Method for using a portable handheld video game device with a separate output display

• US 6,520,501 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2001
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NYKO Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NYKO Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Erickson, Craig, Naghi, Herschel
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US09/938,709
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 273/148.B, 273/236, 273/237, 273/238, 273/260, 463/34, 463/40, 463/42, 463/47, 700/91
• US Class Current: 273/148.00B
• 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 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• 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

Abstract

A method of using a portable handheld video game device with a separate output display includes providing a communication apparatus for a handheld portable video game device including a display; connecting the communication apparatus to the handheld portable video game device and the separate output display; imaging the display of the handheld portable video game device with the communication apparatus to produce an imaged display of the handheld portable video game device; and displaying the imaged display of the handheld portable video game device on the separate output display.

Claims

1. A method of using a portable handheld video game device with a separate output display, comprising:

providing a communication apparatus for a handheld portable video game device including a display;

connecting the communication apparatus to the handheld portable video game device and the separate output display;

imaging the display of the handheld portable video game device with the communication apparatus to produce an imaged display of the handheld portable video game device;

displaying the imaged display of the handheld portable video game device on the separate output display.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the separate output display is a television.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the handheld portable video game device includes audio output and the separate output display includes audio input and output, and the method further includes connecting the audio output of the handheld portable video game device to the audio input of the separate output display and outputting audio of the handheld portable video game device with the audio input of the separate output display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus includes an imaging mechanism with an adjustable lens, and the method further includes adjusting the lens to adjust focus of the imaged display of the handheld portable video game device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the adjustable lens is rotatable.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus includes an imaging mechanism adapted to be located on a user side of the handheld portable video game device when the apparatus is connected to the handheld portable video game device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus includes an adjustable body and an imaging mechanism carried by the adjustable body.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus includes an imaging mechanism and one or more illumination sources to illuminate the display of the handheld portable video game device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication apparatus includes an imaging mechanism having a color CMOS imager lens and a single-chip CMOS image sensor.