PERIPHERAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION

• US 20140315640A1
• Filed: 04/14/2014
• Published: 10/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Goh, Yee Woon
• Granted Patent: US 9,387,397 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• 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 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/16 Customisation or personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2113/10 Additive manufacturing, e.g. 3D printing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/17 Mechanical parametric or variational design

Abstract

A method of producing a handheld videogame controller is provided. The method includes providing a circuit board of a predetermined fixed size, the circuit board comprising a plurality of switches at predetermined positions. The method further includes obtaining measurements of at least a first hand of a user for whom the handheld videogame controller is to be produced, modifying a design of at least a first part of the handheld videogame controller responsive to the measurements, and 3D printing one or more modified parts of the handheld videogame controller using the modified design.

Claims

1. A method of producing a handheld videogame controller, comprising the steps of:

providing a circuit board of a predetermined fixed size, the circuit board comprising a plurality of switches at predetermined positions;

obtaining measurements of at least a first hand of a user for whom the handheld videogame controller is to be produced;

modifying a design of at least a first part of the handheld videogame controller responsive to the measurements; and

3D printing one or more modified parts of the handheld videogame controller using the modified design.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the step of modifying the design of at least a first part of the handheld videogame controller comprises adapting the modified design to maintain functional co-operation with the switches of the circuit board.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the circuit board is provided as part of a module comprising a pre-defined facia.

4. The method of claim 1, in which at least one of the one or more modified parts is 3D printed directly onto at least one pre-defined part of the controller.

5. The method of claim 1, in which at least one of the one or more modified parts is further modified to comprise an attachment means to complement an attachment means located on a pre-defined part of the controller.

6. The method claim 1, in which the step of obtaining measurements of at least a first hand of a user comprises obtaining one or more measurements selected from the list consisting of:

i. a length of the user'"'"'s index finger on the first hand;

ii. a combined length of the first two joints of the index finger;

iii. a length between a lowest joint of the index finger and a rotational base of a thumb of the first hand;

iv. a diametric length across a palm of the first hand;

v. a length of the thumb; and

vi. an arcuate range of the thumb.

7. The method of claim 6, in which in which the step of modifying a design of at least a first part of the handheld videogame controller comprises as applicable one or more selected from the list consisting of:

i. modifying a position of a shoulder button of the controller responsive to the length of the user'"'"'s index finger;

ii. modifying a position of a the shoulder button of the controller responsive to the combined length of the first two joints of the user'"'"'s index finger;

iii. modifying a length of a handle portion of the controller responsive to the length between the lowest joint of the index finger and the rotational base of the thumb;

iv. modifying a length of the handle portion of the controller responsive to the diametric length across the palm of the user'"'"'s hand;

modifying a width of the handle portion of the controller responsive to the length of the user'"'"'s thumb; and

vi. modifying an angle of the handle portion of the controller relative to a central portion of the controller responsive to the arcuate range of the user'"'"'s thumb.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein when the step of modifying the design of at least a first part of the handheld videogame controller comprises repositioning a button that should mechanically couple to a switch on the circuit board, the design is further modified to adapt a mechanical linkage between the repositioned button and the switch in order to maintain the mechanical coupling.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein when the step of modifying the design of at least a first part of the handheld videogame controller comprises repositioning a button that should mechanically couple to a switch on the circuit board by more than a predetermined extent, then one of a predetermined number of alternative circuit boards each of a respective predetermined fixed size is selected that most reduces a relative change in position between the respective switch on the circuit board and the respective button.

10. A handheld videogame controller, comprising:

a circuit board of a predetermined fixed size, comprising a plurality of switches at predetermined positions; and

at least a first part of the handheld videogame controller, in which a default design of the handheld videogame controller has been modified responsive to measurements of at least a first hand of a user, and has been formed by 3D printing.

11. A handheld videogame controller according to claim 10, in which at least a first 3D printed element of the handheld videogame controller has been modified in dependence upon a modification responsive to measurements of at least a first hand of a user, to maintain functional co-operation with a switch of the circuit board.

12. A handheld videogame controller according to claim 11, in which when the handheld videogame controller has been modified to reposition a button that should couple to a switch on the circuit board, the handheld videogame controller comprises a modified mechanical linkage between the repositioned button and the switch in order to maintain a mechanical coupling.

13. A method of producing a virtual reality headset, comprising the steps of:

providing a virtual reality headset of a predetermined fixed size;

obtaining measurements of a head of a user for whom the virtual reality headset is to be produced; and

3D printing a moulding having an outer part shaped to fit an inner circumference of the virtual reality headset, and an inner part shaped responsive to the measurements of the head of the user.