Mode-altering key for a character input device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An input device comprising:
- a game controller portion and a character input portion, the game controller portion including a plurality of interaction mechanisms operated by a user to direct game play, the character input portion including a plurality of interaction mechanisms operated by the user to input various characters, the character input portion being detachably secured to the game controller portion for being utilized to input various characters during game play when coupled to the game controller portion and for being removable from the game controller portion when not utilized, the character input portion as secured to the game controller portion interfacing mechanically and electrically with the game controller portion and mechanically abutting the game controller portion, the character input portion comprising;
a housing that forms at least a portion of an outer surface of the character input portion;
a plurality of character input keys accessible from an exterior of the housing, at least a portion of said character input keys each being associated with four distinct characters based upon a current mode; and
first, second, and third mode-altering keys accessible from the exterior of the housing for changing the current mode and determining which of the four distinct characters are input,the game controller portion comprising a main body and a pair of grips each extending from the main body in a generally common direction, the grips for grasping the game controller portion during use and defining a space therebetween, the game controller portion further comprising an electrical connector in the main body thereof generally adjacent the space defined by the pair of grips, the electrical connector being a memory unit slot configured to accept a memory unit to provide additional and portable memory storage for game play;
the character input portion when coupled to the game controller portion entirely residing between the pair of grips and within the space defined by the pair of grips, and being electrically coupled to the memory unit slot of the game controller portion in place of the memory unit, the character input portion as coupled to the game controller portion physically abutting the pair of grips and the main body of the game controller portion, the physically abutted pair of grips and main body of the game controller portion assisting in securing the coupled character input portion to the game controller portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A character input device is disclosed that includes a plurality of character input keys and one or more mode-altering keys. Each character input key is associated with multiple characters. By activating only the character input keys, primary characters may be input. By activating the character input keys in conjunction with the mode-altering keys, however, various secondary, tertiary, and quaternary characters may be input. The mode-altering keys may be utilized in a temporary mode, wherein only one secondary, tertiary, or quaternary character is input. Alternately, the mode-altering keys may be utilized in a base mode, wherein a series of secondary, tertiary, or quaternary character is input.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An input device comprising:
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a game controller portion and a character input portion, the game controller portion including a plurality of interaction mechanisms operated by a user to direct game play, the character input portion including a plurality of interaction mechanisms operated by the user to input various characters, the character input portion being detachably secured to the game controller portion for being utilized to input various characters during game play when coupled to the game controller portion and for being removable from the game controller portion when not utilized, the character input portion as secured to the game controller portion interfacing mechanically and electrically with the game controller portion and mechanically abutting the game controller portion, the character input portion comprising; a housing that forms at least a portion of an outer surface of the character input portion; a plurality of character input keys accessible from an exterior of the housing, at least a portion of said character input keys each being associated with four distinct characters based upon a current mode; and first, second, and third mode-altering keys accessible from the exterior of the housing for changing the current mode and determining which of the four distinct characters are input, the game controller portion comprising a main body and a pair of grips each extending from the main body in a generally common direction, the grips for grasping the game controller portion during use and defining a space therebetween, the game controller portion further comprising an electrical connector in the main body thereof generally adjacent the space defined by the pair of grips, the electrical connector being a memory unit slot configured to accept a memory unit to provide additional and portable memory storage for game play; the character input portion when coupled to the game controller portion entirely residing between the pair of grips and within the space defined by the pair of grips, and being electrically coupled to the memory unit slot of the game controller portion in place of the memory unit, the character input portion as coupled to the game controller portion physically abutting the pair of grips and the main body of the game controller portion, the physically abutted pair of grips and main body of the game controller portion assisting in securing the coupled character input portion to the game controller portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An input device comprising:
