Controller and expansion unit for controller

• US 7,488,254 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2005
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD. (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sega Enterprises LTD. (SEGA Sammy Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Date, Toshinori, Himoto, Atsunori, Tosaki, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E
• Assistant Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US11/151,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20050233808A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 463/37
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/211 using inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers or gyroscopes
• 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 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/323 between game devices with different hardware characteristics, e.g. hand-held game devices connectable to game consoles or arcade machines
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• 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 2300/1031 using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• 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 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/205 for detecting the geographical location of the game platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/403 : Connection between platform and handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/80 : specially adapted for executing a specific type of game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 : Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 : Shooting

Abstract

An expansion unit 50, 60 or 70 is connected to a controller body 10 including an analog direction key 12, a digital direction key 14, command buttons 20a-20z, command levers 22l, 22r, etc. An expansion unit 50 including a photo emitting unit 52 is connected to thereby make the controller cordless. An expansion unit 60 including a photo detecting unit 65, whereby shooting games in which an enemy on a monitor screen can be shot can be played. An expansion unit 70 including a vibration unit 75 is connected, whereby a vibration is given to the controller body 10 to make a shooting game more realistic. New functions can be added to the conventional controller, and the new functions can be added freely without making no change to the controller body.

Claims

1. A controller connectable to an electronic device wherein the controller transmits instruction signals to the electronic device in response to a user'"'"'s operation, said controller comprising:

an upper face;

a left grip means disposed at a left part of said controller;

a right grip means disposed at a right part of said controllers;

a plurality of button switches disposed on said upper face of said controller; and

a pair of direction keys disposed on said upper face, one of said pair of direction keys being arranged so as to give signals indicative of preset discrete directions including up, down, left and right, the other of said pair of direction keys being arranged so as to give signals indicative of arbitrary directions over 360 degrees,

wherein both of said pair of direction keys are disposed at positions of a left part of said upper face so that both of said pair of direction keys may be manipulated by a thumb of the user'"'"'s left hand which holds said left grip means of the controller and said plurality of button switches are disposed at a right part of said upper face so as to be manipulated by a thumb of the user'"'"'s right hand which holds said right grip means of the controller when the controller is held by both hands of the user with said left grip means of the controller held by the user'"'"'s left hand and with said right grip means of the controller held by the user'"'"'s right hand.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein said left grip means is provided by a left rim portion of the controller or by a left grip member extending from the left part of said controller toward the user holding the controller, and said right grip means is provided by a right rim portion of the controller or by a right grip member extending from the right part of said controller toward the user holding the controller.

2. A controller connectable to an electronic device wherein the controller transmits instruction signals to the electronic device in response to a user'"'"'s operation, said controller comprising:

an upper face;

a left grip means disposed at a left part of said controller;

a right grip means disposed at a right part of said controller;

a plurality of button switches disposed on a right part of said upper face of said controller so as to be manipulated by a thumb of the user'"'"'s right hand which holds said right grip means of the controller;

a first direction key arranged so as to give signals indicative of preset discrete directions,

a second direction key arranged so as to give signals indicative of arbitrary directions over 360 degrees;

wherein both of said first and second direction keys are disposed at positions of a left part of said upper face so that both of said first and second direction keys are manipulated by a thumb of the user'"'"'s left hand which holds said left means grip of the controller when the controller is held by both hands of the user with said left grip means of the controller held by the user'"'"'s left hand and with said right grip means of the controller held by the user'"'"'s right hand; and

a signal generating means which generates a first mode of data and a second mode of data, said first mode of data being compatible with data to be generated by conventional controllers, said second mode of data including data indicative of the signals given by the second direction key.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein both of said first mode of data and said second mode of data are transmitted to the electronic device and at least one of said first and second modes of data is selectively used by the electronic device.

8. The controller of claim 2, wherein said left grip means is provided by a left rim portion of the controller or by a left grip member extending from the left part of said controller toward the user holding the controller, and said right grip means is provided by a right rim portion of the controller by a right grip member extending from the right part of said controller toward the user holding the controller.

4. An input device connectable to an electronic device which executes a game in response to various instruction data transmitted from the input device, said input device comprising:

an upper face;

a left grip means disposed at a left part of said input device;

a right grip means disposed at a right part of said input device;

a first direction key which generates signals indicative of preset four or eight directions, and a second direction key which generates signals indicative of arbitrary directions,

wherein both of said first and second direction keys are disposed at positions of a left part of the input device so that both of said first and second direction keys are manipulated by a thumb of the left hand of an operator when the input device is held by both hands of the operator with said left grip means of the input device held by the operator'"'"'s left hand and with said right grip means of the input device held by the operator'"'"'s right hand.

