Games Controller and Trigger Therefor

• US 20170151494A1
• Filed: 11/28/2016
• Published: 06/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ironburg Inventions Limited
• Original Assignee: Ironburg Inventions Limited
• Inventors: Ironmonger, Duncan, Jeffrey, Carl S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,220,308 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2011/0025 with provisions for allowing different orientation of the operating part, e.g. turning knob can be mounted in different positions
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 21/24 biased to return to normal position upon removal of operating force
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/016 Lever; Rocker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/028 Telescopic guiding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/03 Stoppers for on or off position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/032 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/05 Force concentrator; Actuating dimple
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0214 Hand-held casings

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to a games controller for controlling electronic games, input device for a computer program and a trigger mechanism therefor. The trigger mechanism comprises a trigger body having a plurality of walls defining an internal chamber. The plurality of walls include a base wall and an orifice defined in the base wall. A detent is detachably mounted on the trigger body. The detent is at least partially received in the orifice and the detent is rotatable with respect to the trigger body. The detent comprises at least one abutment surface which is eccentrically arranged with respect to the rotational axis of the detent.

Claims

1. A trigger mechanism for a games controller for controlling electronic games, the trigger mechanism comprising:

a trigger body having a plurality of walls defining an internal chamber, the plurality of walls including a base wall and an orifice defined in the base wall;

a detent detachably mounted on the trigger body, the detent at least partially received in the orifice and wherein the detent is rotatable with respect to the trigger body;

the detent comprising at least one abutment surface, eccentrically arranged with respect to the rotational axis of the detent.

2. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 wherein the detent comprises a push fitting for securing the detent to the trigger body.

3. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 wherein the detent is rotatable between a first position and a second position.

4. The trigger mechanism of claim 3 wherein in the first position the detent is stowed within the interior chamber of the trigger body.

5. The trigger mechanism of claim 4 wherein the detent comprises a pair of oppositely disposed trunnions receivable in a partial cylinder provided by a receiver disposed within the interior chamber.

6. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 wherein the detent comprises a pair of opposing surfaces.

7. The trigger mechanism of claim 6 wherein the detent is rotatable about an axis which extends through the base wall.

8. The trigger mechanism of claim 7 wherein the detent rotates about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base wall.

9. The trigger mechanism of claim 7 wherein the detent rotates about an axis extending substantially radially from an outer surface of the base wall.

10. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 wherein the detent is toolessly detachable from the trigger body.

11. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 wherein the at least one abutment surface is rotatable from a first position and a second position, the abutment surface being disposed in closer proximity to the rotational axis of the detent in the second position than in the first position.

12. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 comprising a face plate detachably mounted to the trigger body and wherein the detent is disposed behind the face plate.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising the trigger mechanism according to claim 1.

13. An apparatus for supplying user inputs to a computer program, such as a game program, for controlling the game program, the apparatus comprising at least one depressible trigger mechanism, the trigger mechanism comprising a trigger body having a detent for manual adjustment of the depressible range of the trigger mechanism;

the trigger body comprising a plurality of walls, including a base wall, the plurality of walls defining an interior chamber of the trigger body;

the base wall comprising an orifice for receiving at least in part the detent, the detent being detachably mounted to the trigger body and being rotatable with respect to the trigger body, the detent comprising at least one abutment surface eccentrically arranged with respect to the rotational axis of the detent.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the detent is rotatable between a first position and a second position, the trigger mechanism being depressible through a first range when the detent is in the first position and through a second range when the detent is in the second position, the second range being shorter than the first range.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the apparatus comprises a casing wherein rotation of the detent through 180 degrees rotates a first one of the abutment surfaces from a position facing towards the casing to a position facing away from the casing.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the detent comprises a pair of opposed abutment surfaces.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the apparatus is a hand held controller for a games console comprising an outer case, and a plurality of controls are located on a front and a top of the controller;

the controller being shaped to be held in both hands of a user such that the user'"'"'s thumbs are positioned to operate controls located on the front of the controller and the user'"'"'s index fingers are positioned to operate controls located on the top of the controller.

18. A trigger mechanism for a games controller for controlling electronic games, the trigger mechanism comprising:

a trigger body having a plurality of walls including a front wall, the plurality of walls defining an interior chamber of the trigger body, the front wall comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;

an actuator comprising a first component mounted on the inner surface of the front wall;

a bore extending from the outer surface of the front wall to the interior chamber and defining a bore within the first component coupled to a second component coupled to the first component and a screw thread for adjusting the position of the second component with respect to the first component.

19. The trigger mechanism of claim 18 wherein the second component comprises an external screw thread and is rotatably mounted within the bore.

20. The trigger mechanism of claim 19 wherein the second component comprises a first end forming an abutment surface.

21. The trigger mechanism of claim 18 wherein the first component comprises an external thread and the second component comprises an internal thread which receives the external thread of the first component and the bore provides access to a screw drive enabling torque to be applied to the second component.

22. The trigger mechanism of claim 18 wherein the second component is in communication with a transducer, and wherein adjustment of the position of the second component with respect to the first component affects an electrical characteristic of the transducer.

23. The trigger mechanism of claim 18 wherein the second component comprises an abutment surface for abutment with a transducer.

24. The trigger mechanism of claim 23 wherein the transducer is a pressure sensor.

25. The trigger mechanism of claim 18 wherein the second component comprises a magnet for actuating a magnetic sensor.

26. The trigger mechanism of claim 18 wherein the second component is coupled to a potentiometer so as to adjust an electrical characteristic of the potentiometer.

27. The trigger mechanism of claim 18 further comprising a face plate detachably mounted to the trigger body, the face plate concealing the orifice in the front wall.

28. An apparatus for supplying user inputs to a computer program, such as a game program, for controlling the game program, the apparatus comprising at least one depressible trigger mechanism according to claim 18.