GAME OPERATING DEVICE

• US 20160166941A1
• Filed: 02/24/2016
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Ikeda, Akio, Kuroda, Ryoji, Urata, Masahiro, Ito, Kuniaki
• Granted Patent: US 9,700,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/23 for interfacing with the game device, e.g. specific interfaces between game controller and console
• 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 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• 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 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• 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 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking

Abstract

A game operating device (controller) includes a longitudinal housing, and a holding portion held by hand to be wrapped by its palm it is formed in the housing. A direction switch is provided on an upper surface at a position where it can be operated by thumb of the hand holding the holding portion, and a start switch and a select switch are provided backward thereof. An X button 46 and a Y button are further arranged in line on the upper surface of the housing. An imaging information arithmetic unit is provided at a front end of the housing in a longitudinal direction in such a manner that an imaging device thereof is exposed from a front-end surface. A concave portion is formed on a lower surface at a position corresponding to the direction switch. The concave portion includes a valley and two inclined surfaces. An A button capable of being operated by index finger of the hand holding the holding portion is provided on the backward inclined surface. By processing an image signal obtained by imaging an infrared ray from LED modules by the imaging device, it is possible to obtain an operation signal varying according to a position and/or attitude of the controller.

Claims

1. A gaming device for providing a predetermined gaming function to an electronic device having a main surface, the gaming device comprising:

a first input device configured to receive input from a user;

an interface that allows circuitry in the gaming device to communicate with circuitry in the electronic device;

a support configured to detachably hold the electronic device; and

a first analog directional input device located such that a thumb of a first hand of the user who grasps the gaming device can operate the first analog directional input device.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a second analog directional input device.

3. The gaming device of claim 2, wherein the second analog directional input device is located such that a thumb of a second hand of the user who grasps the gaming device can operate the second analog directional input device.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a digital directional input device.

5. The gaming device of claim 4, wherein the digital directional input device is located such that the thumb of the first hand of the user who grasps the gaming device can operate the digital directional input device.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second analog directional input device; and

a digital directional input device.

7. The gaming device of claim 6, wherein the second analog direction input device is located such that a thumb of the second hand of the user who grasps the gaming device can operate the second analog directional input device, and wherein the digital directional input device is located such that a thumb of the user'"'"'s first hand or the thumb of the user'"'"'s second hand can operate the digital direction input device.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the support is configured to detachably hold at least two sides of the electronic gaming device.

9. The gaming device of claim 8, wherein the support is configured to detachably hold at least two opposing sides of the electronic gaming device.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a second input device configured to receive input from the user, wherein the second input device is located such that the second input device is positioned where an index finger of the first hand of the user can operate the second input device.

11. The gaming device of claim 10, further comprising a third input device configured to receive input from the user, wherein the third input device is located such that the third input device is positioned where the index finger of the first hand of the user can operate the third input device.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the second input device and the third input device are located in line in a vertical direction with respect to the electronic device.

13. The gaming device of claim 11, further comprising a fourth input device configured to receive input from the user, wherein the fourth input device is located such that a finger of the second hand of the user can operate the fourth input device.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a first grip and a second grip, wherein the support is configured to support the electronic device so that the first and second grips grip are positioned where the first and second hands of a user can grasp the first grip and second grip, respectively.

15. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a second input device configured to receive input from the user and located on a first shoulder of the gaming device and a third input device configured to receive input from the user and located on a second shoulder of the gaming device so that the second and third input devices can be operated by different fingers of different hands of the user.

16. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising a grip configured to allow a user operate the first input device while grasping the grip.

17. A system comprising:

the gaming device of claim 1, and

the electronic device held by the support.

18. A gaming device for an electronic device with a main surface, the gaming device comprising:

a first input device configured to receive input from a user;

an interface that allows circuitry in the gaming device to communicate with circuitry in the electronic device; and

a support configured to detachably hold the electronic device, wherein the first input device is located such that a thumb of a first hand of the user who grasps the gaming device can operate the first input device, the support including holding portions that hold at least two side edges of the electronic device.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the support is configured to detachably hold the electronic device so that the first input device is positioned to one side of the main surface of the electronic device.

20. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the support includes holding portions that hold at least three side edges of the main surface of the electronic device.

21. A system comprising:

the gaming device of claim 18, and

the electronic device held by the support.

22. A gaming device for an electronic device with a main surface, the gaming device comprising:

a support configured to detachably hold the electronic device;

an interface that allows circuitry in the gaming device to communicate with circuitry in the electronic device;

a first input device configured to receive input from a user;

a first shoulder button located on a first shoulder of the gaming device such that a finger of the user'"'"'s first hand that grasps the gaming device can operate the first shoulder button; and

a second shoulder button located on a second shoulder of the gaming device such that a finger of the user'"'"'s second hand that grasps the gaming device can operate the second shoulder button.

23. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the first input device is located such a thumb of the user'"'"'s first hand can operate the first input device.

24. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the support is configured such that the first input device is positioned to one side of the electronic device.

25. A system comprising:

the gaming device of claim 22, and

the electronic device held by the support.

26. A gaming device for an electronic device with a main surface, the gaming device comprising:

an interface that allows circuitry in the gaming device to communicate with circuitry in the electronic device;

a first input device configured to receive input from a user;

a second input device configured to receive input from the user and located on a first shoulder of the gaming device; and

a support configured to detachably hold the electronic device so that the first input device is positioned where a thumb of a first hand of a user who grasps the gaming device can operate the first input device and a finger of the first hand of the user can operate the second input device.

27. The gaming device of claim 26, wherein the first input device is located on one side of the gaming device.

28. The gaming device of claim 26, further comprising a third input device configured to receive input from the user and located on the first shoulder of the gaming device so that the third input can be operated by a finger of the user'"'"'s first hand.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, further comprising a fourth input device configured to receive input from the user and located on a second shoulder of the gaming device so that a finger of a second hand of the user who grasps the gaming device can operate the fourth input device.

30. A system comprising:

the gaming device of claim 26, and

the electronic device held by the support.