Strum input for a video game controller

• US 7,754,961 B1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Activision Publishing Incorporated (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Yang, Jamie Jien-Mei, Tam, Johnnie
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels; Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Millikin; Andrew R
• Application Number:
  US11/403,662
• Time in Patent Office: 1,553 Days
• Field of Search: 846/00, 847/23, 847/43, 847/37, 847/39, 846/45, 846/46, 200/43.13, 200/43.18, 200/412, 162/62, 292/281, 267/150, 267/72, 745/26, 745/27, 446/408, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 273/460, 463/36, 463/37
• US Class Current: 84/743
• 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 13/40 Processing input control signals of video game devices, e.g. signals generated by the player or derived from the environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1006 having additional degrees of freedom
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1025 details of the interface with the game device, e.g. USB version detection
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/342 for guitar-like instruments with or without strings and with a neck on which switches or string-fret contacts are used to detect the notes being played electric guitars in which the tones are generated by the vibration of strings G10H3/18
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/135 Musical aspects of games or videogames; Musical instrument-shaped game input interfaces game background music G10H2210/026; musical game scoring or performance evaluation G10H2210/091
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2230/135 Spint guitar, i.e. guitar-like instruments in which the sound is not generated by vibrating strings, e.g. guitar-shaped game interfaces

Abstract

A video game controller includes: a string instrument-shaped housing comprising a body portion and a neck portion, said body portion including a opening; a console interface for coupling with a game console; and a strum interface coupled to the console interface. The strum interface includes: a pin having a central portion and distal end portions; a pin support structure for supporting the distal end portions of the pin; a strum bar comprising a body portion rotatably coupled to the central portion of the pin and a flange portion protruding from the opening in the housing; a compressible liner provided between at least a portion of the strum bar and the pin; an upper button positioned adjacent the strum bar so as to be depressed when the strum bar is rotated in a first direction; and a lower button positioned adjacent the strum bar so as to be depressed when the strum bar is rotated in a second direction.

Claims

1. A game controller comprising:

a string instrument-shaped housing comprising a body portion and a neck portion, said body portion including an opening;

a console interface for data coupling with a game console;

a strum interface coupled to the console interface, comprising;

a pin having a central portion and distal end portions;

a pin support structure for supporting the distal end portions of the pin;

a strum bar comprising a body portion rotatably coupled to the central portion of the pin and a flange portion protruding from the opening in the housing;

an upper button positioned adjacent the strum bar so as to be depressed when the strum bar is rotated in a first direction;

a lower button positioned adjacent the strum bar so as to be depressed when the strum bar is rotated in a second direction; and

wherein the strum bar further comprises an upper range-limiting flange for contacting an upper edge portion of the opening of the housing to limit rotation of the strum bar in the first direction, and a lower range-limiting flange for contacting a lower edge portion of the opening of the housing to limit rotation of the strum bar in the second direction.

2. The game controller of claim 1, wherein:

the upper range-limiting flange further comprises an upper compressible pad for contacting the upper edge portion of the opening of the housing; and

the lower range-limiting flange further comprises a lower compressible pad for contacting a lower edge portion of the opening of the housing.

3. The game controller of claim 2, wherein:

the upper compressible pad and the lower compressible pad are comprised of rubber.

4. A game controller comprising:

a string instrument-shaped housing comprising a body portion and a neck portion, said body portion including an opening;

a console interface for coupling with a game console;

a strum interface coupled to the console interface, comprising;

a strum bar comprising a body portion rotatably mounted in the housing and a flange portion protruding from the opening in the housing;

an upper button positioned adjacent the strum bar so as to be depressed when the strum bar is rotated in a first direction, said upper button including a first switch and providing a counterforce when depressed by the strum bar and configured to provide audible feedback when depressed, said counterforce increasing as the upper button is compressed;

a lower button positioned adjacent the strum bar so as to be depressed when the strum bar is rotated in a second direction, said lower button including a second switch and providing a counterforce when depressed by the strum bar and configured to provide audible feedback when depressed, said counterforce increasing as the upper button is compressed; and

wherein the strum bar further comprises an upper range-limiting flange for contacting an upper edge portion of the opening of the housing to limit rotation of the strum bar in the first direction, and a lower range-limiting flange for contacting a lower edge portion of the opening of the housing to limit rotation of the strum bar in the second direction.

5. The game controller of claim 4, wherein:

the upper range-limiting flange further comprises an upper compressible pad for contacting the upper edge portion of the opening of the housing; and

the lower range-limiting flange further comprises a lower compressible pad for contacting a lower edge portion of the opening of the housing.

6. The game controller of claim 5, wherein:

the upper compressible pad and the lower compressible pad are comprised of rubber.

7. A game controller, comprising:

a string instrument-shaped housing comprising a body portion and a neck portion, said body portion including an opening;

a console interface for data coupling with a game console;

a strum interface coupled to the console interface, comprising;

a pin having a central portion and distal end portions;

a pin support structure for supporting the distal end portions of the pin;

a strum bar comprising a body portion rotatably coupled to the central portion of the pin and a flange portion protruding from the opening in the housing;

an upper button positioned adjacent the strum bar so as to be depressed when the strum bar is rotated in a first direction;

a lower button positioned adjacent the strum bar so as to be depressed when the strum bar is rotated in a second direction; and

a compressible liner provided between at least a portion of the strum bar and the pin.

8. The game controller of claim 7, further comprising:

an insert coupled to the strum bar, said compressible liner being attached to the insert between the insert and the pin.

9. The game controller of claim 7, wherein

said compressible liner is comprised of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam.