GAME CONTROLLER

• US 20110195785A1
• Filed: 02/16/2011
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: YAMAMOTO, Shinji, KUMAZAKI, Daisuke, SUETAKE, Fumiyoshi, SUGA, Akiko, ASHIDA, Kenichiro, TAKAMOTO, Junji, IBUKI, Masato
• Granted Patent: US 8,550,915 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/818 Fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• 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 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8035 Virtual fishing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8082 Virtual reality

Abstract

A video game controller for a video game and a receptor assembly may include a controller core unit including a housing formed with a top, bottom and opposite sides, at least the top having a plurality of control buttons thereon; and a base portion provided with a first connector; a receptor having a shape substantially similar to a component appearing in the video game. The receptor may be a gun-shaped sub-unit with a barrel portion and a gripper portion with an open slot adapted to receive the core unit.

Claims

1. A video game controller and receptor assembly comprising:

an elongated, substantially rectangular electronic video game controller core unit for operating an electronic game comprising a housing having a top, bottom, opposite sides, a forward end and a rearward end, said top having a plurality of control buttons including a crosskey thereon and said bottom having a trigger switch supported therein; and

a receptor unit shaped to simulate a device held or worn by a character in the electronic game, said receptor formed with an open-topped recess with sides and a bottom defining a shape substantially similar to at least a portion of the bottom and opposite sides of the video game controller core unit received in said recess.

2. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 1 wherein said rearward end of said video game controller core until is provided with a first connector and wherein said recess includes a rear wall provided with a second connector coupled to said first connector to thereby establish an electrical connection between the core unit and the receptor unit.

3. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 1 wherein said receptor unit comprises a second controller in the shape of a steering wheel or a joystick.

4. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 1 wherein said receptor unit comprises a game racquet.

5. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 1 wherein said receptor unit comprises a ball bat.

6. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 1 wherein said receptor unit comprises a chair.

7. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 1 wherein said receptor unit comprises a fishing rod assembly.

8. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 1 wherein said receptor unit comprises a golf club.

9. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 1 wherein said receptor unit comprises a toy figure.

10. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 1 wherein said receptor unit comprises a wheeled toy.

11. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 1 wherein said housing is formed with slots on said opposite sides, and wherein said recess is formed with aligned ribs adapted to be received within said slots.

12. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 2 wherein said first connector is a male connector and said second connector is a female connector.

13. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 2 wherein said receptor unit is provided with at least one switch that performs a function of one of said control buttons or said trigger switch.

14. The video game controller and receptor assembly of claim 2 wherein said receptor unit is provided with two switches that perform functions of one of said control buttons and said trigger button.

15. A receptor for an electronic video game controller comprising:

a receptor housing including an elongated portion and a gripper portion;

a trigger switch located in said elongated portion adjacent said gripper portion, said elongated portion formed with a substantially U-shaped slot open at a forward end of said receptor housing and adapted to receive an electronic video game controller;

said substantially U-shaped slot having a length sufficient to support a portion of said electronic video game controller substantially co-axially with said elongated portion of said receptor; and

wherein a rearward end of said substantially U-shaped slot is provided with a first connector adapted to align with and engage a mating second connector on said rearward end of said electronic video game controller to thereby enable electrical connection between the receptor and the electronic video game controller.

16. The receptor of claim 15 wherein said trigger switch is located rearwardly of said first connector.

17. The receptor of claim 16 wherein a universal stick is provided at in interface between said elongated portion and said gripper portion of said receptor housing.

18. The receptor of claim 15 wherein said gripper portion extends angularly from said elongated portion.

19. The receptor of claim 15 in combination with the electronic video game controller, said electronic video game controller having a controller housing including a top face, a bottom, opposite sides, forward and rearward ends, a trigger button and a universal button;

wherein said bottom and said opposite sides of said portion of said controller housing supported in said U-shaped slot in said receptor housing have a shape complimentary to said U-shaped slot;

said forward end of said controller housing projecting from said forward end of said receptor housing, such that, in use, a forward face of said forward end of said controller housing is aimed at a target display when said elongated portion of said receptor housing is aimed at the target display,

20. The receptor of claim 19 wherein, in use, when said receptor and said electronic video game controller are electrically connected, said trigger switch and said universal stick perform functions of said trigger button and said universal button, respectively.