5. The input device of claim 4, further comprising a plurality of button switches, each of which gives a one-shot signal in response to one push, said plurality of button switches being disposed at a right part of the input device so as to be manipulated by a thumb of the right hand of the operator, wherein the right hand holds the input device at said right grip means of the input device.

9. The input device of claim 4, wherein said left grip means is provided by a left rim portion of the input device or by a left grip member extending from the left part of said input device toward the operator holding the input device, and said right grip means is provided by a right rim portion of the input device or by a right grip member extending from the right part of said input device toward the operator holding the input device.

6. An input device connectable to an electronic device which executes a game in response to various instruction data transmitted from the input device, said input device comprising:

an upper face;

a left grip means disposed at a left part of said input device;

a right grip means disposed at a right part of said input device;

a plurality of button switches disposed at a right portion of the input device so as to be manipulated by a thumb of an operator'"'"'s right hand, which holds said right grip means of the input device;

a first direction key which generates signals indicative of preset four or eight discrete directions; and

a second direction key which generates signals indicative of arbitrary directions,

wherein said first and second direction keys are disposed at positions of left portions of the input device so that both of said first and second direction keys may be manipulated by a thumb of the operator'"'"'s left hand, which holds said left grip means of the input device when the input device is held by both hands of the operator with said left grip means of the input device held by the operator'"'"'s left hand and with said right grip means of the input device held by the operator'"'"'s right hand,

said input device further comprising a signal generating means which generates a first mode of data and a second mode of data, said first mode of data including data generated in response to manipulation of said first direction key, said second mode of data including data generated in response to manipulation of said second direction key,

wherein said electronic device selectively utilizes one of said first and second modes of data transmitted to said electronic device.

10. The input device of claim 6, wherein said left grip means is provided by a left rim portion of the input device or by a left grip member extending from the left part of said input device toward the operator holding the input device, and said right grip means is provided by a right rim portion of the input device or by a right grip member extending from the right part of said input device toward the operator holding the input device.

11. An input device connectable to an electronic device which executes a game in response to various instruction data transmitted from the input device, said input device comprising:

an upper face;

a left grip means disposed at a left part of said input device;

a right grip means disposed at a right part of said input device;

a plurality of button switches disposed at a right part of said upper face within areas which can be reached by the right thumb of an operator who holds the input device at said right grip means; and

a first direction key which generates signals indicative of preset discrete directions, and a second direction key which generates signals indicative of arbitrary directions over 360 degrees, both of said first and second direction keys being disposed at a left part of said upper face within areas which can be reached by the left thumb of the operator who holds the input device at said left grip means so that all of said preset discrete directions of said first direction key and all arbitrary directions over 360degrees of said second direction key are effectively manipulated by the left thumb.

12. The input device of claim 11, wherein said left grip means is provided by a left rim portion of the input device or by a left grip member extending from the left part of said input device toward the operator holding the input device, and said right grip means is provided by a right rim portion of the input device or by a right grip member extending from the right part of said input device toward the operator holding the input device.

13. An electronic device which executes a game in response to various instruction data transmitted from an input device,

said input device comprising:

a manipulation face;

a left grip means disposed at a left part of said input device;

a right grip means disposed at a right part of said input device;

a plurality of button switches disposed at a right part of the manipulation face within areas which can be reached by the right thumb of an operator who holds the input device at said right grip means; and

first direction key which generates signals indicative of preset discrete directions, and a second direction key which generates signals indicative of arbitrary directions over 360degrees, both of said first and second direction keys being disposed at a left part of said upper face within areas which can be reached by the left thumb of the operator who holds the input device at said left grip means so that all of said preset discrete directions of said first direction key and all arbitrary directions over 360 degrees of said second direction key are effectively manipulated by the left thumb;

said electronic device having;

a first game mode with which a game is executable in response to signals generated by operating said plurality of button switches and said first direction key, but incompatible with signals generated by operating said second direction key; and

a second game mode with which a game is executable in response to signals generated by operating said second direction key;

wherein said electronic device executes a game under one of said first and second game modes by selectively using signals transmitted from said input device.