Video game controller system with interchangeable interface adapters

• US 6,279,906 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1998
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HBD Capital Fund, LLC
• Original Assignee: Act Labs Ltd.
• Inventors: Sanderson, Joel, Thanasack, Bounchanh
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/099,283
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/36, 463/37, 463/38, 463/39, 273/148.B, 345/156, 345/158, 345/161
• US Class Current: 273/148.00B
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/22 Setup operations, e.g. calibration, key configuration or button assignment
• 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 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying

Abstract

A modular video game controller device that can be adapted to operate with any of a number of various video game platforms such as a PC-based system or any of the commercially-available dedicated game consoles. The video game controller system of the present invention thus comprises a base unit such as a steering wheel and a plurality of game playing switches for use by the game player, a video game playing platform such as a PC-based platform or a dedicated console, and a video game controller interface adapter for interconnecting the base unit and the video game playing platform in accordance with the specific electrical and physical characteristics of the video game playing platform. A variety of interface adapters are contemplated, each of which interfaces in a standard manner to the base unit, and which interfaces in a dedicated manner to the particular video game playing platform for which it has been designed. In this manner, a player simply needs to obtain an interface adapter configured for his type of gaming platform and utilize the standard base unit therewith. This advantageously allows the base unit to be used on a variety of gaming platforms by simply changing the interface adapter as required.

Claims

1. A video game controller system comprising:

(a) a base unit comprising

a plurality of input devices operable by a user for generating control data in a common output format; and

common output means coupled to said plurality of input devices for outputting said control data in said common output format, said output means comprising a common output connector, said common output connector comprising a plurality of metal output contacts suitable for transferring electrical signals comprising control data;

(b) a plurality of interchangeable, independent video game interface adapters, each interface adapter comprising;

common input connector means for connecting to said base unit common output connector, comprising a plurality of metal input contacts suitable for mechanical connection to said plurality of metal output contacts on said common output connector, and for receiving said electrical signals comprising control data therefrom in said common output format, said common input connector means being mechanically connectable to and disconnectable from said base unit common output connector such that different ones of said plurality of video game interface adapters may be independently mechanically interconnected to the base unit as desired;

means for translating said control data received in said common output format to control data in one of a plurality of different platform-specific formats, each of which are different than said common output format;

the platform-specific format for each one of said plurality of video game interface adapters being different from each other, and

second output means for outputting said control data in said platform-specific format, said second output means comprising a platform-specific output connector.

2. The video game controller system of claim 1 further comprising:

(c) a plurality of video game playing units, each of said video game playing units being operatively associated with one of said plurality of video game interface adapters, each comprising;

a platform-specific input connector adapted to connect to the platform-specific output connector of the video game interface adapter with which said video game playing unit is operatively associated; and

means for receiving said control data in said platform-specific format.

3. The video game controller system of claim 2 wherein said common input connector means and said means for translating are located in a housing adapted for connection and disconnection with said base unit common output connector, and further comprising a cable for connecting from said housing to said platform-specific output connector for transmission of said control data in said platform-specific format thereover.

4. The video game controller system of claim 3 in which said plurality of input devices comprise a steering wheel, said steering wheel generating control data proportionate to a rotational position of the steering wheel.

5. The video game controller system of claim 4 in which said plurality of input devices comprise a pedal device controllable by a foot of a user, said pedal device generating control data proportionate to a translational position of the foot pedal device.

6. The video game controller system of claim 5 in which at least one of said plurality of video game playing units is a general purpose computer.

7. The video game controller system of claim 5 in which at least one of said plurality of video game playing units is a dedicated video game console.

8. The video game controller system of claim 2 wherein at least one of said video game playing units is adapted to selectively generate feedback control data as a function of a video game being played thereon, said feedback control data being transmitted to said base unit via said video game interface adapter with which said video game playing unit is associated, and wherein said base unit further comprises means for responding to said feedback control data.

9. A method of playing a video game on a particular video game playing unit selected by a user, comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting, from a plurality of available interchangeable independent video game adapter interfaces, a particular video game adapter interface suitable for operating in conjunction with the selected video game playing unit;

(b) connecting a common input connector associated with said selected video game adapter interface and comprising a plurality of metal input contacts to a common output connector comprising a plurality of metal output contacts suitable for mechanical connection to said plurality of metal input contacts on said common input connector and associated with a base unit having a plurality of input devices capable of being operated by the user;

(c) connecting a platform-specific output connector associated with the selected video game adapter interface to a platform-specific input connector on the selected video game playing unit;

(d) controlling the plurality of input devices associated with the base unit;

(e) generating control data in a common output format as a result of the input device controlling step;

(f) outputting the control data in the common output format via the common output connector on said base unit to the common input connector on the selected video game adapter interface;

(g) translating the control data received in the common output format to control data in one of a plurality of different platform-specific formats, each of which are different than the common output format, the platform-specific format for each one of said plurality of video game interface adapters being different from each other; and

(h) outputting the control data in the platform-specific format via the platform-specific output connector to platform-specific input connector on the selected video game playing unit.