DEVICE SUPPORT SYSTEM AND SUPPORT DEVICE

• US 20120106042A1
• Filed: 08/11/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: KUMAZAKI, Daisuke, ASHIDA, Kenichiro, TAKAMOTO, Junji, IBUKI, Masato, YAMAMOTO, Shinji, TSUCHIYA, Hitoshi, SUETAKE, Fumiyoshi, SUGA, Akiko, YAMAMOTO, Naoya, GOTO, Yositomo
• Granted Patent: US 8,804,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.01
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/21 characterised by their sensors, purposes or types
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• 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 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/428 involving motion or position input signals, e.g. signals representing the rotation of an input controller or a player's arm motions sensed by accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5252 using two or more virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character changes room or displaying a rear-mirror view in a car-driving game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/5255 according to dedicated instructions from a player, e.g. using a secondary joystick to rotate the camera around a player's character
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/812 Ball games, e.g. soccer or baseball
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• 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 2009/2402 Input by manual operation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/105 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• 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

Abstract

A terminal device 7 includes a housing 50, and a first terminal (charging terminal). The housing 50 is generally plate-shaped and includes an engagement hole formed therein. The first terminal is provided on a surface (bottom surface) of the housing 50 on which the engagement hole is formed. A stand 210, which is a support device, includes a support member 211, a second terminal (charging terminal) 212, and guide members 213a and 213b which are rotating members. The second terminal 212 can be connected to a terminal of the terminal device 7. The support member 211 supports a predetermined surface (back surface) of the housing 50 when the first terminal and the second terminal 212 are connected to each other. Each of the guide members 213a and 213b can rotate in a predetermined direction and is provided at such a position that it is inserted into the engagement hole when the first terminal and the second terminal 212 are connected to each other.

Claims

1. A device support system comprising a portable device, and a support device for supporting the portable device, wherein:

the portable device comprises;

a generally plate-shaped housing with a hole formed therein; and

a first terminal provided on a surface of the housing on which the hole is formed; and

the support device comprises;

a second terminal which can be connected to the first terminal;

a support member which supports a predetermined surface of the housing when the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other; and

a rotating member which can rotate in a predetermined direction and which is provided at such a position that the rotating member is inserted into the hole when the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other.

2. The device support system according to claim 1 wherein:

the support member supports the housing so that the predetermined surface of the housing is placed along a predetermined support surface; and

the rotating member can rotate in a direction parallel to the support surface.

3. The device support system according to claim 2, wherein the support member includes a groove portion extending in a direction parallel to the support surface into which a portion of the housing is inserted when the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other.

4. The device support system according to claim 3, wherein the rotating member is provided so that a portion thereof projects from a bottom surface of the groove portion.

5. The device support system according to claim 1, wherein:

the hole is formed on a lower side surface of the housing; and

at least two rotating members are provided side by side with each other in the predetermined direction.

6. The device support system according to claim 1, wherein:

the portable device further comprises a display section provided on a front side of the housing;

the hole is formed on a side surface of the housing; and

the support member supports a back surface of the housing.

7. The device support system according to claim 1, wherein:

the housing is in a horizontally-elongated plate shape; and

the first terminal and the hole are provided on a side surface along a long side.

8. The device support system according to claim 1, wherein the hole is formed so that the hole can engage with a predetermined additional device which is different from the support device.

9. The device support system according to claim 1, wherein the second terminal is a charging terminal for supplying power to the portable device.

10. A support device for supporting a portable device comprising:

a second terminal which can be connected to a first terminal provided on a housing of the portable device;

a support member which supports a predetermined surface of the housing when the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other; and

a rotating member which can rotate in a predetermined direction and which is provided at such a position that the rotating member is inserted into a hole formed on a surface of the housing on which the first terminal is provided when the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other.

11. The support device according to claim 10, wherein:

the support member supports the housing so that a predetermined surface of the housing is placed along a predetermined support surface; and

the rotating member can rotate in a direction parallel to the support surface.

12. The support device according to claim 11, wherein the support member includes a groove portion extending in a direction parallel to the support surface into which a portion of the housing is inserted when the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other.

13. The support device according to claim 12, wherein the rotating member is provided so that a portion thereof projects from a bottom of the groove portion.

14. The support device according to claim 10, wherein at least two rotating members are provided side by side with each other in the predetermined direction.