Input controller for a game system having a combination move feature

• US 6,989,818 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Performance Designed Products LLC
• Original Assignee: Electrosource, Inc.
• Inventors: Biheller, Jason A., Richards, Christopher F., Ryding, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beck, Alexander S.
• Application Number:
  US10/289,340
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090416A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,174 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/161, 345/169, 345/172, 345/177, 463/29, 463/37, 463/39, 463/44, 341/22, 379/433.06
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1018 Calibration; Key and button assignment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/638 according to the timing of operation or a time limit
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A manual input video game controller to be used with various video game machines for the purpose of controlling a game displayed upon a video monitor. The manual input video controller would include a plurality of digital action buttons along with a separate combination button allowing various combination maneuvers to be programmed into the video game controller in real time. The use of this combination button along with one of the input controllers would allow a particular stored combination of maneuvers to be implemented, without the loss of function of any of the digital action buttons.

Claims

1. An input device having an exterior surface, the input device used with a video game for controlling the movement of at least one icon on a display screen during the play of the video game, comprising:

a plurality of input members provided on the exterior surface of the input device, each of said input members controlling a particular function during the play of the video game;

a memory device in communication with said input members; and

a combination maneuver member provided on the exterior surface of the input device and in communication with said memory device, said combination maneuver member used with at least one of said input members to input and memorize a combination maneuver to be maintained in said memory device and subsequently utilizing during the play of the game by enabling at least one of said input members without the loss of said particular function originally assigned to said input members during the play of the game prior to the memorization of said combination maneuver;

wherein said combination maneuver is activated utilizing both said combination maneuver member and at least one of said input members, each of said input members controlling a particular function during the play of the game, regardless of whether said combination maneuver has been memorized.

2. The input device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said memory device for storing said combination maneuver is non-volatile.

3. The input device in accordance with claim 2, further including a timer used in conjunction with said memory device for limiting the total duration of said combination maneuver.

4. The input device in accordance with claim 3, wherein said total duration of said combination maneuver is five seconds.

5. The input device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said input members are digital.

6. The input device in accordance with claim 5, wherein said combination maneuver is produced using at least two of said input members, with the time duration between enabling said input members included in said combination maneuver.

7. The input device in accordance with claim 1, further including a light emitting device used with said combination maneuver member.

8. The input device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said light emitting device flashes at a first rate when one of said input members is engaged and then disengaged when prior to inputting and memorizing said combination maneuver.

9. The input device in accordance with claim 8, wherein said light emitting device flashes at a second rate different than said first rate when said combination maneuver is being memorized.

10. The input device in accordance with claim 1, further including a video game machine provided between the input device and the display screen.

11. The input device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least a majority of said input members are provided on the right side of the input device to be manipulated by the fingers of the right hand of the user and said combination maneuver member is provided on the left side of the input device to be manipulated by one of the fingers of the left hand of the user.

12. A method of programming and utilizing a combination maneuver in an input device for a video game used to control the movement of at least one icon on a display screen during the play of the game, the input device provided with n input members, each said n input members used to control a particular function during the play of the game, regardless of whether the combination maneuver has been recorded in a memory device, a program member and a combination maneuver member, comprising the steps of:

engaging and disengaging said program member;

engaging and disengaging a first of the input members;

engaging the combination maneuver member;

creating and maintaining a first combination maneuver in a memory device by engaging and disengaging, in real time during the play of the video game, at least one of said input members; and

utilizing said first combination maneuver during the play of the game by simultaneously engaging said combination maneuver member and one of said n input members.

13. The method of programming a combination maneuver in accordance with claim 12, comprising the step of:

including a timing device to be used with said memory device to limit the combination maneuver to a fixed time direction.

14. The method of programming a combination maneuver in accordance with claim 12 to create additional combination maneuvers, comprising the steps of:

a) engaging and disengaging said program member;

b) engaging and disengaging an appropriate one of the input members;

c) engaging the combination maneuver member;

d) creating and maintaining an additional combination maneuver in a memory device by engaging and disengaging in real time during the play of the video game at least one of said input members;

e) repeating steps a), b), c) and d), a plurality of not to exceed n−

2 times to create and maintain in memory additional combination maneuvers; and

f) utilizing each of said additional combination maneuvers during the play of the game by simultaneously engaging said combination maneuver member with a different input member to activate each of said additional combination maneauvers.

15. The method of programming a combination maneuver in accordance with claim 12, wherein said combination maneuver member is engaged by one of the fingers of the left hand of a user and at least one of said input members is engaged by one of the fingers of the right hand of the user.

16. The method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the input device is connected to a source of power, and further wherein said memory device is a nonvolatile memory, thereby allowing the combination maneuver to be recorded in said non-volatile memory, and after the source of power is disconnected from said input device and then reconnected to said input device, said combination maneuver can be employed without rerecorded said combination maneuver in said memory device.