Video game controller charging system having a docking structure

• US 8,633,675 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2013
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OKYN Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NYKO Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Navid, Amir
• Primary Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, ARUN C
• Application Number:
  US13/769,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300368A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 320/113
• US Class Current: 320/113
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/98 Accessories, i.e. detachable arrangements optional for the use of the video game device, e.g. grip supports of game controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/22 The load being a portable electronic device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries

Abstract

A video game controller charging system is provided. The video game controller charging system includes a base; at least one structure on the base for providing physical support to at least one video game controller while it is being charged; and at least one DC port on the base configured to couple to and provide DC power to a power input port of the at least one video game controller. The video game controller charging system may also include a current detector, a charging status indicator, at least one docking bay, and/or an AC-to-DC converter adapted to convert externally supplied power to the DC power provided to the power input port of at least one video game controller. The base of a charging station may include a recess having at least one electrical contact and a power input for connection to a power supply.

Claims

1. A video game controller charging system for charging a plurality of video game controllers, each having a female power input receptacle, the video game controller charging system comprising:

a base;

a plurality of docking bays supported by the base, each of the docking bays configured to receive a respective one of the video game controllers such that handle portions of the controllers project away from the docking bays, each docking bay comprising a pair of substantially parallel opposing surfaces and being unobstructed on opposite sides between the opposing surfaces; and

a plurality of substantially protruding male DC ports, wherein a single DC port is disposed between the opposing surfaces of each of the docking bays, each of the DC ports being electrically coupled to a single power input interface and configured to plug into and provide DC power to the female power input receptacle of a respective one of the plurality of video game controllers without the use of an external or retractable cable,

wherein at least one of the opposing surfaces of each of the docking bays extends continuously from a first end to a second end, the first end being spaced from the DC port of the respective docking bay at a first side of the DC port, the second end being spaced from the DC port of the respective docking bay at a second side of the DC port opposite the first side;

wherein each DC port includes a pair of substantially parallel DC port surfaces, at least a portion of the DC port surfaces of the DC port in each of the respective docking bays being substantially parallel to at least a portion of the continuous opposing surface of the respective docking bay;

wherein the single power input interface is spaced apart from the docking bays; and

wherein the video game controller charging system is configured to concurrently charge the plurality of video game controllers in the plurality of docking bays.

2. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein the male DC ports comprise male mini-USB connectors.

3. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein each of the docking bays includes an intermediate surface disposed between the substantially parallel opposing surfaces and the male DC port is disposed within the docking bay protruding at a substantially right angle relative to the intermediate surface.

4. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein each of the male DC ports protrudes from the respective docking bay in a direction substantially parallel to the substantially parallel opposing surfaces.

5. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein each of the male DC ports is spaced apart from each of the substantially parallel opposing surfaces of the respective docking bay.

6. The video game controller charging system of claim 1, wherein each of the docking bays has a substantially same size and configuration, and each of the video game controllers has a substantially same size and configuration to be received and supported in one of the docking bays.

7. The video game controller charging system of claim 6, wherein the docking bays are spaced from one another along a lengthwise direction of the video game controller charging system, and wherein the docking bays are symmetric about a midplane extending in the lengthwise direction.

8. A video game controller charging system for concurrently charging a plurality of video game controllers, each having a female power input receptacle and handle portions at opposite sides of the female power input receptacle, the video game controller charging system comprising:

a base;

a plurality of docking bays supported by the base, each of the docking bays comprising a pair of opposing surfaces and being open on opposite sides between the opposing surfaces, at least one of the opposing surfaces extending continuously from a first end to a second end, each of the docking bays being configured to receive a video game controller of the plurality of video game controllers such that the handle portions of the video game controller project outwardly from the open sides;

a single power input interface spaced apart from the plurality of docking bays; and

a plurality of male DC ports electrically coupled to the single power input interface, each of the DC ports being disposed between the opposing surfaces of a docking bay of the plurality of docking bays and protruding in a direction substantially parallel to at least a portion of the continuous opposing surface of the docking bay, the first end of the at least one continuous opposing surface being spaced from the DC port at a first side of the DC port, and the second end being spaced from the DC port at a second side of the DC port opposite the first side, each of the DC ports being configured to electrically and mechanically couple to the female power input receptacle of a respective one of the plurality of video game controllers, thereby providing DC power to the female power input receptacle without the use of an external or retractable cable while holding the video game controller within the docking bay.

9. The video game controller charging system of claim 8, wherein each of the DC ports comprises a male mini-USB connector.

10. The video game controller charging system of claim 8, wherein the pair of opposing surfaces is configured to align the video game controller in the docking bay such that the female power input receptacle of the video game controller may be plugged into the male DC port disposed between the opposing surfaces of the docking bay.

11. The video game controller charging system of claim 8, wherein each of the docking bays includes an intermediate surface disposed between the opposing surfaces, the DC port disposed within the docking bay protruding at a substantially right angle relative to the intermediate surface.

12. The video game controller charging system of claim 8, wherein each of the DC ports includes a pair of substantially parallel DC port surfaces and at least a portion of the DC port surfaces extends in a direction substantially parallel to at least one of the opposing surfaces.

13. The video game controller charging system of claim 8, wherein each of the DC ports is spaced apart from each of the opposing surfaces of the respective docking bay.

14. A video game controller charging system for concurrently charging a plurality of video game controllers, each having a female power input receptacle and handle portions at opposite sides of the female power input receptacle, the video game controller charging system comprising:

a base;

a plurality of docking bays supported by the base, each of the docking bays comprising a pair of opposing surfaces and being open on opposite sides between the opposing surfaces, at least one of the opposing surfaces extending continuously from a first end to a second end, each of the docking bays being configured to receive a video game controller of the plurality of video game controllers such that the handle portions of the video game controller project outwardly from the open sides;

a single power input interface spaced apart from the plurality of docking bays; and

a plurality of substantially protruding male DC ports electrically coupled to the single power input interface, each of the DC ports being disposed between the opposing surfaces of a docking bay of the plurality of docking bays, the first end of the at least one continuous opposing surface being spaced from the DC port at a first side of the DC port, and the second end being spaced from the DC port at a second side of the DC port opposite the first side, each of the DC ports being configured to plug into the female power input receptacle of a respective one of the plurality of video game controllers without the use of an external or retractable cable to provide DC power to the female power input receptacle and hold the video game controller in the docking bay.

15. The video game controller charging system of claim 14, wherein each of the DC ports comprises a male mini-USB connector.

16. The video game controller charging system of claim 15, wherein each of the docking bays includes an intermediate surface disposed between the opposing surfaces, the DC port disposed within the docking bay protruding at a substantially right angle relative to the intermediate surface.

17. The video game controller charging system of claim 16, wherein each of the DC ports protrudes from the respective docking bay in a direction substantially parallel to at least one of the opposing surfaces.

18. The video game controller charging system of claim 14, wherein the docking bays are directly supported by the base.

19. The video game controller charging system of claim 14, wherein each of the docking bays has a substantially same size and configuration, and each of the video game controllers has a substantially same size and configuration.

20. The video game controller charging system of claim 14, wherein the docking bays are spaced from one another along a lengthwise direction of the video game controller charging system, and wherein the docking bays are symmetric about a midplane extending in the lengthwise direction.