ARCADE-STYLE GAME CONTROLLER FOR A TABLET COMPUTING DEVICE

• US 20120108335A1
• Filed: 01/10/2012
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inmusic Brands Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Inmusic Brands Incorporated
• Inventors: Liotta, Tyson, Shim, Brian R., Yonkers, William
• Granted Patent: US 8,480,493 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/36
• 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 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device

Abstract

A game controller for a tablet computing device is disclosed. The controller includes a control console. A groove on a top portion of the control console configured and arranged to capture an edge of a tablet computing device in an upright orientation. A number of controls are included on the control console for transmitting game control inputs to the tablet computing device.

Claims

1. A game controller for a tablet computing device, comprising:

a control console;

a groove on a top portion of the control console configured and arranged to capture and edge of a tablet computing device in an upright orientation; and

a plurality of controls on said control console configured and arranged to transmit game control inputs to said tablet computing device.

2. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the edge of the tablet computing device is captured in a portrait orientation when place in the groove.

3. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a dock connector configured and arranged to connect to the tablet computing device when placed the top portion of the control console, said dock connector configured and arranged to carry game control inputs to the tablet computing device.

4. The game controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of controls is selected from the group consisting essentially of trackball, joystick and button.

5. The game controller of claim 1, further comprising a wireless adapter configured and arranged to transmit game control inputs to a tablet computing device from the plurality of game controls.

6. The game controller of claim 1, Further comprising a front portion, a left side and right side extending upwards from the control console, the left side and right side having a pair of wings extending forwardly from the front portion forming a cavity about the tablet computing device when placed in the groove.

7. The game controller of claim 6, further comprising a pair of support pins extending inwardly from the pair of wings.

8. The game controller of claim 6, further comprising a top supported by the left side and right sides.

9. The game controller of claim 6, wherein said front portion supports a back of the tablet computing device in an upright orientation.

10. A game controller for a tablet computing device, comprising:

a control console;

a dock connector supported on the control console configured and arranged to connect to a tablet computing device;

a microprocessor connected to the dock connector;

a plurality of game controls on the control console connected to the microprocessor;

the microprocessor configured and arranged to receive game control inputs from the plurality of game controls and transmit the game control inputs to the tablet computing device through the dock connector.

11. The game controller of claim 10, further comprising an authentication chip connected to the microprocessor configured and arranged to authorize the game controller with the tablet computing device.

12. The game controller of claim 10, further comprising a groove on the control console configured and arranged to capture an edge of the tablet computing device in an upright orientation

13. The game controller of claim 10, wherein the microprocessor has a key scan matrix and the plurality of game controls connected to the key scan matrix of the microprocessor.

14. The game controller of claim 10, wherein said upright orientation is a portrait orientation.

15. The game controller of claim 10, wherein the plurality of controls is selected from the group consisting essentially of trackball, joystick and button.

16. The game controller of claim 10, a front portion, a left side and right side extending upwards from the control console, the left side and the right side having a pair of wings extending forwardly from the front portion forming a cavity about the tablet computing device when placed on the dock connector.

17. The game controller of claim 16, further comprising a pair of support pins extending inwardly from the pair of wings.

18. The game controller of claim 16, further comprising a top supported by the left side and right sides.

19. The game controller of claim 16, wherein said front portion supports a back of the tablet computing device in an upright orientation.

20. A method of transmitting game control inputs to a tablet computing device, comprising:

detecting the state of a game control;

converting the state of the game control into a keyboard key press message; and

transmitting the keyboard key press message to the tablet computing device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein detecting the state of the game control detects whether a key down condition exists.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein detecting the state of the game control detects whether a key up condition exists.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein converting the state of the game control into a keyboard key press message comprises converting the state of the game control into Core MIDI format.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein converting the state of the game control into a keyboard key press message comprises converting the state of the game control into Bluetooth keyboard key press message format.