein the control buttons of the upper section and the lower section are equal in number and perform duplicate functions.

2. A control button configuration for guitar-shaped video game controllers according to claim 1, wherein the control buttons in the upper section are disposed in equal distance from one another.

3. A control button configuration for guitar-shaped video game controllers according to claim 2, wherein the control buttons in the lower section are disposed in equal distance from one another.

4. A control button configuration for guitar-shaped video game controllers according to claim 3, wherein each control buttons in the lower section has a minimum radius measured from the center of the control button.

5. A control button configuration for guitar-shaped video game controllers according to claim 4, wherein each control buttons in the lower section comprise a protruding member.

6. A control button configuration for guitar-shaped video game controllers according to claim 5, wherein the cap comprises of a window section.

7. A control button configuration for guitar-shaped video game controllers according to claim 6, wherein the window section is illuminated using backlighting.