Input device and method of configuring the input device

• US 7,782,306 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Guo, William, Lum, Richard S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz; Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): Xiao; Ke
• Application Number:
  US10/434,673
• Publication Number:
  US 20040222963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,664 Days
• Field of Search: 345/171, 345/172, 345/168, 345/169, 463/37
• US Class Current: 345/172
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224

Abstract

A input device is disclosed that is configurable as a manufacturing step or by a user to input selected characters. The input device includes character input keys and an internal memory. The specific character that is input by activating one of the character input keys depends upon a configuration code that is stored within the internal memory. The configuration code is associated with a key mapping configuration of a host device, for example, and the configuration code may be associated with a plurality of character identifiers for the character input keys. When the input device is configured during manufacturing, the configuration code may be programmed into the internal memory and the character identifiers may be provided. When the input device is configured by the user, the configuration code and the character identifiers are replaced with an alternate configuration code character identifiers.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a game controller, the method comprising steps of:

forming a game controller portion comprising at least one user interaction mechanism, the game controller portion comprising a unified main body having protruding members that form a pair of grips, the pair of grips extending from the main body in a generally common direction, the pair of grips for being employed by a user to grasp the game controller portion during use and defining an open space directly 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;

encasing a rewritable memory device within a housing of the game controller;

forming a character input portion;

connecting the character input portion to the game controller portion so that the character input portion can be removed from the game controller portion, the character input portion when coupled to the game controller portion entirely residing between the pair of grips and within the open space defined by the pair of grips, and being electrically coupled 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 in a generally continuous manner without substantial gaps between the character input portion and 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;

inputting a configuration code into the rewritable memory; and

programming a key mapping configuration that corresponds with the configuration code into the rewritable memory device, wherein the key mapping configuration determines which character is input when a character input key is activated.

2. The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of providing the character input portion with character identifiers that correspond with the key mapping configuration.

3. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the step of providing includes selecting the key mapping configuration and character identifiers to correspond with a particular language.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of encasing includes selecting the memory device to be electrically erasable programmable read only memory.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of programming includes selecting the key mapping configuration to correspond with a particular language.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of programming includes enabling a serial interface with the input device.

7. The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of configuring the input device to interface with a game console.

8. The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of providing the input device with a plurality of activatable keys for inputting characters.

9. A method of reconfiguring an assembled input device having a plurality of keys and an internal memory, the method comprising steps of:

forming a game controller portion comprising at least one user interaction mechanism, the game controller portion comprising a unified main body having protruding members that form a pair of grips, the pair of grips extending from the main body in a generally common direction, the pair of grips for being employed by a user to grasp the game controller portion during use and defining an open space directly 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

encasing a rewritable memory device within a housing of the game controller;

forming a character input portion;

connecting the character input portion to the game controller portion so that the character input portion can be removed from the game controller portion, 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, 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 in a generally continuous manner without substantial gaps between the character input portion and 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;

connecting the input device to a game console;

obtaining a second configuration code that replaces a first configuration code;

obtaining a second key mapping configuration that corresponds with the second configuration code; and

enabling the game console to read the second configuration code and, responsive to reading the second configuration code, replacing using at the game console the second key mapping configuration in place of a first key mapping configuration corresponding to the first configuration code to determine which character is input when a character input key is activated with a second key mapping configuration.

10. The method recited in claim 9, further including a step of providing the input device with character identifiers that correspond with the second key mapping configuration.

11. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the step of providing the input device with the character identifiers includes selecting the character identifiers to correspond with a particular language.

12. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the step of providing the input device with the character identifiers includes applying a second set of labels over a first set of labels.

13. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the step of connecting the character input portion to the game controller includes enabling a serial interface between the game console and the input device.

14. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the step of reprogramming includes determining whether the first configuration code is different than the second key configuration code.

15. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the step of obtaining a second key mapping configuration includes selecting the second key mapping configuration to correspond with a particular language.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of connecting the input device to a game console further includes physically coupling the character input portion to a handheld controller, coupled to the game console and shaped to interface with hands of a user.

16. A game controller for a gaming console, comprising:

a game controller portion comprising at least one user interaction mechanism, the game controller portion further comprising a unified main body having protruding members that form a pair of grips, the pair of grips extending from the main body in a generally common direction, the pair grips for being employed by a user to grasp the game controller portion during use and defining an open space directly 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

a character input portion that is detachably connected to the game controller portion and that comprises;

(i) a plurality of character input keys;

(ii) a rewritable memory device having a configuration code area for storing a first configuration code that identifies a first character configuration for the plurality of character input keys; and

a connection for electrically connecting the rewritable memory device to the gaming console to download a second configuration code from the gaming console,

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, 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 in a generally continuous manner without substantial gaps between the character input portion and 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.

17. The input devices recited in claim 16, further including for the character input portion a first plurality of character identifiers associated with the character input keys, the character identifiers being replaceable with a second plurality of character identifiers.

18. The input devices recited in claim 16, wherein for the character input portion the rewritable memory device is electrically erasable programmable read only memory.

20. The input devices of claim 16, further including the character input portion being shaped to secure to a handheld game controller portion.

21. The input devices of claim 20, wherein the character input portion further includes angled side surfaces configured to abut the handheld game controller portion between grips of the controller.