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a game controller portion and a character input portion, the game controller portion including a plurality of interaction mechanisms operated by a user to direct game play, the character input portion including a plurality of interaction mechanisms operated by the user to input various characters, the character input portion being detachably secured to the game controller portion for being utilized to input various characters during game play when coupled to the game controller portion and for being removable from the game controller portion when not utilized, the character input portion as secured to the game controller portion interfacing mechanically and electrically with the game controller portion and mechanically abutting the game controller portion, the character input portion comprising; a housing that forms at least a portion of an outer surface of said character input portion; at least twenty-six character input keys accessible from an exterior of said housing, each of said twenty-six character input keys being associated with a different Roman alphabet character in both a lowercase form and an uppercase form, and at least a portion of said twenty-six character input keys each being associated with at least two characters that are is not a Roman alphabet character; and a first mode-altering key, a second mode-altering key, and a third mode-altering key each being accessible from said exterior of said housing, each being depressible once or twice to determine whether said lowercase form, said uppercase form, or said two characters that are is not a Roman alphabet character is input upon activation of one of said twenty-six character input keys, the game controller portion comprising a main body and a pair of grips each extending from the main body in a generally common direction, the grips for grasping the game controller portion during use and defining a space therebetween, the game controller portion further comprising an electrical connector in the main body thereof generally adjacent the space defined by the pair of grips, the electrical connector being a memory unit slot configured to accept a memory unit to provide additional and portable memory storage for game play; the character input portion when coupled to the game controller portion entirely residing between the pair of grips and within the space defined by the pair of grips, and being electrically coupled to the memory unit slot of the game controller portion in place of the memory unit, the character input portion as coupled to the game controller portion physically abutting the pair of grips and the main body of the game controller portion , the physically abutted pair of grips and main body of the game controller portion assisting in securing the coupled character input portion to the game controller portion. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for inputting a character via an input device, the method comprising steps of:
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providing the input device comprising a game controller portion and a character input portion, the game controller portion including a plurality of interaction mechanisms operated by a user to direct game play, the character input portion including a plurality of interaction mechanisms operated by the user to input various characters, the character input portion having at least twenty-six character input keys a first mode-altering key, a second mode-altering key, and a third mode-altering key each of said twenty-six character input keys being associated with a different Roman alphabet character in both a lowercase form and an uppercase form; activating a character input key while the character input portion is in a default mode to transmit a signal associated with a Roman alphabet character in said lowercase form; activating the first mode-altering key to place the character input portion in a temporary mode, and then activating the character input key to transmit a signal associated with a Roman alphabet character in said uppercase form and to return the character input portion to the default mode; activating the second mode-altering key to place the character input portion in a temporary mode, and then activating the character input key to transmit a signal associated with a first non-Roman alphabet character and to return the character input portion to the default mode; and
activating the third mode-altering key to place the character input portion in a temporary mode, and then activating the character input key to transmit a signal associated with a second non-Roman alphabet character and to return the character input portion to the default mode,the character input portion being detachably securable to the game controller portion, the method further comprising; securing the character input portion to the game controller portion, the character input portion as secured to the game controller portion interfacing mechanically and electrically with the game controller portion and mechanically abutting the game controller portion; utilizing the secured character input portion to input various characters during game play; and removing the character input portion from the game controller portion when not utilized, the game controller portion comprising a main body and a pair of grips each extending from the main body in a generally common direction, the grips for grasping the game controller portion during use and defining a space therebetween, the game controller portion further comprising an electrical connector in the main body thereof generally adjacent the space defined by the pair of grips the electrical connector being a memory unit slot configured to accept a memory unit to provide additional and portable memory storage for game play, the method further comprising; coupling the character input portion to the game controller portion so as to entirely reside between the pair of grips and within the space defined by the pair of grips, and so as to electrically couple the character input portion to the memory unit slot of the game controller portion, the character input portion as coupled to the game controller portion physically abutting the pair of grips and the main body of the game controller portion, the physically abutted pair of grips and main body of the game controller portion assisting in securing the coupled character input portion to the game controller portion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification