GAME CONSOLE

• US 20160121209A1
• Filed: 01/08/2016
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Yoshino, Hiroshi, Ohta, Keizo, Yasumoto, Yoshitaka, Nishida, Kenji, Sugino, Kenichi, Ibuki, Masato
• Granted Patent: US 10,173,132 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 13/214 for locating contacts on a surface, e.g. floor mats or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/215 comprising means for detecting acoustic signals, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/235 using a wireless connection, e.g. infrared or piconet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/26 having at least one additional display device, e.g. on the game controller or outside a game booth
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• 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 2009/2432 actuated by a sound, e.g. using a microphone
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2491 with a detachable memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2494 Battery, e.g. dry cell
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/203 Image generating hardware
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/301 using an additional display connected to the game console, e.g. on the controller
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/63 for controlling the execution of the game in time
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6669 : using a plurality of virtual cameras concurrently or sequentially, e.g. automatically switching between fixed virtual cameras when a character change rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/6692 : using special effects, generally involving post-processing, e.g. blooming
• 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 1/1616 : with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 : the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 : including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 : Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 : the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 : the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 : by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 : using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 : Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 : using a single graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1438 : using more than one graphics controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 : Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 1/20 : Processor architectures; Processor configuration, e.g. pipelining
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/005 : General purpose rendering architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0247 : Flicker reduction other than flicker reduction circuits used for single beam cathode-ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/10 : Mixing of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of an operation, e.g. adding, on the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 : to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 : Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/363 : Graphics controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/399 : using two or more bit-mapped memories, the operations of which are switched in time, e.g. ping-pong buffers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 : Games
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A portable, handheld game console includes a main body incorporating a touch-sensitive display screen and a variety of input devices. The input devices can include shoulder buttons located on a peripheral side surface of the main body, as well as input devices located on the main body adjacent the touch-sensitive display screen.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic gaming device, comprising:

a generally plate-shaped housing;

a display screen that is located on a top surface of the housing and that is centered on the top surface with respect to left and right sides of the housing, wherein the display screen includes a touch-sensitive surface;

a first input device located on the top surface of the housing to the left of the display screen and configured to allow a user to provide directional inputs;

a second input device located on the top surface of the housing to the right of the display screen, wherein the second input device includes a cross-shaped arrangement of four buttons, and wherein the first and second input devices are arranged symmetrically on the top surface of the housing with respect to the display screen;

first and second shoulder buttons located on a peripheral side surface of the housing, wherein the first and second shoulder buttons are arranged symmetrically on the housing;

first and second speakers arranged symmetrically on the housing with respect to the display screen;

image processing circuitry configured to cause a three dimensional image to be displayed on the display screen;

a wireless transceiver;

a non-volatile memory; and

a processor and associated circuitry configured to cause a game program to be downloaded from a data network via the wireless transceiver and configured to store the downloaded game program in the non-volatile memory.

2. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the generally plate-shaped housing has a greater width dimension extending from the left side of the housing to the right side of the housing than a depth dimension extending from a front of the housing to the back of the housing.

3. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the housing is substantially rectangular in shape.

4. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first input device is structured to allow a user to provide directional inputs in each of two different axes.

5. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first input device comprises a cross key.

6. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the second input device is configured to allow a user to provide directional inputs.

7. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the four buttons of the second input device are each configured to have a circular top surface.

8. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein four buttons of the second input device are arranged to form a square.

9. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, further comprising:

a third input device located on the top surface of the housing to the left of the display screen; and

a fourth input device located on the top surface of the housing to the right of the display screen.

10. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 9, wherein the third and fourth input devices are arranged symmetrically with respect to the display screen.

11. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 9, wherein the third input device is located between the first input device and a back side of the housing and wherein the fourth input device is located between the second input device and the back side of the housing.

12. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 9, wherein the fourth input device comprises at least two input buttons.

13. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first and second input devices and the first and second shoulder buttons are arranged on the housing such that when a user holds the gaming device with both hands, one or more fingers of the user'"'"'s first hand can operate the first input device and the first shoulder button while one or more fingers of the user'"'"'s second hand can simultaneously operate the second input device and the second shoulder button.

14. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first and second input devices and the first and second shoulder buttons are arranged on the housing such that when a user holds the gaming device with both hands the user can simultaneously operate the first and second input devices and the first and second shoulder buttons.

15. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first and second speakers and the first and second input devices are located on the housing such that when the user holds the gaming device with both hands in order to operate the first and second input devices, the user'"'"'s hands are not positioned in front of the first and second speakers.

16. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first and second speakers are located on the housing such that when the user holds the gaming device with both hands in order to operate the first and second input devices, the user'"'"'s hands do not block sounds emanating from the first and second speakers.

17. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, further comprising an audio interface.

18. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 17 wherein the audio interface is configured to connect to an external audio input device and an external audio output device.

19. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first memory card slot located on the housing and configured to receive a first type of memory card; and

a second memory card slot located on the housing and configured to receive a second type of memory card that is different from the first type of memory card.

20. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a charging terminal located on the housing and configured to interface with an external charging device.

21. A handheld electronic gaming device, comprising:

a generally rectangular shaped housing;

a display screen that is located on a top surface of the housing and that is centered on the top surface with respect to left and right sides of the housing, wherein the display screen includes a touch-sensitive surface;

a first input device located on the top surface of the housing to the left of the display screen and configured to allow a user to provide directional inputs;

a second input device located on the top surface of the housing to the right of the display screen, wherein the second input device allows a user to provide at least four different types of input, and wherein the first and second input devices are arranged symmetrically on the top surface of the housing with respect to the display screen;

first and second shoulder buttons located on a peripheral side surface of the housing, wherein the first and second shoulder buttons are arranged symmetrically on the housing;

a wireless transceiver;

an audio interface configured to connect to an external audio input device and an external audio output device;

a non-volatile memory; and

a processor and associated circuitry configured to cause a game program to be downloaded from a data network via the wireless transceiver and configured to store the downloaded game program in the non-volatile memory.

22. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 21, further comprising first and second speakers mounted on the housing, wherein the first and second speakers are located such that when the user holds the gaming device with both hands in order to operate the first and second input devices, the user'"'"'s hands do not block sounds emanating from the first and second speakers.

23. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 21, further comprising:

a third input device located on the top surface of the housing to the left of the display screen; and

a fourth input device located on the top surface of the housing to the right of the display screen, wherein the third and fourth input devices are arranged symmetrically with respect to the display screen.

24. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 21, further comprising image processing circuitry configured to cause a three dimensional image to be displayed on the display screen.

25. A handheld electronic gaming device, comprising:

a generally plate-shaped housing;

a display screen that is located on a top surface of the housing and that is centered on the top surface with respect to left and right sides of the housing, wherein the display screen includes a touch-sensitive surface;

a first input device located on the top surface of the housing to the left of the display screen and configured to allow a user to provide directional inputs;

a second input device located on the top surface of the housing to the right of the display screen, wherein the second user input device includes a cross-shaped arrangement of four buttons, and wherein the first and second input devices are arranged symmetrically on the top surface of the housing with respect to the display screen;

a third input device located on the top surface of the housing to the left of the display screen; and

a fourth input device located on the top surface of the housing to the right of the display screen, wherein the third and fourth input devices are arranged symmetrically with respect to the display screen;

first and second shoulder buttons located on a peripheral side surface of the housing, wherein the first and second shoulder buttons are arranged symmetrically on the housing;

first and second speakers arranged symmetrically on the housing with respect to the display screen; and

image processing circuitry configured to cause a three dimensional image to be displayed on the display screen.

26. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 25, wherein the first and second speakers are located such that when the user holds the gaming device with both hands in order to operate the first, second, third and fourth input devices, the user'"'"'s hands are not positioned in front of the first and second speakers.

27. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 25, further comprising:

a first memory card slot located on the housing and configured to receive a first type of memory card; and

a second memory card slot located on the housing and configured to receive a second type of memory card that is different from the first type of memory card.

28. A handheld electronic gaming device, comprising:

a housing;

a display screen that is located on a top surface of the housing and that is centered on the top surface with respect to left and right sides of the housing, wherein the display screen includes a touch-sensitive surface;

a first input device located on the top surface of the housing to the left of the display screen and configured to allow a user to provide directional inputs;

a second input device located on the top surface of the housing to the right of the display screen, wherein the second input device allows a user to provide at least four different types of input, and wherein the first and second input devices are arranged symmetrically on the top surface of the housing with respect to the display screen;

a third input device located on the top surface of the housing to the left of the display screen; and

a fourth input device located on the top surface of the housing to the right of the display screen;

first and second shoulder buttons located on a peripheral side surface of the housing, wherein the first and second shoulder buttons are arranged symmetrically on the housing;

first and second speakers arranged symmetrically on the housing with respect to the display screen, wherein the first and second speakers and the first, second, third and fourth input devices are located on the housing such that when the user holds the housing with both hands in order to operate the first, second, third and fourth input devices, the user'"'"'s hands are not positioned in front of the first and second speakers.

a wireless transceiver;

a non-volatile memory; and

a processor and associated circuitry configured to cause a game program to be downloaded from a data network via the wireless transceiver and configured to store the downloaded game program in the non-volatile memory.

29. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 28, wherein the third and fourth input devices are arranged symmetrically with respect to the display screen.

30. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 29, wherein the third input device is located between the first input device and a back side of the housing and wherein the fourth input device is located between the second input device and the back side of the housing.

31. The handheld electronic gaming device of claim 28, wherein the first, second, third and fourth input devices and the first and second shoulder buttons are located on the housing such that when the user holds the housing with both hands, the user'"'"'s fingers can reach all of the first, second, third and fourth input devices and the first and second shoulder buttons.